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voodobop · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 347 Location: new orleans

Ha.. this is a song from my youth. I used to dance to this song at the crawfish boils my dad used to throw back in the 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85V5aDEeSk

ed norton · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 763

That's what I'm talkin bout. YES, indeed, Praise Praise Praise, and Pass the hot sauce too. I love that man!!! Clarence lost his house in the hurricane, and died shortly after. F'n G Pigs, you know they blew that levee, everyone knows. Clarence will slap some kharma on their ass.
We have lost many blues greats over the last few years. The blues radio show that I listen to ,payed a big tribute to him after his death. This guy is every bit as legendary as anyone who ever played the blues, a very important figure. He was very outspoken, and never did things the same way. He was always reaching for more, and didn't even use a set list. Spontaneity was his thing, and he criticized anyone who wasn't spontaneous. This is the real deal. Clarence played a mighty violin as well, all by ear. Thanks Voodobop, that made my day; the house is a rockin, and the weekend is kicked off right. There was more than tobacco in that pipe he smoked too. I also got turned on to Clarence in the 80's . Your dad did you right.

Phrygian Dominant · Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 583 Location: Seattle

Yes I really enjoyed that clip. He was really good. A crawfish boil...mmmm, that sounds really good too Very Happy

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JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

I just watched the intro, but man, what great phrasing
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PaulD · Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 1130 Location: Chicago

That's great stuff! I love this guy. I saw him in 2003 at Buddy Guy's place here in Chicago. Great fiddle player too. He has a very interesting left hand technique where he doesn't use his index finger that much. You can see some of that on this video. I know he was ill. Is he still with us?

Paul

ed norton · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 763

No Paul , Gatemouth Brown lost his Louisiana house in Hurricane Katrina and was evacuated to Texas, where he grew up. He was terminally ill at the time of the hurricane and died shortly after being evacuated.He had emphysema and lung cancer. I would highly recommend the Spike Lee Documentary "When the Levee Breaks". Oh that is one of the saddest stories in all of American history. Spike doesn't overstate the political edge, he tells the story of the people and lets the viewer choose.

alfonso · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Sacramento

voodobop,
Yes this brings back great memories for me too. I worked as a volunteer for the Sacramento Blues Society and the society would put on concerts every year in Old Sacramento. Clarence Brown was one of mine and alot of others' favorites. He was called back quite a few years, this was back in the late 80's and very early 90's. Many heavy hitters played there, I met B.B. King, Albert King, Ray Charles played at one of the last ones I didn't get the chance to meet him. John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, Elvin Bishop played there, allot of blues greats. Anyways, I remember Clarence Brown cause the first year he played there he was the only new band who I hadn't yet seen so I was really interested and the (GateMouth) tag even interested me more. He came out and this guy put on one of the best shows I had ever been to, the crowd just roared for more. He was a great performer and bluesman and will truly be missed. Every year after that I would check the roster to see if Clarence would be there, he was great to watch and would really get the crowd involved without even trying as the band and his playing was that good. Yeah, I remember him and he will be truly missed. later

PaulD · Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 1130 Location: Chicago

ed norton · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 763

Well at least he made it out of the disaster zone. The saddest stories are the ones of those who went to the Superdome for shelter. Many sick elderly people died right in their wheelchairs, and the families were forced to abandon them; they left the corpses in the halls, and the families weren't allowed to do anything. Anybody that knows me knows there would have been a fight if they did that to my loved ones.
Anyway they captured Gate well on that video, great clip. I hear his influence on Albert Collins more than on other cuts iv'e heard.

steve · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 867 Location: oz

Wow, that was some seriously funky guitar playing!
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