Hello Modelo, Mama Jan, & a New Thing
Super happy my nephews and their friends came out to see my show with Steve Pichan and Anthony Retka.
One of the songs they requested was “Oh Darlin” off my gospel blues album “Songs for My Wife.” Here are some of the lyrics:
“Hello Modelo, come on mama, let’s put that chicken on the grill
I looked back and I started thinkin’
That it was you who drove me to drinkin”
You can buy the ringtone on itunes. Every time my wife calls me, my phone sings “Hello Modelo.”
Note: Modelo is a Mexican beer, but it’s also Spanish for model.
Is this the first ever Christian drinking song?
I wouldn’t call it that. But it does have these lyrics:
“I’m not ashamed to be born again
But I view the world as all my kin
My goal in life is to love the Lord
Grow old with you and have a few more”
A “few more” could mean more kids or another beer. I’ll let you choose.
Old-time Texas bluesman from the 1920s
There’s a lot of Blind Lemon Jefferson in the solos. If you haven’t heard my song “Oh Darlin,” give it a listen. It’s about old love. The kind that includes marital banter. The kind where you already had that fight too many times and now you’re just going to let it go. It’s the sit on the front porch in the shade old soul love. That’s what I was going for in this song.
When we were younger, my wife and I lived next to Frank and Alberta, a couple that were married for 67 years before Frank passed. I loved hearing how they talked to each other. They were funny. They were endearing. That’s what I mean by old love. An outsider might not understand it. But when you see it on a regular basis, you get it.
To play this show with Anthony Retka and Steve Pichan was a dream come true. When I organize a show, I think to myself, “If I could play with anyone, who would it be?” Anthony and Steve were at the top of my list. It was a special night.
Surprise!
One day I looked at my Spotify numbers and noticed my song “Your Chili Done Killed Me but Your Greens Have Raised Me from the Dead” was taking off. In one day, it had a 100 more streams than my other songs, and I was like “What is going on?”
The answer?
It might be Mama Jan Music. If you look at the top, you can see my name—Bluesdad! She used my song with this meme on Instagram.
Who is Mama Jan?
Jan Smith is a vocal instructor and producer who has worked with tons of famous people like Drake, Usher, and Justin Bieber. Billboard named her one of the top 100 women in the music business.
The cool thing about Mama Jan is that she posts great instructional videos. This means anyone can benefit from her expertise! If you want to sound better as a vocalist, follow her. I discovered her from Country Kid Nikko. Remember him? He’s still out there doing his thing!
Something new?
My good friend Travis John from the podcast “Welcome to the Woodshed” started a Substack. Once a week he posts a four-song playlist on Spotify. It’s just 4 songs. Travis has spent a lifetime as a DJ and knows more about bands and music than most people on the planet.
Sign up here if you want new music delivered by email each week:
https://substack.com/@welcometothewoodshed
He also wrote an article about me. I love this part:
“Honestly, I think he loves whatever moment he’s in. That’s the vibe I get from him.”
That’s definitely who I want to be. Thank you, Travis!
You can read the whole article here:
“The Outro” by Bluesdad
Maybe it’s family members who come out to see me play
Or a famous producer who adds my song to a meme
It could be a podcast guy giving me a shout-out
Or how about this?
Maybe it’s you reading this newsletter!
You’re checking in on me
Rooting for me
I see you
and I’m grateful
You know what I’m going to say next:
Thank you for reading.
Life is better with you in it.
Like I say at the end of my song “I Don’t Smoke Marijuana but I Hang Out with People that Do”
“I love you all.”