Mean Blues

Born in Lamar, Mississippi, Floyd Lee brings us delta blues via New York City. He was almost left to the memories of those who knew him until guitarist Joel Poluck discovered him playing in NYC. There was an instant musical connection so deep Floyd refers to him as his "blues son." Together they have recorded four albums under the monicker Floyd Lee Band. Mixing Joel's songwriting and Floyd Lee's old delta vocals and guitar, they are modern take on an old style blues.

"Blues is wantin' somethin' you ain't got... wishin' for somethin'... lovin' somethin' that's gone... Yeah, that's the blues."

 I originally posted about Floyd Lee back last year. Since then his music has become engrained into my musical subconscious. When I get that blues feeling it's the first Floyd Lee Band release that I turn to. Mean Blues is lonesome harmonica driven blues. Joel's longing lyrics are sung in a way only Floyd Lee can deliver.

In 2009 a documentary about Floyd Lee, Full Moon Lightnin', was released. Mostly focusing on Lee's first trip back to Mississippi in 60 years. Within that trip he is able to reconnect with long lost brothers and visit the grave site of the mother he never knew. The film also centers on the recording of Doctors, Devils, and Drugs the fourth release by the band. An emotional album about the loss of Poluk's longtime girlfriend of 20 years to cancer. Floyd sings with the voice of a man who went through the same pain. That pain can also be felt through the slide guitar Poluck plays throughout the disc.Watching the documentary, you realize it's more than just the music, you learn where the blues comes from. For one it is missing a family long ago for another, it is a man missing a family that never was. That's the blues.

"It's a whole lotta pain but you keep your tears inside... you don't let them out. Every now and then, something drop off of me... but I cry inside"

 

I'll close this post with one more song that used to be on his old website that no longer appears to be around.

 
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