They say history always repeats itself, so here is my observations on the future of the blues, from a musician's angle, who also loves history.

With the closing of so many clubs, the Hard Rock Cafe type takeovers, the drinking age going up, DWI's being enforced at unprecedented rates, gas prices skyrocketing, hotel prices tripled from 20 years ago, and the musicians pay having stayed the same, or gone down, in many cases, the time is ripe for history to repeat - kind of.

Before blues became a commercial product, it was pretty much in the same shape as the above paragraph. Local players, worked all week, and had small, local gigs, on the weekends. They played the streets too. No one even thought of making a living with their music. It was purely for the need to play, and if a few bucks came in, it was all the better.

Then the record, and radio came into play. Now guys were getting heard outside their area, and the business minded folks, moved in, and began to market this music. The rest is history.

Now, we have pretty much gone back to this scenario, less the various modes of media, to send it world wide. But because the cost of getting out and playing, often far outweighs the money one can earn, we have gone back to that time, when only the top artists were able to earn a bare bones living, doing their music full time.

Now, I get personal. This may be an isolated case, but what the heck. I have decided to start playing clubs again. Just 3 or 4 years ago, this would never have been an option around here because there was only 1 or 2 nightclubs, within a 30 mile drive. I started playing on the streets in town about 2 years ago. A local music store, lets me set up and play anytime I want. From this, a few private parties trickled in and I connected with a bass player and drummer.

I have realized that I don't want to do the 10-2am thing anymore, and bam, here appears this whole new arena for me - coffee houses, micro breweries, and BBQ joints. There are about 15 such places within 10 miles of here. You play early, and only do a set or 2 - perfect! We have put together some promo packs, and are getting them out. One problem these places have with bands is, they play too loud. We got that down in spades. I pride myself on being asked to turn up all the time. I say ok, go over to the dials, and act like I am turning them. I don't turn a thing.

The $ to made in these places is not good, maybe $50 a man. But like before this music was commercialized, I am playing because I have a drive to do it from my soul, not my wallet. Who knows how this will pan out, but I found it interesting, how one has to flow with the tide. History, in a slightly warped way, is again repeating itself for the blues musician. We are kind of back to square one. I like that, because I made it to the bottom of the top (making a living playing), and it got pretty ugly the last 5 years or so, before I quit in '96.

I see this as a kind of renaissance period. The ones that hold tight, to the old ways, will fade away, bitter, and depressed. The ones that can see this as a new day, with endless potential, will enjoy today, and tomorrow, playing their music, to people who appreciate it. You got to go with the flow, or drown!

Walter