Music: Evan Nicole Bell

Sometimes, when you click on a video, you get taken on a magic ride. This song, a live cut, from Evan Nicole Bell, took me back to my youth, and my journey in music. In a good way though!

When I was learning guitar, I learned a couple of 3 chord classics, and even an epic song that is essentially an A chord¹. But it got interesting when my teacher taught me the minor pentatonic scale. It is a simple pattern, often called a box, that can be moved up and down the neck, and used to build simple to complex motifs and riffs.

This was my introduction to the blues. 12 bar, minor, major, and tons of variations, but with a little echo, and slapback, it is straightforward to get either a Chicago style, or a deep delta blues. The music that former slaves made, mixing their cultural heritage with unique flourishes. Names like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and even the ethereal Robert Johnson.

I learned a LOT of this, because it was pretty easy to get the groove, and it was fun to solo over. Hell, that is why the British Invasion bands covered a lot of that genre from the 30’s and 40’s on their way to the top during the 60’s. Where would Eric Clapton be without his lifting of the music of Robert Johnson? Probably a washed up house musician at a seed south side pub.

That is a longish preamble to what I am bringing to light this fine day.

I present to you Evan Nicole Bell. This young lady has a cool demeanor. As the track start, the band is in a waiting pattern, and she strolls in, and gets herself ready to play. You almost feel bad for them, thinking they might just be props or furniture.

But you would be wrong. They are clearly setting the stage, establishing the groove, knowing that the audience isn’t there for them. No, Evan is the focal point.

And as she straps the guitar in, as she checks its tuning and ensuring that it is the right signal chain, you begin to feel the anticipation of the audience.

And then magic envelops you, you lose yourself to the music, enjoying every blissful note, every squeal she nurses from the fretboard. You are mesmerized.

All too soon, it is over, and you are, like an addict, wanting more.

That’s what Evan Nicole Bell did to me this morning. This is the power of the blues, and damned if she doesn’t have it.

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

1. Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love is a single chord, A-min with adornments.