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This week's Bullfrog Blues Club Gigs Steve Wells, alias Mister Doo, appears at The Bullfrog Blues Club at The R.M.A. Tavern in Cromwell Rd., Eastney, on Thurdsay 8th March. Mister Doo is an acoustic blues guitarist who describes his style as sort of 'scruffy' - probably more Blind Boy Fuller or Leadbelly than Stefan Grossman or Keb Mo‘, and in approach, probably similar to Bo Carter - all a bit tongue-in-cheek, and not taking himself too seriously. So, in his own words…… “There are three types of blues I hate. The first is where an old classic has been updated so that it's now basically a 12-bar rock blues with an indistinct tune. All that's left of the original is the words. At best it’s just lazy, and at worst plagiaristic and cynical - making easy money out of someone who spent their life in poverty. The second type of blues is probably even more cynical. This is where an "original" has been written, but is made up of tired old blues cliches that cannot possibly apply to the singer. You know the kind of thing... “My woman done left she” (she hasn't) “Gotta ride the blinds” (trains don't have them any more!) I'm so tired, broke and hungry (No you aren't!) “I've almost lost my mind” (Well, I'll give you that one...) ...and so on. There's just no point doing this! Play the originals if you're just going to re-hash bits of them to avoid royalty payments! So that leaves the third type, where bluesmen write about their actual experiences. Unfortunately, in our comfortable life, we don't really have the kinds of feelings that the old delta blues guys in the 20s and 30s had. We don't live in a violence ridden world of abject poverty where you'd end up blind due to the work you had to do and were then thrown on the scrap heap with no income because you were useless to your employer. That's why these guys learnt to play guitar; not because they liked the sound of an E chord - IT'S BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO EAT AND THEY WOULD DIE OTHERWISE! With original material, there are at least 3 subject areas that have always been blues subject material, and still are. I'd estimate that about 80% of all blues songs fall into of the 3 following categories: Sex , sex and…err….sex….. Hence, Mister Doo's "signature" tune, The Jelly Man. (You didn't think it was about puddings, did you?) Keep it blues. Keep it real. And, of course, take all of this with a pinch of salt - there are great blues songs that break all of the 'rules' stated here, including some of my own stuff! Never take things on face value…” Amen to that - sound like a great night is in store! And as usual, admission to The R.M.A. Tavern is FREE!!! Music starts at 9 p.m.