Eric Bibb: His simple, pure messages reveal how amazing life is

Thank goodness the Grammys are over. Thank goodness the triangular drama of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Kanye West is over. Thank goodness the incessantly banal commentary on Lady Gaga's wardrobe is over.

Besides Zac Brown Band and Kings of Leon, there wasn't a performance from the Grammys that I would have paid to see. In fact, I couldn't even bring myself to watch on television. The next day, I went in search of the antithesis of fickle glamour and hype with hopes of finding a simple melody with lyrics that actually make sense.

Thank goodness I found Eric Bibb.

Thank goodness Eric Bibb found Bukka White's guitar.

After a performance in London a few years ago, a blues fan offered Bibb a steel guitar that was actually owned by White. The inspiration from that guitar resulted in an amazing, touching and sincere tribute to traditional Delta blues and a focused compilation titled "Booker's Guitar."

Released just last month, "Booker's Guitar" gives you 15 tracks that let you gently tap your foot, nod in agreement to Bibb's life philosophy and shake your head at everyone else's anxious search for whatever.

Bibb sings with a clarity and intimacy that needs no amplification. He performs all of his songs with a single guitar and on about half of them joined Grant Dermody playing the harmonica. When I say playing the harmonica, I really mean something more, but my words fail me.

Songs like "Flood Water," "Walkin' Blues Again" and "Tell Riley" leave no doubt about Bibb's deep roots in traditional American music. He humbly and poetically gives credit to his heroes like White, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf and Taj Mahal. His troubadour style is very much like Taj Mahal's, especially in the title track half sung and half spoken with the rhythmic guitar picking that Taj Mahal has made his signature.

I'm not a particularly big fan of Bukka White (his name was publicized as Booker) because I don't personally care for his harsh, gravely singing style. Bibb's singing style is much more rolling, melodic and pure. I am a big fan of Taj Mahal and now of Bibb.

When I found out Bibb was born 59 years ago, I was a little confused. I've been listening to blues for a long time and hadn't heard of him. I discovered that Bibb comes from a musically connected family and has been big in Europe for a while. But Bibb's first CD didn't come out until 1998. Most of his recordings have been in just the past five years.

Reading Bibb's own notes about his songs and their inspirations has made me admire him as not just a musician, but as an artist with something to say. Things that are important to him find their way in song as a simple message for whoever wants to take the time to listen.

A song like "Turning Pages" conveys a simple love of reading and how important it has been all his life. Yes, he even pays tribute to Dick and Jane. When it comes to love, I've never heard a sweeter, more tender song than "A Good Woman."

Somehow Bibb understands that we're all alive and looking for life. Some still search, and some have found it. Bibb brings his own relevance to the traditional folk/blues song "Wayfaring Stranger." After all, that's what we all are in some way or another. He makes no judgment on anyone as he claims everyone in "With My Maker I Am One."

The amazing and simple truth of Bibb's music in particular, and blues in general, is that the hardships and overlooked ordinariness are blessings that let us appreciate how simple and amazing life is.

Thank goodness Bibb shares his with us.

Emily Tuttle spent several years traveling and writing as a daily news reporter in California and Arizona. Music is one of her top five passions. She currently lives in Minot and works as a freelance writer and ESL teacher.