Earwig Music Company artist: Johnny Drummer - Bad Attitude - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Bad Attitude, from Johnny Drummer and it's really good. Opening with funky R&B style Is It Love Or Is It Lust, with James Brown style and nice horn backing from Rodney "Hotrod" Brown on sax and Kenny Anderson on trumpet. On Chicago style blues track, Drummer has a familiar story with Another Rooster Is Pecking My Hen. A clever lyric and warm horn basics make this a cool track. Drummer takes a nice harp solo on this track and Anthony Palmer is right in there with some slick riffs on guitar. Bit Her In The Butt has a real cool funky feel along the lines of JG Watson. Title track Bad Attitude is a cool shuffle track leading off with Palmer laying down an easy stroll. Drummer has a nice delivery on vocal and Palmer keeps the riffs coming making this a real natural track. Make You Happy has a R&B feel in the most traditional sense. Authentic era horns bring up the rear and although Drummer doesn't have Al Green's voice, this track falls into his orbit. One Size Fits All is a high stepping strut with strong bass work from Kenny Hampton. Palmer lays down some of the finest hot stinging riffs on the release right here right now. Ronnie Hicks also adds a real nice electric piano solo on this track. Sure Sign Of The Blues comes from the roots of Morganfield. Easy going guitar work and harp work with a solid organ line from Drummer highlight his vocals. Don't Call Me Trash takes a clever look at the less fortunate keeping the instrumentation simple with tight horn call/response but allowing a hot burst of guitar flame in the door. Ain't No Secret In A Small Town is a solid blues track with cool instrumental arrangement throughout. Palmer really lets the dog out on this track with just the right amount of push. U-Turn On A One Way Street, again in the R&B format gives the floor over to Brown on sax and Palmer does step up with a smokin hot riff to polish the track off. On swing shuffle, Better Than Good, Drummer really gets the band rockin. Palmer shines again with stylized riffs and Drummer has the lyrics dancing. Closing out the track is Brown on sax. Cool. My Woman My Money My Whiskey is the track most likely to be remembered years from now. It has a low slung pace, lyrics that we can all relate to and a nicely articulated guitar solos off the beat. Very nice! Also of note is the guitar work of Sir Walter Scott, and drumming of Jeremiah Thomas and Terrance Williams. Wrapping the release is Star 69, a slick funky track. A heavy horned tune that struts like a banty rooster.

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HAMILTON LOOMIS -- March 2014 Schedule

This month: a quick California run, then more TX shows! Be sure to check the full performance schedule at http://www.hamiltonloomis.com/schedule.html to see when Hamilton & Band are in your area! Tickets are available for select shows below...Thanks again for your support... 3/7/14 Sacramento CA TORCH CLUB 9pm 916-443-2797 3/8/14 Santa Cruz CA PRIVATE EVENT 7pm 3/9/14 Santa Cruz CA MOE'S ALLEY 4pm - 7pm Tickets 3/14/14 Beaumont TX MADISON'S 9:30pm 409-924-9777 3/15/14 Conroe TX DOSEY DOE MUSIC CAFE 8:30pm Tickets 3/21/14 Corpus Christi TX EXECUTIVE SURF CLUB 9pm 361-884-7873 3/22/14 To Be Announced...

Rounder Records Completes Move to Nashville

ROUNDER RECORDS COMPLETES MOVE  TO NASHVILLE Concord Music Group Acquires Treasured Children's Label Music For Little People,  Imprint Will Operate Under Rounder  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 6, 2014 - Rounder Records, a division of leading independent music company Concord Music Group, today announced the completion of the company's relocation from its longtime base of Boston, Massachusetts to its new home in Nashville, Tennessee.  The region's vibrant creative community and dynamic business environment offer Rounder an enormous opportunity to build on its legacy as one of America's most revered music labels.  Located in The Gulch, Nashville's popular shopping and entertainment district, Rounder's new headquarters (1209 Pine Street, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203) is centered in the heart of the city's thriving metropolitan core. A major force in a broad range of musical genres including Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, rock, Cajun/Zydeco and children's music, Rounder Records has helped shape American roots music for over 40 years. Its outstanding artist roster includes Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, RUSH, Gregg Allman, Raffi, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carlene Carter, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tony Trischka and rising stars such as J.D. McPherson, Della Mae and others. Concord Music Group and Rounder are additionally delighted about the effort to broaden their presence in children's entertainment, anchored by the recent acquisition of the beloved record label Music For Little People.  The company will operate as an imprint under Rounder, which shares a long and complementary history in children's music.  A premiere children's music showcase for 25+ years, Music For Little People releases have featured artists such as Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, Laurie Berkner, AC/DC's Brian Johnson, Pete Seeger and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to name but a few.  Music For Little People founder Leib Ostrow will continue to be an essential contributor to the label going forward.  A slate of new projects is scheduled for release in 2014 and beyond. Headed by President John Virant, Rounder's Nashville team includes Vice President of A&R Scott Billington, newly appointed Vice President of A&R Tracy Gershon and Director of Project Management Eliza Levy.  Rounder will continue to be supported by Concord's integrated national sales and marketing services. Rounder Records founders, Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton Levy remain in the Boston area and continue to be actively engaged in the company, producing and consulting on various Rounder projects. "Rounder has always been driven by the music, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute and be part of the Music City community," said Rounder President John Virant. "In many ways, the move to Nashville feels like a natural transition," stated Concord Music Group President and CEO Glen Barros.  "The region's deeply rooted, artist friendly culture and its surrounding business community make it the ideal home for Rounder.  Additionally, Music For Little People is a great label that will strengthen Rounder's commitment to quality entertainment for children.  We couldn't be more excited about this next chapter in the company's incredible story." About Rounder Records: Rounder has been at the center of American roots music the last 40 years.  The self-titled 1975 record by J.D. Crowe and the New South (featuring future stars Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas) revitalized bluegrass and inspired such modern superstars as Rounder's own Alison Krauss, who is the most decorated female artist in the history of the GRAMMY® Awards and has also sold over eight million albums and DVDs.   Her collaboration with Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant on the album Raising Sand emerged as one of 2007's major critical and word-of-mouth sales success stories. The album was RIAA-certified platinum in early 2008 and won five GRAMMY® Awards including Album and Record of the Year in 2009.  An unequaled leader in the preservation and re-release of precious historic recordings, Rounder has brought the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Mississippi John Hurt back to vibrant life.  In addition, their dazzling work on the epic anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection has been universally respected and admired. About Concord Music Group: Based in Beverly Hills, CA privately held Concord Music Group, is one of the largest independent record and music publishing companies in the world and owner of a rich and historically significant catalog of recordings. A small sampling of the company's active roster includes such renowned artists as Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Chick Corea, James Taylor, Booker T. Jones, George Benson, Steve Martin, Valerie June, Christian Scott, Gregg Allman, Elbow, Ben Harper and Esperanza Spalding.  Concord's stellar catalog includes legends such as John Coltrane, John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Little Richard, Otis Redding, Thelonious Monk, Isaac Hayes, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, among many others. The company's celebrated family of labels includes Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Hear Music, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Heads Up, Prestige and famed American roots label Rounder Records. The group's artists and music have won over 200 GRAMMY® Awards, an affirmation of the company's mission to enrich lives by providing enduring music in creative and innovative ways. Concord Music Group's releases are distributed throughout the world by Universal Music Group and are regularly licensed for use in major motion pictures, television and advertising. In March of 2013, Wood Creek Capital Management, LLC acquired Concord Music Group in partnership with an individual investor group that includes members of Concord's senior management. As an investment manager at the forefront of intellectual property investing, the investment in Concord underscores Wood Creek's belief in the lasting and appreciating value of great music content around the globe.

Alligator Records artist: Joe Louis Walker - Hornet's Nest - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Hornet's Nest from Joe Louis Walker and it's quite different. Opening with title track, Hornet's Nest, Walker is out of the gate with a lot of guitar pyrotechnics. With a pinch of Eric Clapton on musical style but electricity that has been lacking in much of Clapton's recent work, Walker lights it up. All I Wanted To Do has a soul style with horns and all. Muscle Shoals provides the muscle with Charles Rose on Trombone, Jim Horn on sax and Vinnie Ciesielski on trumpet. Walker takes a stroll on guitar but this is mostly an airplay track. As The Sun Goes Down is a skillfully crafted track and one of my favorites on the release. A bluesy "Thrill Is Gone" kind of feel is conjured up and Walker gets some super groans from his axe. Excellent! Stick A Fork In Me is a rolling shuffle track featuring Tom Hambridge on drums and really nice work from Reese Wynans on piano. Tommy MacDonald has a strong walking bass line on this track and Walker lights up the fretboard complimented by Rob McNelley on guitar. On classic rocker, Don't Let Go, Walker is joined by Ray Walker, Cyrtis Young and Michael Black on vocals and driven by nice bass work by MacDonald. Love Enough has a traditional Robert Johnson styling with a pinch of Cream and a bit of R&B. Walkers vocals on this track are some of my favorites and his slide playing is very cool. Ramblin' Soul is another track with a strong blues rock basis. With energy like that of the old Jeff Beck Group and electrifying guitar riffs, this track is another of my release favorites. Ride On, Baby has a simple Tom Petty like sound and strong pop appeal. Soul City takes R&B to another level with a hat tip to Sly and outrageous guitar riffs.

This release has an additional 3 tracks but I can't access the stream at this time. If I can later I will revise this review. Enjoy!

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