SCFB GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor — DeepCutsArchive

DeepCutsArchive

SCFB GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor — DeepCutsArchive

GA-20 was formed by friends Pat Faherty and Matthew Stubbs in Boston, MA in 2018. The project was born out of their mutual love of heavy traditional Blues, R&B, and Rock & Roll of the late 50s and early 60s. Faherty and Stubbs bonded over legendary artists like Lazy Lester, J.B. Lenoir, Earl Hooker, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Junior Wells. Feeling a void in current music, the duo have set out to write, record and perform a modern version of this beloved art form. Joined by drummer Tim Carman in 2019, GA-20 is a trio of 2 guitars, vocals and drums. Raw, passionate and honest performance, both on stage and in the studio, is the only goal. In June 2021 GA-20 announced the new album “GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It…You Might Like It!,” a 50th anniversary celebration of Hound Dog Taylor, to be released August 20 via Colemine Records in partnership with the legendary Alligator Records. Stubbs has spent the past 13 years as guitarist for Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite. During that time he has also backed up and toured with such Blues giants as John Hammond, James Cotton, Junior Watson and James Harman. Stubbs also leads his own original instrumental psych-rock band, 'The Antiguas.’ Hound Dog Taylor as per Wiki “Hound Dog” Taylor was born with an abnormality: he had a sixth, very pinky finger on each hand. He grew up around Tchule and Greenwood in the Mississippi Delta, as did several other black blues musicians ( BB King , Albert King , John Lee Hooker , Muddy Waters , etc.). He made his first musical experiences playing the piano. He didn't really start playing the guitar until he was 21 years old. His musical style was strongly influenced by the then rising Elmore James . In his twenties he played in the Mississippi area, where he could be heard with Sonny Boy Williamson on the legendary radio show " King Biscuit Time ". But Taylor was expelled from Mississippi by the Ku Klux Klan in 1942 because he had a relationship with a white woman. He worked in Chicago as an electrician and other part-time jobs until the late 1950s. He also appeared as a guitarist in pompous night bars in southern Chicago. He was called “Hound Dog” because he was so fond of women and chased the steppe wolfish after them. During this time he changed his previously classic e-tuning to an energetic bottleneck style. In 1957 he finally devoted himself only to his music career. In 1960 he met the guitarist Brewer Phillips . The two became friends and formed the band The HouseRockers . With the first singles such as Baby Is Coming Home, Take Five and Christine , however, they met with little interest outside of Chicago. In 1965, drummer Ted Harvey joined the band. With him, the HouseRockers found their typically loud, hard blues accent with Taylor's rough voice and his slide play (bottleneck) on cheap Japanese guitars as well as Phillips' bass lines, which, played on a Fender Telecaster , replaced the missing bass. Bruce Iglauer , later Taylor's manager, got to hear the band for the first time in 1969 in Chicago's Eddie Shaw's. However, Iglauer's boss did not want to sign a record deal with Taylor. With its own financial support, Iglauer made it possible in 1971 to release Taylor's first record on the Alligator Records label . Without knowing it, he founded the now world-famous blues label. The album was a success with 9,000 records sold. The singles Give Me Back My Wig and It's Alright became the most famous songs. In 1973 the second record Natural Boogie came out on the market. Taylor was at the height of his career. But there was a serious argument between the guitarists Phillips and Taylor, who were actually good friends. It was triggered by a derogatory remark by Phillips about Taylor's wife, Fredda. Taylor beat Phillips; as a result, he suffered injuries. Shortly thereafter, Taylor, a passionate smoker, developed fatal lung cancer . His last request was to see Phillips. He forgave Phillips, the band's second guitarist and longtime friend, for his deathbed act. Theodore Roosevelt Taylor died in December 1975. After his death, Taylor's last alligator album, Beware of the Dog, was released in 1976 . In 1984 he was honored with an entry into the Blues Hall of Fame for his musical achievements. Other blues artists like Eric Clapton and Albert King were inspired by Hound Dog Taylor (e.g. for Hideaway). It is one of the classics of the electric blues. In 2003 Alligator Records released Hound Dog Taylor - A Tribute , in which Luther Allison , Sonny Landreth , Bob Margolin , Elvin Bishop , George Thorogood and Lil 'Ed and The Blues Imperials interpret Taylor's works.

About This Footage

In a dimly lit studio, two guitarists sit at a worn wooden table, their fingers moving deftly over the frets as they pay homage to a blues legend. The footage, shot in 2018, is a rare and intimate look at GA-20's interpretation of Hound Dog Taylor's music.

At the time this clip was filmed, Hound Dog Taylor had been dead for over four decades. Born in 1915, he lived a life that spanned nearly six decades, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential Chicago blues guitarists. His unique style, characterized by his use of vibrato and string bending, has inspired countless musicians.

GA-20's Pat Faherty and Matthew Stubbs are no exception. Formed in 2018, their project is a labor of love, born out of their mutual admiration for the heavy traditional Blues, R&B, and Rock & Roll of the late 50s and early 60s. With Stubbs' extensive experience backing up blues legends like Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton, it's no surprise that GA-20's music is steeped in authenticity.

The footage itself is a testament to the duo's dedication to their craft. Shot in a studio setting, it captures the raw energy of their performance as they tackle Taylor's classic song "Hound Dog". The camera pans across the room, showing the worn instruments and the intensity on the faces of Faherty and Stubbs.

What makes this clip significant is its release in 2018, coinciding with GA-20's formation. It was also a precursor to their album "GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It…You Might Like It!", released two years later as a 50th anniversary celebration of Hound Dog Taylor's music.

As the camera continues to roll, capturing every nuance of Faherty and Stubbs' performance, it becomes clear that this is no mere tribute. GA-20's interpretation of Taylor's music is a living, breathing entity, infused with their own unique energy and passion. Watching this footage, one can't help but feel a sense of connection to the blues legends who came before them.

The studio setting, with its worn wooden table and dim lighting, adds an air of intimacy to the performance. It's as if Faherty and Stubbs are sharing a secret, their music a private language that only they understand. The camera lingers on their faces, capturing every expression, every nuance of emotion.

As the clip comes to a close, one is left with a sense of awe at GA-20's dedication to their craft. Their music is a testament to the enduring power of the blues, a genre that continues to inspire and influence new generations of musicians. Watching this footage, it becomes clear that Hound Dog Taylor's legacy lives on, his music a living, breathing entity that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

The final shot of the clip is of the two guitarists, their faces set in concentration as they bring the song to a close. It's a moment of pure musicality, a testament to the power of music to transcend time and space. As the camera fades to black, one is left with a sense of wonder at the enduring legacy of Hound Dog Taylor, and the musicians who continue to carry his torch.

Curated from public records and music databases.