When we think of the Blues the first places that come to mind are always the delta and Chicago. And although that’s not wrong, Blues music was played regionally in many parts of the country. One place with a rich Blues history is California, with the creation of West Coast Blues. This blues has a […]
Are you a blues dancer looking for more resources? Learning to learn more about the dance? About Black culture? Whether you are new to the style, looking for resources, or just want to gain some context, this article has what you are looking for! Check out this article for a simple summary of blues dancing.
Today I often hear complaints from older adults about “the youth” and their music. Today’s music is so dirty! Let’s take off our nostalgic glasses and look at some Hokum blues. What is Hokum Blues? Hokum, a term that is debated on it’s origins, is a style or performance, where the distishgishing factors are sexual
it’s never about food Read More »
The current artist series to combat to popular myths that blues is dead, or that it is no longer Black. Obsidian has picked 5 artists of varying ages to highlight, all with very different sounds. Artists that can still be found today! Consider checking them out, buying a CD and adding them to your que
5 current blues artists you should know : part 2 Read More »
A few months back I was attempting to use my audible credits and I downloaded a bunch of random books. One was a book I bought for research on blues. And I’m in love. First the reader is simply one of the smoothest and easy voices to listen to. It’s dark, and gritty and yet
Stop What You are Doing and LISTEN Read More »
A common cultural miscommunication that alienates Black people within our dance communities is the love of the past and time travel. I don’t mean Doctor Who time travel. What I mean is the the common idea that people who do these dances desire to go back in time. They say things like “I feel like
Dance communities and time travel Read More »
For years there has been an ongoing debate about the importance of dressing up at social dances. Understand that dressing up is a part of the culture if you are doing an African American vernacular dance. I’m going to explore why dressing up matters, how it shows up often in Black Culture as a means
5 current blues artists you should know Most fan of blues know of the classic artists of the genre, think BB king, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, and Koko Taylor. Many blues fans also know of their local favorites but don’t know the current, young and talented blues musicians around. When many of us think
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Luckily I feel like this question is fading away but I’ve heard it’s floating around still, “why are there no Blues dance elders” The answer to me has always been obvious. White people never picked it up. Yeah, I said it. I bet many of you are confused. What does white people liking a thing
Why are There no Blues Elders in the Dance Community? Read More »