Music Makes My World Go 'Round

I am going to ramble a bit about my musical tastes, so bear with me.  I have never played an instrument, but looking back, if I could redo anything in my life, I would have learned to play a musical instrument....any instrument.  When I was working and stress was taking over I would often put music on, usually while driving, and it never failed to bring me down a few notches.

I spent my teen years in St. Louis, MO, the first few years of college there as well, before finishing my college education at the University of Louisville.  From the mid 70's to early 80's there was a lot going on musically and I became a big fan of "Southern Rock", as well as most rock music at the time.  I would say I still lean heavily towards that genre, with a strong affection for the blues.  I like the rhythm of the blues and the from the soul words that many of the song writers poured out.  But, above all else, I love hearing a great guitarist go off.  And the guitarist doesn't have to be a southern rock or blues guy/girl.....jazz, country....any time someone who is playing a guitar and knows what they are doing I stop and listen.  Here are my favorite bands:

The Allman Brothers Band - My life soundtrack would have heavy ABB in rotation.  I have listened to everything I have ever come across.  I saw them 6-8 times (memory a little fuzzy.....lol) and each show was amazing.  I was not old enough to know who they were when Duane Allman died, but, thankfully recordings live forever and his wizardry will live on.  "Live at Fillmore East" is the greatest live album of all time, Duane's solo on "Whipping Post" is one of the best guitar solos ever recorded.  Blues.....rock..... two drummers, amazing guitarists (at one time or another, Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, Jack Pearson Jimmy Herring and Derek Trucks) and, of course, the incomparable voice of Gregg Allman.  He is, in my opinion, one of the greatest blues singers of all time.  I think I saw Gregg with his own band more than I saw the Brothers.  The band evolved, broke up, got back together and reinvented itself several times before finally ending it in October of 2014, after 45 years.  That recording, at the Beacon Theater in NYC, opens up with Derek Trucks strumming the opening cords of "Little Martha", written by Duane, and I get goosebumps every time I listen to it.

Eric Clapton - Another heavy soundtrack rotation member.  One of my buddies pointed out a long time ago that if you look at EC through the years on his albums he never looked the same, always changing.  His sound always changed as well, but he always kept the blues as his home base.  The Derek and the Dominos band that included Duane Allman was a monster group, way ahead of it's time.  The songs still resonate today, the interplay between the two is just incredible.  Clapton, to me, is an artist who isn't afraid to try different things, even if they fall outside his comfort zone or where his fans resided.  Movie soundtracks, acoustic albums, concerts that were strictly blues standards with no "hits", a Christmas album...he has never been one to stay in one place.  His album with Steve Winwood, Live at Madison Square Garden, is a work of art, weaving his sound in and out with Winwood on songs from each others catalog.  I've been lucky to see Eric Clapton 7-8 times and have walked out happy each time.  My son and I are attending the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas in September and we are really looking forward to seeing him, and all of the other great musicians perform.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Right now, this IS the soundtrack to my life.  Pairing Derek Trucks guitar with Susan Tedeschi vocals produces "My Happy Place".  One of the things I like about them is they are so versatile.  They have their own songs, they cover other artists work respectfully and, in some cases, may actually perform them better.  Blues, rock, gospel.....whatever they play, it always sounds wonderful.  I'm into double figures on concerts and that number will only continue to go up, I'm going to set a goal of seeing them 5-6 times a year. We are lucky that they come to play at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville every year for 3-4 nights.  My wife and I have traveled to Colorado to see them at Red Rocks, as well as Atlanta and Florida.  Another thing I like about them is they play what they want to play without seeming to worry if there is huge commercial success.  Yes, I'm sure they want people to come watch them and purchase their albums, but the band is more about quality than quantity.  And I love the fact that they have 12 people on the stage, all of them looking like they are having fun and producing a sound that is unlike anyone else.  If you haven't listened to them, give it a shot, I'm certain you will be impressed.

Other bands/artists, in no particular order:

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Led Zeppelin
Santana
Rolling Stones
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Marcus King Band
The Marshall Tucker Band
The Eagles
Widespread Panic
Government Mule
Queen
Rush
Van Halen
Jimi Hendrix
The Beatles

If you have thoughts on any of the bands feel free to share.