United States

I'm rather disappointed with the Blues scene in Cleveland. We have so many great clubs and venues that are Blues friendly and the Jazz scene seems to grow every year. On many nights I have ventured out to Lakewood and Euclid to hear some of our more popular Blues bands. And what I found was great musicians playing a lot of mainstream rock that I feel just passes for the blues. Don't get me wrong, these guys have a lot of talent. And the Bands are really tight. But to me it seems like I'm hearing more Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Winter and Clapton. And less Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and BB King. And never any real old school guys like Elmore James and Jimmy Reed. I wonder if it's just what's popular now with most bands or is it that we've lost interest in the original guys? Does anyone else feel that way? In Cleveland or wherever you are?

I was lucky enough to take three years of guitar in high school,
where I learned the basics of playing the Blues.
Anyone can play the Blues, on some basic level, but it's a genre
that's really more about conveying what you're feeling.
That's the hard part to capture and execute.

When I say anyone could play the Blues,
the comparison I think of is that anyone with four limbs
(or decent prosthetic replacements) could play Pop Warner Football,
few can play at the next level, and so on.

I believe what you are looking for are the NFL players of blues.
With the rarest of chops, material and execution.
Sounds like you're taking in the upper level of high school football (of the Blues) at this time.
Might want to check out more national acts, when they come through.

Just like any other genre -- If you want the decent paying gigs, you play what the crowd wants. While Elmore James and Jimmy Reed may be more your style, the working blues guys are keeping it danceable with recognizable tunes. Although I play in a cover band, I have many friends in the region who play strictly the blues, and they get good-paying gigs on a regular basis. We're blessed with several venues for both local and national blues artists, and a good support system through the area blues societies.
That said, a little bit of Delbert McClinton, some old-school R&B and some classic blues crowd-pleasers give the bands an opportunity to throw in the occasional original or obscure blues tune.