INTERVIEW: Meet Your Officers/Board Members Corner
Talking with Jim Weber - President
Kelly: How did you get interested in the Blues?
Jim: I may have liked the Blues but did not know that I was listening to Blues. I started listening to the British Blues in the 60’s. I heard all of those people talk about whom they emulate. They got me interested into looking into their heroes: Muddy Waters, Albert King, and Robert Johnson.
Kelly: What type of blues are you interested in?
Jim: I am an enormous fan of blues guitar. I think that some of the best guitarists in the world are the blues players. I still like Classic Rock players that are influenced by the blues, especially Roy Buchanan.
Kelly: There are efforts to keep the blues alive. Why do you think that it needs help?
Jim: Music is so diverse. Young people do not like to check out other styles than what they are used to….and it is hurting the blues.
Kelly: How can the blues scene improve?
Jim: The Blues need someone to become popular and to draw people in ..like a megastar. Since I have been following The Blues there have been at least a half a dozen claims for Blues revivals. None took and were short lived.
Kelly: Why does Europe accept the blues?
Jim: As Studebaker John said, the Europeans do not like country and that is an entire segment that is open to the blues they are able to tolerate a new music form and able to appreciate the blues. This country has many country fans who are diehard country fans who will not readily accept other forms of music. It is just the way it is.
Kelly: What is your favorite album?
Jim: Cherry Red Wine- live version by Luther Allison
Kelly: What is your favorite color?
Jim: Crayola Blue
Kelly: What can you do to improve the blues scene?
Jim: Personally, try to get fans into venues to listen to live music. We are losing clubs in the Pittsburgh area. Something needs to be done to get people to listen to live blues. It has been my intention to have a live Juke
1. Do a Society trade of a local band with an out of town band
2. Make it a fun thing-Host get-togethers where people meet other fans and enjoy the music together
3. Listen to some good blues-Share and appreciate the talent
Kelly: What can the Blues fan do better?
Jim: Come out to hear live music. The outdoor aspect is where you can sit in a chair in front of the stage. The atmosphere of a club is great when it is filled with enthusiastic fans.
Kelly: What are your dislikes?
Jim: I dislike people who talk through a show. When the band stops, the talking stops and they clap like crazy. I can never understand what they are clapping for or even why they came to the show.
Kelly: What are your likes?
Jim: I like to watch the musicians and how they create the sound they produce…esp. guitar players. I enjoy being at the festivals: being close to the music, mingling with the performers, being around other blues fans to trade stories and just enjoy. I like the friendliness and openness of the blues fans.
Kelly: What would you like see as your legacy?
Jim: I missed people who have passed on. I do not want that to happen again. If there is someone I would like to see, I want to get there. It is totally different to see someone live verses the recorded version. Both are good but When you watching the person live, you are using different senses-sight, smell, smoky room, etc. Sometimes Even the imperfect sound of a live performance makes it preferable to the sterile perfect sound of recording.
Kelly: Is there anything that you want everyone to know?
Jim: I will travel for food. Tell me when to be there. I like mashed potatoes with lots of butter, vanilla ice cream and pineapple upside down cake. Any other suggestions are good to me. I also like to golf, play Texas Hold ‘em and computer games. I just like to have fun, joke around and listen to the blues.
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