Southern Rock vs. Texas Blues -- Both Are Winners in My Book

Music Wed - Two genres which arose around the same time, the late 60's and early 70's, continue to bring me joy and open little surprises with the discovery of deep cuts from the competing genres' various masters. I am talking about Southern Blues Rock and Texas Blues Rock.  Let me highlight the masters of each style and see if you can recognize and appreciate the differences - and just for kicks and giggles, I will pontificate a bit on these differences. On the Southern Blues side you have the three pillars of this style - Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, while the Kings of Texas Blues are best showcased in the music of ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn and currently Gary Clark, Jr. It is interesting to me how each of these styles adopted, somewhat serendipitously and I'm sure somewhat consciously by way of musical competition, and each style follows very predictable format, approach and even band composition. Southern Rock bands are large - a rhythm guitar (or two), at least two dueling lead guitarists, two full drummers with usually an additional percussionist, and, of course, a master keyboard player who is at home on a honky tonk piano as well as a Hammond B3 organ and who can challenge the guitarists for the lead solos. The vocalists are weary, hard living men with gravely voices. In contrast, Texas Blues bands are stripped down trios or, at most, a four piece band which features a stunning lead guitarist, and then the combo of a  bass player with drummer who possess separate bodies and instruments, but share one musical groove, and occasionally an organ, but only for support and atmosphere. For the Texas bands, the vocalists are minimalists - they growl out just enough lyrics to get you to the guitar jams. Let me exemplify - on the Southern Rock side, let's pick the Allman Bros.' "Done Somebody Wrong" (http://youtu.be/Pe_f46DBYU0), and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (http://youtu.be/abwC5mwlg94 -- this is a great original cut showing the gone-too-soon Duane Allman on slide guitar); for Skynyrd, I will pick "They Call Me The Breeze" (http://youtu.be/EsIqEq9OFxE) and "Gimmee Back My Bullets/Simple Man" (http://youtu.be/1lbrWxAOWAQ), and finally from the much less known, but in my opinion equally enjoyable, Molly Hatchett, we'll take on "Whiskey Man" (http://youtu.be/kKxnI2JNyVM).  I will give out a shout to the Marshall Tucker Band - do some snooping and you will find some gems to kick back and enjoy like "Heard It In A Love Song" (http://youtu.be/pNSzKPa96vQt -- got to love the swap of the rock flute for the usual southern-staple, the harmonica). For the Texas Blues bands, ZZ Top deep cuts include "Just Got Back From Baby's" (http://youtu.be/hxQOO63RnRQ) and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" (http://youtu.be/gWttL4gs078). Stevie Ray is, to me, on a par approaching Jimi Hendrix for his skill and originality, and nothing shows those skills better than his classic take on "Little Wing" (http://youtu.be/NNgcKoJAYgs) and "Chitlins Con Carne" (http://youtu.be/Um1lA9m4wL0). Gary Clark, Jr. has been heralded as the the new blues guitar hero, and he showcases his vast talent on his new live album, which I highly recommend. To get you started, take a nibble on these tasty treats -- "When My Train Comes In" (http://youtu.be/tOeFJF3tTSU), and tradin' licks with John Mayer on "Born Under A Bad Sign" (http://youtu.be/RyFs13mMtPo).  Enjoy!