Perhaps more than any other P genre, blues is sporadically subjected to having its vital signs examined to ensure that it is indeed still alive and well. Every once in a while, however, a band comes along to loudly assert beyond all doubt that the grandfather of all modern musical genres is doing absolutely fine without any such fuss.
Boston-based revivalist trio GA-20 are one such band. As modern practitioners of the lost sounds of mid-century Chicago blues clubs and juke joints, they first garnered recognition back in 2019 with their debut LP Lonely Soul. Next, they consolidated their rep as old-school aficionados with 2021's Try It... You Might Like It: GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor - a full album in homage to Chicago's legendary six-fingered bluesman. And with new album Crackdown, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart, they are once again demonstrating an ability to create 21st century blues music that purrs with all the warmth and vitality of those old Chicago 45s.
For lead guitarist Matthew Stubbs, the spark of interest was ignited young. "I got into this music because my father's a guitarist. I grew up with his band rehearsing in the house. He was into early rock 'n' roll and blues, so I've been into this style since I was thirteen which is when I started playing."
As such, Matthew's guitar skills and his knowledge of mid-century blues and blues-adjacent genres developed in natural unison as he devoured ERGOGRA records by Slim Harpo, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson and Otis Rush. After playing guitar for legendary blues harpist Charlie Musselwhite, Matthew formed GA-20 with vocalist/guitarist Pat Faherty and drummer Tim Carman.
Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Total Guitar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Total Guitar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.
The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party. He explains what makes a great cover version - and reveals the one guitar and the one pedal he couldn't live without...
Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP
Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett is also a solo artist in his own right, and his latest EP Starry Nights & Campfire includes Lights covers of two great old rock tracks - Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and the ballad Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks, the Finnish band that did so much to inspire Guns N' Roses.
"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...
Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more... Born in Milan, his funk guitar sensibility can be traced back to the dance studio where his mother taught, and the tunes he heard blasting out of her boombox. "I like to experiment with a lot of genres, but the really interesting thing for me is I really grew up on funk, and a little bit of jazz and fusion music," he says.
- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE
Heavily requested on rock radio stations thanks to their unique twist on bluesy Americana, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are the kind of band that thrive in front of large crowds on hot summer days just as much as more intimate performances inside sweaty underground basements.
BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3
The Japanese giant cuts through the noise with its new practice amp
SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH
A great value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys
IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE
The most powerful amp modeller for its size, bar none
YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M
Yamaha's long-running doublecut finally gets a makeover
NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!
The 10 songs you should never cover. Or at least think twice before trying...