Look at Seasick Steve’s blues, that old man in a vest, listen to his story coming out of his long white beard. When this American dude landed in Paris in the 70s with $10 in his pocket, it was nights under bridges, police vans, women, alcohol, and always his guitar and his blues who saved his life. Look at this former hobo who behaves the same whether he’s in a room at the Hôtel Concorde in Paris, in the streets or on a stage in front of some 65 000 people. I can picture him in front of his label’s executives (Warner), or this guy who, years ago, sold him the worst guitar in the whole world, and I can also picture him as simply captivating as when I saw him laugh for a good fifteen minutes with the wild crowd of the ATP Festival because he broke a string and he doesn’t really know how to change it.

We could tell "Seasick Steve’s amazing story, a poor man who became rich and famous thanks to his music", but he doesn’t need that. The first album Warner realeased he recorded in his kitchen, with an old four-track. There’s no amazing story, there’s better : this White bluesman’s ballad out in the world and life. He performed both in the Parisian subway and at Glastonbury. Who knows what he’ll meet on the next corner ? Anyway, he keeps the rhythm, the very rhythm we could walk on with him for hours. So we dit it on a May afternoon, immersed in that guy’s freedom.

You can also listen to the unbelievable simplicity of the guitar which is able, just like the guy who plays it, to fill the sound space only by its willingness to reound. Whether in an elevator, a taxi, a bedroom, a hotel lobby, a street ; everything adjusts with the blues’ rhythm.

We’re glad we shared a part of that guy and his guitar’s trip through the world. We’re glad we can share it with you too.

Gaspar Claus

Translation by Nora

Watching one of the videos now. Seems I will dig this guy.

I figured you would. What's not to like about a freewheelin' american blues singer that busks around paris?

You know me!

I actually found an album if anyone wants it.

This thread isn't exactly booming with takers.

This is very true. Did you get an album yet?

yeah :/

On that Take Away Show I posted, in the second video there is a scene where he is playing to a group of teen skaters in Paris. I think it's somewhat surreal to seem them all stop what they are doing and listen to this man sing. I don't know anything about teens in Paris, let alone skating teens in Paris, but I don't peg them as blues fans. The scene really speaks volumes about the power of good music, and it makes me smile. Thoughts?