I've been to the Portland Blues festival three times, and it was before drinking age, so I know I didn't have booze-ears. (Maybe some secondhand-ganja-ears.) I think the blues are meant to be listened to live, because there's a lot of improvisation that goes on. Like folk music, new artists draw from the canon and often do covers, but unlike a lot of folk music, there's often layering of emotive guitar/harmonica/sax solos on top of the canonized groove. That groove comes as a function of the repetitive chorus. It's a shame that you're not asking for 60s or 70s blues, because that's basically all the blues I listen to! I'll not link Stevie Ray Vaughan, because you probably know his Some more traditional Mississippi blues: Some more modern blues:
There is a reason I'm not asking for 60's and 70's blues. I know that the blues music of the past was formative and hugely influential. I dig those old blues legends, I'm just not sure why I'd want to listen to modern Blues music. Seems like much of it is recycled musical masturbation. Hey, look at how well I can solo. Not hey, I have something to say here, something I can only express via my instrument. I'll check out your links. Heading to bed and just had a quick moment to reply. I appreciate your sharing them, thank you.
That makes sense! I guess I don't really listen to modern "pure blues," either. Those tracks I listed are bluesy tracks from groups that do other stuff as well.