Monday morning blues: If you don't love blues, you hate America

For 2017 album picks, this one will be the hardest.  First, Jeff Lang and Lloyd Spiegel... I have to take them out of this for being Australians, which would seem to conflict with the spirit of the series.  There are a couple of other caveats.  I haven't yet picked up Otis Taylor's new album, nor Chris Bergson's new album.  Shame on me for both.

But... Tedeschi Trucks Band put out a live album.  Holy shit.  Here's "Keep On Growing," from Live from the Fox Oakland.



You know who else put out a live album?  Sonny Landreth.  Here's "Blues Attack" from Recorded Live in Lafayette.



And there's still more great blues from 2017.  I'm not even done with the slide guitarists.  Robert Randolph isn't a pure blues artist, but Got Soul was a good album.  Here's "Travelin' Cheeba Man."



And there's more.  How about some singers?  How good did Susan Tedeschi sound?  Carolyn Wonderland put out a new album too-- here's a live version of the title cut from Moon Goes Missing.  She's a fucking awesome guitarist too.



More great blues vocals?  Here's "Don't Give Up," from the self-titled debut album by Southern Avenue.



Speaking of southern blues, there's a new guy from Florida making some great, swampy, soul-blues.  Selwyn Birchwood.  Here's "Trial By Fire," from Pick Your Poison.



Oh, and one more for good measure.  Harmonica player Jason Ricci is back.  Here's "Demon Lover," from Approved By Snakes.



And remember, I took Jeff Lang and Lloyd Spiegel out of the running for being from the wrong country.  I love the old guys.  I post clips of Blind Blake, Big Bill Broonzy, Charley Patton, and... and... yeah, I know my blues.  Seriously, though, we have great blues being recorded today.  This was just one year.  And I don't even have Otis Taylor's new album yet.  Gotta get that one...

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