You did not answer my question: Did you attend last years BOBB.....Have you ever attended a Todd Simpson show prior to the BOBB. What was your motive for going to the BOBB. I think it is crystal clear that you chose your winner before the contest even started. 

Yes Morrison, I am an expert. Some white kid with a fancy cell phone, fancy PC...etc that his parents bought him trying to tell ME about blues is 100% ridculous. You guys have totally destroyed the music - the feel, technique..It’s becoming a lost art - it has been WHITEwashed to the point it resembles rock more that blues. 

Robert Johnson was famous because of the crossroads myth - without that he would not even be in this conversation. You bring up Robert Johnson cause it’s the only blues name you know besides Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, a typical cluless part time white blues fan.

Robert Johnson gimme a break - He stole more songs than anyone in hostory - He was totally unoriginal

I AM AN EXPERT, PERIOD. If i say it is not blues, then it is not blues, got it.

Posted by  on  08/07  at  09:29 AM

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Oh yeah “witheld”...we ALL get it now.  You are a pompous ass who thinks he knows everything, when in reality you don’t know jack.  What a joke you are...claiming to be an expert because YOU say you are an expert.  That’s certainly true...it can only be because YOU say it because you have done NOTHING to prove it.  Funny, funny, funny.  Everyone is getting a really big kick out of you.  Oh...and I guess you are an “expert because YOU say you are an expert” on Todd and his personal life...such as his fancy cell phone...fancy PC...that his parents pay for.  So...where did you get that information?  Did you pull it out your butt like everything else?  Maybe his parents would like to weigh in on that.  And suppose he DOES have a fancy cell phone and fancy PC and suppose he has never paid for anything in his life.  What the hell does it matter to you?  Do you think there will never be another blues artist that meets your criteria in the future?  Well...if there ever is one...they will have had a fancy cell phone and fancy PC and all kinds of other stuff paid for by mama and daddy.  It’s not 1920 anymore.  Your jealousy is showing just a little bit Mr. Expert.  So...you go on and live in your little delusional world.  It’s been fun sparing with you...but almost like shooting fish in a bucket.  Way too easy a target!  I can see that you have no credentials other than “BECAUSE I SAID SO”...so there’s no need to continue.  I don’t know if you are a member of the MCBS...but to the other members (many of whom I know to be very intelligent and very nice)...unfortunately, it is probably because of closed-minded bone-heads like “witheld” that the MCBS is not any larger than it is.  That is such a shame.  It is so nice to have places like the MCBS where people can go and appreciate music (or the arts or books or whatever) together.  But people certainly don’t want to attend when it is more of a “Nazi” event...as “witheld” said “if I say its not blues, then its not blues”.  I know the entire MCBS is NOT like that...but one bad jackleg really does spoil the bunch!!

Posted by  on  08/08  at  04:38 PM

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Well folks, I guess I will say a few things, even though I told myself I wouldn’t be involved with this flame war.

To the man who asked about my mother’s involvement with the blues.  My mother started carrying me to blues shows when I was 15 years old: Ryan Reardon and the Levee Breakers, Anson Funderburgh and Sam Myers, Sam Lay, BB King, and others for example.  If you had been involved with the blues scene in town you would know me and her.  She may be no “expert”, but I promise you she knows great blues. 

As for me, I first sat in with Ryan Reardon at 15 years old.  Ryan was my harmonica teacher and BA Bodiford was my guitar teacher.  I’m now 22.  I have been dragging my amp around to local clubs now for 7 years fairly solid.  Not always with blues bands, but I’d say at least primarily.  I wouldn’t call myself a professional musician, but I think I’m at least a “professional beer salesman.”

I work a day job at a record store 6 days a week.  I’m gigging with someone consistently around 2 to 3 nights a week.  I drive a ‘97 Honda in which the check engine light is pretty much always on.  In this car is almost every thing I own because I’ve been slightly transient (a couch surfer) for the better part of the last 3 years.  Yep, I have a Razor Cell Phone, but those are what… 30 bucks at Wal-Mart.  In the end, none of this matters.

Let’s get back to the blues.  There are so many different styles within the blues that people don’t recognize.  I’ve heard so many comments like, “you guys weren’t blues, you were rockabilly,” and I’ve heard people say stuff about how Todd wasn’t blues. 

I am so incredibly sick of people not recognizing anything as blues if it’s not an old black dude with an acoustic or Stevie Ray Vaughan.  The shit’s a little more diverse than people think.

You gonna tell Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker, Jimmie Vaughan, James Harman, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Freddy King, Rod Piazza, or MOST IMPORTANTLY SHAWN CARNEY LAST YEAR’S IBC WINNER, “You’re not blues, you’re rockabilly.” Guess what… it’s all from the same tree.  These folks lean towards the swingin’ West Coast sound.  Jimmy Vaughan just won a grammy a few years ago for “best traditional blues album.” Not that I have so much respect for the academy, but I guarantee you that our set was every bit as traditional as that album OR LAST YEAR’S IBC WINNER.  Now we’re not as good as the Jimmie Vaughan band or Shawn Carney, else I’d actually be pissed that we’re not going to Memphis, seeing that we’d win.  The point is, I definitely think we were pretty traditional.

I DON’T REALLY THINK THIS MATTERS THOUGH.  Was I mistaken and this was the Battle of the TRADITIONAL blues bands?  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I thoroughly enjoy hearing Tim Boykin or Jimmy Thackery wail on a strat.  I can tell you that Todd had great stage presence.  I believe he felt what he was playing.  In all honesty, I’m not a big contemporary blues fan, yet Todd does what he does and does it REALLY WELL. 

God-speed Todd.  Above all, have fun, and don’t let the bull-shit bring you down!

(warning: shameless self-promotion on it’s way)
Oh yeh, and everybody who wants come out to hear us at Formaggio’s 8/11 10pm or Marty’s 8/15 12am.

Posted by Dan Turner  on  08/09  at  03:31 PM

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Well said Dan!!!  Finally a comment from someone who actually DOES know what he is talking about.  Both you and Todd are incredibly talented and I expect great things from both of you.  But...hey...isn’t that the great thing??  There is actually room for BOTH of you and whatever kind of music you choose to play...whether or not “witheld” gives it his seal of approval or not!!  Hang in there.  Y’all are both young and you have plenty of time to make it big!!  I know you will!!

Posted by  on  08/09  at  05:30 PM

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well Mr Morrison you did not answer my question - CAN YOU READ....?

What did you think of last years BOBB
Have you ever seen Tood Simpson prior to the BOBB

Just answer the question they are not that hard
I think You are clueless and biased

I love this one:
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As for me, I first sat in with Ryan Reardon at 15 years old.  Ryan was my harmonica teacher and BA Bodiford was my guitar teacher
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Oh wow would you like to play where are they now..? Those are two of the WHITE-EST cats to evern attempt blues in B’ham
Yeah great you took lessons from the legends who aren’t even giggin - totally unknown - flash in pan - GONE.

The fact that you thought lessons would teach you the blues tells me a lot - blues can not be taught. You clearly misundestand the blues.

NO I am not a member of the blues society - I have attended several very good events, BOBB excluded. I am considering joining (despite BOBB) because as an expert they could benefit from my extensive knowledge

Since you ‘think’ you know & love blues - How long have you been a member...?

So take a break from text messenging your friends, put down the XBOX game and answer
my questions. They are not hard questions. 

good luck I hope ya’ll all grow up and get a clue

Posted by  on  08/15  at  09:25 AM

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My..my..my...our resident “expert” mr. “witheld” is back.  Yes.."witheld"...I can read.  I’m really not sure that you can.  I thought we had all determined that you were an expert only by your own admission...certainly not by ANYTHING you have been able to add to this discussion.  No one really cares what you think or say...because you are totally not relevant!  But to answer your questions.  Yes...I did see last year’s BOBB.  Before you quiz me...I really can’t remember the exact line up...but I do know that Blue Light Special won the band competition and that Leonard Watkins won the individual/duo competition.  I would say that both probably deserved to win...of course that’s just MY opinion.  And yes...I have seen Todd Simpson prior to BOBB.  Just like I’ve seen Dan Turner prior (altho not with the same band members).  Just like I’ve seen Scott of Midnight Train prior (altho not with the same band members).  Just like I’ve seen Blue Light Special prior (altho with some different band members).  Sorry to disappoint you.  Sorry I’ve seen more than one of the contestants prior to the BOBB.  Sorry...maybe I just get out more than you.  Now here’s something I don’t understand Mr. “witheld”...since you are SO knowledgable and since you are the world’s premier expert on the blues...why don’t you tell us who you are???  Why would someone of your vast experience and knowledge be reluctant to let everyone know who you are??  Come on out of the closet...let us bask in your unbelievable wealth of brain power!!  It is a sin to keep yourself hidden from the world!!  Oh...and just so you know...here’s a couple of things you messed up on.  First of all...I did NOT writethe statement about taking lessons from Ryan Reardon and BA Bodiford.  That was Dan Turner who wrote that!!  Did you MEAN to trash Dan some more?  Or did your vast brain just overload for a moment?  And you state that “The fact that you thought lessons would teach you the blues tells me a lot - blues can not be taught. You clearly misundestand the blues”.  Well...again...you got it wrong big boy!!  Dan simply stated that he took guitar and harmonica lessons from these guys.  He did NOT say he took blues lessons from them.  I would venture to say that the majority of musicians...at some point in their lives...took some kind of lesson to learn their instrument.  Whether it was structured lessons from somone or whether it was asking their uncle to show them chords...that still is a “lesson”.  Very, very few people wake up with the ability to play an instrument with no instruction of any kind.  Altho...I’m quite sure that according to you, YOU did!!  And again...is it really necessary to trash Ryan Reardon?  Do you just trash EVERYBODY that someone else even mentions...just for the hell of it?  And what is with this WHITE bashing?  Are you saying that the only true blues musicians can be old, toothless, illiterate, black men raised on the dusty back roads of Mississippi?  Again...you just prove your irrelevence!!  No...I am NOT a member of the MCBS and don’t intend to become a member.  I will support whatever functions they put on as I decide to.  Oh...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE become a member...I’m sure the rest of the Society can’t wait...because in your words “because as an expert they could benefit from my extensive knowledge”.  I know all the other members are waiting with baited breath for your membership form!!  And just to let you know...I’m not some little white teen-age (what did you call them?) “hair shaker”.  I hate to disappoint you that I have never sent a text message...don’t have or play xbox or any of the other mind numbing video games.  I do have a computer.  I guess that does mean I can know nothing about anything according to you.  Oh...wait...apparently YOU have a computer also.  You must actually have a really fancy state-of-the-art computer.  You would need one since you are the be all..end all expert of the universe!!  You must be on the computer non stop voicing your opinions on everything known to man.  Now...why don’t you just go on back in the hole from whence you crawled and keep your anonymous opinions to yourself or either own up to who you are???????  Let’s hear your REAL credentials!!!!

Posted by  on  08/15  at  04:21 PM

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Oh, and by the way.  Maybe you should be around because BA is most definitely still gigging.  He plays with Clay Swafford Band.  Clay has gigs with James Cotton, Bob Margolin, and Bob Corritore.  He’s now a very well-respected blues keys player, on a national level.

Why would a piano player who gigs with JAMES COTTON play with some of the “whitest” bluesmen ever (BA and previously Ryan)?

Oh well, do you know why his name is withheld?  Because he knows if he actually came to a blues show and talked this shit he’d get his ass kicked. 

You know what else I heard the other day? “You guys were too uptight.” Hell, it’s the first gig I’ve played in awhile where I didn’t get some free drinks.  I had to bum 20 bucks from my sax player to go get a couple of shots of whiskey (pay you back next time I see you, Kevin). 

You know I have to say this was the worst part of the BOBB experience for me:  NO FREE DRINKS FOR THE BANDS.  You want more blues in the acts next year, then give us more blues fuel… aka Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey.  We actually payed to play at this thing… come on, next year some of y’all kind folks buy the band a round or so. 

I’m raising hell if I have to pay for whiskey at the Blues Ball… I mean it. 

It’s totally reversed from normal.  At normal shows the band gets payed and comped, and the “blues judges” have to pay to get in.  The band gets told, “here’s your shot, man.” The judges get told, “Tip the Band.”

I think I’m gonna stick a tip jar out at the next BOBB and say something like, “If you think we’re too uptight, then buy us more boos before the last song.”

aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddd

I’m playing Marty’s September 3rd.  Come out.  We sound better after 10pm.

Posted by Dan Turner  on  08/17  at  06:20 AM

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Having sat in with Dan & the Dusters (great guys thanks for letting play) the other night at Formaggios I just gotta say ‘withheld’ has not got a clue. Dan blew the living sh&t;out of the harmonica. Closed his show with an alt-country type set that was OUTSTANDING. I mean OUTSTANDING. 

I also met his mother, she is a jewel with knowledge and bvey supportive of live music. 

I don’t think there is a defintive definition for ‘blues’ so play what you like and like what you play.

I suspect the anonymous person is getting his/her kicks by jerking your chain. ANYONE that would diss a wonderful & nice person like BA is a few fries short of a happy meal.

I vote we ignore the witheld posts

Posted by  on  08/17  at  10:08 AM

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I think SOMEONE should mention what a HOTTIE Dan’s mom is, and Dan’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.--Buddy

Posted by  on  08/18  at  01:57 AM

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I smell something funny ^_^

Posted by Stevie Ray Vaughan  on  07/16  at  03:42 AM

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