Hailing from Kansas, Moreland & Arbuckle are creating gritty, swampy blues that is sure to provide you with an addicting sonic experience. Their newest album, 7 Cities, was released earlier this summer, with production by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Sword). 7 Cities is a concept album focusing on the story of the Spanish explorer Coronado and his search for the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Check out Moreland & Arbuckle’s video for “Tall Boogie” here, and enjoy the tunes the band picked for their MAGNET mix tape below.
Sonny Boy Williamson “Bye Bye Bird”
Dustin: One of the greatest blues harmonica players of all time. Little Walter, Junior Wells and countless others absorbed elements of his playing. Legend even has it he personally taught Howlin’ Wolf to play. In the early 1960s, just before his death, Sonny Boy traveled to to Europe and the U.K. and heavily influenced the upcoming generation of British rockers. Never used an amplifier, but had great, deep tone. This tune is a great example of just how much sound the man could put out all by himself. Video
Mississippi Fred McDowell “John Henry”
Dustin: Fred McDowell was super influential on us when we were developing our sound. His music is raw, basic and driving; the essence of north Mississippi hill-country trance blues. “Discovered” by Alan Lomax in 1959, Fred was a huge part of the folk/blues revival of the 1960s. This version of “John Henry” is one of the most unique and primal you will hear. Video
Muddy Waters “Rollin’ Stone”
Dustin: The song that became the name for one of the greatest rock bands ever. Pretty strong testament to just how influential Muddy’s music has been. He first recorded this tune solo early in his career, so it’s cool to see him perform it with his band here at their legendary 1960 Newport Jazz Fest show. Pretty sure this show is the earliest known video of Muddy, as well. Video
Cream “I’m So Glad”
Dustin: Cream was really the first, heavy, psychadelic blues/rock power trio. The blues influence is so strong, but they took it out in left field and totally did their own thing. Their version of this Skip James classic is just pretty damned powerful. Video
Charlie Parr “Jubilee”
Dustin: Our good friend, Charlie Parr, from Duluth, Minn., is one of the finest country/blues performers in the world today. He has such a tremendous understanding of the tradition of blues and roots music in general, but has definitely found his own voice. This was the first tune we heard Charlie play when we met at a festival a few years ago. Video
Lightnin Hopkins “Going Down Slow”
Aaron: Hopkins is one of our favorites because he didn’t stay with conventional blues changes. This tune is a great example of that. Sometimes he follows an eight- or 12-bar progression (kinda), and other times he’s just lost in the tune and is doing his own thing. Brilliant! Video
Howlin Wolf “Smoke Stack Lightnin’”
Aaron: The great Sam Phillips who, in the ’50s, discovered people like Johnny Cash and Elvis at his Sun Studios in Memphis always said that Howlin Wolf (a.k.a. Chester Burnett) was his greatest discovery ever. While Wolf certainly didn’t sell millions of records like the aforementioned artists, he was as influential on American music as anyone, ever. Video
Led Zeppelin “Immigrant Song”
Aaron: It’s a crowded field, but Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band of all time. 😉 They started out as a straight-up British blues band, and turned the genre upside down. In their decade span of a career, they evolved to become one of the most influential and innovative bands that has ever existed. Video
Black Crowes “Josephine”
Aaron: Released in 2008, this tune came off the record Warpaint. In our minds, it is the greatest Black Crowes record ever. This is most surprising because it was 18 years after their first record came out. “Josephine” is a stunningly beautiful song. Killer band. Video
The California Honeydrops “I Found A Love”
Aaron: Originally performed by Wilson Pickett, this song by this obscure band out of California just kills it. Singer Lech Wierzynski’s is so passionate in his singing that if this doesn’t move your soul, you better check your pulse. Video
