LTATM EP 8 The Blues with Willie and The Whips
LTATM EP 8 Willie and the Whips
Shels from Let's Talk About The Music dives into the world of blues with Willie and the Whips, a talented local blues band from the Pacific Northwest (PNW). In this exclusive interview, they discuss their music, creative process, and upcoming projects. The band even shares a sneak peek of their highly anticipated new EP, "Wassippi," set to release on February 14, 2025. Don't miss this exciting glimpse into the future of PNW blues music!
Episode 8: The Blues with Willie and the Whips
On Episode 8 of Let’s Talk About The Music, we are going to chat about the blues with Willie and the Whips, a local blues band from Seattle, WA.
Now, before we check in with the group—do you know the history behind the blues? This music genre originated in the American South after the Civil War. Its roots can be traced back to African American slave songs, spirituals, and field hollers, among other sources. Many scholars assert that the blues emerged in the late 1860s in Louisiana’s Mississippi Delta, Piedmont Region. The music provided a way for freed slaves to express themselves during the struggles and horrors of the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and, later on, the Jim Crow laws.
Early written references to the blues genre date back to the 1890s and early 1900s. In 1912, Black bandleader W. C. Handy composed and published the sheet music for "The Memphis Blues," which established his version of the 12-bar blues style. The legendary B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan were enormous influences on the genre during the second half of the twentieth century, along with countless other talented performers. Blues music today has developed into many subgenres, and it also continues to impact and be incorporated into other music styles, such as rock, pop, jazz, and country.
Willie and the Whips
Before forming Willie and the Whips, both Kevin and Will were involved in other musical projects. Will and Ed Portnow had been friends since childhood, jamming together in their parents' basements. As they grew older, Ed became the drummer for his punk band The Dehumanizers, but he and Will stayed in touch over the years. Kevin, Ed, and Art Behrman had also collaborated in several bands, building strong musical connections. When one of Kevin’s bands eventually dissolved, Ed reached out to see if he’d be interested in starting a blues band. The result? Willie and the Whips was born!
How Will Found the Blues
Will has been around the PNW music scene for many years. When he was growing up, his sister loved the Beatles and had their records in her collection. To launch a party, his parents took him to Tower Records to pick out his very first LP, and he chose the Rolling Stones. Will’s initial live concert experience was to see The Who perform. He ordered his first guitar out of the old Sears catalog, and music cemented its central role in his life. After the Rolling Stones, learning the blues more fully was a natural progression due to his generational influences. Will started his solo gig and eventually (re)connected with Ed Portnow.
How Kevin Found the Blues
Kevin has been part of the PNW music scene since the age of fifteen. He got his first taste of local talent when he worked as a back door security person. This allowed Kevin to experience a variety of PNW performers, including the very first concert of Legendary DOA. He worked punk shows at the Moore Theater until 1992 for the security group Falling Angels.
Although Kevin was initially a punk fan, he grew to love the blues genre. Punk rock incorporates a great deal of anger and passion for the victim, intended to help clear the soul, but Kevin eventually became tired of how punk presented these themes. He saw blues as the original protest music. The genre had incredible depth, growing out of the post-slavery era. It was rooted in several of the old American music traditions, and it has influenced almost every style of music—including punk. Kevin saw the blues everywhere, and it excited the heck out of him.
How Did Willie and the Whips Happen?
Both Kevin and Will were in other projects before Willie and the Whips came together. Will grew up with Ed Portnow, originally playing in their parents’ basements. Will continued to stay in touch with Ed when later Ed became the drummer of his own punk band, the Dehumanizers. Kevin, Ed, and Art Behrman performed in a few different bands, so the connections were there when one of Kevin’s groups broke up and Ed reached out to see if he wanted to be part of a blues band. And so Willie and the Whips was born!
And the name? Will's father used to make the Indiana Jones whips for the movie franchise. How cool is that?
As soon as the band formed, Ed got them into the studio to produce their first EP, Homage, released in 2016. Wille and the Whips worked on their second EP, Wassissippi, during the pandemic. They are hoping to release it on February 14, 2025: not only Valentines day, but also Art's birthday. The location of the release is yet to be announced—but when it is, you know Let's Talk About The Music will be there to help celebrate.
Their Music
I checked out Homage on Spotify and was also lucky enough to get a preview of Wassissippi. Willie and the Whips’ music is a meld of blues and rock styles, and you cannot help but rock out to it. There is not a slow song on either album. During Episode 8, you get a taste with “Coal Black Mattie” and “Lord, Have Mercy”—just some examples of the fun you are in for when Wassissippi is released.
If you want to know more about Willie and the Whips, check out LTATM’s Episode 8 on Audioboom, Spotify for Podcasts, or wherever you stream your favorites. The episode is also available on YouTube: just search for “Official Let's Talk About The Music.”
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Willie and The Whip
Willie and The Whips on Spotify
Wassippippi release date
Wassippippi will be released on February 14, 2025.
Check out LTATM’s other blogs.
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