Blues Tales Compilation

Μια συλλογή σύγχρονων Ελληνικών blues, country, surf. Enjoy!
Elias Zaikos, Small Blues Trap, Sugahspank! & The Swing Shoes, The Earthbound, No Man's Land, Dustbowl, Moa Bones, Dr. Albert Flipout's One CAN Band, Paul Karapiperis, Blues Trackers, The Speakeasies Swing Band, Hirollers, Dirty Fuse, T 4 Trouble.

Two of the best 2015 albums

Moa Bones’ second album, Spun, is a fine blend of American music (past and contemporary) with some great songs and a lo-fi production that brings out the very essence of the songs.

Moa Bones is the personal vehicle of Dimitris Aronis, singer and guitarist of Modrec.

Dimitris has recorded everything in his home studio and produced the album which was released by InnerEar.

Moa Bones - The Journey (Spun, 2015)

https://www.facebook.com/Moa-Bones-123714774400514/

Thee Holy Strangers have a roster of members coming from Last Drive, Dustbowl, Make Believe, The Earthbound among others.

Their most renowned member, Alexis Kalofolias (Alex K) singer and bass player of Last Drive and The Earthbound, has written the songs of their debut album.

The album was released by their own company Holy Stranger Music in just 300 cd.

Thee Holy Strangers - Silver Lake (Thee Holy Strangers, 2015)



https://www.facebook.com/theeholystrangers/

From the Lizard’s mouth

Alternative music comes from many different directions. Here’s some new and old Greek bands starting from a different point (country, americana, blues, psychedelic) and meet at some crossroad in the middle of the desert.

Dustbowl formed in 2006 with the intention to further explore and expand their favorite musical styles (country, americana). With an EP and 2 albums up to today they managed to appeal to the (numerous) country lovers in Greece but also to gain for this under-represented (in Greece) genre  a wider audience.

Cold 44 Blues from their 1st LP Troublebound and Lonesome (2007)

His Majesty the King of Spain formed in 2010 by Nektarios Kouvaras.
The band released their first LP Hyena in 2012 with King Elephant (from Baby Guru) in production.
Their sound is influenced by americana, folk and alternative rock (they mention Pixies as great influence).



Mustafa and his Army of Bastard Children from Hyena (2012)

The Rosewood Brothers formed in 2009 and released their first mini-cd, Homemade Music, in 2011 (private release).
Their music is blues. In 2012 they released the single I Got Mine Woman/Pray for a Better Day.



I Got Mine Woman from single (2012)

No Man’s Land have a long history. They formed back in 1985 and after an 8 year hiatus (1993-2001) they continue to experiment and change (more or less) with every new record.
Even though their music explores the psychedelic spectrum, they often cross progressive rock paths or even blues or americana like this one.





Long Summer Nights from Home in the Sky LP (2008)

The Athenian Project

Priamos Morakis has carefully selected a set of 50s and 60s standards of what is called “elafro” song (similar to chanson and bel canto) and transformed them into today’s jazz tunes.

The Athenian Project is an 11-track album (7 songs penned by his father, the famous composer Takis Morakis, 1 song by Kostas Kapnisis, 1 by Priamos Morakis, 1 by Penelope Tzanetaki and Henri Betti’s C’est si bon).

The album features some of the best Greek, jazz musicians:  Priamos Morakis (guitar), Dimitris Kalantzis (piano), Pericles Trivolis (bass), Filippos Papas (saxes and flute), Socratis Ganiaris (percussion), Christos Rafailides (vibes), Manos Loutas (bass), Leandros Fratnik (drums), Dimitris Kakavoulis (drums).
Also featuring a string quartet and of course the beautiful voice of Penelope Tzanetaki.
The Boy and the Dolphin, Takis Morakis most famous song, opens the album and is also featured in its Greek version, Ti Einai Afto Pou To Lene Agapi (What’s this thing called love).
Another 50s song by Takis Morakis, Tha s’ Agapo (I Will Love You) is recorded for the first time on this record.

Priamos Morakis Quintet - Tha s' Agapo (I Will Love You)

You can buy the album here 
Priamos Morakis page (under construction): http://www.priamosmorakis.com/

Blues Tales

Blues Gang – Blues Wire

Blues Gang first appeared in 1983 and in 1985 they changed their name to Blues Wire.

They are considered the pioneers of blues in Greece because of their endurance, their consistency and apparently their music.
After nine albums and a career spanning more than 20 years, Blues Wire have backed up artists line John Hammond, Big Time Sarah, Kate Webster, Louisiana Red and others while they have opened for Buddy Guy, Albert King, Otis Rush and others.



Blues Grave from Blues Gang second album On a Second Thought (1985)

The Mean Thing from Blues Wire album Bulldog Boogie (1993)


http://www.blueswire.gr/

Elias Zaikos

Elias Zaikos is the founder and driving force behind Blues Wire/Blues Gang.
He maintains a parallel career having released 3 albums.
There is another post about Zaikos you can find here.

Kuma Goo from his great solo instrumental Off the Box album (1997)


http://www.myspace.com/eliaszaikos

Blues Trackers

Blues Trackers were formed in Larissa in 1996. They have released 2 albums up to date, Blues Trackers in 2002 and Smells Like Trouble in 2011.
The band accompanied Louisiana Red and opened for Dr. Feelgood among others.
They also have a continuous “conversation” with Elias Zaikos of Blues Wire.

Smells Like Trouble from album with same name (2011)


http://www.bluestrackers.gr/

Panos Badikouthis

Panos Badikouthis is the front man of Blues Trackers.

In 2006 he released his solo album Blues People featuring the cream of local blues scene.


Night Time Man Blues from Panos Badikouthis album (2006)


http://blues.gr/profile/PanosBadikouthis

Small Blues Trap

Small Blues Trap were formed in 2004 in Malesina.

The band has released 3 albums up to date (Our Trap in 2005 in CD-R format, Crossroad Ritual in 2006 and Red Snakes and Cave Bats in 2010).

They have managed to have a very distinct sound.





Strange Melody from the Red Snakes and Cave Bats album (2010)


http://www.smallbluestrap.gr/

Paul Karapiperis

Paul Karapiperis is the front man of Small Blues Trap.

In 2009 he released his solo album Fifteen Raindrops in an Ocean of Blues Tales including 15 original tracks of high quality acoustic blues.


Let’s Do the Boogie All Night from his solo album (2009)


http://www.myspace.com/smallbluestrap/photos/10729503

Mickey Pantelous

Mickey Pantelous is a really unique case as he plays a distorted form of blues that brings in mind Captain Beefheart or Tom Waits but with a difference: he plays all instruments by himself. Live!
An one-man-band.
Mickey Pantelous has been in several other projects before going…solo with Mickey Pantelous and the Chess-Mates being the only who left a recording (even though their cd was only sold in their lives; I think).



Consolation from the Devil from Mickey Pantelous and the Chess-Mates album Hangover (2007)

As an one-man-band he introduces the name Dr. Albert’s Flipout’s One CAN Band.

His album Can’t Find my Pills was released in 2010.



Here’s the video of There Goes Jack from Can’t Find my Pills album as you should not only listen to Mickey but also see him playing.



http://www.mickeypantelous.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mickeypantelousmusic

Summertime

Just before temperature hits 40C for the first time this summer, it is time to pay a small tribute to the world’s most famous summer song:
George Gershwin’s Summertime.
So here are 3 Greek covers to be added to the thousands of covers.
In chronological order.

1. The M.G.C.

The M.G.C. (Modern Greek Combo, 1967-1971) is one of the first greek rock bands.
Summertime comes from their 1967 single ("Summertime / I'm Gonna Cut My Head", 7" Vinyl, Pan-Vox, 1967).
The song also appears in “Greece Goes Modern Vol. 1” compilation of 2000 (info here).

The group members are: Polytimos, Poulikakos, Tseberopoulos, Belliyiannis, Kiurktsoglu, Sembos, Dovas, Triandafyllou, Dallas, Katsadorakis, Alahadamis, Tzimopoulos.









The M.G.C - [1967] Summertime / I'm Gonna Cut My Head

2. Solid Silver

Solid Silver is a side project of Argyris – Silver – Koulouris, rhythm guitarist of Aphrodite’s Child.
This is the only single released under this name.
The cover is an extraordinary funky-disco piece, a really unique addition to the long Summertime cover list!







Solid Silver – [1976] Summertime / Walrus Music


3. Elias Zaikos
 

Elias Zaikos is a band leader, guitar player, singer from Thessaloniki.
He is one of the blues pioneers in Greece, demonstrating a rich and lasting career with his band Blues Wire or solo.
Summertime comes from his solo album of 1997, Off the Box and is an instrumental blues version combining the guitar and the violin.






Elias Zaikos – [1997] Off the Box 

The Godfather of Rhythm n Blues

Johnny Otis (full name John Alexander Veliotis), son of first generation Greek immigrants, born 1921 in Vallejo, California is considered to be one of the most influential personas in the history of popular music.
The Godfather of Rhythm n Blues, as he is often addressed, was (and still is) a musician, band leader, producer, disc jockey, painter, club owner, pastor, journalist and more. Esther Phillips, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Etta James were among his discoveries.

In 1994 he was inducted in Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Johnny was active in music until 2000 when he headlined the San Francisco Blues Festival. He also hosted a very popular radio show, the Johnny Otis Show, until 2006.

His interest in music began in 1939 after seeing Count Basie performing in San Francisco. Otis made his professional debut in 1939 and settled in LA a few years later where he formed the Otis-Love Band with Preston Love. In 1946, with Harlem Nocture, he scores his first hit. It was the era of the big band decline and Otis is forming a band with twin sax, trumpet and trombone while he switches from drums to vibes. His live shows are the extraordinary and because of his dark skin most of the audiences believe his is black.

Harlem Nocturne

He performs, produces and releases albums until mid 60s when he gets into politics. It is Frank Zappa (another one with Greek origins) who persuades him to get back to the studio. The result was the great R&B soul album of 1968, “Cold Shot” to be followed with the legendary “Snatch & the Poontangs” (because of its dirty language) next year.






Country Girl from album Cold Shot


Mo-Jo Woman from Cuttin' Up album of 1970

Johnny’s 15-year old son, Shuggie Otis is actually starting his career with Cold Shot where he plays the guitar. Shuggie, like his father is multi-instrumentalist who became very famous during 70s for his guitar skills: B B King said he was his “favorite new guitarist”, he played (bass) in Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats (Peaches en Regalia), while in 1974 he refused an invitation from the Rolling Stones to tour with them.
Shuggie Otis released “Here Comes Shuggie Otis” album in 1970, “Freedom Light” in 1971 and “Inspiration Information” in 1974, the latter to be re-issued by David Byrne’s Luaka Bop in 2001. Shuggie is to release a new album within 2011.


Sweet Thang from Freedom Light album


Johnny Otis World: http://www.johnnyotisworld.com/

Blues and Rembetico

There have been many discussions, several articles and some books around a possible connection between the blues and rembetico. I assume that the reason for such a comparison lies in sociological factors primarily and musical similarities secondarily.

It is true though that when it comes to music itself the similarities are not so obvious. Not as the ones someone would find between country music or hillbilly or even rock music and the blues. As of the effect that the music has over fans of the specific genres, one could find more space for discussion but again: they are two separate genres with only some things in common but in any case a long history, a cultural impact and an interesting artistic outcome when these two worlds meet.
So in this post we’ll stick to the cultural exchange from the listening pleasure perspective without trying to prove any existing or not connection. Nevertheless some similarities exist.

So both the blues and rembetico have their origins at the end of 19th century. The lyrics are simple and have to do with everyday life – most often – of lower class. Desperate love, hard work, poverty, war, illness, jail, drugs etc are common themes for both worlds.

The most common example of a connection between blues and rembetico is the comparison between the blues song “How dry am I” released in 1921 and “O Boufetzis” (the buffet-chef) by George Batis from 1932.
Here’s the original version...

...and here's the two songs combined



The same song performed in blues style with steel guitar by Zorz Pilalis here:

Another interesting example is "Diana’s Blues" by John Stamatis “Sporos” or Yiannis Stamatiou “Sporos”.
Sporos, born 1936, was one of the greatest bouzouki players. He lived in US from 1957 to 1979 and played with many orchestras in Las Vegas, San Francisco, recorded with Hrach Yacoubian orchestra and his fans included Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra and others. They say that his success was so big that made him a cover on the Time magazine in 1963 (I searched for this but wasn’t able to find anything to confirm).



"Diana's Blues" from album Musical Reflections


Stelios Vamvakaris, son of master of rembetico Markos Vamvakaris, is a composer and bouzouki player who actively works and explores the relation between blues and rembetico. He has collaborated many times in live performances and discography with blues master Louisiana Red.

Stelios Blues is from “One Day at Night, Athens Blues” movie soundtrack of 2000.



Here you can find one of the most famous rembetico songs, composed by Yiannis – Jack – Chalkias who lived in US, covered by guitarist Babis Papadopoulos in his album “From the Dragon’s Cave” of 2010. Papadopoulos was the guitar player of the famous Greek rock band Trypes. He has released two very interesting solo albums with acoustic improvisations over folk, rembetiko and traditional music.

"Teke Minor" (To Minore tou Teke) 



Last but not least one of the greatest covers of folk-rembetico music by Spiros Soukis. Soukis is a singer-composer-guitar player who lives in US since 2003. Back in the 80s he played with Greek rock legend   Pavlos Sidiropoulos and in the 90s he formed That’s Why with whom he opened for live shows of Pixies and Peter Green.

Check his blues cover of Vasilis Tsitsanis song “Sorceress of Arabia” (Magissa tis Arapias)



Soukis is offering some songs (including this one) on his site so you can check: www.soukisblues.com