It's heartening, though, to see some of the blues legends finally get the respect from a wider audience that they deserve. I saw James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin perform together last week, a 1 and 1/2 hour-long set, no intermission, and they blew the house down for a large audience (San Francisco).

But....as you (Bobert) have experienced, that's not the norm for blues artists of "non-legend" stature performing in mixed music venues. A good number know of the revolution in banjo playing inspired by Earl Scruggs, or at least can name him and what instrument he plays, but the revolution in harmonica playing forged by Little Walter, or Hubert Sumlin's influence on rock guitarists doesn't seem to be burned into the consciousness of society outside of blues fans, and in Sumlin's case, a generation of rock and blues guitarists.

Yeah, everything becomes bluegrass: Irish fiddlers get requests to play "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and old-timey musicians treated the same. It's an example of what music is burned into the concsciousness of a wider public, and what isn't.

Now, don't get me wrong, for whatever it's worth- I love bluegrass! - just using it to make a point.

Chanteyranger

Chanteyranger