“I don't miss a lot about music from the past really, because I am still playing it with both of my bands — The Voodoo Preachers and BluesXpress. As far as music in the future goes, I hope it can maintain its individuality and not become — as far as Blues goes — not too complicated, and hopefully not overrun with AI bullshit!!”
Paul Buchanan: Hard Driving Blues Gems
An Australian master of the blues, Paul Buchanan leads a powerhouse band that delivers authentic, hard-hitting blues with a modern twist. With his rich, soulful voice, Buchanan’s performances are a celebration of rocking blues music at its finest.Paul Buchanan's latest project (Paul Buchanan's Blues Xpress) is a hard-driving blues band from Australia, playing your favourite rock-blues tunes and some lesser known tracks they've dug up that that will get you rocking! Paul put this group together in 2024 to explore the harder-edged side of the blues. They have featured at festivals such as Echuca Winter Blues, Mitchell Creek Rock N Blues Festival, and Blues Inn Bruthen.
(Photo: Paul Buchanan)
Those who know his trademark powerful vocal style will know that he is well suited to fronting a band with a bit of grunt behind them. Paul Buchanan's Blues Xpress are: Paul Buchanan - Vocals;Morris Lord - Guitar; Allan Ellesmere - Guitar; Steve Callahan - Bass; Stuart Anderson - Drums. One more project is Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo Preachers are a Gippsland blues supergroup featuring members of many of Gippsland’s finest blues bands. The Voodoo Preachers are Paul Buchanan, vocals; Ning Hopkins, guitar; Nathan Perry, guitar; Rob Boothman, bass and Stuart Anderson, drum
Interview by Michael Limnios Special Thanks: Stuart Anderson
How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?
I was at an early age greatly influenced by the songs and lyrics of the brilliant Bob Dylan and his views of bureaucracy and the world. He, along with Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, were a big game changer for me as far as my music goes and in my life. The honesty in the way Dylan writes and performs is stand out. I would have to include Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf and John Lee Hooker as influencers for me as well.
How do you describe your sound and songbook? What keeps a musician passionate over the years in Blues?
As far as sound and songbook go, I guess you could say our sound is a bit raw and not too polished. I mean it's Blues and not a symphony. For me it has to at times have some grunt but also with meaning. I think my songbook is more about events and things that have happened to me over my lifetime, or that of people I know or have known. I have to tell a story when I write. I feel if it's not telling you something then what's the point? I think what keeps me passionate over the years is the honesty of Blues music. It's raw and it's real and in most cases I believe it has a lot of truth about feelings, thoughts and events in our lives.
Why do you think that Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Australia?
I think it's the rawness of Blues that brings players and punters alike to it in Australia. Aussies are generally quite matter of fact people, as is Blues music quite matter of fact. Again, I think it's the rawness and truth of it.
“I think the most important lessons I have learned is how infallible we are as musicians and as people. Music can be a mind changer that can completely change your direction of thought about a particular song or artist, sometimes, if you take the time to listen properly and not just have it as something in the background. Music sure can be a game changer that also teaches us discipline, patience and respect for others that are having a crack at it.” (Photo: Paul Buchanan's Voodoo Preachers)
What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future?
I don't miss a lot about music from the past really, because I am still playing it with both of my bands — The Voodoo Preachers and BluesXpress. As far as music in the future goes, I hope it can maintain its individuality and not become — as far as Blues goes — not too complicated, and hopefully not overrun with AI bullshit!!
Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?
Well, I guess there have been a few stand-out moments from the past that pop up now and again. One in particular is about the first song that I wrote with the first set of chords that I learnt on guitar that I felt I could play competently enough, in the early 70s. It wasn't a Blues tune. I entered a national talent show on TV with it and came runner up on the night. When I think about it now and how bloody ordinary the song was, it still surprises me. My, how things have changed with these shows these days.
Other things that stand out are that we have had three number three albums on the Australian Blues and Roots Charts that have had international coverage, and have also won us the MBAs VICTAS Band of the Year Awards for 2016 and 2019, and have had me nominated twice for Blues Music Victoria Legends Hall of Fame status. For me and the bands operating out of a regional area and not city bound, these awards and nominations are very special indeed.
Another of my favourite memories was in our very early Amnesia Blues Band days — Stu Anderson (our drummer) and I went to the Elwood Blues Club in Melbourne to see my idol Joe Camilleri (probably my favourite Australian artist) headlining the show. When Joe had a couple of songs to go, Tony Martin (gig organiser) asked me if my guitar was tuned up. I said yeah, why? He then told me I was following Joe!! My reply was "Like fk I am!!" He said Joe knows you are, so you have to do it!! Man!! Talk about nerves!! There I was, turning up to see my idol who is no doubt one of the best performers in this country, then I'm told I'm getting up after him!! FFS!!! However, it did go over OK, as Joe already had the crowd pumped. I will never forget that moment.
“I think it's the rawness of Blues that brings players and punters alike to it in Australia. Aussies are generally quite matter of fact people, as is Blues music quite matter of fact. Again, I think it's the rawness and truth of it.” (Photo: Paul Buchanan)
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in music?
I think the most important lessons I have learned is how infallible we are as musicians and as people. Music can be a mind changer that can completely change your direction of thought about a particular song or artist, sometimes, if you take the time to listen properly and not just have it as something in the background. Music sure can be a game changer that also teaches us discipline, patience and respect for others that are having a crack at it.
What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?
As far as keeping it relevant today, I think that Blues music is a genre that, both as a musician and a listener, has to be something that you feel within yourself. Relevance depends on the individual's thoughts about music and life. Blues wears many hats — be it Delta, Chicago, Piedmont, Jazz, Folk, Soul, Funk or Rock, it all lyrically sends the same message. For me it all comes down to the lyric that binds — metaphors or straight up, relevance depends on how you think. As far as what I'm doing about it goes, I have changed my direction to a degree, and at the moment I'm playing with a very talented bunch of guys with two guitarists in Morris Lord and Alan Ellesmere, bassist Steve Callahan and great drummer Stu Anderson, playing mostly rock blues in a band called Paul Buchanan's BluesXpress. However, I do still love my traditional Blues and I’m still gigging with the brilliant Voodoo Preachers.
Why is it important to preserve and spread the Blues? What is the roleof music and musicians in today's society?
I believe it's extremely important to preserve and keep spreading the Blues, due not only to the fact that it was born out of struggle, sadness, cruelty and despair through a tyrannical and violent period in history, but also to the fact that it is pretty well the roots of most modern music genres today. As this has evolved through generations, we as musicians should never let it fade away.
Q&A with Australian blues master, Paul Buchanan - delivers authentic, hard-hitting blues with a modern twist
by Music Network by Michael Limnios
23 hours ago
“I don't miss a lot about music from the past really, because I am still playing it with both of my bands — The Voodoo Preachers and BluesXpress. As far as music in the future goes, I hope it can maintain its individuality and not become — as far as Blues goes — not too complicated, and hopefully not overrun with AI bullshit!!”
Paul Buchanan: Hard Driving Blues Gems
An Australian master of the blues, Paul Buchanan leads a powerhouse band that delivers authentic, hard-hitting blues with a modern twist. With his rich, soulful voice, Buchanan’s performances are a celebration of rocking blues music at its finest. Paul Buchanan's latest project (Paul Buchanan's Blues Xpress) is a hard-driving blues band from Australia, playing your favourite rock-blues tunes and some lesser known tracks they've dug up that that will get you rocking! Paul put this group together in 2024 to explore the harder-edged side of the blues. They have featured at festivals such as Echuca Winter Blues, Mitchell Creek Rock N Blues Festival, and Blues Inn Bruthen.
(Photo: Paul Buchanan)
Those who know his trademark powerful vocal style will know that he is well suited to fronting a band with a bit of grunt behind them. Paul Buchanan's Blues Xpress are: Paul Buchanan - Vocals; Morris Lord - Guitar; Allan Ellesmere - Guitar; Steve Callahan - Bass; Stuart Anderson - Drums. One more project is Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo Preachers are a Gippsland blues supergroup featuring members of many of Gippsland’s finest blues bands. The Voodoo Preachers are Paul Buchanan, vocals; Ning Hopkins, guitar; Nathan Perry, guitar; Rob Boothman, bass and Stuart Anderson, drum
Interview by Michael Limnios Special Thanks: Stuart Anderson
How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?
I was at an early age greatly influenced by the songs and lyrics of the brilliant Bob Dylan and his views of bureaucracy and the world. He, along with Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, were a big game changer for me as far as my music goes and in my life. The honesty in the way Dylan writes and performs is stand out. I would have to include Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf and John Lee Hooker as influencers for me as well.
How do you describe your sound and songbook? What keeps a musician passionate over the years in Blues?
As far as sound and songbook go, I guess you could say our sound is a bit raw and not too polished. I mean it's Blues and not a symphony. For me it has to at times have some grunt but also with meaning. I think my songbook is more about events and things that have happened to me over my lifetime, or that of people I know or have known. I have to tell a story when I write. I feel if it's not telling you something then what's the point? I think what keeps me passionate over the years is the honesty of Blues music. It's raw and it's real and in most cases I believe it has a lot of truth about feelings, thoughts and events in our lives.
Why do you think that Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Australia?
I think it's the rawness of Blues that brings players and punters alike to it in Australia. Aussies are generally quite matter of fact people, as is Blues music quite matter of fact. Again, I think it's the rawness and truth of it.
“I think the most important lessons I have learned is how infallible we are as musicians and as people. Music can be a mind changer that can completely change your direction of thought about a particular song or artist, sometimes, if you take the time to listen properly and not just have it as something in the background. Music sure can be a game changer that also teaches us discipline, patience and respect for others that are having a crack at it.” (Photo: Paul Buchanan's Voodoo Preachers)
What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future?
I don't miss a lot about music from the past really, because I am still playing it with both of my bands — The Voodoo Preachers and BluesXpress. As far as music in the future goes, I hope it can maintain its individuality and not become — as far as Blues goes — not too complicated, and hopefully not overrun with AI bullshit!!
Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?
Well, I guess there have been a few stand-out moments from the past that pop up now and again. One in particular is about the first song that I wrote with the first set of chords that I learnt on guitar that I felt I could play competently enough, in the early 70s. It wasn't a Blues tune. I entered a national talent show on TV with it and came runner up on the night. When I think about it now and how bloody ordinary the song was, it still surprises me. My, how things have changed with these shows these days.
Other things that stand out are that we have had three number three albums on the Australian Blues and Roots Charts that have had international coverage, and have also won us the MBAs VICTAS Band of the Year Awards for 2016 and 2019, and have had me nominated twice for Blues Music Victoria Legends Hall of Fame status. For me and the bands operating out of a regional area and not city bound, these awards and nominations are very special indeed.
Another of my favourite memories was in our very early Amnesia Blues Band days — Stu Anderson (our drummer) and I went to the Elwood Blues Club in Melbourne to see my idol Joe Camilleri (probably my favourite Australian artist) headlining the show. When Joe had a couple of songs to go, Tony Martin (gig organiser) asked me if my guitar was tuned up. I said yeah, why? He then told me I was following Joe!! My reply was "Like fk I am!!" He said Joe knows you are, so you have to do it!! Man!! Talk about nerves!! There I was, turning up to see my idol who is no doubt one of the best performers in this country, then I'm told I'm getting up after him!! FFS!!! However, it did go over OK, as Joe already had the crowd pumped. I will never forget that moment.
“I think it's the rawness of Blues that brings players and punters alike to it in Australia. Aussies are generally quite matter of fact people, as is Blues music quite matter of fact. Again, I think it's the rawness and truth of it.” (Photo: Paul Buchanan)
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in music?
I think the most important lessons I have learned is how infallible we are as musicians and as people. Music can be a mind changer that can completely change your direction of thought about a particular song or artist, sometimes, if you take the time to listen properly and not just have it as something in the background. Music sure can be a game changer that also teaches us discipline, patience and respect for others that are having a crack at it.
What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?
As far as keeping it relevant today, I think that Blues music is a genre that, both as a musician and a listener, has to be something that you feel within yourself. Relevance depends on the individual's thoughts about music and life. Blues wears many hats — be it Delta, Chicago, Piedmont, Jazz, Folk, Soul, Funk or Rock, it all lyrically sends the same message. For me it all comes down to the lyric that binds — metaphors or straight up, relevance depends on how you think. As far as what I'm doing about it goes, I have changed my direction to a degree, and at the moment I'm playing with a very talented bunch of guys with two guitarists in Morris Lord and Alan Ellesmere, bassist Steve Callahan and great drummer Stu Anderson, playing mostly rock blues in a band called Paul Buchanan's BluesXpress. However, I do still love my traditional Blues and I’m still gigging with the brilliant Voodoo Preachers.
Why is it important to preserve and spread the Blues? What is the roleof music and musicians in today's society?
I believe it's extremely important to preserve and keep spreading the Blues, due not only to the fact that it was born out of struggle, sadness, cruelty and despair through a tyrannical and violent period in history, but also to the fact that it is pretty well the roots of most modern music genres today. As this has evolved through generations, we as musicians should never let it fade away.
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