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Little Steven
Some performers continue to bring energy and colour to their stage performances – no matter their age. Little Steven, American musician, songwriter, producer, actor, and original member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band rocked both his Bluesfest sets.
There are those who get cynical when older musicians tour: “Are they broke – are they taking advantage?”; “Can they still sing/play? I heard they are just going through the motions!”. I prefer to be more optimistic, and think that my musical heros continue to tour because they love their music and they love performing.
In an entertainment column: Old rockers never die – they just tour forever, and ever, and ever…, New Zealand writer Grant Smithies examines why so many ageing artists are visiting the Antipodes. He lists the negative impact of downloading and streaming on album sales among the contributors, but also looks at “the baby-boomer nostalgia market.”
That’s me. A nostalgic baby-boomer.
As much as I enjoy dipping into the new musical experiences on offer at festivals, I also love how relaxing it is to lean back into something familiar. Music can take us back to a time and place – I know exactly where I was when I first heard “Alice’s Restaurant” and can describe the room I was in and the people I was with in great detail. And seeing those iconic, beloved performers on stage gives an illusion of connection – it’s like we have a shared history. Add to that my huge admiration for creative people: those who shape our culture rather than merely ride it, and you have a recipe for fandom.
These beloved elders of music have a creative dilemma: the fans want to hear the “old hits”; anything new had better not be too different and unfamiliar, but also had better not be too similar and derivative!
This year’s annual Easter long weekend Byron Bay Bluesfest included some real iconic “old timers” (local Australian and imported American) in it’s extensive line-up. I was thrilled when they played the songs I recognise and love – and did it with zest and passion. They might be older, but they are not diminished.
Come meet a few!
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Arlo Guthrie
I was excited when Arlo Guthrie was listed in the early announcements for this year’s Byron Bay Bluesfest. For me, his name is symbolic of a whole era – a time of hope and protest and promise.
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Alice’s Restaurant Massacree
Almost hidden under his hat, his between-song story-telling demonstrated that his humour had not been dulled by time. For the benefit of a younger, non-American audience, Arlo included explanatory asides in his classic, 18-minute story-song, the “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”.
Arlo and Abe Guthrie
Arlo performed twice at Bluesfest, and I couldn’t resist returning for more stories. Like his father Woody Guthrie – one of the most significant figures in American folk music – Arlo’s songs are mostly protests against social injustice. Music clearly runs in the family: Arlo’s son Abe is on the keyboard in the background.
Russell Morris
Once considered a “pop star”, with five Australian Top 10 singles during the 1960s and 1970s, Russell Morris is a story-telling blues-rocker who just keeps getting better with age!
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
One advantage established “old timers” have is performance and production experience: they often have extensive backing-bands.
Backup Singers
The 15-piece ensemble travelling with Little Steven included three matching backing singers in bell-bottoms, long fringes, and over-sized wigs.
Little Steven
While his vocals may not have subtlety, there is no denying his energy or enthusiasm.
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
Little Steven is one of those multi-talented people who clearly perform because they want to, not because they have to! Among other things, he runs a multi-disciplinary classroom program, bringing popular music and music history to schools. I remembered his face from his run as strip-club owner Silvio Dante in the Sopranos.
The Black Sorrows
Classic Australian blues-rock band The Black Sorrows always makes me think of that movie: The Commitments. The difference, of course, is that founder: singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Joseph Vincent Camilleri, is a working musician with a number of on-going projects.
Joe Camilleri, Claude Carranza, and Mark Gray
These are musicians who clearly love what they do – and their joy is infectious.
Crossroads Tent
The “Godfather of Punk” still draw a crowd: my iPhone can’t even find Iggy Pop up there on the stage!
Iggy Pop
Long known for his bare-chested stage antics, Iggy has impacted garage rock, punk rock, hard rock, art rock, new wave, jazz, blues, and electronic music.
Iggy Pop
Bluesfest is family-friendly, so there were no overly-outlandish theatrics, but Iggy has lost none of his energy: he and his blond locks were all over the stage.
Tommy Emmanuel
This was the one I was waiting for! A classical, jazz, and country guitarist known for his complex fingerstyle technique, this gifted and charismatic Australian has been working as a professional musician since the age of six.
“Best Acoustic Guitarist” – Guitar Player Magazine (2010)
Tommy Emmanuel is one of only four fingerstyle guitarists to whom Chet Atkins awarded the title of “Certified Guitar Player”. Tommy is also a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
One-Man Band
Emmanuel uses his guitars like a one-man-band kit, wearing them out with his dynamic percussive techniques – including the use of a snare-drum brush. He is impossible to resist: I tapped and nodded and smiled the whole performance through.
Keb’ Mo’
Old-fashioned country blues singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Keb’ Mo’ is the very definition of smooth. Heavily influenced by another one of my favourites (who didn’t make Bluesfest this year), Taj Mahal, four-time Grammy-Award winner Keb’ always makes me smile.
The Backsliders
One of my favourite local blues bands, The Backsliders have impeccable credentials: guitarist, vocalist and award-winning songwriter Dom Turner has a number of albums and live musical projects dating back to forever… Drummer Rob Hirst was a founding member of Midnight Oil, amongst other things. They are always great fun to listen to and to watch.
Paul Kelly
Another stalwart of the Australian music landscape, Paul Kelly always draws a crowd. Although considered a “rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player”, his countless albums cross musical boundaries, and he has also been influential in helping younger musicians find their feet.
These musicians are all at least as old as I am, and their songs – even the new ones – have a comfortable familiarity. As Grant Smithies observes: “We care because this music meant something to us when we were younger; their songs make us forget our own rapid journey towards the grave and plug us back into more carefree times.”
Perhaps the British singer Lemmy Kilmister said it best: “If you think you are too old to rock ‘n roll, then you are.”
And, if you don’t think you are too old, keep rocking!
Till next time,
Photos: 18-22April2019
[…] was no exception: I was looking forward to some big names and old favourites (see, for example: Old Rockers, Punk and Protest), but I also added some new finds to my […]