The Obscure Blues Music Scene

The Obscure Blues Music Scene is a site dedicated to exploring the lesser known parts of the blues world. We write about the obscure artists, venues, and events that make up this vibrant scene.

The History of the Blues

The blues is a musical genre that originated in the African-American communities in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The style is a fusion of African and European musical traditions. The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music, such as jazz, rock, and country.

The Origins of the Blues

The origin of the blues is often a mystery. Ask any number of blues fans, scholars, or musicians where the blues began, and you’re likely to get a variety of answers. The fact is, no one really knows. What we do know is that the blues evolved from the work songs, spirituals, and field hollers of African Americans in the American South. These musical traditions were born out of the hardships of slavery and share many similarities with the music of West Africa.

One theory suggests that the word “blues” comes from the 12-bar chord progression that is characteristic of many blues songs. This chord progression was first used in European classical music, but it was later adapted by African American musicians and became a staple of blues and jazz.

Whatever its origins, there is no denying that the blues has had a profound impact on American music. It has served as the foundation for genres like jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and R&B, and its influence can be heard in virtually every type of popular music today.

The Spread of the Blues

The blues quickly spread out of Mississippi, initially to Memphis, Tennessee, and then other parts of the American South. Memphis was home to a major recording studio, and blues artists such as W.C. Handy and Bessie Smith found success there. The music also spread to Chicago, where it developed a distinctive sound based on electric guitars and amplified harmonica, among other changes. Chicago blues is associated with such artists as Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon.

The Development of the Blues

African Americans developed the blues as a reaction to the hardships they faced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The blues is a form of music that originated in the African American community in the Deep South. The genre is characterized by its use of the blue note, which is a flattened third or seventh note.

The Transition from Folk to Popular Music

The transition from folk to popular music was a gradual process that took place over the course of the early 20th century. The earliest forms of blues music were largely songs sung by working-class African Americans in the southern United States. These songs were often about the struggles of daily life, and they often featured influences from African American spirituals, work songs, and field hollers.

Over time, the blues began to be adopted by middle-class white Americans, who became some of the most important patrons of blues musicians. This led to a increase in popularity for the genre, and by the 1920s, blues was being performed in cities all over the United States. It was around this time that the first recordings of blues music were made, and these recordings would help to spread the genre even further.

The popularity of blues continued to grow in the 1930s and 1940s, with artists like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King becoming hugely popular both within the African American community and among white Americans as well. In the 1950s, artists like Elvis Presley would help to bring blues-influenced music to a whole new audience, and today, Blues is enjoyed by people all over the world

The Birth of the Electric Blues

In the early 1930s, as the Great Depression was taking hold, the blues was evolving. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and others were creating a new sound, playing the blues more loudly and with more distorted electric guitars. This sound became known as electric blues.

Electric blues bands typically consisted of a guitar player, a harmonica player and a drummer. The lead guitar player would sing the blues while playing his guitar. The other instruments would provide accompaniment.

The electric blues was popularized by artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon in the 1940s and 1950s. These artists were influenced by earlier acoustic blues performers such as Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson. They took the acoustic blues sound and added electric guitars, amplifiers and drums to create a louder, more powerful sound.

The electric blues became very popular in the United States, particularly in urban areas such as Chicago and Memphis. It also became popular in Europe in the 1960s and 1970s. Artists such as Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were influenced by the electric blues sound.

The Modern Blues Scene

The blues has been around for a long time and has been a huge influence on many modern genres of music. The modern blues scene is a lot different than what it used to be. The obscure blues music scene is thriving and there are many new artists making a name for themselves.

The British Invasion

In the early 1960s, a new style of music emerged from Britain that would come to be known as “the British Invasion.” This style was heavily influenced by American blues music, and it quickly gained popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. Some of the most famous bands of this era include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Animals.

The British Invasion had a profound impact on the development of modern blues music. Many British musicians who were influenced by American blues artists decided to travel to the United States to see them perform. While in the United States, these musicians also had the opportunity to meet and play with some of the most famous blues musicians of all time. As a result of these experiences, many British Invasion bands went on to incorporate elements of blues into their own music.

The British Invasion also helped to increase interest in American blues music among young people in both Britain and the United States. This new generation of fans helped to keep the blues alive during a time when it was struggling to find an audience.

The Chicago Blues Scene

The Chicago blues is a form of blues music indigenous to Chicago, Illinois. Chicago blues is a type of urban blues that developed in Chicago, Illinois, in the early twentieth century from the Mississippi Delta blues. It is characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm section, and often saxophone or harmonica. The most common instrumentation for Chicago blues bands includes one or two electric guitars, bass, drums, one or two saxophones, and sometimes harmonica.

The earliest innovators of the Chicago blues sound were people such as Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. These pioneers developed a distinctive style of music that was based on the use of electric guitars and a strong rhythm section. This sound quickly became popular in the city’s nightclubs and soon spread to other parts of the country.

Today, the Chicago blues sound is alive and well in the city’s clubs and concert venues. If you’re looking to experience this unique form of music, there are plenty of great places to do so. Here are just a few of the best places to catch a Chicago blues show:

-Buddy Guy’s Legends: Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Buddy Guy’s Legends is one of the most popular blues clubs in the city. The club features live music seven nights a week, making it a great place to catch a show any night of the week.

-The Hideout: The Hideout is a cozy little club located on Chicago’s west side. The club features an eclectic lineup of music genres, but it has a strong focus on roots-based music such as the blues.

-Kingston Mines: Kingston Mines is another popular option for catching a live blues show in Chicago. The club features two stages that feature live music nightly.

-Reggies Music Joint: Reggies Music Joint is a great option for those looking for an intimate setting to see a show. The club only has a capacity for about 200 people, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something more low-key.

The New Orleans Blues Scene

The blues scene in New Orleans is thriving, with local musicians keeping the tradition alive while incorporating modern influences. The city has a long history of blues music, dating back to the early 20th century when musicians from the Mississippi Delta region migrated there. Today, the blues can be heard in clubs and bars throughout the city, as well as at annual festivals like the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

While the blues scene in New Orleans is not as large or well-known as that of other cities like Chicago or Memphis, it is still an important part of the city’s music culture. Local musicians are keeping the tradition alive by performing both traditional and contemporary blues music. If you’re interested in experiencing the blues scene in New Orleans, be sure to check out some of the local clubs and festivals.