Epic blues numbers

[Dropzone]

I may be getting involved with a heavy blues project. Predominantly covers to start. This is not my area of expertise and I was wondering if you had any blues numbers in your set that set the world on fire or if they are any numbers that need to be avoided or any advice in general. Many thanks in advance. Mike

[Bikenbass]

I've just be turned on to John Mayall's Blues Breakers. The early stuff with John McVie on bass. His playing is beautifully simple with subtle variations, a joy to explore.

[chris_b]

What does "heavy blues" mean?

Loud? Authentic?

[leftybassman392]

I take it you're talking old-school electric Blues (BB King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker et. al.)?

[Coilte]

I agree with Bikenbass about John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Cant go far wrong with his material. Go to You Tube and check him out. Also check out : Mike Bloomfield...Buddy Guy...Freddy/Albert/BB King...Johnny Winter... Peter Green...Chicken Shack....Ten Years After.

[Coilte]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456308331' post='2987546']
What does "heavy blues" mean?

Loud? Authentic?
[/quote]

Was wondering the same thing myself. Never heard the term.

[EliasMooseblaster]

Afraid I can't get onto YT at work to provide examples, but "Come On in this House" by Byther Smith is probably a good starting point. Don't know if it would really count as blues, but if you've got a dynamic enough frontperson then Nick Cave's reimagining of "Tupelo" could make a bit of a showstopper.

[Dropzone]

I'm classing Heavy Blues as more distorted than your regular BB King, the sort of thing Slash does, somewhere in the middle between Metal and Blues.

[Dropzone]

[sub]Thanks for the suggestions, I will give them all a listen.[/sub]

[Truckstop]

Depends on how you interpret the songs I suppose. You can play Crossroads ultra-soft or you could play CC Rider dark and swampy.

A band I dep for play Robert Cray's 'Your Good Thing Is About To End' quite aggressively and it rocks! They rein in the swinging-ness, play it a little straighter and it really goes.

[RockfordStone]

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1456309660' post='2987575']
I'm classing Heavy Blues as more distorted than your regular BB King, the sort of thing Slash does, somewhere in the middle between Metal and Blues.
[/quote]
Anything by Joe Bonamassa. band do a pretty mean version of "ballad of john henry"

[chris_b]

Slash? Blues? That's a new one on me!

Try Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cream and early Robben Ford.

[chris_b]

. . . maybe Humble Pie, Joe Walsh, Mountain and Grand Funk Railroad.

[Mykesbass]

Sounds to me that you need to look at Led Zeppelin's more blues influenced stuff, Since I've Been Loving You, Levee Breaks, I Can't Quit You Baby - as already said, a lot of it is just taking the old standards (I Can't Quit You Baby) and making your own heavy interpretation of them.

[Cato]

I once drank two pints ( and I'm not a particularly fast drinker) whilst listening to a band do their version of 'Red House' at a beer festival. That was pretty epic. (in the sense that it seemed to go on for a very long time rather than being notable for anything else).

Edited February 24, 2016 by Cato

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1456312282' post='2987611']
I once drank two pints ( and I'm not a particularly fast drinker) whilst listening to a band do their version of 'Red House' at a beer festival. That was pretty epic. (in the sense that it seemed to go on for a very long time rather than being notable for anything else).
[/quote]

Red House needs two pints (and I'm teetotal)

[chris_b]

If you want to stand out from the crowd, be better than the rest, I'd suggest you leave Red House alone.

[Dropzone]

Wow, so much music I just don't know ;-)

[RhysP]

Heavy Blues = even more interminable guitar solos than 'normal' blues.

[allighatt0r]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2bZAH9D1mI[/media]

Edited February 24, 2016 by allighatt0r

[chris_b]

Have a listen to Beck-Ola by the Jeff Beck Group.

[RockfordStone]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456310943' post='2987595']
Slash? Blues? That's a new one on me!
[/quote]
it was on me too, i would never put slash and blues in the same sentence unless it was "slash isn't a blues guitarist"

[chris_b]

I know, but there are plenty of blues players at the heavier end of the spectrum to provide inspiration.

Free, Cream and the Jeff Beck Group were all bands that moved away from blues and in the process created Rock.

[wateroftyne]

Heavy blues = Zeppelin, surely?

[ezbass]

Wow! You have picked a widely ranging genre. However, with your further description, the previously mentioned Cream, Free, Zep, Jeff Beck Group are all good sources. I would also do a YouTube or Spotify search for "Muddy water blues Paul Rodgers full album" as that album features an awful lot of different, although still 'heavy', styles due to the variety of guitar players involved, including Slash. Plus, it's Pino on bass, so wins all round.

Edited February 24, 2016 by ezbass