Simi Cajun and Blues Festival - Evelyn the bluezy redhead - Guest Writer

The site of the Simi Cajun and Blues Festival every Memorial Day weekend is a spacious park in the bedroom community of Simi Valley in Ventura County. This festival pays tribute to and honors the men and women who died during service in the armed forces and I applaud them for that! A lesser known fact is that they raise funds for a long list of local community, national and international organizations and activities, and should be commended for the enormous effort it takes to put on a festival of this magnitude!

There are two stages: Cajun and blues, as you might be able to surmise from the name of the festival! The only time I left the blues stage area or covered dance floor was to use one of the vast array of 'restrooms' lined up on the baseball diamond.

Speaking of thriving, the opening band was Reverend Tall Tree (not sure if he is an actual reverend, but he is tall, yet not as tall as a tree). Anyway, Mr. Tree has a voice and harp skills as solid as the trunk of even a short tree. Their set consisted of all originals, nicely arranged and delivered with diversity. The band set out to play a set of songs that the hundreds of festival goers would revel in, and revel they did. The band definitely did not bark up the wrong tree - they knew what they wanted to project and did what they came to do.

What can I say about the toughest girl alive? I could say that Candye Kane is inspirational, that she is a survivor, and that she is ecstatic to even be alive. She honored her commitment to be at this festival to deliver her message and her music, even though she was released from the hospital for cancer-related issues the day before. Goose bumps overcome me! I first saw her & band in Solana Beach when I lived in Rancho Santa Fe and I was blown away by her immense talent. She pens a lot of the band's songs including "I'm the Reason You Drink" and "Super Hero" and "The Toughest Girl Alive". They put on a set filled with mostly danceable upbeat songs with a couple of slow easy blues.

Guitar Shorty and his band "Triple Danger" were up next. I know Shorty, his bass player Crazy Tomes and his keyboard player Malcom Lukens. Unfortunately I do not know the names of the other two players in the band (guitar & drums). This band energized the crowd with their sensually searing sound. Shorty is truly a genius guitar player/singer and proves it every single time I see him. "The Thrill is Gone" was poignantly performed for his friend BB King; a heart-wrenching, bittersweet rendition of one the King's greatest hits. It rocked my soul to the core and touched me deeply.

Big brother was in attendance at the festival... in the shape of Big Brother and the Holding Company, a 1960s band led by Janis Joplin. The bandleader told us stories about his days with Janis and I think he is the only one of the founding members in the band today. On their first song, the female lead singer sounded EXACTLY like Janis! Throughout their set she showed us that she was not a Janis Joplin impersonator, but had her own unique voice to lend to the band. "Down on Me" and "Summertime" and "Take Another Little Piece of my Heart" were just some of the songs that rolled out of her lips and the musicians instruments, into the blue skies above us. Their last song was "Ball & Chain" written by Big Mama Thornton. The story was told that Janis heard it and really wanted to record it... and so goes history.

The Spencer Davis Group was another band in the 1960s, led by Spencer Davis, and that remains the same all these years later. Their newest CD is called "So Far" and they did a few songs from it. The musicians were all at the top of their game skill-wise and their harmonies were harmonious to this writer's ears. They did some of their early hits like "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man".

Now, normally I have heard of, and LOVE the headliner, and they are one of the big reasons why people go to music festivals. So, it was odd that I had never heard of the headliners before today. I had you-tubed them and was impressed, but not as impressed as I was when they were live in front of me!

The Record Company consists of old souls Chris, Alex and Marc - three 20 or 30-somethings who are 1) visually appealing; 2) audibly appealing; 3) just damn appealing!! I have never been impressed with a band at first sighting as I was/am impressed by these three men. An all original set of songs were energetically performed in a rapid formation one after the other, with the next one even more mind blowing than the last. Chris is the lead singer and also plays harp, lap steel, pedal steel and guitar. Alex is the bass player and also does vocals. Marc is the drummer and also does vocals.

How creative are they, you ask? I will tell you. One song was bass, harp and drums; no lead guitar... and it was brilliant! Oh, you want two more example of their creativeness? Okay, have you ever seen anyone play lap steel on an ACOUSTIC guitar or slide BASS? The crowd was in awe, as most had no idea what to expect from this unknown, yet highly successful band. You see, they have had their music in numerous commercials and tv shows. They have played with such phenoms as BB King, Buddy Guy and Robert Randolph & The Family Band. These guys get around, as word spreads like wildfire in the music industry, and rightfully so, as they deserve and have earned the respect of their peers and audiences world-wide.

Yes, we paid tribute this past Saturday and Sunday, and we did it with the universal language of music... on a perfect-weather day... in the bedroom community of Simi Valley.

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

WaxEater Records artist: JC Crossfire - AWOL Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, AWOL Blues, from JC Crossfire and it's pretty straightforward and bluesy. Opening with shuffle track, It Is What It Is, Crossfire on vocal and his notoriously snarling guitar tone is joined by Tony Galabria on bass, Al Rich on drums Steve Lombardelli on keys and Joe Beard on piano. One More Day has a 12 bar format and Crossfire paces himself nicely with fluent guitar solo. Working Man has a nice blues drive. Nicely phrased guitar riffs and a driving bass line run this train. Black Hole has an easier pace with acoustic guitar and slide. Title track AWOL Blues has a real nice back beat and steady drums emphasize that. Slide work from JC gives it it's bite. Sweet Thing is a more traditional R&B style ballad and duet with Marybeth DeSarle. A nice sax addition by Lombardelli is sweet. I Can Still Pump has a New Orleans bounce feel. JC's vocals on this track are primo and Beard's piano work is spot on. Plain & Simple has a bit of funk under the slide work of JC. Hungry aggressive guitar playing on this track makes it one of my favorites on the release. Slow blues, What Could Have Been, is an absolute ripper with tight throat grabbing riffs and nicely reverbed chords. JC shows his bluesy voice on this track sending the release to the next level. Wrapping the release is Sunflower Mississippi, a track co-written with Matt Guitar Murphy.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

13th Almost Annual Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival - Concert Review - Stilladog - Guest writer

This year’s festival started off under partly cloudy skies with Patty Reese rendering an acapella version of the Star Spangled Banner.  As she sang you could gaze out over the Chesapeake Bay and imagine, as I did, the British warships heading back out to sea after failing to capture Fort McHenry.  Then a moment of silence was observed for the passing of BB King.

The festival kicked off with the Marcus King Band followed by a female band of local DC musicians put together specifically for this performance called the Sisterhood of Soul.  Then a last minute substitute band, The Record Company, replacing the previously booked Davy Knowles.  The highlight of these opening acts, in fact one of the true high points of the whole festival, was the performance turned in by Little Margie Clark of Sisterhood of Soul. The little old lady (formerly of the 60s group The Jewels) packed a powerful voice. And when she ad libbed some serious scat she blew the lid off that place!  Man, I can’t even tell you what language she was signing in!!  The most outstanding version of an improvised scat vocal I’ve ever heard on a record or in person… and that’s counting Ella Fitzgerald!  The horn section for Sisterhood of Soul was outstanding.  I really wish they’d have turned those horns loose on their set finale Turn On Your Lovelight.

The meat of the lineup started when Tommy Castro and The Painkillers took the stage at mid-afternoon.  The set they played was clearly the best I’ve ever heard Tommy play.  I’ve seen him at least 7 or 8 times and have not come away impressed.  This time I came away singing his praises.  He dropped his horn section a couple years back and his new lineup has taken some time to come together.  But they are a tight outfit now!  The highlight of his set was his cover of the Wet Willie standard, Keep On Smilin’.

The Painkillers were followed by Bobby Rush making his second appearance at the festival.  His was the usual standard entertaining Bobby Rush set full of good music and a few laughs. 

Next up was Beth Hart who has the most amazing voice.  Extremely powerful.  She was holding the mic at her waist and it was picking up her voice like other singers who are damn near swallowing it!  I did not know what to expect from her as my only exposure was on some duet performances she recorded with Joe Bonamassa.  But she wowed me and pretty much everyone within earshot, which probably included some fishermen way out under the Bay Bridge!

Immediately after Beth Hart concluded her set the thunder and lightning rolled in bringing some heavy rain with it.  This delayed the start of the Gregg Allman set by more than an hour and 15 minutes.  Finally, with lightning still off in the distance and the crew squeegeeing water off the stage,I left for the evening.  By all accounts those who stayed were thoroughly impressed with Gregg’s band and his set.  Everyone mentioned his tribute to Dickie Betts and the quality of musicianship the whole band displayed.

Day two started off the way day one ended with cloudy skies and spitting rain.  But by the time the Chesapeake Bay Blues Band took the stage it had cleared.  They are another “festival specific” band featuring Mark Wenner on harp and vocals and Tommy Lepson on keys. It essentially consisted of what amounted to the “Old Nighthawks,” guys who once played in the Nighthawks of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.  They ripped through a very hot set of blues standards in which everyone got a vocal or two and they set the bar higher for the remainder of the day.

Next up was Jarekus Singleton.  I was looking forward to hearing him as I had heard mixed reviews on his first album and wanted to make my own decision. Some folks said he was great and the new savior of the blues.  Others said he was a highly overrated product of the music industry hype machine.  I found neither to be true.  A lot of folks really enjoyed his set.  I found it to be excessive and self-indulgent.  He has talent and a big upside.  But he is far from being the future of the blues.

Mingo Fishtrap wrapped up the afternoon with a mixed bag set that was well received.  Their set included everything from a New Orleans second line to country blues to straight ahead gut-bucket. And then the rain came.

As Shemekia Copeland took the stage she announced “Here I Come!  And Here Come The rain!”  Shemekia is the absolute Queen of the Chesapeake Blues Fest and has appeared more times than any other artist.  The fans love her and she loves playing this festival.  It was the usual high energy, superb performance we’ve come to expect from Shemekia.  As always she paid tribute to her father Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, but this weekend she also paid tribute to the late B.B. King who had passed just two days day before.

The artist I most wanted to see was Charlie Musselwhite.  I had never seen him perform and I was not disappointed.  In fact, I liked seeing him live more than I liked him from listening to his albums.  He had an outstanding playlist of his older stuff, newer stuff, blues classics.  A thoroughly enjoyable set.

Jonny Lang came on.  Pleased many people with his guitar antics.  He was largely popular.  I have however grown weary of his faux ”pain with every note” stage act.  He is another hugely talented guitarist who can’t decide whether he wants to play rock, blues, prog, or Christian music.  All I can say is constant thrashing may entertain some, but it becomes tiresome to me.

And finally the incomparable Buddy Guy closed out the show.  His was a rip snortin’, hell raisin’, string stetchin’ masterful performance.  It was his usual act complete with a walk through the audience during an extended version of “Slippin’ Out,”  The entire set was done with precision, and on this night, extreme passion.  I think Buddy felt the need to set the record straight about who the premiere guitarist at that festival was and was also feeling a pain in his heart about the loss of his friend, BB King.  Those elements combined to yield the best performance I’ve ever seen of Buddy Guy.  Ironically the first time I saw him perform was as part of BB King’s Blues Revue (with Koko Taylor) back in the early 90s and thought his performance that night could never be matched (he absolutely cut Eric Johnson’s head off that night!).  When Buddy brought out his young protégé Quinn Sullivan to help close out the festival I believe we came closer to seeing the future of the blues then than ever.

As I’ve probably said in previous reviews, this festival has probably one of the most beautiful settings as any in the country.  It’s right on the Chesapeake Bay with the Bay Bridge as a backdrop.  The festival is non-profit and all proceeds go to charities that actually get the money!  It’s a good time, it’s a good place and it’s a good cause.  If you ever get the chance to come on down to my place, the largest estuary in the United States, please check out this festival.

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Fish Food/VizzTone artist: Amanda Fish - Down In The Dirt - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Down In The Dirt, from Amanda Fish and it covers a lot of bases. Sister to Samantha Fish, Amanda has joined up with Stone Cutters Union front man Sean McDonnell on slide. Opening the release is I'mma Make You Love Me, a funky R&B kind of track showing just what Fish has to offer vocally and featuring McDonnell on guitar, Cole Dilingham on guitar and bass and Kristopher Schnebelen on drums. Player Blues is a slinky blues number with cool understated and fat aggressive slide work by McDonnell. Wait has a cool blues rock rhythm accented by rhythmic strumming on guitar and rich, saturated guitar riffs. An hot guitar solo on this track gives it a leg up for radio play. With a pinch of country, Guess I'll Lay Down features McDonnell and Fish on lead vocals as well as Liam Goodrick on piano and Jacob Niser on fiddle. Latin jazz number Prisoner Of Your Touch, has a real smooth feel with Goodrick on piano and Matt Peters on guitar. Again featuring McDonnell with Fish on lead vocals, and some nicely stylized guitar riffs, this is likely my favorite track on the release. Boots On The Ground has a nice funky groove and Fish slides right into it. Extended clean guitar soloing gives this track a particularly nice vibe. I Don't Need It features Brody Buster on harp and Coyote Bill on guitar and with it's rebellious "I Don't Need That Kind of B***S*** In My Life" as well as some strong slide work this will likely be a crowd anthem. Hard Walking Blues has a very deliberate delta style blues feel giving it strong appeal. A steady driving rhythm guitar riff, percussive military like drum riffs and a slide/vocal tandem riff makes this another high spot on the release. Slinky blues style number, Lady Of The Night, shows Fish's versatility vocally and also spotlights McDonnell and Cliff Moore on bass. Ballad, Breaking Me Down, has a much more seriousness about it developing into a nice bluesy number. Nice tension created by guitar and violin helps to even more emphasize the strength of Fish's vocals. Very nice! Watch It All Burn is a straight up rocker and Fish is full out. Tyson Leslie on organ lays the ground work but it's the over the top slide work on this track that borrows your attention momentarily from Fish's spotlight. Wrapping the release is title track Down In The Dirt, is a gritty blues chant with grinding slide riffs and a cool drum rhythm from Schnebelen. A guitar solo that has quite a loose experimental feel seals the deal on this new release.

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

 

Brand new album from Sugaray Rayford

Delta Groove Promotions and Nimoy Sue Records presents "Southside" the brand new album by Mannish Boys' singing sensation, Sugaray Rayford.

This is Sugaray Rayford’s third CD release. His 1st release, Blind Alley (2010), was independently released. His 2nd release, Dangerous (2013), was under Delta Groove Music Inc. Dangerous was #8 on Living Blues Top 50 Albums of 2013. Sugaray was just nominated for BB King Entertainer of the Year and Traditional Male Vocalist for the 2015 Blues Music Awards. He is also lead vocalist for The Mannish Boys who were also nominated for 3 awards. Upcoming Tour dates: June 12 - The Birk Birkenfeld, OR June 13 - Highway 99 Seattle, WA June 14 - Shuga Jazz Bistro Seattle, WA June 16 - Poor House Bistro San Jose, CA June 18 - Biscuits & Blues San Francisco, CA June 19 - Biscuits & Blues San Francisco, CA June 21 - Malarkey's Long Beach, CA June 22 - Sugar Mill Tarzana, CA June 27 - Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ "Not many singers can take us from the delta to the modern chitlin' circuit as easily as he does. A big man with a big voice and plenty of personality…" —Jazz & Blues Report "Whether it's rompin' Chicago blues, Memphis Stax-powered soul, scorching Texas blues or New Orleans-tinged jazz, Sugaray fields whatever's his way with confident versatility." —Colorado Blues Society "Sugaray Rayford is a revelation as he powerfully moans the blues…" —Blues in Britain Magazine The new album is available to purchase at SugarayBlues.com and Amazon.com

Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers - Ante Up - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Ante Up from Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers and it's lively. Opening with She's Got Sway, a groovy rocker, D'Amour takes the lead on vocal with Greg Dolan on guitar, Patrick Mc Danel on bass and Rick Bowen on drums. Special guest Sue Oelrich plays a lively keyboard solo on this track as well. Waiting For You, a slow paced blues track features some particularly lush guitar work by CD Woodbury. Chippy rocker, Say What You Mean, keeps it light with a pretty nice guitar solo from Greg Nolan as well as Oelrich on keys. One of my favorite tracks on the release, One Wave At A Time, has a smokey feel along the lines of I Put A Spell On You. D'Amour does a nice job on vocals and I particularly like Dolan's guitar phrasing on this particular track. R&B style Angels All Around, has a cool groove and Dolan's guitar work puts me in mind of the Chambers Brothers. Jealous is a slow ballad with the nices vocal efforts on the release. With it's overall spiritual like vocal blending this is a nice track. Dolan steps up with a tasty blues solo on this track as well. Very nice! On boogie track, Dress Code, the band creates a bit of a rumble with a melody that will stick in your ear. Too Fine A Night, a quiet blues like track, again features CD Woodbury on guitar. Not Your Man has a bit of a funky step and features an excellent bass solo by McDanel as well as a screamer of a guitar riff from Dolan as well. Shuffle track, Memory, has a nice walking bass line and some of the best vocal harmonies on the release. Oelrich lays out a sweet key solo on this track giving it nice vocal to instrumental balance. New Orleans styled, Hurricane is probably a track that should go straight to the radio. It has a catchy melody, it's very danceable and fun vocally. With a partying sound and singing about partying is always a solid crowd pleaser. McDanel opens the final track, Don't Make Me Wait, with a driving bass line and D'Amour gets this jump track hopping. Oelrich plays a snappy key solo and Dolan rolls out one of his own. A nice closer for a lively recording.

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

 

Garage Door Records and Blue Room Management Sign North Georgia-Based Country Group, Smith & Wesley, with New CD Expected for Release in July; Band Set to Play Riverbend Festival on Friday June 12

Garage Door Records and Blue Room Management Sign North Georgia-Based Country Group, Smith & Wesley, with New CD Expected for Release in July

Band Set to Play Riverbend Festival on Friday June 12

CHATTANOOGA, TN - Chattanooga-based Garage Door Records and Blue Room Management announce the signing of North Georgia-based country music group Smith & Wesley to label and management contracts. Garage Door Records, which is distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution, will release the group’s debut album, Choices & Chances, in July.

Smith & Wesley will soon announce special release shows to celebrate the new album, and are also set to play the acclaimed Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga on Friday, June 12.

(Photo Credit: Joe Killion)

Based out of the North Georgia/Chattanooga, Tennessee area, the Smith & Wesley sound is driven by two brothers, Scott and Todd Smith. Scott carries the lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar. His brother, Todd, also plays acoustic guitar, as well as harmonica and provides vocal harmony. Part of the band’s sound comes from their kinship, which provides the depth and richness to the vocals of Smith & Wesley.  Both Scott and Todd are also songwriters.  The two brothers have either individually or together written most of the songs on Choices & Chances.

Formerly known as the Brody Johnson Band, the group posted a recent Facebook message to its fans announcing the new band name. “This new chapter will bring about some changes to the band - starting with the name. Some of you know that Scott’s and Todd’s dad, Wes Smith, recently passed on and went to see the man upstairs. In honor of him, the Brody Johnson Band will now be known as Smith & Wesley. There will be some other changes here and there, but the music will remain the same. We have some other exciting things to announce in the coming weeks and months ahead, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who has come out to support the Brody Johnson Band these past few years. Please stick with us as we start the next leg of our musical journey as Smith & Wesley!”

Growing up, the two brothers were required by their parents to take piano lessons if they wanted to play sports in school. Thus, the multiple sport duo began playing piano at an early age. It wasn’t too long before their interest transformed from instruments with keys to those with strings. Scott Smith is a self-taught musician with the guitar, mandolin, banjo, and Dobro, and has a particular interest in bluegrass and classic country music. Scott started the band in 2009, with most of the current members joining in 2010.

Much like his brother, and the other band members, Todd Smith is no stranger to the music scene. He has been actively playing music for years, as well as been a member of another band which tried its hand at scoring a record deal, but fell just short. Before forming Smith & Wesley with his brother, Todd previously landed an artist development deal as a solo artist with a major record label. 

The rest of the musicians in Smith & Wesley all have strong family and personal connections that run much deeper than just playing music. Keyboard player Greg Gordy went to high school with both Scott and Todd. The father-and-son team of Steve and Josh Pettyjohn are on electric guitars, trading lead and rhythm roles; and on bass is Dee Callihan, who is part of the Pettyjohn family by marriage. On drums is long-time friend of the guys in the band, Brad Thompson.  

Collectively, they bring talents and experiences from all ends of the musical spectrum, and those diverse influences are honed into a driving country sound that never fails to have concert goers singing and dancing along with them from the very beginning.

“The upcoming CD, Choices & Chances, was recorded to be heard as a listening experience from start to finish,” says Scott Smith. “The first part of the album is about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions.” Adds his brother Todd: “Whether it be betrayal, bad habits or questionable decision making, most of these types of choices often have less than favorable results. As the journey proceeds, the songs lend themselves to better moods, courtship, love and reflection; thus proving there is a chance of a better tomorrow out there.  However, life would be boring without both Choices & Chances.”

For more information, visit www.garagedoorrecords.com

Indian Hill Music Festival Welcomes Bo & The Bluesdrivers

BO & THE BLUESDRIVERS ARE "SOCAL'S HARDEST-WORKING

BLUES BAND"; THEY'RE NOW ON TOUR THROUGHOUT 2015

Performing at Indian Hill Music Festival - Saturday, May 30

(Also playing Dog House Saloon in Tehachapi on Saturday, May 30)

   (TEHACHAPI, CA) - Bo and the Bluesdrivers  proudly answer to the monicker of being "Southern California's Hardest-Working Blues Band", and with two upcoming shows on the same day in Tehachapi, it's easy to see how they've earned the aforementioned title.

   Bo and the Bluesdrivers perform at the Indian Hill Music Festival, at Indian Hill Ranch, 18061 Arosa St., in Tehachapi, Saturday, May 30 (Budweiser Main Stage, 10 a.m.). Tickets/Info: (661) 340-0026 or www.notoriousent.net.  Later that evening the band play at Dog House Saloon, 777 W. Tehachapi Blvd. Showtime 9 p.m. -1:15 a.m. Free. Info: (661) 822-4200 or https://www.facebook.com/DHSaloon.

  

Bo and the Bluesdrivers are the Cover Story with an interview in All Access Magazine (December 2014): http://allaccessmagazine.com/2014/12/18/introducing-bo-bluesdrivers/

         

                BO AND THE BLUESDRIVERS...SOME BACKGROUND

 

   “I’m out on the streets again/I’ve been sleeping in my car/I got these worn-out shoes/ Just smoked my last cigar,” drawls the St. Augustine, FL, native known simply as Bo, front-man of Bo and the Bluesdrivers, Southern California's Hardest-Working Blues Band, ably supported by a stinging guitar and a sturdy rhythm section held down by longtime musical partners, Bluesdrivers bassist Brian “Chewy” James and drummer, JJ Garcia.

   That’s right, Bo & the Bluesdrivers play it like they’ve lived it, paying those hard-living dues, forming from a chance meeting after joining forces at an open jam hosted a decade ago by Chewy and J.J. Ten years after, they’re still together and tighter than ever.

   “From the streets of New York/To the streets of L.A./It seems all the same/Day to day/I’ve been through the darkness/I’ve walked through the light/The streets are all the same/Night after night.”

   The band have performed on special occasions in the L.A. area over the years at clubs and parties of friends, but more recently have started to develop a strong following that has seen them with consistent bookings all over Southern California (full itinerary below). “The band came together both naturally and organically, with no stress or drama…Just making music that we dig," says drummer JJ Garcia.

    Says Bo: “We’re a band of brothers with mutual respect for each other and our abilities. Always striving to be the best at what we do.”

   A veteran of the Florida club scene, Bo’s travels have seen him sitting in with legendary drummers Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies, Delfonics, Bootsy Collins) and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Artimus Pyle, before moving from Florida to L.A. fourteen years ago. A world-class guitarist, you can hear his affinity for a variety of genres - from jazz, funk and soul to rock & roll, coming through loud and clear on such originals as “Out In The Streets”; audience favorite “Walkin’ In The Park”; and tasty instrumentals like “Sea Song” (and) “Chillin’”, along with well-chosen covers of classics by Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd and ZZ Top, among others.

  Bo’s Bluesdrivers backbeat is provided by the stalwart team of J.J. and Chewy, who have worked together for close to two decades - previously performing in renowned SoCal-based band Stone as well as also currently with the steadily-growing rock group, Judge Jackson. The longtime rhythm section have several national tours under their belts and a resume that includes collaborations with famed horror director John Carpenter, both on-screen and as part of the soundtracks for his films, including Vampires and Ghost of Mars. Judge Jackson has performed and recorded music that has appeared on a variety of TV, movies and sporting events, including Fox Sports and Super Bowl XLV.

  Bo & the Bluesdrivers have just finished recording a new album at Pawnshop Studios, which is slated for release later this year.

               "Out On The Streets" - Bo and the Bluesdrivers 

           

BO AND THE BLUESDRIVERS - UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS/SPECIAL EVENTS

May 8 (Fri.)                WHISKEY DAVE'S                       Big Bear Lake, CA

May 9 (Sat.)               WHISKEY DAVE'S                        Big Bear Lake, CA

May 11 (Mon.)           HOUSE OF BLUES                       West Hollywood, CA

May 16 (Sat.)             LILAC FESTIVAL                         Pine Mtn. Club, CA

May 17 (Sun.)            MADD BAILEY'S PUB                   Pine Mtn. Club, CA

May 18 (Mon.)           HOUSE OF BLUES                       West Hollywood, CA

May 22 (Fri.)              RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY               Winnemucca, NV

May 23 (Sat.)             RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY               Winnemucca, NV

May 24 (Sun.)            RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY               Winnemucca, NV

May 30 (Sat.)             INDIAN HILL MUSIC FEST          Tehachapi, CA

May 30 (Sat.)             DOGHOUSE SALOON                 Tehachapi, CA

June 1 (Mon.)             HOUSE OF BLUES                       West Hollywood, CA

June 4 (Thur.)            BERGIES                                     Santa Clarita, CA

June 18 (Thur.)          BERGIES                                     Santa Clarita, CA

June 22 (Mon.)           HOUSE OF BLUES                       West Hollywood, CA

June 26 (Fri.)              THUNDER ON THE LOT              Lancaster, CA

June 29 (Mon.)           HOUSE OF BLUES                       West Hollywood, CA

July 3 (Fri.)                 WINDY MESA                             Page, AZ

July 4 (Sat.)                WINDY MESA                             Page, AZ

July 31 (Fri.)               WHISKEY DAVE'S                       Big Bear Lake, CA

Aug. 1 (Sat.)               LAKESIDE SPORTS BAR                     Helendale, CA

Aug. 8 (Sat.)               FIESTA DAYS FESTIVAL              Frazier Park, CA

Sept. 5 (Sat.)              BLUES, BREWS & BBQ FEST         Pine Mtn. Club, CA

Sept. 6 (Sat.)              MADD BAILEY'S PUB                   Pine Mtn. Club, CA

Sept. 25 (Fri.)             HARRY'S NIGHTCLUB                 Pismo Beach, CA

Oct. 17 (Sat.)              HELENDALE CHILI COOK-OFF    Helendale, CA

                               

             https://www.facebook.com/BoandtheBluesdrivers

 

Los Angeles Beat - Band Feature

All Access Magazine - Cover Story

Pasadena Weekly - Show Preview

Roy Rogers New Album Coming June 2nd Into The Wild Blue

ROY ROGERS  NEW ALBUM COMING JUNE 2ND INTO THE WILD BLUE

Into the Wild Blue coming June 2, 2015 Slide guitar master, Roy Rogers, again breaks new ground with his latest and highly anticipated solo album, Into the Wild Blue. Widely known for his work with The Delta Rhythm Kings, John Lee Hooker and Ray Manzarek, Grammy Award-winning Rogers blazes his own path with a solid collection of vocal and instrumental jams and ballads that breaks free from the restraints of convention, unfurling the genres of blues, rock and roots to exotic and exciting faraway places. Into the Wild Blue is Rogers' first solo effort in five years and is a distillation of a lifetime of myriad musical knowledge and experience; its multiplicity of styles are clearly steeped in tradition but reflect a broad musical sensibility. Rogers' background as a producer, songwriter, singer and unparalleled slide guitarist is extensive: a gifted guitar player by age 13 and influenced by legendary blues icon Robert Johnson, Rogers spent much of his youth hanging out in the vibrant San Francisco music scene during the 60's, gigging solo and with various bands in and around his native Northern California. In 1982, Rogers toured with John Lee Hooker, recording with him in the 90's as well as with BB King and even Miles Davis - experiences that would profoundly expand and mature his musical acumen - honing his exceptional writing, producing and performance talents. It was during this time when Rogers racked up eight Grammy nominations.  A year in the making, Into the Wild Blue is a showcase for Rogers' considerable slide guitar ability; clean and smooth licks executed with deft precision while ranging in mood from Southern Roadhouse Rock & Blues to ethereal and contemplative instrumentals and ballads. Into the Wild Blue kicks off with hard driving guitar in "Last Go-Round" - a rollicking and highly-danceable piece - that puts Rogers' searing slide-skills front and center. Whether through Rogers' thoughtful, poetic verse, driving rhythms or celestial instrumentals, every song is a chapter in a book you can't put down. In "Got to Believe" Rogers exquisitely arranges strings and slide with stirring female backup vocals - delivering audio alchemy that weaves rock, blues and soul into a bumping, full-bodied and tightly-produced arrangement. Tales of redemption, release and rejoice are delicately arranged in "Song for Robert (A Brother's Lament)". In this moving tribute to his brother, Rogers merges self-reflection, hope and celebration into a sublime, heartfelt instrumental that paints a picture and tells a story - all without saying a word. According to Roy Rogers, "I want to celebrate life through music." Into the Wild Blue achieves that mission and presents an enticing offering that transcends time-tested genres while putting Rogers' vast and ardent abilities on full display. STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST ROY ROGERS NEWS HERE   PRE-ORDER INTO THE WILD BLUE & LISTEN ON iTUNES & AMAZON

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19, 2015 GRAMMY-NOMINATED FUNK COLLECTIVE BLINDDOG SMOKIN’ MAKES HIGH-ENERGY ROOTS MUSIC WITH HUMOR, DEPTH AND SOUL

GRAMMY-NOMINATED FUNK COLLECTIVE BLINDDOG SMOKIN’ MAKES HIGH-ENERGY ROOTS MUSIC WITH HUMOR, DEPTH AND SOUL High Steppin’ features wild-man raconteur Carl Gustafson’s epic tales plus eclectic sounds; reunites band with producer Donny Markowitz; set for July 17 release date on Silver Talon Records exclusively distributed by City Hall Records in tandem with The Orchard

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Blinddog Smokin’s larger-than-life new album High Steppin’ is a kaleidoscopic romp through the wild side of roots music. The disc’s nine songs ricochet from rock ’n’ roll to juke joint blues to New Orleans jazz to raw Americana, all supported by the band’s twin pillars: hot ’n’ greasy funk and frontman Carl Gustafson’s epic storytelling. High Steppin’ follows 2014’s Decisions, a collaboration with soul-blues legend Bobby Rush that earned a Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album. Decisions includes the song “Another Murder in New Orleans,” which enlisted another legend, Dr. John, to tell its tale of street violence. The tune was widely played on Americana and blues radio, and was used by the New Orleans Crimestoppers organization to raise awareness. Blinddog Smokin’s imaginative video for “Another Murder in New Orleans” mixes performance footage, cartoons and live action actors, and has received more than 110,000 views on YouTube. Blinddog Smokin’s 11th release, High Steppin’ kicks off with “Pimp Shoes,” an ebullient, percolating funk gem that displays the group’s spectacular ensemble.  “’Pimp Shoes’ is not about pimps or shoes,” says Gustafson. “It’s about attitude. When a man becomes the captain of his soul, and he’s mastered who he is, it comes out in his posture, in his pose, in his walk. That’s what that song’s about.” On a more literal note, there’s “Big Behind,” an ode to a lady’s posterior largess that straddles funky soul-blues, rock and — with its sweeping pedal steel guitar — honky-tonk country. High Steppin’ is set for a July 17th release date on Silver Talon Records exclusively distributed by City Hall Records in tandem with The Orchard.  “I Caught Her Lyin’” goes deeper into the country tradition to offer Blinddog Smokin’s version of a mountain lament — surrounding Gustafson’s heartbroken yarn with an Americana-perfect framework of crying violin, grinding guitar and his appealing worn-leather voice. “Lady’s Playin’” changes the locale to New Orleans. That song’s a Crescent City funk powerhouse, with bold horns, a scalding six-string solo and chanting group vocals that celebrate la difference. Similarly, “Don’t Put No Money on Me” — a wickedly funny loser’s lament — sounds like a drunken Mardi Gras street parade, while “Tell ’em Shuffle” is a straight-up Chicago blues. Blinddog Smokin’s marvelously eclectic sound and approach is the result of Gustafson’s literal and musical world travels. He and the band have toured the planet numerous times since 1994, putting more than a million road miles on their vehicles — which include Gustafson’s bicycle. “When we get to a new town, I like to take my bike off the bus and ride the backstreets,” he says. “When you travel the alleys, you learn about people. The front yard is for show; the backyard shows the way they live. And when I run into old-timers, I stop and listen to their stories.” Gustafson, who describes himself as an adventurer and philosopher, has plenty of tales of his own. And his book It Ain’t Just the Blues, It’s Showtime: Hard Times, Heartache and Glory Along the Blue Highway chronicles Blinddog Smokin’s experiences on the road.  “I come from a time before television, when telling stories was part of the fabric of life,” he offers. “So I’m a songwriting machine. I’m constantly coming up with new lyrics and our producer and friend, Donny Markowitz, has provided much of the music based on his skills and his knowledge of how we think and play as a band.” That knowledge is deep. Markowitz is the Oscar-, Grammy- and Golden Globe-winning writer of the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” and the composer of soundtracks for the hit Steve Carell film Crazy, Stupid, Love and many others. And High Steppin’ is the third album in a row he’s produced for Blinddog Smokin’. “We didn’t hit our stride in the studio until we started working with Donny,” Gustafson says. The other essential ingredient to Blinddog Smokin’s broad stylistic mastery is the ability of its players. The core members of the group comprise one of the finest modern bands in American roots music. Dynamic drummer and vocalist Chuck Gullens started with the Blinddogs in 1994 in Laramie, Wyoming, shortly after Gustafson and the band, then named Bluestone, returned from traveling the Middle East and Mediterranean, playing for troops on a 49 day DOD tour. Versatile bassist Roland Pritzker joined in 2000, followed by keyboardist and exceptional vocalist, Mo Beeks — whose own, earlier band, Lock & Chain, gave R&B singer Chaka Kahn her start back in 1972. In 2009 came back-up singer and bassist Chris White, and virtuoso guitarist Chalo Ortiz also entered the fold, followed quickly by backing vocalist Linda Gustafson, who plays feminine yin to her husband’s hot-dogging, high stepping yang in concert. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of performers to share the stage with,” says Gustafson. “They can go anywhere at any time, and get along, and that’s a rare thing in any style of music.”  Gustafson’s own musical tale begins in Laramie, his hometown. “My first exposure to blues was hearing Willie Dixon,” he recounts. “My parents went to a little club outside Cheyenne, and my brother and I — we were six and eight years old — stayed in the car. When we heard the music, we were absolutely fascinated by it, so we peeked in the windows. Then I started sneaking around listening to blues whenever I could. I had to sneak, because my father was a classical pianist and said the blues was ‘Satan’s music’ and ‘not culturally acceptable.’ He’d only gone to the club to socialize with relatives.   “When I was 16 I ran away from home,” Gustafson continues. “There was a little after-hours café down by the railroad tracks called the Pic-a-Rib. I went down there and lived with a black boy I played football with, whose mother, Miss Peggy, ran the café. I stayed with them, hiding from my mom and dad, and I learned how to appreciate blues. I learned how to dance. I learned how to sing. It was a really cool, isolated pocket, of black culture in a completely white conservative environment.” Gustafson says that High Steppin’ reflects those early life lessons and the myriad others he’s learned along the way. “This album shows me as a philosopher; as somebody who analyzes life and adjusts from honest vulnerability to establish a fun swagger. There’s a journey here that can only happen to an introspective person who loves life, people, stories, and never believes that you have to stay in the station where you are. And until the day I die, I plan to grow as an artist and storyteller.” BLINDDOG SMOKIN’ TOUR DATES Wed., June 24 PHOENIX, AZ The Rhythm Room Thurs., June 25 NEW ORLEANS, LA Old U.S. Mint Mon., June 29 CHICAGO, IL  Martyr’s Fri., July 3 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK  Bourbon Street Sat., July 4 MCPHERSON, KS Fri., July 10 LARAMIE, WY  Jubilee Days Sat., July 11 LARAMEE, WY Jubilee Days Tues., July 14 OVERLAND PARK, KS Kanza Hall Thurs., July 16 JACKSON, MS  Underground 119 Thurs., July 23  TORONTO, ON  Hard Rock Café Thurs., July 30 RAWLINS, WY  Rawlins in the Park Fri., July 31 LARAMIE, WY  Alibi Sat., Aug. 8  ROCK SPRINGS, WY Blues & Brews Festival  Thurs., Aug. 13 THEMOPOLIS, WY  Fri., Aug. 14 CASPER, WY  The Attic Sat., Aug. 15 SINCLAIR, WY  Platte River Festival Sun., Aug. 16  CENTINNIAL, WY  Bear Tree Sun., Sept. 6  LARAMIE, WY  Snowy Range Music Festival Sat., Nov. 15  HIGH POINT, NC High Point Theatre