Leaving Them Old Blues Myths Behind...

Used to be a terrible rumor, an old wives tale maybe among the old blues players that if you got sober you lost your chops. You just would not have it anymore and probably should hang your ax up. Here's a couple of guys we saw at Jazz Fest, Anders Osbourne and Jason Isbell that are showing the lie in that old myth every time they take the stage. 

Both these guys are from the same breed. They are singer songwriters with serious guitar chops. Anders has had his songs recorded by an array of diverse artists as well as had them appear on movie sound tracks. While he calls New Orleans home he was born in Sweden. He got here as fast as he could. 

After overcoming his own demons Anders founded Send Me a Friend. This organization is for the working musician that finds his or herself back in the bars where the trouble started but is trying to plug away at the music job newly sober. It's either that or drive a cab so Send Me a Friend helps make a buffer and a safe haven for the musician to protect from the temptations of the road.  

I think I have at least four of his cds. 

What more can we say about the success of Jason Isbell? Started out in the Drive By Truckers but he parted ways with them. We saw him in Chicago in a small bar and it was a demonstration of rock and roll excess. He swilled from a fifth of whiskey on stage and was a looking fat, bloated and sweaty. Still a good show but from my meager show business experience you could sense things running off the road. He soon got sober, married a fine singer songwriter/instrumentalist Amanda Shires and we saw a great show with them opening for Todd Snider.

Since then it's back on track with great recordings that win Americana Music Awards. Nothing gets you good songs like almost going down. Thing is you gotta get it together to write those songs.   

Band is called the 400 Unit. Don't know what that means but it's good. 

If you think you might loose your chops if you make a change stop and think again. I prefer the long arc of creativity myself instead of the burn it out school.