Don't even try to defend Stevie Ray Vaughan, ILM -- tear his oeuvre/legacy apart and throw it to the dogs

My main criticism with SRV is that he gave his band no space with which to do anything. The house can't really get rockin' without the bass and the drums doing something to get it that way. I forgot "Life By the Drop", which is actually pretty good, and also the exception that proves the rule.

The wham of the Memphis man, that always works. He probably gave Leslie West ideas.

OK, Tracer I see what you were asking (sorry it all came across as some kind of bizarre invective), "what would he have to be to count among my favorite players?" Well, again, I think I spelled it out above - I like him when he tackles slower, jazzier material. I mean, he provided evidence that he could play in that style, he just rarely indulged it. If he had had more of that, and less of the cops to a rock audience ("Superstition", "Voodoo Chile"), he would have been a more interesting figure to me.

He does seem quite lazy in that sense - all of that talent largely put in the service of the more uptempo numbers better suited to technical display. And even on slower 12-bar numbers like the version of "Things That I Used to Do", he just stomps all over it - takes this really emblematic blues standard and reduces it to a vehicle for hyper-note-spew. I can see where the tendency to call him "soulless" arises and I certainly wouldn't consider it one of his better performances.

It's a subjective thing, obv. My favorite blues is definitely the Chess sound and the Chicago west-side sound. But I also enjoy the cleaner, jazzier, more urbane post-Walker players like the Kings Freddie/Albert/B.B., and it seemed Vaughan's project was to marry that tradition to a more rock-derived sound, incorporating Hendrix's always-busy rhythm/lead style. I wish his records had less of the pyrotechnic displays, but ultimately I like the varied material on the two I have and I can enjoy him when I'm in the mood.

If somebody says they hate his album photo, never heard his music, that's their pregrogative... why not let them say it?

Again - not sure where I ever said people "couldn't" say whatever they want. I'm just saying that, as a listener, those criticisms aren't as interesting to me; they don't help me understand the music better as music, which is what I'm largely interested in. Actually one of my favorite books on the subject, Urban Blues neatly marries the sociological and musicological approach, which is why it is so informative.

erm, but I guess this really is turning into "guitar player" forum now..

The e-flat tuning goes a long way toward explaining that comparison, as well.

I have been playing electric guitar for 10 years now. I must say that it is one of the great
loves of my life. Sometimes when I play, I think no thoughts and the music flows so
purely that it becomes samadhi. Sometimes even when I just listen to Guitar music I
gain an understanding of Buddha Nature. (Best Example: Stevie Ray Vaughn's version
of "Little Wing" absoloutly stunning. It feels like pure compassion). The guitar to me
teaches Prajnaparamita.

Some people are afraid of death and the last attachment to be given up is that of
existing. My last attachment would be to my guitar (a 1972 Gibson SG delux if you are
wondering). I think that some day it will become my only obstacle. Or is it an obstacle
at all? How can I resolve this?

-Manjusri

(PS. Sometimes I like to call Jimi Hendrix the Bodhisattva of Experience. ;-) )

Please consult the Spring 2002 Registration Supplement or registrar’s webpage for ExCo CRNs.

ExCo instructors registering for credit, use the Exco-xxxc-01 section on PRESTO (C for instructor, right?)

Stevie Ray Vaughn 0-1 Credit

Jim Reynolds EXCO-408-01

The name says it all. This is an exco about Stevie Ray Vaughn. The class will meet once a week, TBA, and will focus on the music and life of Stevie Ray Vaughn. There will be an essay midterm and final. All are welcome.

Who let the machine in?

Comparisons to Hendrix are kind of lazy, despite the covers/well-known admiration. SRV is much more of a technician and didn't seem nearly as interested in exploring weird shit when he played. While I'm sure your average Pfork dropout could never understand how improvised music that isn't trying to be Coltrane could ever satisfy, there's as much subtlety and musicality in a song like "Cold Shot" as in any of Hendrix's playing.

(and I actually think it's Double Trouble who are the problem re: the rhythm section - they seem very very tired)

he's not using the 'Eighteen Cabinets of Giant Marshall Stack' sound.

This from someone whose posting style reflects the passion of a narcoleptic stamp collector.

passion is overrated.

http://www.satriani.com/G3/

(their show must be like dying and going to hell's own guitar store)

Another SRV bashing thread, same bullshit. Maybe if you spent half the time you do thinking up clever SRV insults as you do practicing on your guitar you might become half the player Stevie was. With that said, I will be hypocritical and defend SRV.

There are these guys that always have something bad to say about Stevie, like Stevie "had no soul" or "was not expressive" or "had no real talent" are obviously uneducated idiots that don't know jack shit about the blues or guitar playing for that matter. Mark my word "You will be the ones who never amount to shit playing guitar or in the music business".
If Stevie was such a meaningless guitar player then why did true blues guitarist like B.B. King, Albert King and Albert Collins respect him so much, play shows and sessions with him, and claim him as the "new blood" of blues guitar? Why do successful musicians like Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, all of ZZ Top (Billy Gibbons had SRV a guitar made as a gift) Lonnie Mack, and even Stevie Wonder consider him a best friend and one of the greatest guitar players ever, as they have said in many interviews? Would one of you fucking music geniuses answer that for me?
Sure Stevie’s music and style was influenced by Jimi, but just about what modern guitarist wasn't in some way or another? Shit, Jimi Hendrix influenced Stevie's early career wardrobe more than anything. If you were really listening you would hear Albert King's style influence more than Jimi Hendrix’s. If you don't think so then I dare you listen to the entire Albert King BluesPower/LiveWire album and then tell me who Stevie sounds like at least guitar solo wise? It's very naive and amateur to base Stevie's musical talent on his studio recorded albums, when his live performances truly demonstrated his amazing ability. I didn’t like Stevie’s version of “Voodoo Chile” slight return on “Couldn’t stand the weather” either, and you know what? Either did Stevie Ray Vaughan, he has said in a few interviews it sounded “over dubbed” and he felt it was missing the energy. But then watch the performance of it on Austin City Limits from 1983. It’s an incredible performance of the song. You can find it with almost any file-sharing service.

To DJ Mencap: Icarus Line are a bunch of Emo looking, no talent faggots, believe me I saw them in concert and they fucking suck.
Yeah it's real cool to fuck with Stevie's guitar, Aaron North did that because that is his only hope of getting any real publicity simply because their music is pure shit. Yeah the songs are really burning up the charts, I'm sure their careers and legacy will last, and they will be remembered forever, sure.

To Julio Desouza: You may be the dumbest fuck in here, you say "Makes me glad I haven't heard his music" yet you still hang around in here to bash him. Makes you feel like a big man, huh?

To Kris: Like anyone else, you are entitled to your opinion about his singing and playing, but to make an analogy comparing SRV to GG Allin is just redickless.

To nickalicious: I wouldn't go so far as to say SRV's cover of "Little Wing" is better, as it is always hard to surpass or approve upon an original, but SRV's cover was outstanding. I liked Pesci better in Goodfella's. Quote: "You, mudderfucker, you"

To Kenan Hebert: Obviously that Statue show's that the people in Austin appreciated him. Since you live in Austin why don't you let others in the area know how you feel about the spooging on the soul patch? You won't. Because you’re a fucking pussy who gets off by talking shit about Stevie on threads like this and you know that the musicians in Austin would tear you another asshole if they heard what you said you fucking hot shot. To think about shit like that shows how truly sick minded you are.

What a bunch of bunch of jackass, negative, fascists. In Instead of keeping your opinions and bitter jealousy of your under achievement to yourself you decide to bully others for what you don't have. You try to make others share the same feelings as yourself because that is the only thing you have in life to do. For a matter of fact this is a picture of what most of you assholes that are talking shit look like behind at your computer (Copy/Paste)
http://www.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img2&image=you.jpg

If you are all such great guitar players, why don’t you upload some links to, or make some MP3s of yourselves playing so that I and others can listen you play. I doubt you will because I sure you wouldn’t want your playing judged as you have judged Stevie’s.
All of you (except a few) can kiss my ass for getting me all worked about this shit today.

Sincerely,
SRVGoogler

I'm sorry, I mistook this as you getting annoyed when clearly you were meditating your hate away.

hey! i thought you wouldn't be back for the replies!

Shh, you're giving it away!

This thread *is* useful.

I don't really feel as much hate towards Stevie as some of the others in the guitar canon, but he doesn't strike me as anything special. I guess "Let's Dance" is kinda fun.