Music Past and Present -"Why these are the good ole days"
|
Eric Clapton always needed a push, John Mayall, Jack and Ginger, Delaney and Bonnie, Duane Allman, all acted as a catalyst for some of his most dynamic work. Left to his own devices he could produce music that sounded pedestrian and lazy. Derek Trucks provides the necessary competitive heat to bring out the fire in Eric’s playing. For all those who say “they don’t play like they used” to, listen to Derek. He’s got chops to spare, a wide ranging set of influences and the toughest thing of all to develop, especially in someone so young, soul. It ain’t easy to be a bonafide virtuoso and still play with such feeling and invention. If this were 1971 instead of 2012 he would be a legend, equal to Duane, Jeff, Jimi—and Eric. On the other hand, he doesn't have the pressure that super-stardom produces. And the music is probably better for it.
|
Susan Tedechi, Derek’s wife, is a singer and guitarist capable of holding her own with the best. She looks young, but she’s been making records since the 1990’s—with a tough, authentic, Chicago by the way of Texas guitar sound, and a Bonnie Raitt soulfulness as a singer—not bad.
|
|
|
|
Every generation produces something of value. But what was once mainstream, Dylan, Hendrix, Sam Cooke, or for that matter, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman no longer is—meaning musicians who can actually play at a high level. Derek Trucks and band for example, are as good as many of the best artists of the last 45 years. And where they sell records and concert tickets, it’s a fraction of what Madonna or Justin Beiber sell.
The market has changed so much, with the internet, that it may not be feasible to develop talent the way the industry once did. Which meant investing for the long haul, why losing money in the short term. On the bright side, inexpensive recording technology has made it possible to record with equipment that’s far better than anything dreamed of by The Beatles or Miles Davis in their heyday. And the internet has given musicians as well as artists of every kind a forum to speak through, enabling some truly fine performers the opportunity to be heard without having to go through a very small handful of big labels that dominate the business.
The effect has been democratizing to say the least. But if you are dreaming of being one of the few shining stars who make all the money, you’re going to have to think differently. In the end what’s happening is for the good. A lot’ a people will make a lot ’a music, most of it won’t be very good, but enough will. And the sheer volume will do the rest. Such is the nature of democracy.
Mark Magula
The market has changed so much, with the internet, that it may not be feasible to develop talent the way the industry once did. Which meant investing for the long haul, why losing money in the short term. On the bright side, inexpensive recording technology has made it possible to record with equipment that’s far better than anything dreamed of by The Beatles or Miles Davis in their heyday. And the internet has given musicians as well as artists of every kind a forum to speak through, enabling some truly fine performers the opportunity to be heard without having to go through a very small handful of big labels that dominate the business.
The effect has been democratizing to say the least. But if you are dreaming of being one of the few shining stars who make all the money, you’re going to have to think differently. In the end what’s happening is for the good. A lot’ a people will make a lot ’a music, most of it won’t be very good, but enough will. And the sheer volume will do the rest. Such is the nature of democracy.
Mark Magula