Member Since: 08/07/2007
Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/scotbluesman
Band Members: Yours truly. It's a start ! BUT I play piano ok, guitar rather well, banjo rather poorly (but funnily), and the violin ok. I tried the harmonica, but took up the kazoo instead.
Influences: My grandfather: who played Wild Irish Rose, and many other tunes on the yukelele while I sat on his lap at six. My father, who showed me how to ride a horse in my teens, and my mother, the elementary school teacher, who showed me the value of a good education by example.
Nickel Creek: Rare young and special, Nickel Creek makes all of us want to become musicians. With all the great harmonies, and pure messages: It's the band I hope to somehow generate, build, ... emulate. I think even CSN should be taking notice. Enter Nickel Creek, and perfect fifths harmony.
Waylon Jennings: I believe I should have just about every Way-More Jennings album that exists. Waylon blazed this path for a more rock sounding beat driven country, which has been copied by many capable players today. There's an almost timeless quality to the re-masters which sound great today on my new fangled high tech stereo.
Alan Jackson: Alan Jackson, George Jones, and Merle Haggard who have continued to define how traditional country music should best sound. There's stories, truth, and real feeling in the songs. The incredible talent of Alan's band and Alan's sense of timing really deliver a powerful, um ... rather hard to replicate, experience.
George Thorogood: George Thorogood has always provided powerful entertainment with a driving beat. Merging New Orleans style John Fogerty like blues with countrified bluegrass and a Who-like stuttered bass electric swing beat: George is BBB Bad to the Bone. It's why I believe more is better: More amps ... more sound, more everything. It's why I use dual Fender tube amps. The tone is critical. Even more if you're only doing it on your own.
Colleen McFarland: Colleen McFarland is a fascinating artist, with a similar last name, and extended formal music training. Her sound reminds me some of Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, and Alison Krauss. Her latest album is a great achievement. I find it very entertaining, well, because if I can feel like playing fiddle with it, its a winner!
The Greencards: The Greencards have received magnificent five star reviews for Viridian. I have yet to hear an album with the violin featured on almost every song with every song a standout positive winner
After a five year break, word is Clint Black may return to touring. I would go, and bring everyone you can. His classic country sound is great, and I expect he will only get even better on the next album.
Jenny Scheinman: Jazz is an acquired taste built mostly from boredom with the predictable and typical. I think Jenny Scheinman has really developed a very powerful sound with the violin, and the work with Bill Frizzell has taken it to a new profound level, way up there with John Coltrane. I really feel it so much. Perhaps more even than many of the great jazz greats of past.
Eric Clapton said that before he started playing in a band he spent a lot of time listening. I think it's necessary to know the sound you want to produce first. I think I'm ahead on that curve. I know what I like. Perhaps musically I might be closer to Edwin McCain, with my interest in blending rock influences with real bluegrass instruments like the violin, mandolin, and banjo.
I thank Hank Williams Jr. and Toby Kieth for reminding us that we all should be having a good time occasionally in our favorite bar, with high maintenance women, instead of crying in our beer. Big and Rich for further reminding us that music is actually a form of entertainment from outer space. Gary Alan and Kieth Urban for proving that country music can be far more musically expressive than any other genre. Amazing guitar and ganjo might be an appropriate description. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Carole King for writing lyrics that matter, and even sell. KT Tunstall and Dwight Yoakam for demonstrating how great one solo artist can sound with one guitar and a lot of foot pedals. Brad Paisely for reminding us of the dangers of internet based alcohol, Blake Shelton for taking all the women away, Josh Turner for singing lower than an elephant, and Randy Travis for scolding us into going to church on Sunday. Either way, I won't be ridin on that long black train anytime soon. I believe humor is a good thing. I don't take myself that seriously. I hope eventually to be minimalized by Blake Shelton on CMT for giving out too much BS!
Sometimes I like a change, and for many years, about two decades ago, when I was in New York City I was a big jazz fan. The only country music station then in NYC was WHN-AM. It was good then, (with lots of reverb) and I listened to it with my father, but many of my young friends were into jazz. I actually saw George Benson live at Radio City NYC for his On Broadway tour. He signed my On Broadway album, and his Collaboration album with Earl Klugh is musically impressive. Sometimes I like to pull out my Gretsch hollow body and play along with BB King. It's a very different sound, and perhaps the phrasing and changes make for nice challenges. Maybe the most rewarding thing is that I can actually keep up, and give some counterpoint. It's kind of freeing to just jam around sometimes too.
The recordings will get better as I acquire better equipment and learn to use them better. However, I will provide a pretty dramatic live experience switching from violin, piano and guitar during the same songs. Things are going to improve, I promise!
Sounds Like: ME, but some say somewhere between Waylon and Alan, which might be because I have all their albums and play them constantly.
Record Label: Unsigned