Yako Records artist - Chris Yakopcic - The Next Place I Leave - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, The Next Place I Leave, from Chris Yakopcic and it's quite refreshing. Opening with title track, The Next Place I Leave, singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Yakopcic; joined by Brian Hoeflich on drums and Leo Smith on bass set out on a cool acoustic journey with traces of Johnny Cash and David Bromberg. With fluid finger work and solid foot pedal this is a cool opener. Robert Johnson's Preachin' Blues is a modern uptempo remake with solid blues roots and resonator slide work. Sweet Time Blues has a great laid back Piedmont style with Yakopcic milking tone from his guitar. I really like Yakopcic's vocals on this track with just a bit of bite. Smallman Street blends resonator work with electric and a more rock feel. With a vocal style more like Arlo or Dylan, this is a real nice acoustic blues rocker. Robert Johnson's Phonograph Blues again gets a more modern cover but staying tight in the blues genre. With it's light rock beat and primitive guitar styling, this track hits nicely. I really like it! Sounds Of The Highway has a casual blues feel with cool acoustic slide and finger picking. Although I would not compare Yakopcic's voice to Bromberg's, I do think his vocal approach is similar. Very nice track. Mississippi Fred McDowell's Write Me A Few Lines has a driving train feel with adept finger and slide work, solid bass and steady driving drums. Picking up momentum during the track and then restarting, this track is tight! Leonard Cohen's Tower Of Song has a more country rock feeling with traces of bluegrass. Yakopcic's vocal phrasing is quite pleasing and similar to Johnny Cash (no, he doesn't mimic Cash). With only a minimum of percussive guitar and drums/bass, Yakopcic carries the track nicely. Jimmy Reed style, Time To Go is up next and Yakopcic hold quite true to blues roots. This is a solid 12 bar number with nice slide work. Addicted is a modern folk track with a blues bend. I like this track for it's originality. With a recurring guitar vamp and rock beat, and acoustic finger picked soloing, this track have a cool feel. Wrapping the release is my choice of the release, My Last Three Strings. With a wandering Grateful Dead blues kind of feeling and soulful singing, this is a great track to wrap the release.


 

  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”

 

Jordan Officer - Blue Skies - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Blue Skies, from Jordan Officer and it's actually quite amazing. I recall being quite taken by Officer's earlier release, I'm Free and this album, totally different, shows what a complete artist Officer is.

Opening with the title track, Blue Skies, penned by Tom Waits, Officer slips right into a gypsy jazz mode blowing out absolutely incredibly beautiful riffs on his guitar in a very subdued studio like setting, backed by Alain Berge' on drums and Sage Reynolds on bass. Big Three Trio's Got You On My Mind has an easy blues feel. Officers guitar riffs are tight and spectacular. Fats Domino's It's You Love has trace New Orleans rhythms but subdued with light vocals over sparkling guitar riffs. Arthur Alexander's Shot Of Rhythm and Blues has a pure 60's beat feel and Officer really revs up the playful nature of the rhythm. Clever double stops, vocal harmonies and slick runs give this track a unique feel. Big Joe Turner's Chains Of Love maintains it's traditional blues base with simple vocals and articulate guitar riffs. Sensuous and mature. Instrumental, Night Flight has a Tex Mex rhythm featuring Augie Meyers on keys. Office shows fluid runs and lush chords making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Leroy Carr's How Long Blues is somber and savory. Maintaining it's rhythmic guitar strum and jazz chords, this track has some of the cleanest blues phrasing that I have heard in a while. Beautiful! Louis Armstrong's That's For Me, is a quiet ballad with strong jazz style picking. Officer is really quite amazing. Phil Spector's Then She Kissed Me maintains Spector's original timing on the melody but double times the guitar work. With the band picking up the bottom almost making it into a country track, Officer maintains his stellar guitar work with my best comparisons being to a young Les Paul. Literally spectacular! Bob Dylan's When The Deal Goes Down, in 3/4 time maintains a quiet composure but Officers incredible elaboration on the fretboard is impossible to ignore. Wrapping the release is another Tex Mex style instrumental, Takin' Off. With Meyers on organ and Tony Albino on drums, this track has a great beat. Office flashes his teeth a few times but keeps his guitar contained for this quiet closer. This release may not be for everyone, but I recommend that everyone check it out. It is really quite different...and amazing!

   

  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”

 

Shuggie Otis Releases New 7" Single, Announces First Leg Of 2016 European Tour!

Shuggie Otis Releases New 7" Single, Announces First Leg Of 2016 European Tour!

Los Angeles, CA - R&B guitar legend Shuggie Otis is preparing a massive comeback that is sure to make the music world sit up and listen. 2016 will see the release of a brand new solo album from this much revered singer-songwriter-guitarist, his first since the 1974 all-time classic Inspiration/Information. That’s right, fans have waited more than 40 years for a new Shuggie album, and this month they can get a taste of what awaits them by picking up the Ice Cream Party 7”, which will be released on November 27 as part of the Black Friday Record Store Day promotion. This spectacular new jam finds Shuggie exploring his psychedelic side while turning in an explosive, guitar-heavy performance. The 7” will be available in a limited edition gold vinyl pressing.

Shuggie is also pleased to announce the first leg of his European tour, which will kick off in Paris on February 17. Nobody brings as much soul, style, and swagger to a live performance as Shug with his signature red Gibson SG, and fans who have followed this multi-talented performer’s tumultuous career know that a Shuggie Otis concert is not an event to be missed. Whether it be the fabulous grooves of “Inspiration Information” or the funkdafied rhythm of the stone-cold classic “Strawberry Letter 23,” Shuggie’s songs have a magical sway over audiences, both young and old, guaranteed to get them on their feet and dancing in the aisles!

The son of renowned bandleader and musician Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis began his incredible career at the tender age of 15, playing as a session guitarist alongside Al Kooper before releasing his first solo album Here Comes Shuggie Otis in 1970. Already being hailed as a uniquely skillful guitarist, Shuggie proved his mettle as a songwriter the following year with the hit single “Strawberry Letter 23” from his second solo album. Now one of the most sampled songs in all of modern music, “Strawberry Letter 23” became an even bigger smash when The Brothers Johnson recorded their version in 1977 (produced by Quincy Jones). After the release of his third album Inspiration Information failed to meet outsized expectations, Shuggie seemed to retire permanently from music. But, thankfully, he reemerged in 2013 with a deluxe reissue of Inspiration Information as well as a live CD & DVD Live In Williamsburg. Now, Shuggie is about to embark on the comeback of a lifetime, and his adoring fans stand ready to re-embrace him!

Feb 17 Paris - New Morning

Feb 18 Dublin - Sugar Club

Feb 19 Manchester UK - Academy Club

Feb 20 Edinburgh - Liquid Room

Feb 21 London UK - Koko

Feb 25 Birmingham UK - O2 Institute

Feb 26 Brighton UK - Coalition

Feb 27 Bristol UK - Marble Factory

THE PINES premiere a new song from "Above the Prairie" out February 5

The Pines meld soundscapes with landscapes on "Above the Prairie"  Listen to the first single, "Aerial Ocean" at The Current Headlining tour kicks of January 29 (Release date February 5, 2016; Red House Records) On their forthcoming album, Above the Prairie (Feb 5, Red House Records), The Pines sound like an Eno of the Great Plains.  Exploring the vast expanses around and above them, they find beauty in isolated towns and farms that dot the landscape, and the array of stars that dot the night sky. Rolling Stone’s David Fricke has called The Pines “quietly gripping” and though most of the ten new, original songs on Above the Prairie were captured in just a couple takes, the album represents the band’s most ambitious work to date. Songwriters David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, and keyboardist/songwriter (and Benson’s brother) Alex Ramsey, meld a lush, layered sound with vivid, imagistic lyrics and a filmmaker's keen eye for detail and framing, blending celestial, ethereal atmospherics with rich, warm vocals and earthy acoustic instruments. Above the Pines is also a celebration of the community and history that gave birth to it.  On “Here,” the band is joined by Iowa friends and family, including Greg Brown, Iris DeMent, Pieta Brown, and Ramsey patriarch Bo Ramsey, who co-produced the LP with The Pines.  The album closes with ‘Time Dreams,’ a collaboration with American Indian activist and poet John Trudell. The Pines have shared the stage with everyone from Arcade Fire and Bon Iver to Mavis Staples and The Holmes Brothers. Their 2012 LP Dark So Gold was named #3 best album of the decade by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Vintage Guitar called it “a soundtrack of American Gothic intensity…a stunner of an album.” The Pines kick off a headlining tour on January 29, see below for a full list of dates. Listen to "Aerial Ocean" Above The Prairie tracklist: Aerial Ocean There in Spirit Lost Nation Hanging From the Earth Here Where Something Wild Still Grows Sleepy Hollow Villisca Come What Is Time Dreams feat. John Trudell & Quiltman The Pines 2016 North American tour dates: 11/21/15 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon 11/22/15 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern 11/28/15 – Cedar Rapids, IA – CSPS 12/4/15 – Burlington, IA – The Washington 12/5/15 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s 12/11/15 – Mineral Point, WI – Mineral Point Opera House 1/9/16 – Northfield, MN – Northfield Arts Guild Theater 1/16/16 – Lake City, MN – Oak Center General Store 1/29/16 – Rockford, IL – Severson Dells Nature Center 1/30/16 – Goshen, IN – Ignition Garage 1/31/16 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café 2/2/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café 2/3/16 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall: Stage 2 2/5/16 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Upstairs 2/6/16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java 2/7/16 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle – Back Room 2/9/16 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic 2/10/16 – Nashville, TN – The High Watt 2/11/16 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway Nightclub 2/13/16 – Milwaukee, WI – Club Garibaldi 2/20/16 – Sioux City, IA – Vangarde Arts 2/21/16 – Omaha, NE – Reverb 2/23/16 – Houston. TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck 2/24/16 – Austin, TX – Cactus Café 2/25/16 – Dallas, TX – Three Links 2/26/16 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Blue Door 2/27/16 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Websites: http://shorefire.com/client/the-pines http://thepinesmusic.com/   Get Social!

Legendary Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan Set to Perform with University of Texas 385-Piece Longhorn Band on Thanksgiving Day Halftime Festivities

Legendary Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan Set to Perform with University of Texas 385-Piece Longhorn Band on Thanksgiving Day Halftime Festivities

Unprecedented Appearance Wraps Up a Top-Shelf Year for Grammy-Winning Austin Bluesman

Austin TX – The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Band Director, Scott Hanna, announced today that Grammy-winning blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan will perform with the Longhorn Band during halftime at the Texas vs. Texas Tech football game at Darrell K Royal  - Texas Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.

“We are excited beyond words about this opportunity to perform with Jimmie Vaughan and to show that Austin is the ‘Live Music Capital of the World.’  For our students, this is an incredible opportunity to connect with their Texas musical heritage through a living legend,” exclaimed Hanna.

The performance marks the first time a popular musician has played with the band during a halftime performance.

The Longhorn Band will perform a medley of Vaughan’s hits before Jimmie and his Fender Stratocaster guitar join them on the field to “sit-in with the band.” 

“I’ve been asked to perform with a lot of great bands in my life, but this is definitely the biggest, and probably one of the most exciting,” said Vaughan. “It doesn’t get any more Texas than this.”

Tickets for the UT/Texas Tech game may be purchased at TexasSports.com.

The recognition of one of Austin’s hometown musical heroes caps off an extraordinary year for Vaughan, who was honored by both the Texas House and Senate when he was named the Texas State Musician for 2015.

In addition, Vaughan accepted the honor of induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame on behalf of his late brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. During the musical portion of the induction ceremony, Vaughan lead a blistering guitar-slinger’s set and was joined onstage by John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II, Gary Clark, Jr. and Stevie’s Double Trouble bandmates.

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS GO ON SALE DECEMBER 1

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS GO ON SALE ON 1 DECEMBER

Tickets for next year’s Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the most prestigious folk festivals in the world, will go on sale on Tuesday 1 December at 10am. This year, as part of its aim to develop young audiences, Cambridge Live has introduced new reduced ticket prices for 16-17 and 18-21 year olds, and retained the 2015 price for 5-15 year olds. The Cambridge Folk Festival, which has been running since 1965, is renowned for its eclectic mix of folk styles. It provides an opportunity for festival-goers to enjoy world famous folk acts alongside the finest country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer-songwriters, world music and the best traditional artists from the UK and Ireland. Held in the beautiful parkland setting of Cherry Hinton Hall, the Festival is known for its relaxed atmosphere, excellent facilities and family friendliness. It offers something for everyone including covered and open stages, street theatre, music workshops, real ale bars, a youth area, internet café, kids’ ceilidh, storytelling, a free crèche, paddling pool and playground. The Festival line-up is due to be announced by Cambridge Live in spring 2016. Sara Garnham, Chair of Cambridge Live, said: “With a commitment to developing new young talent an important part of the Cambridge Folk Festival, it only seems right that we also encourage more young people to be the new generation of festival goers.  So I am delighted we have introduced new tickets aimed at 16-21 year olds alongside our wide ranging options for attending the four day event.”

Tickets: Full Festival: Adult £159; Adult (18-21) £122; Teen (16-17) £95.50; Child (5-15) £44.50; Infant (0-4) free. Day tickets: Thursday £26.50; Friday £57.50; Saturday £67.50; Sunday £67.50. Camping: (Full Festival tickets only, per 2-3 berth tent) Cherry Hinton £63.50; Coldham’s Common (second site) £43.50. All ticket prices include booking fees. Other concession prices (e.g. city resident, PIP, registered carer) are available. For full pricing information, please see www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk ENDS Notes for editors 1.       About the Cambridge Folk Festival Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 July 2016 The four-day outdoor Festival is considered one of the “most prestigious” in the world, according to The Times. Since 1965 it has presented many globally established artists, including Paul Simon, KT Tunstall, The Waterboys, Mumford & Sons, Joan Armatrading, Buddy Guy, Jools Holland, Noah & The Whale, Emmylou Harris, Joe Strummer, Jake Bugg, Joan Baez, k.d. lang, Ray Davies, Jimmy Cliff, The Proclaimers, Christy Moore, Levellers, Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Billy Connolly, James Taylor and The Pogues amongst many others.