Blues

Interview with Zeke Schein – A New Photo of Robert Johnson Comes to Light

15 Comments

Robert Johnson poses with fellow blues musician Johnny Shines in the newly released photograph. http://www.morethings.com/music/robert_johnson/robert_johnson.jpg
L. Photo of Robert Johnson with Johnny Shines discovered by Zeke Schein, published in Vanity Fair
R. Previously released photo of Johnson

On today’s show I speak with Zeke Schein, musician and vintage guitar expert who recently discovered a previously unknown or thought to be lost photo of Robert Johnson with another man who may well be Johnny Shines (this would be by far the earliest known photo of Shines, and he looks quite different as an older man).  The photo has just come out in Vanity Fair, together with an article telling its remarkable story.  I met Zeke at a cafe on 7th Ave. in Brooklyn and over coffee we discussed his own musical background, introduction to blues and the musical community and exchange of ideas that takes place at Matt Umanov Guitars in Greenwhich Village where Zeke works.  We talked about the photo itself, how Zeke found it, and what he has hoped to do by publishing it and through out we spin a bunch of records relevant to the program.  Looking at this photograph brings home to me, among other things, just how young Robert Johnson and Johnny Shines were, and how hip they were- Nice suits!

Roots n Ruckus Live at Jalopy August 27th 2008

Leave a Comment

Jessy Carolina Dom Flemons Feral Foster
Jessy Carolina                         Dom Flemons                         Feral Foster

Willy Gantrim at Jalopy Sam Shepard and Peter Stampfel Frank Hoier

Willy Gantrim               Sam Shepard & Peter Stampfel          Frank Hoier

Every Wednesday night I take part in a live folk music show called “Roots n Ruckus” that takes place at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn, NY. Here’s another live recording I made there back in August.  That night the show featured many of the Roots n Ruckus regulars as well as Dom Flemons from the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Peter Stampfel and Sam Shepard of the Holy Modal Rounders.

It was a great show!  Hope you enjoy.

The acts:

Part 1
0:00 – ???  Who is this?  I can’t remember, but he’s real good.
22:00 – Frank Hoier
45:30 – (Elements of the) Peach Colored Jug Smugglers w/ Eli Smith (me) on guitar & Dizzy on washboard
66:00 – Feral Foster
88:00 – Peter Stampfel & Sam Shepard w/ Jeannie Scofield & Eli Smith

Part 2
0:00 – Dom Flemons
38:00 – Willy Gantrim
68:00 – Jessy Carolina

Interview with Blind Boy Paxton

6 Comments

Blind Boy Paxton by you.
(Blind Boy Paxton at the Jalopy Theater, Roots n Ruckus show, Sept. ’08.  Photo by Eli Smith)

On today’s show I speak with blues musician Blind Boy Paxton.  Paxton is a 19 year old musician and singer who plays the guitar, banjo and piano and is a walking encyclopedia of early blues and jazz.  He hails from the Watts section of Los Angeles, but we are lucky enough to have him here on the East Coast during the school year.  I visited him where he goes to college a couple of hours north of New York City and we recorded this interview.  Paxton is very influenced by the music and culture carried in his family, and grandmother in particular, who are from Louisiana.  Blind Boy plays plays live on the air, spins some of his favorite records and recounts some interesting stories!

See below for links, etc.

Jug Free America – A notable 21st century jug band

10 Comments

Jug Free America 87 E. Lorrain St. Oberlin, Oh 2003(?)

Jug Free America was a jug band I played in, which existed from 2001-2005. We played a mix of old jug band tunes, early blues/pre-blues, old-time, country, ragtimey stuff and acoustic reggae. I don’t usually go around promoting my own stuff on the show, but just objectively, this band is worth checking out.

Posted here is our final CD- “Jug Free America- California: 2005”
(Click Here to download)
This was recorded on the fly by Chris Patchett at his house in Berkeley, CA in the summer of 2005, shortly before the band broke up. I think we got real good by the end! This album has never been released anywhere, so this is its debut.

– Eli (host, etc. Down Home Radio)

“These guys are really good” – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott

Jug Free America moved to Oakland, California in the fall of 2004 from their previous hometown of Oberlin, Ohio. They played gigs around the Bay Area through the fall of 2005. The group formed in Ohio in 2001 while students at Oberlin College. From 2001-2005 they played gigs all over the United States and in Poland, where they toured in 2004.

See below for more information- personnel, track listing, etc:

Interview with David “Honeyboy” Edwards

Leave a Comment


This week, Eli interviews Delta Blues legend Honeyboy Edwards. Honeyboy reveals many fascinating insights, vignettes and critical information gathered during his 74+ years as a professional musician. He is Eli’s personal favorite all time blues musician. Honeyboy talks about his days playing in Memphis with the Memphis Jug Band (plus how to blow a jug and build a tub bass) and Big Walter Horton, playing in Chicago with all the greats there, how to hop a freight train and get away with it as well as lots more.

Interview with David “Honeyboy” Edwards

Check out autobiography: The World Don’t Owe Me Nothin’

As well as his websites: Honeyboy Edwards & Earwig Records