The return of the bastard son!

I have a bastard son! I’ve tried to hide him from the world most of the time. But every now and then he calls me up in the middle of the night. That I can handle. But when I least expect it he turn up at my doorstep and scares the hell out of me. He’s like an addiction I never really can get rid of.
He was born in the “hot as hell” summer of 2002. Johan (his 2: nd father) and I gave him the name Busty Blondes. Whenever he shows up he reminds me of why rock ‘n’ roll once was considered to be dangerous because the bastard makes me loose all control, awakens all the demons that I carry around and turns me into a mean shouting guitar smashing monster.
He does the same to Johan. There’s no human drummer alive that can produce a sound like that. It must be the Devil. 2 persons and a sound like a fucking army from Hell.
White Stripes, The Black Keys, Johnossi? Ha,ha,ha……Music from the kindergarten! Don’t get me wrong, I like these bands, there’re NICE but BB, well, you better stay away if you still wanna sleep at night, OK?
Yeah, you guessed right. We’re about to enter the studio again. Six years since the last recording and we’re not sure that we’ll survive this time. So thanks for your attention. http://www.bustyblondes.se

Your friend

Slim

The Devil, Billy Bragg and the BLUES

Last night I watched an interview with the legendary British political singer Billy Bragg. He talked about how he changed his views on society since his early years. Today he considers cynicism to be a much bigger threat towards society and mankind than capitalism and conservatism. And I could not agree more.
Even if I still fear capitalism and conservatism like the Devil at the Crossroad few things makes me more upset than the growing lack of solidarity and compassion among people for their fellow man. Looking at it from my point of view I can’t see it any other way than that the cynics lost their ability to believe in the equal human dignity of us all and our mutual responsibility for the world we live in. It’s the easy way out of course. Look after your own house and pray to God that your life won’t be destroyed by sickness, unemployment and poverty. This is what our right wing government in Sweden preaches. As well as any other right wing government around the world I guess.
And it makes me fucking sick!
This cynical capitalistic way of life is the cause of our world’s downfall. It is the cause for wars around the world and it is the cause for all the kids that becomes victims in a fucked up school system that preaches an inhuman “only the strong will survive” philosophy.
Only by realizing that we all are alike, that we all can fall at any time we have a chance to change things around. If we keep this in mind when we meet the junkie on the street, look down on that woman sleeping on the pavement or watch that tombstone raised to the memory of a young person who wasn’t strong enough to handle life we will keep in touch with our own humanity.

Being a blues musician is a big responsibility because it is a major part of my mission to tell my own story as well as trying to comment on the world around me but always with love and compassion for my fellow man. I’ve seen a lot during my 14 years on the road. It has been a bumpy journey to say the least. During a few hard years I felt that I was on my way to become that cynic thanks to encounters with the rough business side of music. I’ve sure met some less nice people in audiences too. People that I’ve tried to put me down, criticize me and even threat me with violence on a few rare but fucking scary occasions. During some periods I’ve lost my drive to get out there and play because of this but, thank God, these periods never last.
Over the last few years I’ve learned to look at people for who they are and why. Most people have their own hell to handle and their actions are more or less always the result of this.
But A MAJORITY of all people I meet at festivals and clubs are such great human beings that give me new belief in the future of mankind every night.
I don’t claim to be serving any new thoughts here but I do think that we all need to be reminded every once in a while about these things. There’s hope if we struggle not to get too cynical, if we keep focus on solidarity, keep our faith in democracy and freedom of speech, AND make sure that we get rid of Mr. Reinfeldt at the next election.
Meanwhile, keep listening to the blues, go to clubs and festivals and don’t forget to enjoy your life!

Slim

MY LOVE FOR THE DEEP BLUES

I can’t get rid of this addiction to the real deep blues…I just keep coming back to the place where it all began back in the early 90’s. I might get lost from time to time, having shorter “affairs” with other blues styles but I always come back to my musical home.
There is nothing like the blues from Delta. This music resonates in my soul in a way words can’t describe.
I’m not a religious man but when I listen to the blues from Mississippi I sure feel like a religious man! This music comforts the soul and heart, makes me laugh and cry, creates an urge to dance, drink and raise some serious hell!
Big Joe Williams, Son House, T-Model Ford, Cedell Davis, RL Burnside, Frank Frost, Junior Kimbrough…That’s the real blues my friends!
I’m lucky enough to have seen T-Model Ford and Robert Belfour live. For that I’m deeply grateful.
For me, this music keeps the focus on what good music should be about. Not perfect tuning, technical skills or fancy production.
Take some time and listen to the music from the Delta. It might even change your life…
You'll find the CD's to buy here http://www.fatpossum.com or here http://www.smokestackrecords.com

I’ve done 2 more gigs with Sick’ Blues (Göta Källare in Söderköping and Linköpings Jazz & Bluesfestival) and I’m enjoying myself immensely with these guys. I’ve worked with several great musicians in bands before but there’s something special with this band. I have high hopes for our musical future together.
On Friday we’re going to Macbeth (Josef’s Blues House) in Eskilstuna. That will be our 5:th gig anniversary!!!
After that we will spend some time in the “basement” working on some songs for our recording session in May at the Real Music Studio in Stockholm. I’m looking forward to this a lot because this is a great studio for blues music. Bands like Blues Down Town, Knock-Out Greg & Blue Weather and Sven Zetterberg got CD’s out there that proves that this might be as close to the Chess studio you could come in Europe.

Take care,

Slim