Get all the top news & discounts for Music & beyond.
When you think of hot blues slide guitarists names like Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, and Ry Cooder come to mind.But one new-generation axe master stands alone - guitar renegade Eli Cook, who will be opening for legendary Johnny Winter at SXSW in Austin, TX on March 12th . The legendary Son House (1902-1988) was known to say "Blues is a feelin'". Eli Cook's music expresses that same raw honesty in a unique blend of contemporary and old-school styles, creating an original sound at the fore-front of modern Blues and Rock.
Says Eli, "I would like to be able to revitalize the blues/rock genre. Back in the '60s and '70s it was very obvious how the two walked hand in hand; it seems it has become more and more difficult to see that relationship in contemporary popular music now. Artists like Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, ZZ Top, the Stones were exemplary in their ability to fuse the old blues lyrics, guitar, and vocal styles with modern production, writing, and arrangement to make something new and appealing. A few more recent bands have also done this - Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, Monster Magnet, Audioslave - but by and large none of the mainstream artists have been doing anything remotely similar for several years now. I think that is very tragic. Without blues as the integral ingredient, music just ain't worth listening to in my book."
Eli took up the guitar as a teenager in the Blue Ridge foothills of Virginia. Following the tradition of the great blues men, he performed in churches and late-night gospel revivals with only his acoustic and deep baritone voice, while playing every hole-in-the-wall bar that could handle his electric power trio. Blending the influences of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Fred MacDowell, Bukka White and Lightning Hopkins with the likes of Clutch, Soundgarden, C.O.C, and Rage against the Machine, he forged a fresh sound, alive with the southern blues tradition.
Eli recorded and released his first two albums between 2004 and 2007: the all-acoustic, original-roots album "Miss Blues' Child" on the Sledgehammer Blues label, and a heavy blues-rock release "ElectricHolyFireWater". During this time he was invited to open for B.B. King on King's east coast tour. Since then, Eli has shared the stage with Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Parliament-Funkadellic, Gary Clark JR, Roomful of Blues and many others. In 2008, Eli released his third self-produced album, "Static in the Blood", a modern R&B/Rock crossover project featuring ornate experimental studio production. The follow up album, "Ace Jack & King", a return to roots-blues and heavy guitars, received critical acclaim. The All Music Guide proclaimed that Eli could be "the best blues singer of his generation."
In 2013, Eli signed with LA-based label Cleopatra Records to begin work on his 5th studio album, featuring guest appearances by rock legend Leslie West of Mountain, Pat Travers, Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Reese Wynans of Double Trouble, Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio), Tinsley Ellis, Rod Piazza and members of Gov't Mule, Canned Heat, Captain Beyond and more! The album is set for release on April 29, 2014.
Eli Cook SXSW appearance:
Where: Rowdy Saloon - 305 W 5th St Austin, TX 78701 Warehouse District, Downtown GPhone number (512) 472-5288
When: March 12, 2014
The lineup goes as follows, from last to first:
Johnny Winter - Headliner
Rusty Anderson Afternoon
Eli Cook
Corey Smith
Streets of Laredo
The Deslondes
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
