Deja Blooze

Blues Terminology

The "blues" as we know them today are in essence a musical account of the lives, the loves, the trials and the concerns of black people during the early years of the 20th Century. Even though the roots of "the blues" can be traced back to the mid 19th Century, this modern style of music is considered a blend of field hollers and the gospel music heard in black church choirs. Blues music concerns, at its core, stories told over a simple chord progression where emotion is the key ingredient fueled by a steady beat that repeats the chant of sorrow, inequity, hard living and the plight of lost souls. The poetry and format of the blues first came into view around 1910 and gained broader popularity in 1912 with W.C. Handy's "Memphis Blues".

During the twenties, the blues became a national craze. Records by leading blues singers like Bessie Smith and later, in the thirties, Billie Holiday, sold in the millions. The twenties also saw the blues become a musical form more widely expanded on by the likes of Son House, Blind Willie McTell, Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Robert Johnson. Johnson has gained mythological status over the decades and is considered the man whose music and persona broadened the influence and appeal of the Delta blues. Legend has it that Johnson, so badly wanted to play blues guitar, that he sold his soul to the devil one night on a dusty Mississippi crossroad in return for acquiring guitar mastery.

During the decades of the thirties and forties, the blues spread northward with the migration of many blacks from the South and entered into the repertoire of big-band jazz. The blues also became electrified with the introduction of the amplified guitar. In some Northern cities like Chicago and Detroit, during the later forties and early fifties, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, and Elmore James among others, played what was basically Mississippi Delta blues, backed by bass, drums, piano and occasionally harmonica, and began scoring national hits with blues songs. At about the same time, T-Bone Walker in Houston and B.B. King in Memphis were pioneering a style of guitar playing that combined jazz technique with the blues tonality and repertoire.

Regardless of the truth of the Robert Johnson legend, the blues emerged into the mainstream of popular music as a result of Johnson's recordings and still influence players today. Deja Blooze is just one example of the long lasting effect of those early delta players and the potency of their musical creations.

Below are some traditional blues words and phrases that you will hear in the lyrics of songs in the Deja Blooze song bag. They are traceable to African American tradition and experiences in the southern U.S., primarily in the delta region of Mississippi.

Barrelhouse: A cheap drinking spot and more often than not a place for dancing. The term "barrel house" originally referred to buildings where barrels of alcoholic beverages could be found. The meaning of the term later changed to refer to the rowdy style of music that was played at such places.

Biscuit or Biscuit roller: Food themes and metaphors are very common in rural blues music. An attractive young girl was called a biscuit and a good lover was referred to as a biscuit roller.

Easy Rider: The term easy rider is a blues metaphor for a sexual partner. Originally it referred to the guitar a traveling bluesman hung on his back . The term "easy" refers to women and men lovers differently. In reference to a woman it is usually an expression of admiration; with a man it generally carries a negative connotation i.e. reckless or unfaithful.

Hoodoo: A term referring to something that brings bad luck; it was common among southern blacks who preferred it over the word voodoo.

Monkey: Generally refers to a desire for or addiction to drugs or less frequently in reference to an on-going encumbrance or problem.

Nation Sack: "Nation" is generally considered short for "donation". Nation sacks were worn on the belts of traveling preachers to hold the donations they collected. Prostitutes along the Mississippi River eventually adopted this accessory, wearing it under their skirts and between the legs. The jingle of coins worked as a sort of calling card for potential customers.

Rambling: To roam or wander aimlessly from place to place.

Rider: A girl friend, or a sexual partner. Riding is one of the more common metaphors for the sexual act in blues.

Riding the Blinds: The passageway between two railway cars covered wither with canvas or leather in an accordion design. Wandering musicians or hobos sneak onto a passing train and ride for free. That was riding the blinds.

Salty: Generally refers to having "a strong sexual drive" for someone.

Spoonful: This term is considered to have two separate meanings. The first is related to a "spoonful" of liquefied heroin. The second is a sexual reference concerning the amount of a man's "seed."

Stingaree: In blues music this term is a euphemism for the sexual organs, usually applied to women. It is believed to originate from the aquatic stingray with its large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base of the whip like tail capable of inflicting severe wounds.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Deja Blooze to Play the Front Street Grill

Deja Blooze is pleased to announce we have been booked into the Front Street Grill in Coupeville on January 4th as part of their weekly Wednesday night music offerings. The FSG is a warm and inviting restaurant overlooking the world famous Penn Cove. The Deja Blooze quartet will be providing the evening's entertainment with a nice mix of soulful and lively blues.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Upcoming Solo Deja Blooze Gigs

David Gregor, lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, of Deja Blooze will be performing solo at several local establishments in the coming months. As of today, he is booked at the 19o4 Public House in Greenbank Friday October 21st from 7-9 pm and Saturday November 12th the Ott & Murphy Wine Tasting Room on First Street in Langley from 7 -9 pm.

The regular Deja Blooze band lineup will provide the music for the Kitsch & Bitch program at WICA Wednesday October 5th from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. This month our three local chefs were engage in the great American Hamburger Cook-off, featuring Neil Colburn (Neil's Clover Patch) , Seib Jurrians (Prima Bistro), and Shirley Wilson (Shirley's Kitchen). Our guest bartender this month is Chris Adams (Mo's Pub) who will prepare Mo's signature Bloody Mary.

Then Saturday November 5th the Deja Blooze Trio returns to the Prima Bistro for another evening of easy-listening blues from 9-11 pm. So pick a date or two and plan on sitting in with Deja Blooze in any of its configurations

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Our Second Gig at the Useless Bay Coffee Shed Sept. 10th

On September 10th, the Deja Quartet returned to the Useless Bay Coffee Shed for another rousing three hour evening of lively blooze action. Before the evening ended, Eleanor Fye joined the band for her soulful rendition of Angel from Montgomery. Eleanor is an amazing talent. It is great to have her on Whidbey and a pleasure having her join the band for a guest appearance. Our next scheduled appearance will be as the houseband Wednesday evening October 5th for the second installment of Kitsch 'n Bitch at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in beautiful Langley. Show starts at 7:30 pm and will feature three of our local chefs in the Great American Hamburger Smackdown. You can purchase tickets at www.wicaonline.com.

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Deja Boys at Useless Bay Coffee Shed

The newly formed Deja Blooze Quartet played its first public gig over the Labor Day Weekend at the Useless Bay Coffee Shed and were greeted by a steady crowd of music lovers. With the addition of drummer Scott Small, the Deja sound has been enhanced (to say the least) and we're happy to have Scott with us whenever his busy schedule permits.

Some of the more visible Deja fans at our Shed gig. We heard later that the Cantina was jammed full of folks who stayed for the music but chose to go indoors when the wind picked up and with the open spaces in the Cantina those indoors heard everything perfectly.. The nice thing about the Shed's accoustics is that sound travels from one end of town to the other; the result is that we were like the Pied Pipers drawing music lovers onto 2nd Street trying to track down where the music was coming from.

Another shot of the boys at work, with a couple who moved up for a closer listen to the Blooze.

All photos courtesy of Sharon Heath.

Deja Blooze and WICA's Kitsch 'n Bitch

Well, the innagural performance of the Kitsch 'n Bitch series featuring our own Sue Frause and the kitchen band Deja Blooze in now in the can as they say in the film business. Last Wednesday evening we officially launched KnB to a near full house of local inquiring minds who by all accounts enjoyed the program which featured three local film and stage directors and their passion for food and cooking.

Here are directors Andy Grenier (L) and Vito Zingarelli (R) talking pasta which Vito prepared fresh during the show for his special jabanero pesto dish which was very tasty with just enough zing to let you know you still had taste buds.

Here is a snap of the guest roundtable when guest get to sample Vito's fresh pasta dish. The band's own Dave "Langley Slim" Gignac was the creator of this month's signature drink...the Jabanero Martini. I know it sounds a bit strange but having had a taste I can attest that the drink has legs as well as a kick.

Everybody had a great time and we're all looking forward to next month's installment Wednesday October 5th when two local chefs faceoff for the great American Burger Challenge.

All photos courtesy of Sue Frause

Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Deja Blooze quartet at Useless Bay Coffee Shed September 3rd. Great sunny evening, good crowd, and fine food & drink. We had a great time serving up three hours of our signature lively blues with our newest member, drummer Scott Small. What a pleasure Scott is to have on board with us. He really fattens up (musically) our sound. Loads of locals and Langley visitors joined us for great night under clear skies. Looking forward to maybe getting one more gig at the Shed before the weather moves music at UBC indoors. (Photo courtesy of Priscilla Lowry-Gregor)

Friday, September 2, 2011

Deja Blooze Quartet Plays Useless Bay Coffee

Saturday September 3rd the Deja Blooze quartet with drummer Scott Small will play Dez Rock's Useless Bay Coffee Shed from 5-8 pm. We've spent the last two weeks working with Scott on the Deja set list in preparation for this gig as well as our house band duties with Sue Frause and her Kitsch 'n Bitch foodie series at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts this coming Wednesday September 7th at 7:30 pm. We're excited to have Scott as part of the Deja Blooze experiment; he adds a whole new dimension to the Deja sound and he's also a great guy to work with.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Deja Blooze to Play the Front Street Grill