Predictions of the end of the second coming of the blues, which was led by the now aging baby boomer generation since the mid-1960s, are natural conclusions drawn when witnessing the low number of young people in the blues-gig audience.
Rejoice, you bluesers. There is a resurgence of interest in American roots music among a new generation of blues youngbloods, not just as listeners but also as players. Take Tevis Hodge Jr. from Portland, Oregon. He’s passionate about the blues and keeping true to the traditions, and only 29 years old at the time of this writing. He’s just getting started! He has already emancipated himself from his day job and is a full-time professional acoustic blues musician dedicated to preserving the traditional deep roots blues. He cites Son House, Barbeque Bob, John Jackson, Gus Cannon, Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller as influences. His mom played 1960s folk guitar music when he was a youngster, and he delved into his grandfather’s blues record collection to learn the sound. By now, as he is really just getting started, you might not
know him unless you live in Portland, unless you follow the Memphis Blues Challenge by the Blues Foundation where he made it to the semi-finals. Hodge was born in Woodbridge, Virginia. At age 15 he migrated with his family to Portland, by way of Utah.
He told thecountryblues.com: “My father passed away when I was about 10. I eventually lost contact with his family (to this day), and I started playing blues music when I was around 12. Blues music was very nostalgic for me, reminding me of my father, his family, and the south, it was sort of a medicine for going through that loss. This, along with the connection to my black heritage, is why blues has always been this close to my heart and why I’m inspired to play it. The people who have helped me along the way are the musical elders Baby Gramps, and Ural Thomas. Another mentor of mine that I forgot to mention is Norman Sylvestor. He is a big name over here in Portland, and has helped me out in so many ways. Other people that have helped me along the way are Cascade Blues Association president Greg Johnson, Lucy Hammond, Michael Quimby, Bill Rhoads, Louis Montano, Suburban Slim and Charlie Mitchell.”
Tevis Hodge Jr. covers old classics, but a fair share of his repertoire are original songs. Besides guitar he plays tenor banjo, a homemade diddley bow (Ok, they are not hard to make, but still.) Look out for the burgeoning talent. He’s got the right stuff and more than a moterlode of talent. Now he gigs mostly in the musically vibrant Portland/Seattle corridor, but soon you might find him in a wider circuit, flailing his National resonator, because good things are surely coming from this young musico. One thing to look for is his forthcoming self-produced and all acoustic blues debut album. Keep your ears
on him.
The video is not the best quality, a bit shaky, but it shows his chops.
