I came home from Indianapolis to a flooded Nashville. We are lucky that our house sits on top of a big hill, so we remained dry, but not everyone was so fortunate. Here are a few videos to give you an idea of how bad it is. If you have a couple of extra dollars to spare, please consider making a small donation to help those who lost everything.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
2009 treated me pretty damn swell, so here’s a laundry list of some of the highs:
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Stupid crap that pissed me off:
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My favorite shows of 2009:
These shows stand out mainly because of the audiences. I included a little description of each gig to give you a glimpse of my life on the road. They are listed in no particular order.
“It ain’t always easy to have a good year.” -Amy Lashley
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April, 5th: Amen, Netherlands -Café de Amer
This gig took me a little by surprise. I was told that it sold out well in advance and they turned a lot of people away for the show. I had never been to this small town and I’d never even heard of it, which made it all the more special to sell it out. I want to thank Sandra and Luciano from Lucky Dice for getting the word out about this gig and the rest of the tour. It was obvious after a couple of songs that this was one of the best gigs of the year. The place was run by beautiful people who have a genuine love for music and are doing everything they can to provide great entertainment for the people in their community. The people in the audience were even better. I wanted to rent a bus and drag them along to every other gig of the tour. The venue has a tradition that I’ve never seen anywhere else. One member of the audience is chosen to go sit quietly at the side of the stage during the show. At the end of the show, this same person walks out and gives the artist a formal thank you, on behalf of the audience, for the performance. It was a beautiful gesture. I was humbled to be treated so well by strangers while I was so far from home. That’s a tradition that I hope spreads. I’m happy to say that I’ll be returning for another gig this October.
May 2nd: Kilkenny, Ireland -Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival
I actually played three sold out gigs at this festival and they were all top notch, but the first one stands out to me. I played in Selby, England the night before and had to play an early gig the next day in Kilkenny, Ireland at around 1pm. I announced on stage in Selby that I needed a ride to Manchester airport after the gig and was curious if anyone would give me a lift. It was about an hour drive. Paul Thomas stepped forward and drove me to the airport. He’s a good man and I’m happy to call him a friend. I got to the airport at around midnight. My flight to Dublin was scheduled to leave around 7am and I was afraid of missing the flight, so I slept in the airport. I might have slept two hours tops. The next morning I flew to Dublin and was picked up by a driver and traveled for 2 or 3 hours to Kilkenny. I arrived just before the time for the show. I had no shower or sleep and was completely worn out. I’m not the nervous type, but I was really worried about not giving the people their money’s worth. The audience was unbelievably energetic and about three songs into the set, I felt wide awake. It was a beautiful gig and it was all because of the energy of the people in the room. I spent the next three days hanging out with my friends in Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and Hillbilly Casino and playing gigs. I shared a ride back to Dublin with Caroline Herring and felt like I’d met a long lost friend. It was a wonderful weekend to say the least.
May 16th: Newcastle, England -Live Theatre
Early in the afternoon, My friend Ian Richardson treated me to my first ever English Football game (soccer in the USA), and I played a sold out show at the Live theatre that night. I’ve been to more pro sporting events in the States than I can count, but none of them came close to matching the energy of that game. It was beautiful to hear twenty thousand Geordies singing as one. The gig that night was fabulous. Newcastle is the first place I ever played in the UK and Graham Anderson (the promoter) was the first person to invite me over. It was great to play for my Geordie friends and to take a walk down the Tyne River and across the Tyne Bridge. I remember sleeping with the window open and breathing the fresh air of the North Sea. The gig felt like a homecoming. Graham and Bob Paterson (my wonderful booking agent) decided to spend the day at the Cricket match instead of Football. I have absolutely no idea what in the hell is going on in a Cricket match. I’ve watched it in hotel rooms and I’m totally fricking lost. I’m glad I chose the Footy.
May 18th: Glasgow, Scotland -The Twisted Wheel as part of Glasgow Americana Festival
While traveling, I’ve always tried to partake in things indigenous to the area. I spent the afternoon at the People’s Palace Museum learning more about Red Clydeside and John Maclean. I asked some people later that night at the (sold out) gig about Red Clydeside and had an honest conversation with an extremely rowdy audience. Kevin Morris deserves a big thank you for taking care of me and putting on a first rate festival.
June 20th: Leicester, England – The Big Session Festival
I was told by the stage manager that there were 5,000 people in the audience. I’m sure 99% of them had never heard of me and were there to enjoy rock bands and pop music. That didn’t stop the entire crowd from singing along and demanding an encore. I could get used to that. Later that night I was invited up onstage by my friend, Billy Bragg to sing a song with him. I even met one of my East Nashville neighbors, Diana Jones, backstage. I had spent the week leading up to the show touring with Billy and playing shows that should be added to this list, but there is only so much space. I decided to roll that whole week into this show. It was a great way to finish off a week of traveling with Billy, Grant Showbiz and Andy James.
September 27th: Belfast, Northern Ireland – The Black Box as part of The Open House Festival
The events leading up to this gig were similar to the Kilkenny gig. I played a Blues festival in Ramsbottom, England the day before. After the Ramsbottom Festival, I took a train to Liverpool and arrived around midnight. I had an early morning flight to Belfast, so I tried to sleep overnight in the John Lennon Airport. It was the most uncomfortable airport I’ve ever been in. There was nowhere to sit, so I laid down on the cold concrete floor and did my best to get some rest. It was nice seeing the lyrics to Imagine written out on a huge wall. I doubt that would happen in any American airport. The next morning, I flew to Belfast and went straight to the gig with no sleep and no shower. I was worried once again that I was going to put on a terrible show after people paid their hard earned money to get in. The sell out crowd was once again fabulous and after three or four songs I was wide awake and having a great time. I’ve heard stories about how great it is to play to Irish crowds and I’m here to tell you that it’s all true. The Kilkenny and Belfast gigs couldn’t have been any better. It was hard to get to each of these, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat if every gig was this much fun. I went to my hotel after the gig and slept for 12 hours.
December 15th: Decatur, Georgia, USA -Eddie’s Attic with Caroline Herring and Jim White
This gig was the brainchild of Caroline. She had met Jim and I at the Kilkenny Festival and decided we should do an in the round kind of gig at Eddies Attic. I’m glad she thought of it because it turned out to be a special night. I think that all three of us agreed that it was one of our favorites of the year. Eddie and the staff were amazingly generous and made us feel more than at home. The room was packed with people and the vibe was electric. I thank Caroline for bringing most of the crowd and for doing all of the heavy lifting.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
Photo by Geoff Firebaugh.
It’s hard enough to write and record all of these songs, but then folks expect you to sing them live and remember the words? Bono and Springsteen have fancy gadgets that scroll lyrics to them. Folk singers just ask people to come up on stage and hold the lyric sheet. Luckily my friend, Jeanne Hoffman from the Rust Kings was nice enough to help me through the song. Photo by Geoff Firebaugh.
Hanging with friends after the show. Left to right is Justin Townes Earle, Joe Swank, Otis and Amy Lashley. Photo by Jeff Wall.
An intimate gig at the Red Shed in Wakefield, England, Photo by Peter Dunwell.
The fella behind me is Dave and he’s one of the first people to dig my music in the UK. He’s a swell guy and we need to clone him. 🙂 Photo by Peter Dunwell.
At the Grapes in Sheffield, England. Photo by Peter Dunwell.
At the Grapes in Sheffield, England. Photo by Peter Dunwell.
The grapes in Sheffield, England. You might have noticed the tape holding my guitar together. I was walking out on stage in Wolverhampton when I noticed that the top of my guitar had come apart in that corner. There was a half inch gap where I could see inside. I played the show while holding my guitar together. When I walked off stage one of the local road crew guys gave me some electrical tape and I taped it back together. I played 18 shows with it like that before flying home and getting it fixed. Sometimes you make do with what you have, Photo by Peter Dunwell.
(Left to right) Grant Showbiz, Peter Dunwell, Otis and Andy James enjoying cake backstage. Photo by Billy Bragg.
Photo by Peter Dunwell.
Photo by Peter Dunwell.
Photo by Peter Dunwell.
I was asked to make a list of my ten favorite blues tracks for a blues magazine in the UK. I personally hate top ten lists, so I chose to simply list ten great tracks. If I had to make another list tomorrow morning it might be completely different. I might add some Charlie Patton or maybe even some Nat King Cole. Please feel free to tell me I’m crazy. You might be right!
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
Allen Ginsberg would often ruffle people’s feathers by calling Bob Dylan one of the all time great blues singers. I understand and agree with the point he was trying to make. I’m a firm believer that there is a lot more to blues music than noodling pentatonic scales over a 12 bar progression. Blues has more to do with translating raw emotions and common experiences in a way that resonates at a gut level with the listener. This is why I believe the music of people like Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Tom Waits is the natural continuation of the blues. On the other hand, the endless wanking of the Clapton and Stevie Ray clones of the world, leave me bored to tears. While I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to woodshed and develop their technique, it sometimes starts to resemble an athletic event more than music. It should be obvious by now that I like my art to be imperfect and dare I say, human. Now that I’ve drawn a (friendly) line in the sand, here’s a list of ten blues tracks that ring true to me. These are in no particular order.
“She’s Nineteen Years Old” -Muddy Waters
This is Muddy at his best! I love the muscular and confident delivery when he sings “I’m gonna say this to you and I don’t care if you get mad.” This track has one of the finest endings of any song I’ve ever heard. I can only imagine how he must have brought the house down in the smoky night clubs of Chicago.
“From Four Till Late” -Robert Johnson
This was the first of his songs that stood out to me. I love the lyrics and guitar playing. “A woman is like a dresser, some man’s always going through her drawers.” That’s some funny stuff! And what is “an apron overalls?”
“Death Don’t Have No Mercy” -Reverend Gary Davis
I’m in love with his guitar playing, so I was tempted to list one of his instrumentals, but this song is just perfect. The version from the Newport Blues Festival is chilling. “You look in the bed and find everybody gone”. Who can’t relate to that? I haven’t heard many songs that match the raw emotional power of this track.
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World” -Howlin Wolf
Lots of people have taken a stab at it, but Howlin Wolf owns this song. There’s never been a more identifiable voice in any genre and he shines on this track. This is also my girlfriend, Amy’s favorite version, and I’m a firm believer that Momma knows best!
“Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan)” -Bessie Smith
When Hurricane Katrina hit the Delta I couldn’t get this track out of my head. I kept hearing the lazy, drunken horns matched against her huge voice singing painfully, “my heart cries out for muddy water.” It was a fitting soundtrack to that moment in time.
“Strange Fruit” -Billie Holiday
I can’t imagine a more haunting track. She closed her shows with this and audiences around the world were left speechless. Few songs have had the same impact. It became the anthem of the Anti-Lynching Movement, which lead to the Civil Rights Movement. There are many great Billie Holiday tracks, but the greatness of this one just can’t be denied.
“Tappin’ That Thing” -Yank Rachell
I have fond memories of seeing Yank play live around Indianapolis, Indiana when I was younger. I can remember women getting up to dance to this song, while Yank sang and played. It was obvious that he was a real, honest to God bluesman and that he was something special, but I had no idea of how fortunate we were to have him living in our town. This song is an example of how fun and upbeat the blues can be. The risque lyrics could make a gangsta rapper blush.
“Ride On Josephine” -Bo Diddley
A Bo Diddley song is always gonna have a great driving rhythm to it. I love his songs with the trademark “Bo Diddley Beat”, but this one stands out just a bit more to my taste. It swings and makes you want to move, and it’s one of those rare blues songs with a big sing along chorus. Bo sounds great singing the story, while the guitar pushes everything along. I’m also a sucker for a good song about a car.
“That’s How Strong My Love is” -Otis Redding
From the opening measures of the track it becomes obvious that this is a truly great band. Then one of the greatest voices of all time comes in and lord have mercy! I love everything about this track. It’s a love song that doesn’t leave you feeling cheap, or pandered to. You can’t listen to this without being moved. I’ve been going back to this song since I was a kid and I keep finding different things that I love about it. That’s the mark of a great track.
“Levee Camp Blues” -Son House
Son House was one of those rare artists that could meld man and guitar into one pure instrument, and as he aged he grew closer to the source. This song is a perfect example of that. The Alan Lomax recordings are beautiful, but later versions of “Levee Camp Blues” pulsate and throb with every slide and moan. It’s easy to see why he was so influential to later generations after listening to this track.
I’ve played a couple of gigs at this store in the last few years and it’s always been a great time. The town is wonderful and Terry is fabulous! It’s definitely worth a visit.
This ended up being a lot of fun, but it started out a bit awkward. I stood there for a while while the host had a conversation with his guests in Dutch. I had no idea what they were saying (I don’t speak Dutch) so I just stood there for a while waiting to hear my name. There’s never a dull moment while traveling. I played a few more songs for the show. If anyone is interested I might post them for you.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
I saw this wonderful roadside treasure in Einhoven a couple of days ago. I have no idea about the history of it, but whomever is behind this is my kind of person! I’m ashamed to admit that i didn’t get a chance to photograph it myself, so I pulled this pick off of the city website.
I’ve played three shows so far and they’ve all been excellent. I played Ottersum on a Sunday, Eindhoven on a Monday (SOLD OUT), and Deventer on a Wednesday. All of these gigs were very well attended by people who had to get up and go to work the next day. Even though the gig was early in the week, these folks still came out to enjoy the show. There are a lot of things wrong with music these days, but the people at these shows are everything that’s right about music. Thank you for coming out and having a good time with me. I truly appreciate it!
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
Grave in Exeter Cathedral. If anyone knows anything about this grave please fill me in.
Graffitied wall in Belfast. Yet another reason to love the Irish!
I’d drive this sucker all over Nashville. I wouldn’t feel great about it on the highway but I’m sure it’s safer than a motorcycle.
Peter Dunwell took this photo of Billy and I in London. I like this one for a few reasons. 1) It’s a nice shot. 2) Billy looks great with that Gibson and I think they should give him this guitar. 3) I look like the guy that is always standing on the side of the stage looking tough while Run DMC or MC Hammer busts out the rhymes.
This was a party for “Jail Guitar Doors”. It’s a very cool organization that Billy set up to send guitars into prisons. It’s a way to reward the best behaved inmates and give them something constructive to work on while they pass time. It has a very good track record of helping rehabilitate inmates and is spoken highly of by wardens in the UK. You can learn more at http://www.jailguitardoors.org.uk/
Your guess is as good as mine?
Self portrait backstage in Belfast.
This is me on stage at the beautiful, Empire Music Hall in Belfast.
Another grave in Exeter Cathedral.
I have no idea who this is and I’ve never seen the show, but I can say with confidence that this has to be the best ventriloquist act of all time!
****Edit****The lovely and talented Grant Showbiz sent me this little bit of knowledge.
the man with the teeth is not a ventriloquist,but,a guy called Ken Dodd & he’s holding a Diddyman from Knotty Ash…..He is the last of the great Music hall comedians & is about 80 years old now.He’s very funny & does 3 hour sets-yes,even longer than Billys…..He was put on trial for tax evasion about 10 years ago.& basically amused the judge out of jailing him……well worth a google
Someone sent me this photo of Billy and I on stage at Shepherds Bush Empire in London (photographer unknown). If you took this photo, please let me know and I’ll credit you or pull it down.
This was also sent to me by an unknown photographer. It’s a crowd shot of Shepherds Bush Empire in London. If you took this photo, please let me know and I’ll credit you or pull it down.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
*****More to come******
These were shot at a living room show that I played in Orlando a couple of weeks ago. I drove four hours to Atlanta, taped the Paste session and then played a really fun House Concert. I slept for 5 hours and then drove 8 1/2 hours to Orlando to play this show. I was very happy that this turned out to be a great show with some very swell folks. After this show, I drove 4 hours , then slept 6 hours and then began the 12 hour drive home. If you’ve ever been curious what life on the road is like, this is a little taste of it.
I’d like to send a special thanks to the Coble family for hosting the show and to Keith Alan Morris for putting this film together.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis
I did a session with Paste Magazine while I was in Atlanta a couple of weeks back. I can’t figure out how to embed the video so, you’ll have to follow the link to check it out.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2009/02/live-at-paste-otis-gibbs.html
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Otis Gibbs and Billy Bragg singing “Sin City” at Guildhall, Southampton, 30/11/08