LEGENDARY BLUESMAN R.L. BURNSIDE BRINGS HEAVEN" TO WEST COAST
Legendary bluesman R. L. Burnside, whose new CD Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down" (Fat Possum/Epitaph) has earned critical raves since its release last month, will bring his signature North Mississippi Hill Country blues to the West Coast with a series of dates January 19-26. (See cities and venues below).
While Burnside is recognized as one of the pre-eminent voices in blues today, it is his experimentation with combining traditional blues with contemporary musical tools, such as turntables and ambient beats and loops, that has earned him widespread acclaim.
Seeing Burnside perform live, however, audiences can expect a radically different sonic experience. As is typical in North Mississippi Hill Country blues, Burnside does not use bass or back-up vocalists. His spirited live presentation showcases his pure, passionate blues, without
the contemporary embellishments that are found on his studio recordings.
His three-piece band features grandson Cedric Burnside on drums and Kenny Brown on lead guitar, while R.L., on rhythm guitar, rounds out this traditional North Mississippi Hill Country blues ensemble.
DATE CITY VENUE
Jan. 19 VANCOUVER, CANADA House of Blues
Jan. 20 SEATTLE, WA Showbox
Jan. 21 PORTLAND, OR Crystal Ballroom
Jan. 23 SANTA CRUZ, CA Palookaville
Jan. 24 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Great American Music Hall
Jan. 25 SOLANA BEACH, CA Belly Up Tavern
Jan 26 HOLLYWOOD, CA House of Blues
Here's what the critics are saying about RL Burnside's Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down":
...[the] living embodiment of blues spirit, a torch carrier whose vision for the music puts tradition-mongering young blues students to shame." --ROLLING STONE
[Burnside] pulls off a wondrous fusion of his Mississippi hill-country sound and modern machined rhythms
For more information contact All About Jazz.