| Busy: Principato In addition to cutting records and gigging around the world, Tom Principato runs his own record label Powerhouse Records. Tom understands the importance of the internet in music business. "The web has made music and musicians much, much more readily available", said the singer-guitarist at the restaurant of Hotel Grand, fresh from a concert trip to the western city of Turku. "On the other hand, that calls for lots of work. You must make sure that music itself stays high enough on your to-do list." His new album "Raising the Roof!" is, naturally, a major reason for him to tour Europe again. The opening song of the album "Lock and Key" has already attracted a lot of attention. What is it all about? "Actually, that reflects my love for the music of New Orleans. It is not a real-life story, nor is it autobiographical. Anyway, there are more New Orleans ingredients on this album than there are in many of my earlier recordings." The beautiful "Mi Solea" was inspired by flamenco music in the first place. The version on "Raising the Roof!" is actually his second cut of the song; for the first time he did it on "Not One Word" (2000). "The purpose of the second version is to show how a song can stand the test of time and grow after hundreds of gigs and the band playing together", Tom says. There has certainly been interplay with the current band, as Principato has worked together with bassist John Perry for 11 years, as well as five and a half years with the drummer, Joe Wells. Tom would have loved to bring his fabulous quintet - which is heard on the new record - to Europe, but it would have turned out too costly. An exceptionally long time was used for making the new album, two years. Tom hints that his next cd might consist of instrumental guitar music. But you never know: he has not written any new material yet. "I do not try to recreate old records. Conversely, I try to recreate the feelings they have produced in me", as Tom Principato puts it. Zetterberg Remembers Family Meeting On the comfy sofa of the hotel we find another interesting blues figure: Sven Zetterberg. The Swede is going through one of his 'harmonica patches', a fact that is made clear by his latest album "Hollerin' Up a Storm". Sven surprises: "The first blues harpist I heard was Mick Jagger! Later, though, I found Sonny Boy Williamson II aka Rice Miller. In addition to being a great harp player, he is, by far, the best lyricist in the blues. The Bob Dylan of the blues, as far as lyrics are concerned." Sven stars in the documentary film "Family Meeting", which portrays Finnish Wentus Blues Band's 20th Anniversary concert in 2006. There is a scene in that movie, where Kim Wilson teaches a particular harmonica technique to Sven. "I still cannot do it! Most great harpists use little licks and techniques that I cannot do. There are a lot of harpists, but really good ones are hard to find." "Family Meeting" has been followed by a series of gigs together with the Wentus Blues Band. Next summer Zetterberg will be playing with them at the Imatra Big Band Festival in south-eastern Finland. Sven thinks the Wentus guys are just great. "In my opinion, they are a modern band, which can easily adapt to a great variety of music styles", he describes. The concert itself - three five-hour nights actually - was unforgettable. Zetterberg gets his motor running as he says that it was then that he, for the first time in his life, felt a part of the classic blues package tours. "To be on the same stage with Lazy Lester, Eddie Kirkland, Louisiana Red and many other top artists - an unbelievable experience." Lothar - One of the Nordic Hopefuls Prior to the Lahti festival, Tim Lothar enjoyed a pair of gigs in Tampere and Kangasala, inner Finland. Rumours about his great ability got spread quickly in the professional circles. Do you feel any pressure because of that? "Not really. It is of course great to hear these nice words, but I just try to live up to them", he says in his humble style. Tim has only played guitar for four years - much to the amazement of anyone who hears him play. "Well, I have practised a lot! I have a wife and two kids, so there are limits to the amount of practice. Actually, if you are playing the guitar all the time, you are likely to drive your family crazy. Before I started with the guitar, however, I played the drums for several years. So I am not at all a newcomer in music. I still play the drums for the band Lightnin' Moe. We have gigs about once a month." There is fun story behind Lothar's love for the guitar. "First time I heard Robert Johnson, I wondered who those two guitarists were!" Tim thinks the Danish blues scene is quite small, but the situation is not hopeless. There are young artists such as Thorbjorn Risager and Lothar's good friend Mike Andersen, who played the Finnish Lakeside Blues Festival last summer. A number of festivals are arranged annually and there is also a regular blues club, Mojo in Copenhagen. Tim says there are possibilities for the scene to grow. His 2006 album "Cut to the Bone" does not satisfy the "Danish Delta Rocket" anymore. "My new album will be out soon, hopefully in one month's time. Like the earlier one, it includes solo material only", Tim Lothar promises. PASI TUOMINEN Have a look at the photo gallery from the Grand Blues Festival in Lahti. Links: Tom Principato, Sven Zetterberg, Tim Lothar |
| Contact: admin (a) blues-finland.com © 2008 Blues-Finland.com |
| Interviews: Principato, Zetterberg, Lothar 13 March 2008 Grand Blues Festival in the southern city of Lahti had excellent international visitors in Tom Principato, Sven Zetterberg and Tim Lothar. Finnish bands were not bad, either. Grand Blues Festival took place in Lahti in Southern Finland at the weekend. On stage were Tom Principato & Powerhouse (USA), the Sven Zetterberg Blues Band (Sweden) and Tim Lothar (Denmark). The Baby Boy Varhama Blues Band and Mommah Brothers represented Finnish blues in style. Blues-Finland.com sat down with the international artists. |
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| Tom Principato in Lahti, Finland © Kake Kiirikki |