Blues

My grandfather loved the blues so I decided to create a playlist of songs that either make me think about him or that he would like. I uploaded some CD’s that were given to me that he used to listen to with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, and one was called Absolutely the Best of the Blues with various artists. I even added my own from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and this artist named Gary Clark Jr. has been bringing the blues sound back. He is very talented. I highly suggest to listen to Gary Clark Jr.’s song The Healing and get some healing of your own. Music heals. Even across generations it has a way of connecting us all if we let it. I hope blues makes a comeback. There has not been much variety of sound when it comes to rock. I mean each band has their own sound yes but as far as their being other genres within rock like psychedelic or blues I have not seen much of in the past.

One year I finally discovered the band The Black Keys and devoured their numerous albums. One of them is even called El Camino, which my grandpa had one we kept and took family pictures with after he passed. I really love the bluesy sound to their music. Their music has evolved and changed over the years so not everything sounds bluesy but the ones that are I love even more. I am pretty sure that the song Howling for You was the first song I heard by them and it’s not very bluesy. I am still in love with the song Little Black Submarines and will never forget when Johnny Depp played with them on stage- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNKE5LYC0lw

The trick I use on Spotify is find the artist whose sound you want to find more of and go to a few of the “Fans also like” artists (or artists from the same playlist) and “Add to Queue” a few of their Popular songs (not always the most played) of each until you find something you like. And from there you can refine your search and narrow down to hopefully find the sound you are looking for.

I love discovering new music but I have the hardest time searching for it by words so finding new music can be hard for me. I often know what the music I want sounds like in my head but cannot find it by searching so I have to get creative. I finally figured out the genre for my playlist called Good Chill Vibes is called Dream Pop which has helped finding more and more. Music is so much more to me than words so I think that is why I have a hard time describing it in words to search and had to come up with this trick to grow my playlists.  

If you like the sound of the Black Keys, their lead singers name is Dan Auerbach and his music is very bluesy as well. Give him a listen, specifically his album Keep It Hid. I just did that with Dan’s Spotify and found this song called 250 Miles by Radio Moscow that is crazy good. Kinda reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd. I have listened to a few of their other songs and I really like them. I now have found a playlist called ‘Blue Heavy Stoner Rock’ which I am going to Save. Also called Adding to my Library or Favoriting or Following. Spotify loves to change what it means and I can’t keep up, but you know what I am talking about.

There is a chance every genre might make a comeback one day and this is why I always try to stay open to listening to different genres and artists. You never know what you will discover that you like or re-discover when it comes to music and that is a huge reason why I love it so much. It is something that can easily be a talking point with others that you can connect with. There is a part of me that wonders what my grandpa would think of The Black Keys and some of these other artists I found.. At least now I have a playlist that I can listen to when I am thinking about him.

Edit to add- I started a playlist for new blues/psychadelic rock tracks I come across, if you want to save it-  Blues-psych Revival