Resident keeps rollin' through blues shows
The times keep on changing, but the song remains the same.
For more than 400 weeks, Cranberry's Rob O'Friel has opened his Pittsburgh radio show with the same song: “Rollin' and Tumblin'.”
There's a catch. He plays a different version of the classic blues tune every show, and has yet to repeat the same track twice. He played his 402nd version of the song Saturday.
“People just keep making new versions,” O'Friel said. “It's such a blues standard and such a classic. Every month, I find two or three new versions of it.”
It all began in 2011, when a gig volunteering for WYEP in Pittsburgh turned to an offer to host a show. O'Friel was tasked with building a new, staple blues show for the Pittsburgh region to replace an outgoing DJ who fostered a cult following of his own, Bumblebee Slim.While trying to come up with a name for his radio slot, O'Friel went to a Eugene and the Nightcrawlers show in Cranberry Township. They played a take on the old song, and lights went off in his head.O'Friel wanted his show to carry an obvious reverence to blues history along with a fast-moving tempo befitting its Saturday nighttime slot. The name of the track fit the tone and its massive musical history suited the historical feeling, so O'Friel named his show “Rollin' and Tumblin'” and resolved to open every week with a new version of the track.
The original writer of “Rollin' and Tumblin'” was Hambone Willie Newbern. It's believed he wrote it as early as 1913, and recorded it in 1929.“It's an old time blues story that conveys emotion in movement,” O'Friel said. “The story of the song is very emotional, you know, he's crying. But the rolling and tumbling part conveys movement — which is exactly what I wanted to convey on a Saturday night.”The track has resonated with plenty of people before O'Friel. He opened his first three shows with versions by Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. Since then, he's played about 10 versions made by local acts who recorded the song specifically for his show.“They record it knowing it'll only get played that one time,” O'Friel said. “It really means a lot, and they've helped me continue the streak.”He has played versions of the song in just about every style of blues imaginable, plus several other genres.The song is so influential in blues, its tune was even ripped for another song titled “If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day.” That track, O'Friel said, has nearly as many versions recorded as “Rollin' and Tumblin'.”O'Friel said opening with the track has let him build a show that spans blues history.“It's a cross-section of blues history,” he said.
After 402 shows, O'Friel has some stories to tell.He has had several notable guests on the air with him. Pittsburgh Penguins Hall-of-Famer Mike Lange came on for a show once, as he's a lifelong blues fan.“He's one of the people I truly idolize,” O'Friel said.The show has developed a devoted following. O'Friel said he met one fan who said she stayed home Saturday nights just to catch it.O'Friel has emceed several blues events and concerts due to connections made through the program.He was quick to answer where to check out in the Pittsburgh area for live blues shows: O'Friel loves Moondogs Pub in Blawnox for its rich history.As for his show, O'Friel said he doesn't see an end in sight for “Rollin' and Tumblin'.” He's 54 years old and hasn't run out of versions of the song yet.“To me, the song means we're here to listen to the blues,” O'Friel said. “Pure blues.”
“Rollin' and Tumblin'” is on 91.3 FM every Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight.The show's host, Rob O'Friel, sets each week's playlist himself with help from live call-in requests.O'Friel broadcasts live from WYEP's studio in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood.
