Wow - I had never heard this song. Kinda classic John Popper-style soloing, but cool to play him here on more minor kinda groove.
I know a lot of harmonica players hate John Popper for some reason, but I never have. Check it out.
What do you think?
I love it!
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Yeah Popper gets a bad press, because a lot of people think it’s just speed — like Eddie Van Halen was just speed — not! I think it’s just a bit of jealousy really. I incorporated a bit of his style into my playing, Traditionalist blues people seem to hate it. But would we have had players like Butterfield, Blind Owl Wilson, Kim Wilson Estrin, Clarke, Piazza, Delay, if they hadn’t have pushed the boundaries a bit. If traditionalists hate stuff it’s usually a good sign you’re doing something different that stands out, Jason Ricci, and Will Wilde would also fall into the list of hated by the Traditionalists too. As you can gather I’ve not much time for musical snobs
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Not a style I like to listen or aspire to, but I appreciate it technically. very clean.
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A broader perspective: The players you proffer that “traditionalists hate”. Think of it as the fact that historically, American pop music (since 1900) changes about every ten years. If you came up in the 50’s rock was Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry; in the 70’s the Beatles and Stones; by the 90’s rap… so different generations call it rock, but it’s not the same music. One decade’s players often don’t hold appeal for the prior or future decade’s listeners. Think country blues vs urban blues vs blues rock.
Perhaps “the controversy” is merely a matter of those ever changing musical tastes. Or maybe it’s about (however skilled) players seemingly reliant on speed, volume, makeup, arrogance, or pedals and special effects to sell themselves. I don’t know.
I’m just glad delete keys and “off” switches exist.
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I’ve always been of the belief that music is subjective to a person’s tastes. I do absolutely love some classical music, Gilbert and Sullivan I think we’re masters of melody and Lyrics and really funny and 20’s and 30’s Jazz and Blues, 1950’s Rock and Roll/Rockabilly also I love punk rock, I’m a bit choosy about 60’s bands I love the Stones, The Animals but not the usual suspects such as the Beatles. And I love Paul Butterfield and Canned heat a lot more than the British Blues invasion bands although I do love Savoy Brown I love a lot of 70’s and 80’s bands it’s all a mixture I love soul too Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson being some of my faves but Motown Atlantic and Stax I love. My Passion for the Blues started in the 80’s when I was invalided out of the Forces, and I became disillusioned with what was happening in Rock music But since then I’ve gotten into all sorts, world music Viking folk music I’ll listen to anything except what’s in the charts and electronic thump thump thump music. I’m not a Pink Floyd fan there seemed to be bands that you “had” to like when I was getting into music I’m afraid I found the more proggy stuff boring. Doesn’t mean it’s bad music I just don’t like it. A few years ago I got into Country, when I discovered the music of Gram Parsons. That opened a new work to me. But music is dependent entirely on the taste of the listener.
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