Connor Ray Music Set to Release New CD from Houston-Based Duo, Dry Johnson, "Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1", On October 5

Connor Ray Music Set to Release New CD from Houston-Based Duo, Dry Johnson,

Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1, On October 5

HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces an October 5 release date for the debut CD from Houston-based duo, Dry Johnson, Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1.   

Dry Johnson is comprised of bassist Terry Dry and drummer Matthew Robert Johnson, who collectively have formed the powerhouse rhythm section backing award-winning Texas guitarslinger Mike Zito for almost two years. Zito returns the favor on Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1 by playing guitar and singing on several tracks of the new disc. Zito also joins another Houston favorite, Annika Chambers, for a soul-searing vocal duet on the lead-off song, “Daddy’s Got a Cadillac.”

Other special guests on the Dry Johnson debut include legendary singer (and Connor Ray labelmate) Trudy Lynn, guitarists John Del Toro Richardson, Mighty Orq and James Wilhite, harmonica ace Steve Krase, and beloved Houston musician Kevin “Snit” Fitzpatrick on vocals. 

All of the songs on the new CD are originals, with the exception of a nifty cover of Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “Hit the Highway.”

“Getting this out has been a year and a half in the making,” admits Matthew Robert Johnson.” Terry and I originally thought up the idea after a gig with Mike Zito in a hotel room in Florida. We discussed the idea of doing a project as a rhythm section, with all of the artists that we have either worked with in the past, or would like to work with in the future...and Dry Johnson was born. I can only hope that we have done this great city and its incredible musical legacy some justice with this recording.”

“I met Matthew Robert Johnson and Terry Dry in St. Louis around 2002 when I opened a show for Hadden Sayers,” writes Mike Zito in the album’s liner notes. “I still remember thinking they sounded really good and had a big sound.

“Matt and Terry share a love for the American art form. The blues brought them together and has given them a musical purpose to work toward. Matthew's drumming is strong and immense, while Terry's bass playing is solid and straight forward. Together they make a sound that is large and tight, round and moving. Always musical and consistent, they work together to form a foundation that any guitarist, vocalist or band can make great music with.

“When I was ready to put together a band based in Texas, my first choice was to get Matthew and Terry and build on that big sound. They have delivered in spades. Dry Johnson has stood the test of time. Rarely do musicians stay together this long or continue to complement one another, but Dry Johnson forges the Blues that brought them together. It was only a matter of time for the duo to make their own album and showcase more of their talent. I am very excited to have been included on this debut recording and I am proud to have Dry Johnson backing me on stages all over the world.”

Terry Dry and Matthew Robert Johnson met for the first time in Fargo, North Dakota in 1998 and played together a few years later in Houston, Texas. They have continued playing music together off and on for 20 years. Throughout that time, they have learned to back many guitar players and singers on bandstands, festivals and recordings.

Panache Records artist: Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds - You should have been there! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You should have been there! from Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds and it's a super exhibition of Savoy Brown live and on top of it's game, recorded live at the Yale in Vancouver on 2.23.03. Opening with When It Rains from their 2003 release, Strange Dreams, Kim is handling stinging lead guitar and vocal, backed by David Malachowski on guitar, Gerry Sorrentino on bass and Dennis Cotton on drums. I have seen this unit and it is tight. On slow blues, Where Has Your Heart Gone?, also from Strange Dreams, Simmonds gets into such a nice guitar groove that this 11 plus minute track seems to be over in short minutes. Simmonds' phrasing is excellent as always and his ingenuity on this night was spot on. On classic, Poor Girl, from on of my all time favorite SB releases, Looking In, Simmonds literally blows the doors off. You like contemporary blues rock. This is it! Excellent! On Jimmie Rodgers' Blues Like Midnight, Simmonds takes it way down with only a sliver of a back up, playing Delta style and singing the blues. Winding up for the grand finale, Street Corner Talking from the album of the same name, followed by Hellbound Train, also from an album of the same name, are two of Savoy Browns bet known tracks and and one hell of one listening experience to spend about 25 minutes. Now I have to say, 25 minutes seems like a long time, but I listened to this release at least 5 times today and it's going into my car. it's the best of Savoy Brown live today and I highly recommend it!

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James House And The Blues Cowboys - New Album Out On August 3

JAMES HOUSE

AND

THE BLUES COWBOYS

NEW ALBUM OUT AUGUST 3

“There is a vulnerable truth in James House’s songwriting that is very humbling for any writer to experience and that voice!!! That voice is pure emotion heartbreaking and soul lifting at the same time. I love you, James. Congrats on another great one!” – Beth Hart

The beautiful mind of House writes words and lines that will turn you inside out:

“Once there was this spider in my bed, I got caught up in her web, of love and lies” 

Nashville-based singer-songwriter James House set to release an album of Blues, Americana, and rock to his fans that have been begging him to do for a long time. His love of the Blues has always been an undercurrent tone to his tunes. The self-titled album will come out on August 3 to worldwide audiences, and this time, James is singing from his gut.

“Mama killed Daddy in self-defense

Never was one to sit on the fence” – “Jail House Blues”

Created by James in his studio, Cabin In The Woods located in a rural area of Nashville, he called on some hot shot musicians with great pedigrees to help: Todd Sharp (Rod Stewart, Hall & Oates), Mike Bradford (Uncle Kracker), Will Kimbrough and Kenny Greenberg (an A-list Nashville studio guitarist). He tapped into his vault of songs that fit the sound of the ever-evolving songwriter and pushed the record button, letting the magic happen organically.

Songs from this album are swinging, haunting and sometimes hopeful with House pulling out all the stops by using his creative influences like John Lee Hooker, William Faulkner and the wild violin strings of Eamon McGlouglin (The Greencards, John Paul White, and Ashley Monroe) to provide some fire. You can hear how his craft intersects with his art with songs like, “Long Way Down” that recall John Lee Hooker and “Well Ran Dry” - that asks the question, what if William Faulkner wrote a blues song?

Well, he’d write something like this:

I’m an empty soul

At the holy water bowl

Waiting on the rising tide – “Well Ran Dry”

House, a sought-after collaborator with Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Martina McBride and Dwight Yoakum has found himself in some of the best musical circles one could be in. James has a way with the art of story-telling while delivering it with a good cry, moan and groan.

Hounds of hell are barking

right outside my door

and every time I feed em

they come back for more – “Long Way Down”

House has recently been behind the scenes shaping the sound of modern Blues music with his sophisticated songwriting. As a singer, House’s voice has that rough soul ache that is his secret weapon as a writer and performer. As a guitar player, he lets his Fender do the talking as the riffs fly off his fingers providing a backdrop to his melodies.

His songs have been nominated for Grammys, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and climbed their way to the top of the charts. Some songs have been game-changers for young 6-string slingers such as British Blues artist Joanne Shaw Taylor to the more developed voices of Beth Hart and Martina McBride. One can’t go wrong with a House song.

James might not be a household name, but his songs are. Throughout his years with his performance rights organization group, BMI, he has reached a 7 million and counting radio airplay spins to date for three of his songs:  “A Broken Wing” and “Ain't That Lonely Yet” are at 3 million radio airplay awards each and  “In A Week, Or Two”  is at 2 Million.  James has set his sights on changing the Blues music world, and he does it with style. House co/wrote eight songs on with Joe on (Bonamassa’s  Different Shades Of Blue  (reached: #8 Billboard Album Chart #1 Blues and Rock) and seven songs on Blues Of Desperation  (reached: #5  Billboard Album Chart  #1 Blues/Rock ).

Blues guitar hotshot Joe Bonamassa says this about his partner in crime: 

 “James House is one of the premier songwriting and musical talents in the world today. His ability to flourish in so many different genres is a testament to his lifelong dedication to his songwriting craft.  Plus, he is one helluva singer.  On a personal note, many of my career-defining songs have been written with James.  He is very good at taking my wacky ideas and turning them into real songs. “

-Joe Bonamassa

A native of Northern California and now a long-time resident of Nashville, James was raised on music from his families’ ranch in Oregon and the Sacramento Delta where he and friends would often head to Fillmore West in San Francisco to hear blues greats like Paul Butterfield and BB King. The talented songwriter moved to Los Angeles after high school graduation where he honed his craft working on film soundtracks, various studio sessions and playing around town where he ended up signing with first Warner/Curb and later Atlantic Records where he recorded with Steely Dan producer Gary Katz.

His live shows are filled with passion and grit, and for this album, he has handpicked some new talent. His touring line up will include two unique musicians from Lafayette, LA that he met during a songwriter’s event named, Smoov Ras and Roddie Romero:

"Roddie Romero is a Lafayette, LA guitar playing, singing legend and Smoove Ras is a drummer/ percussionist/ vocalist who people are just now discovering and also from Lafayette. They both have that innate sense of music and both are committed to their craft.  From the moment we got together to write and jam the harmonies were spot on, and it was like we'd been playing together for years.  They are The Blues Cowboys." – James House

James’ approach to songwriter has always stood alone as he chooses his words, notes, and chords carefully to construct a song and have it stand the test of time. From Music Row to Santa Monica Blvd and now eyeing Beale Street, James House has always had the Blues one way or another.

Man Of The World - The Peter Green Story

Man Of the World - The Peter Green Story coming to home video on November 18th The incredible story of the man who formed Fleetwood Mac

After replacing the legendary Eric Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Peter went on to form Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful bands to come out of Britain in the 60's. Peter's genius on the guitar was matched by the songs he wrote including Black Magic Woman, later a huge debut hit for Santana, and the supernatural and sublime instrumental Albatross, as well as the classic Oh Well. The film traces that early success, explores Peter's drug use and his eternal spiral into schizophrenia. The film also examines how the treatment he received (Electroconvulsive therapy or ECT) prolonged his illness and extended absence from the music scene. The story continues with Peter's fragile mental and artistic recovery, his return to the recording studio and live music scene in the mid 1990's that saw his most positive creative output for many years. It portrays an artist who has now come to express his feelings, not just through the guitar music he still loves, but also his art and photography. The film contains extensive and rare archive footage of live and studio performances, stills and original in-depth interviews with Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Mike Vernon, (legendary producer of the original Fleetwood Mac "Blue Horizons" albums), Noel Gallagher, John Mayall, Dennis Keane (road manager), Martin Celmins, (Peter's official biographer), Carlos Santana, Jeremy Spencer, (the original Fleetwood Mac guitarist) and many others who were fortunate to work with or know this extraordinary Man Of the World. The DVD can be ordered at the MVD Shop or on Amazon Product Details Format: DVD SKU: MVD9484D UPC: 760137948490 Street Date: 11/18/16 PreBook Date: 10/14/16 Label: HENRY HADAWAY ORGANIZATION » Genre: Pop/Rock Run Time: 150 mins Number of Discs: 1 Audio: STEREO Year of Production: 2009 Director: Steve Graham Producers: Steve Graham Actors: Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Noel Gallagher, John Mayall, John McVie, Carlos Santana Box Lot: 30 Territory: NORTH AMERICA Language: English # # #

Seratones "Get Gone", Jimbo Mathus "Band of Storms" Out Today

Seratones - Get Gone LP / CD / Digital Out Today Buy Now (FP Store)

Get Gone, the debut album from Shreveport, LA's Seratones is available worldwide today.  Led by powerhouse frontwoman A.J. Haynes whose thunderous vocals recall the grit of Janis Joplin and gospel of Mavis Staples, Seratones’ debut is one of the best rock records you will hear in 2016. Haynes’s powerful singing voice, first honed at Brownsville Baptist Church in Columbia, Louisiana at age 6, rings across every track. Adam Davis’s bass and Jesse Gabriel’s playing propel every song with the grit, energy, and rawness of punk, the feeling of soul, and occasionally, a little jazz swing. While Connor Davis offers a clinic in guitar riffs, from swaggering blues to searing interstellar leads. * Read an amazing review of Get Gone from The Wall Street Journal here. “‘Chandelier’ is a southern gothic garage rock jam that will have you buying a leather jacket and dreaming of the summer...Everything’s coming up Seratones.” – Noisey “Shreveport, La.'s Seratones is a kick-ass rock band that has all the stage presence in the world.” – NPR Music “While there was more than enough great music [at SXSW]  – among those who excelled were…Seratones” – Wall Street Journal “…right in the Southern rock wheelhouse…equal parts swagger and aggression.” – Stereogum "... tears at the soul with sharp teeth." - Consequence of Sound Grab a copy today at your favorite local record store, or order a copy below: Buy it on vinyl here. Buy on iTunes here. Buy on Amazon here. Buy on Google Play here. Keep up with Seratones on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / and Bandcamp Watch Seratones perform live on NPR's Tiny Desk Seratones Upcoming Tour Dates: 5/06 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 5/07 Chicago, IL @ Hideout 5/08 Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub 5/10 Detroit, MI @ Marble Bar 5/11 Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar 5/13 Nashville, TN @ The Basement 5/14 Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern 6/03 Richmond, VA @ Brown’s Island 6/05 Charleston, WV @ Mountain Stage – The Clay Center 7/15 Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival @ Louisville Waterfront Park 7/16 Birmingham, AL @ Sloss Music & Arts Festival 8/22 Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow 8/23 Berlin, Germany @ Berghain Kantine 8/24 Cologne, Germany @ Blue Shell 8/25 Charleville-Mézières, France @ Cabaret Vert 8/26 Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival 8/28 Reading, UK @ Reading Festival 9/01 London, UK @ Lexington Jimbo Mathus - Band of Storms LP / Digital Out Today (Big Legal Mess)  "Band of Storms is the third studio set Mathus has put out in just over two years, and if he's running out of ideas, you wouldn't guess it to hear the work. Running through nine songs in less than 25 minutes, Band of Storms is compact, but the collection of songs is eclectic, with Mathus pushing each tune forward with lots of energy and raw enthusiasm." - Mark Deming Grab a copy today at your favorite local record store, or order a copy below: Buy from BLM here. Buy on iTunes here. Buy on Amazon here. Keep up with Jimbo on Facebook and Twitter Copyright © 2016 Fat Possum Records, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you provided your email address to us at www.fatpossum.com Our mailing address is: Fat Possum Records PO Box 1923 Oxford, MS 38655 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list