Non Blues Based Rock Today

[daddyo]

I spent a lot of time listening to my two daughters' music on a recent road trip. Most of what they listen to could be described as being non blues based rock. It seems to be derived from a celtic and/or English folk tradition. I'd say it is based on the music of bands like Fairport Convention, The Chieftans, Simon and Garfunkle, etc. Some examples would be Flogging Molly, Real MacKenzies, The Shins, etc. I suspect that a lot of kids don't even listen to blues based rock. As a child of the 60s and 70s, this is a bit of an eye opener.
Discuss.

[Rufus]

I won't profess to be an expert on the subject, but from what I hear of contemporary rock and pop music, I would agree that very little of seems to be in the classic blues-based style. Unless, of course, you count John Mayer.

[Gas-man]

Refreshing, aint it?

[ReddRanger]

Hasn't there always been a healthy supply of non-blues based rock?

[YoungAmerican]

Yep. There are a lot of great rock bands that have little or no (direct) blues influence at all.

Broken Social Scene
Make Believe
The Paper Chase
Deerhoof
Battles

... among many others.

[pete692]

Yep. There are a lot of great rock bands that have little or no (direct) blues influence at all.

Broken Social Scene
Make Believe
The Paper Chase
Deerhoof
Battles

... among many others.

My 4-year old absolutely loves Deerhoof. So do I.

[YoungAmerican]

My 4-year old absolutely loves Deerhoof. So do I.

That's one smart 4-year-old.

[buddaman71]

To me, that's a good thing.

Blues and blues-rock is SO tired to me...I just can't stand it anymore.

I actually LIKE to hear major 3rds in vocal pop-rock tunes...

[CharAznable]

Almost no rock today is blues based, with the exceptions of John Mayer, The White Stripes and The Black Keys.

[BlueHeaven]

I have NEVER tired of blues-based rock. In fact, I feel a total disconnect with most (not all) modern rock because of it's lack of blues as an ingredient in the musical stew.

[clarkram]

I have NEVER tired of blues-based rock. In fact, I feel a total disconnect with most (not all) modern rock because of it's lack of blues as an ingredient in the musical stew.

me too!!!

[ReddRanger]

I love non-blues based rock as much as blues based rock. It's nice to switch it up.

Life would be boring if everything were the same.



On topic: I seem to notice that kids generally gravitate towards pop/melodic stuff and don't really listen to blues based.....anything? I think any blues based music appreciation is something that starts at highschool age and above.

Any thoughts?

[BlueHeaven]

I would say that's correct but generally speaking.

[Guy from Idaho]

I would argue that the Beatles were by-and-large a non-blues-based group. Many will disagree probably, but IMO their attempts to incorporate bluesy elements were mostly painful. Talented popsters, but probably did more to take the blues out of rock than any other band, based on their huge influence. No offense to Beatles fans, just one guy's opinion. GFI

[CharAznable]

I would argue that the Beatles were by-and-large a non-blues-based group. Many will disagree probably, but IMO their attempts to incorporate bluesy elements were mostly painful. Talented popsters, but probably did more to take the blues out of rock than any other band, based on their huge influence. No offense to Beatles fans, just one guy's opinion. GFI

The Beatles is to today's rock music what blues was to rock music in the 70's and 80's.

[indravayu]

I would argue that the Beatles were by-and-large a non-blues-based group. Many will disagree probably, but IMO their attempts to incorporate bluesy elements were mostly painful. Talented popsters, but probably did more to take the blues out of rock than any other band, based on their huge influence. No offense to Beatles fans, just one guy's opinion. GFI

Yeah...an ignorant opinion!

[Guy from Idaho]

Yeah...an ignorant opinion!

Thoughtful rebuttal duly noted and filed appropriately. :)

[Guy from Idaho]

The Beatles is to today's rock music what blues was to rock music in the 70's and 80's.

Interesting point, I see what you're saying esp. regarding the 70's (I'm still not sure just where the 80's came from). A couple other early influential bands that IMO didn't have a lot of blues bones in their bodies are The Who (one of my top 3 all-time favorite bands) and The Kinks (not top 3 for me, but still a favorite). I hear their influence too, in nowadays stuff that I dig. YMMV, -GFI

[daddyo]

The Who was influenced a lot by Motown in the beginning. I think that traditional Celtic and British influnces are showing up that are different than even non blues American pop music.