Yes, I have seen a couple of bits of footage of Seasick Steve. I've read that his appeal declined quickly, as he was a bit over-exposed in England, but Lordy, he does indeed groove and, for heaven's sake, if he makes people aware of great tub-thumpin blues, good luck to the chap.
I like his music, but I've mostly been impressed by the clever way he milks this hobo image. OK, he may have lived rough in his youth, but the past thirty years he's been working as a professional producer and recording engineer. It's not like he just hopped off the freight train straight onto Jools Holland.
Speaking as a blues fanatic...bluesmanOctober 14 2009, 12:48:27 UTC
I think he milks it because it gives a caucasian bluesman some Blues Authenticity. If B.B.King sings and plays in a suit because he believes that you should perform for an audience dressed like you're going to a bank to ask for money (also because he grew up in abject poverty, and I'm sure he had quite enough of that), then it's apropos to his very uptown blues. If a caucasian sings and plays the blues in a nice suit, his blues had better be uptown (Duke Robillard, for instance) or people will think he's a dilettante and has no respect for the music, its earthiness, richness and its pioneers. Anyway, I think Seasick Steve's appearance and purported background suit his very gutbucket blues jolly well. Maybe there is a bit of Blues Authenticity Desperation to his assertions, "look at me, I've paid my dues, I'm entitled to play the blues," but blimey, anyone who clearly loves the blues and can play/sing it as excitingly as that doesn't need to make any claims. He could easily say nothing and let his music speak for itself.
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Seasick Steve: That plank had me in stitches and it sounded good, too. The mad hairy drummer is a great addition.
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