I used to title blog posts by whatever song was on my ipod, and from the reaction I got from the Great Northern Blues Society Board, I think I have to go back that way. I am shocked by the reaction to my comments, but in a lot of ways I am not. We live in a world that loves the critic, and critics love to eat one another. When one declares something, others are quick to jump in and shoot the brave one in the head…see my Howard post on the front page.
In music we can line up the long list of peoples opinions, and we can in fact shoot them down all day. So it goes. I think blues is the worst of this though. There is an almost academic level of bullshit that goes with what is at its core and amazingly simple music. I find it to be a great source of white boy-ism, this sort of bullshit posturing about being a a blues scholar. Like Bob Margolin is a this or Gary Primach is that is an opinion that matters. Who gives a shit?
When I hang out with rock writers, and you say something like Ryan Adams is the best writer of the day, or the guy from Lucero is the best lyricist…no one cares. Everyone knows that this sort of declaration is just in the fleeting world of rock, and as such it goes not matter.
Davey Havok might be the coolest person yesterday, and Mandy Moore might be a genius tomorrow, and Leonard Cohen is going to be the greatest sad singer of all time, until you buy a Tom Waits record. Does any of it matter? Not so much. But, if you ask the blues scholars who the best harp player is, you would expect that Lil Walter could be given a discourse level of discussion.
I know this guy, Bob, who I totally respect. He is one of those serious blues guys. I mean serious. I think he actually buys EVERY blues record he sees. He knows these records with an intellectual rigor that is amazing. He knows the session guys on each of these tracks. It is truly amazing.
The thing with Bob, I did not always dig this. I found it to be amazingly overpowering. Now, in looking back at the GNBS reaction, and to the Howard reaction, I miss this guy Bob. I liked the fact that Bob allowed for my opinion, and my young man declaration. He was patient and smart, and understanding, and was willing to share his knowledge with people without being overbearing or insulting.
I did not get that, and now I do. So thanks Bob for showing me the way. I think that there is tremendous amounts of interesting things in the blues, but do I think it deserves more intellectual scholarship than NO WAVE or hard core. No, I do not. Yet, I do not often get insulted on the internet because I think that Keith Morris was the best singer in Black Flag like I do when I say that Greg Koch is the best guitar player in Wisconsin.
Either way, I ask you this simple question…have you ever thrown a handful of glitter in the air?
charleshughes
11:14 am on May 18th
Dino,
I was done with this discussion, but – since I can’t help but take your two straight blog posts (and your discussions about, for example, “bullshit posturing”) personally – I want to point a couple things out.
First, you didn’t say that – in your *opinion* – Greg Koch is the best guitar player in Wisconsin. You said that he’s *objectively* the best. That’s a completely different thing.
Second, you said that Howard Luedtke was the only real blues player in Wisconsin because he doesn’t have another job, and never did. Later you corrected yourself, pointing out that – in fact – Luedtke has had several other jobs over the years. Does that make him less “real,” or does that make your criteria questionable? Which is it? It can’t be both.
Third, I don’t know what exactly you mean by saying that the blues is “simple” music, but I think I disagree with you on every possible level.
Dino Corvino
11:22 am on May 18th
Well, since it is my blog, I shall say this with all loving care…the rest of the post, aside from the one line you mention…is about my learning tolerance, and a cool manner in which someone explained something to me.
But, you can, and will take this for whatever you seek to take it for.
I appreciate your reading my blog.
Mohawk Matt
5:18 am on May 20th
People don’t let you get away with anything, do they?
Dino Corvino
9:58 pm on May 20th
It is completely okay. I understand the rigor with which Charles pursues language, and the nicest thing is that I respect him for it. While I do not watch my language as well as he does, he applies his critieria to himself, so I appreciate that.