Modern Electric Blues

Modern Electric Blues began in the late '70s and early '80s, after blues-rock ran its course and most major labels had given up on the blues. As a musical form, Electric Blues had not changed significantly since the mid-'60s, once the British blues bands invaded America. As a result, the music sounded essentially the same, blending classic electricfied Chicago and Texas blues with a distinct rock influence. This new generation of blues musicians received support through new independent labels like Alligator, who provided a crucial outlet of Modern Electric Blues. As the '80s progressed, Modern Electric Blues found its audience, and it continued to thrive through the late '90s.

Eric Clapton By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in August 1970, he was long established as one of the world's major rock stars due to his group affiliations -- the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith -- affiliations that had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. I've always thought of him as having one foot planted firmly in the Blues, hence his inclusion here. I finally saw Clapton in concert in Cleveland in '98 on his "Pilgrim" tour.
Grim's Pick: Unplugged. Visit the Official Clapton Page

Stevie Ray Vaughan With his astonishingly accomplished guitar playing, Stevie Ray Vaughan ignited the blues revival of the '80s. Vaughan drew equally from bluesmen like Albert King, Otis Rush, and Muddy Waters and rock & roll players like Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack, as well as the stray jazz guitarist like Kenny Burrell, developing a uniquely eclectic and fiery style that sounded like no other guitarist, regardless of genre. Vaughan bridged the gap between blues and rock like no other artist had since the late '60s. For the next seven years, Stevie Ray was the leading light in American blues, consistently selling out concerts while his albums regularly went gold. His tragic death in 1990 only emphasized his influence in blues and American rock & roll.
Grim's Pick: The Sky is Crying. Visit Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Epic Center

Jonny Lang Modern blues in the '90s had a weird phenomenon of teenage blues guitarists rocketing to popularity with their first album. The entire trend culminated with Jonny Lang, a guitarist from Fargo, North Dakota, who released his solo debut album when he was 15. I saw him live for the first time opening for Aerosmith in the Fall of '97...then later that Winter when he returned to headline at the Newport. This kid is entirely too young to have the kind of talent that he does.
Grim's Pick: Wander this World.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his group have exploded on the scene in the mid-'90s and garnered huge amounts of radio airplay on commercial radio, which historically has not been a solid home for blues and blues-rock music, with the exception of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the mid-'80s. My thanks to my nephew, Chris, for bringing this talent to my attention. I've managed to see him live twice, as he and his band opened for Van Halen at their shows in Cleveland and Columbus in '98.
Grim's Pick: Ledbetter Heights. Visit The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Information Center

Jeff Healey What makes Jeff Healey different from other blues-rockers is also what keeps some listeners from accepting him as anything other than a novelty -- the fact that the blind guitarist plays his Fender Stratocaster on his lap, not standing up. With the guitar in his lap, Healey can make unique bends and hammer-ons, making his licks different and more elastic than most of the competition. Unfortunately, his material leans toward standard AOR blues-rock which rarely lets him cut loose, but when he does, his instrumental prowess can be shocking.
Grim's Pick: See the Light. Visit SEE THE LIGHT - The Jeff Healey Band Unofficial Page

Corey Stevens has distinguished himself as an artist of integrity and vision. An early comparison to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan was a mixed blessing that forced Stevens to push himself in order to make his own statement. I've managed to miss seeing this man each time his been to town but, I've heard nothing but good things from friends who have. Keep an eye on this one.
Grim's Pick: The Road to Zen. Visit the Corey Stevens Unofficial Web Site

ZZ Top The only rock & roll group that's out there with its original members still aboard after 20-plus years, ZZ Top's music is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful, and 100% American in derivation. They have continued to support the blues through various means, perhaps the most visible when they were given a piece of wood from Muddy Waters's shack in Clarksdale, MS. The group members had it made into a guitar, dubbed the "Muddywood," then sent it out on tour to raise money for the Delta Blues Museum. ZZ Top's support and link to the blues remains as rock solid as the music they play.
Grim's Pick: Eliminator. Visit ZZTOP.Com

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	Eric Clapton By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in August 1970, he was long established as one of the world's major rock stars due to his group affiliations -- the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith -- affiliations that had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. I've always thought of him as having one foot planted firmly in the Blues, hence his inclusion here. I finally saw Clapton in concert in Cleveland in '98 on his "Pilgrim" tour. Grim's Pick: Unplugged. Visit the Official Clapton Page
	Stevie Ray Vaughan With his astonishingly accomplished guitar playing, Stevie Ray Vaughan ignited the blues revival of the '80s. Vaughan drew equally from bluesmen like Albert King, Otis Rush, and Muddy Waters and rock & roll players like Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack, as well as the stray jazz guitarist like Kenny Burrell, developing a uniquely eclectic and fiery style that sounded like no other guitarist, regardless of genre. Vaughan bridged the gap between blues and rock like no other artist had since the late '60s. For the next seven years, Stevie Ray was the leading light in American blues, consistently selling out concerts while his albums regularly went gold. His tragic death in 1990 only emphasized his influence in blues and American rock & roll. Grim's Pick: The Sky is Crying. Visit Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Epic Center
	Jonny Lang Modern blues in the '90s had a weird phenomenon of teenage blues guitarists rocketing to popularity with their first album. The entire trend culminated with Jonny Lang, a guitarist from Fargo, North Dakota, who released his solo debut album when he was 15. I saw him live for the first time opening for Aerosmith in the Fall of '97...then later that Winter when he returned to headline at the Newport. This kid is entirely too young to have the kind of talent that he does. Grim's Pick: Wander this World.
	Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his group have exploded on the scene in the mid-'90s and garnered huge amounts of radio airplay on commercial radio, which historically has not been a solid home for blues and blues-rock music, with the exception of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the mid-'80s. My thanks to my nephew, Chris, for bringing this talent to my attention. I've managed to see him live twice, as he and his band opened for Van Halen at their shows in Cleveland and Columbus in '98. Grim's Pick: Ledbetter Heights. Visit The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Information Center
	Jeff Healey What makes Jeff Healey different from other blues-rockers is also what keeps some listeners from accepting him as anything other than a novelty -- the fact that the blind guitarist plays his Fender Stratocaster on his lap, not standing up. With the guitar in his lap, Healey can make unique bends and hammer-ons, making his licks different and more elastic than most of the competition. Unfortunately, his material leans toward standard AOR blues-rock which rarely lets him cut loose, but when he does, his instrumental prowess can be shocking. Grim's Pick: See the Light. Visit SEE THE LIGHT - The Jeff Healey Band Unofficial Page
	Corey Stevens has distinguished himself as an artist of integrity and vision. An early comparison to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan was a mixed blessing that forced Stevens to push himself in order to make his own statement. I've managed to miss seeing this man each time his been to town but, I've heard nothing but good things from friends who have. Keep an eye on this one. Grim's Pick: The Road to Zen. Visit the Corey Stevens Unofficial Web Site
	ZZ Top The only rock & roll group that's out there with its original members still aboard after 20-plus years, ZZ Top's music is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful, and 100% American in derivation. They have continued to support the blues through various means, perhaps the most visible when they were given a piece of wood from Muddy Waters's shack in Clarksdale, MS. The group members had it made into a guitar, dubbed the "Muddywood," then sent it out on tour to raise money for the Delta Blues Museum. ZZ Top's support and link to the blues remains as rock solid as the music they play. Grim's Pick: Eliminator. Visit ZZTOP.Com