Blues Brothers Recreated With LEGOS!

Holy crap do people have some free time.

If you've seen the 1980 cult classic "The Blues Brothers", then you know that that Elwood and Jake Blues are on a mission from God to save their orphanage, and along the way they get in some trouble with the law (among others).

One of the car chases is through a mall; and it turns out, it's just as amazing with Lego bricks. Duncan McConchie, the mad genius at Bricktease, created a shot-for-shot recreation of the famous scene done entirely with Legos. 

This is brilliant , and this is what the internet is all about. Hats off to Duncan!

2013 Blues Holiday Gift Guide

2013 is almost over, and this month marks the shopping spree joyous holiday of Christmas. What better time to start picking out gifts for your friends (or yourself?)

About.com's Blues section has it's 2013 holiday gift up and you can check it out in full [here], whilst I'll list them for you for ease:

2014 Blues Calendar From Blues Images 

Not only do you have a great collection of vintage blues art, but you get a free CD featuring classic blues songs from the likes of Blind Blake, Furry Lewis, Charlie Patton, and others!

'Rhythm & Blues' - Buddy Guy

The highly acclaimed 2013 release from Buddy Guy was a great success commercially and critically. You can read my review of the album [here].

Duane Allman's 'Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective' CD box set

The ENTIRE works of slide guitarist Duane Allman spanning seven discs. I hope you have a lot of free time to indulge all of it!

Eric Clapton's 'Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013' CD/DVD

In it's 4th show, Eric Clapton's renowned Crossroads Guitar Festival of 2013 which took place in Madison Square Garden was a massive blues, rock, and guitar festival featuring dozens of legendary artists like BB King, Jeff Beck, The Allman Brothers, and many more!

Eric Clapton's 'Give Me Strength' CD box set

A six disc compilation of just one (!) year of Eric Clapton's career, from 1974-1975. It features his solo work and other recordings such as rare sides and live tracks. One disc is a blu-ray remaster of the 461 Ocean Boulevard album (the one with "I Shot the Sheriff). 

Joe Bonamassa 'Tour de Force' DVDs

Earlier this year, blues-rocker Joe Bonamassa performed 4 different shows in London, each night with a different theme (blues, rock n' roll., power trio, acoustic/electric), so that's 4 different DVD's of different caliber. If you're a fan you should get all of them!

Robert Crumb's 'The Complete Album Cover Collection' Book

Robert Crumb is a cartoonist who is infatuated with old jazz and blues art. Since the early 60's he's done hundreds of album covers for many recording artists, such as James Brown, Frank Zappa, Gus Cannon, George Jones, Woody Guthrie, and more. Features 450 covers!

Third Man Records' Paramount Records 'Wonder Cabinet'

If you have around $500 to spend, this is an ultimate collectors item; the 1917-1927 catalog of defunct Paramount Records, featuring hundreds of songs and other goodies like:

800 newly-remastered digital tracks on a forged metal USB drive shaped like a Victrola stylus
200+ fully-restored original ads and images
6 x 180g LPs w/ hand-engraved metal leaf center labels on burled chestnut vinyl
Deluxe large-format hardcover art book: 250 pages, narrative with full-color plates 
Encyclopedia-style reference manual: 360 pages, field guide to artists & repertoire
Handcrafted elements: rich woods, lush upholstery, and custom-forged metal hardware
Track & Image App: First-of-its-kind music and image player app, allows user management of 800 tracks and 200+ original ads, housed on custom-made USB

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins Pokes Fun at Jazz

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins has a well known skit called "Jazz", where he makes fun of the genre and it's listeners (known as the common stupid people).

It's worth listening to some fun humor; got to have a sense of humor!

Happy Thanksgiving!

'Stool Pigeon Blues' - Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin' Hopkins  is one of the blues' greatest heroes. His low down and gritty blues style has sent the story of the blues across the USA and the world.

This solitary lonesome blues hits the soul so hard you can feel the pain of Hopkins. 

'Old Vets Blues' - Poor Boy Burke

I discovered a new blues artist today called Poor Boy Burke. I could not find a bio and just a tiny photo of his only (?) hit song, Old Vets Blues, which might not even be one of the gents in the picture.

How bluer can you get? The song in itself is a simple piano blues, where Burke discusses how old he's become and he changed his young and wild days.

I used to be jealous back in my younger days;

Women don't excite me;

and I have changed my ways. 

For A Rainy Day: 'Tupelo Blues' - John Lee Hooker

A severe thunderstorm has hit Kuwait and the Gulf States, with Saudi Arabia experiencing great floods.

I recommend spending the day at home, while having John Lee Hooker's song, 'Tupelo Blues' playing non-stop.

Tupelo, Mississippi, was hit by a severe tornado in 1936 and caused hundreds of deaths, and John Lee's song is a homage to the hard-hit town.

This blues is very befitting of the current scenario.

Steven Seagal Sings the Blues (I Shit You Not)

Yes, THAT Steven Seagal.

The C (or D?) list action movie star has expanded into music, much like other actors, but he went to the blues.

He released his first album 'Songs from the Crystal Cave' in 2005, and somehow it was successful enough that he released another album called 'Mojo Priest' in 2006.

Is it good? You be the judge!

Here's the Muddy Waters classic performed by Lord Steven:

'Standin' in My Door' - Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King

Smokin' Joe Kubek is a modern Texas blues guitarist, and Bnois King is an old school Lousiana blues guitarist. Put them both together and you get some smokin' grooves going on, one hot like Dallas, one cool like New Orleans.

They released an album in 2003 called "Roadhouse Research" on Blind Pig Records, which is one of the biggest blues labels, to much acclaim.

Here's one of the tracks off the album, called 'Standin' In My Door"

'I'm a King Bee' - Slim Harpo

Slim Harpo, real name James Moore, was an influential blues harmonica player. In 1957, 'I'm a King Bee' was released to much acclaim, becoming Slim's most famous song. In 2006, the song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for it's legacy.

The Rolling Stones covered this song on their debut album in 1964, and dozens of artists from Led Zeppelin to The Grateful Dead to Muddy Waters (his final album was named after this song) covered it.

The call and response tune with the sexual innuendo makes it raunchy and fun. Take a listen and get pumped!