Tonight I went back to one of the roots of the monster. This monster called Rock 'n' roll was born when white country music stumbled upon the black man's blues. African-Americans absorbed European folk music in the 1800's, while chanting gospel hymns on the plantations of Mississippi. The black folks eventually created a distinct American art form called the blues. Jazz, rhythm & blues, and soul would soon follow. This new art form caught the attention of poor white folks, who understood that the blues was not just a style of music, but a state of mind. Rooted in despair and suffering, the blues is an outlet to express the desire to survive.
In 1927, Jimmie Rodgers performed "T for Texas" which was basically his interpretation of the blues. Way up in the mountains of Virginia, the Carter Family was doing their version of the blues. These early recordings became the birth of country music. It was passed down to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee. At Sun Studios in 1955, these country dudes showed their desire to mix their country roots with the various black styles they absorbed: gospel, swing jazz, rhythm & blues, jump blues, and Mississippi blues. After mixing these vibes, the monster was born! The monster's original name was Rockabilly.
In 1927, Jimmie Rodgers performed "T for Texas" which was basically his interpretation of the blues. Way up in the mountains of Virginia, the Carter Family was doing their version of the blues. These early recordings became the birth of country music. It was passed down to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee. At Sun Studios in 1955, these country dudes showed their desire to mix their country roots with the various black styles they absorbed: gospel, swing jazz, rhythm & blues, jump blues, and Mississippi blues. After mixing these vibes, the monster was born! The monster's original name was Rockabilly.
Country roots reverberated the Burlington Club in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood Monday night. The Lawrence Peters Outfit was refreshing to remind me of how much I love old-school traditional country. They did songs that were reminiscent of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, the Louvin Brothers, George Jones, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell.
Lawrence Peters is currently the drummer for Plastic Crimewave Sound with Chicago music historian Steve Krakow. Plastic Crimewave Sound do some venomous psychedelic acid punk. I remember seeing Lawrence perform with Kelly Kessler and the Wichita Shut Ins. It was during the '90s Americana insurgent country scene. Kelly Kessler was totally doing a retro homage to Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family. Lawrence later performed with Western Standard Time.
The Lawrence Peters Outfit features guitarist Pennsylvania Dave of the Blue Tear Drops and Gin Palace Jesters. Matt Gandurski handles the other guitar in a way that makes it sound like a steel pedal guitar. There was that traditional dual harmonizing that is often called the "high lonesome sound." Unfortunately, current country radio does not play real country music. The Nashville corporate controlled machine has produced some really bad pop music. Much of it is an embarrassment to the early outlaws and fathers of the high lonesome sound.
Our great American art form has a rich heritage that will make the curious music lover journey back to rock 'n' roll's family tree. There is a special place on that tree for country roots. The best country songs were a reaction to the Great Depression. As our economy falters on the brink of collapse, we need the black blues folks and real country folks to sing the blues again. The Lawrence Peters Outfit will be at the Empty Bottle this coming Friday. Come on out if you want an outlet from your lover's cheating heart.
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