Confessions of a Fanboy

Before I listened to Watermelon Slim’s self-titled release, I was suspicious of present-day blues records and artists. I also formed a certain bias against white bluesmen as a reaction to the legion of Stevie Ray Vaughan-abees whose music seemed so inauthentic to my ears.

I am a Chicago blues junkie. When I first started listening to the blues, I fell deeply in love with the music of so many of the artists who recorded for Chess in the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s. That was my scene, that was the sound I loved. That sound and the artists responsible for it became more than a passion for me, it also became a set of blinders. Without realizing I was doing it, I closed myself off to anything that fell outside that very limited scope.

Receiving that copy of Slim’s album played a vital role in helping me to realize I had allowed these barriers to form and knocking them down. The first time I listened to the record, I didn’t get it. Fortunately, I’ve developed a stubbornness and it came to the rescue. I could feel the ground beneath my feet beginning to shift as the music grew on me with successive listens. I felt freer with each listen. I could see the remnants of my laziness falling by the wayside. Listening to the music on its own terms without expectations or prejudices allowed it to get inside me.

Athletes and coaches tell us real-life lessons can be learned through participating in sports. The same can be said for music. The values of keeping an open mind, being willing to try new things, challenging prejudices that subconsciously form, and not judging a book by its cover have implications well beyond what’s on my iPod. I still have my favorites. I still love that Chicago blues sound, but now I find I’m more willing to take a chance on the blues artists of today.

Isn’t it great when something good for you doesn’t come in the form of a bitter pill?

Filed under: Tags: Bloggin' the Blues, Watermelon Slim