Browsing: Column

This week’s installment delves into the humble origins of the ‘one-strand-on-the-wall’ guitar, crafted from baling wire and ingenuity, and how it shaped legends like Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King, and Big Bill Broonzy.

Exploring the meaning of ‘bag’ in the blues world: from musical influences to street slang, Debra Devi unpacks the layers of this iconic term in this week’s installment of The Language of the Blues.

From the desperate measures of alcoholics during Prohibition to the blues singers who chronicled their struggles, this installment delves into the dark reality of survival, addiction, and the raw spirit of the era. Discover the story of “Canned Heat” and how alcorub became the last resort for those fighting the demons of the drink.

Gestures is a monthly column reflecting on women’s contributions. In this edition we talk to Lindsay Lou and Fox Crossing Stringband about starting over. It takes guts, but more importantly it takes a lot of love: just another gesture that women bring to the arts.

Gestures is a monthly column reflecting on women’s contributions to the arts.

Gestures is a monthly column reflecting on women’s contributions to the arts.

As volatile and temperamental was Lurrie Bell was at the time, Mercurial Son was his jumping off point into a series of award winning albums, and a life-long career as an acknowledged Chicago blues master.

This edition focuses on the album ‘The Come Back’ by Memphis Slim and His House Rockers featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy.

The song “I Need Some Easy Money,” won the award for Blues Single at the very first Blues Music Awards in 1980.

Released in 1994, ‘Goin’ Back in the Times’ was Homesick James’ only release on the Earwig label.