CHRIS BUCK

What does blues mean to you?

Music with soul and heartfelt expression. I’ve never understood the urge some feel to patrol a genre’s borders. If it’s real, sincere and comes from a place of genuine longing for self-expression, let it in. Any genre would be better for it.

Who are your blues guitar heroes?

Clapton was my conduit to the blues. Aside from being a great player, he’s always been quick to champion those who influenced him, which made him a great entry point for so much music that would have otherwise passed me by. He’s like a blues genealogist.

What was the first blues song or lick you learned?

“Hideaway” by Freddie King.

What do you try to achieve in your playing to make your style and sound unique?

I’ve always been a huge fan of the elegance and ease of delivery a great vocalist has. I’ve always endeavored to capture a degree of that in my playing.

How do you interpret the blues for a modern audience?

I’ve always worked on the premise that I have pretty decent taste in music, and if I can create music I’d like to listen to, there’ll be others who will like it too.

What are your favorite pieces of gear?

My MacBook, an interface and anything with six strings. As much as it’s a fun rabbit hole to dive down every now and then, gear rarely inspires me.

What song in your catalog best exemplifies your approach to the guitar?

“Slow Train, from the Buck & Evans album. There’s lots of delicate, pretty chordal stuff, but it has a guitar part that comes in with a snare-drum crack like a shotgun being fired. It’s all about the light and shade.