C.R. Avery is an East Vancouver based musician, spoken word artist, writer and much else besides. His totem figures include Tennessee Williams, Sam Shepard, Patti Smith and various others. We also talked about the blues and hip hop. 

For an explanation on what "totem figures" are in this context, click here.

Play C.R. Avery Totem Figures Podcast. Right click on that link if you'd rather download it and listen to it on a music playing program of your choice.

If you'd like to see C.R. perform in your city, check out the calendar on his website. He tours a lot. You can find some of his recordings for sale in the iTunes store. You can buy his new book of poems 38 Bar Blues here.

One major totem we didn't discuss is Bob Dylan. To make up for that omission, here's C.R. doing his rendition of Dylan's poem Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie. 

Another major influence of harmonica playing and the blues in general is Sonny Boy Williamson. Listen to his rendition of Bluebird Blues - a classic example of "front porch" music.

The big city version of this same song would be John Lee Hooker's version.

Podcast music credits

The Boxer Who Just Came Down From London - C. R. Avery - Magic Hour Sailor Songs

Door By the River - C.R. Avery - Just Passin' Through

Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker - The Very Best of John Lee Hooker

Hobo Blues - John Lee Hooker - The Very Best of John Lee Hooker

Protect Yourself/My Nuts - The Fat Boys - Crushin'

Hell of a Hotel of Harm - C.R. Avery - Just Passin' Through

Make Me a Pallet - Jelly Roll Morton - Complete Library of Congress Recordings

Room to Move - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - The Turning Point

Final Hour - Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Channeling Frustrated Energy - C.R. Avery - The Great Canadian Novel

There were also excerpts from A Streetcar Named Desire, Cowboy Mouth (the play, not the band) and The Cosby Show