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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tug of War, from Gina Sicilia, and it's soulful. Opening with I Don't Want To Be In Love, with solid pop foundation, is backed by Dave Darling and Zack Zunis on guitars, Dave Darling on bass and backing vocals, Matt Tecu on drums, Arlan Oscar on organ and piano. Showing that Memphis soul sound on He Called Me Baby, Sicilia belts out my personal favorite on the release with Ron Jennings on guitars, Ken Pendergast on bass, Scott Key on drums and Joel Bryant on B3. On contemporary radio track, Never Gonna End, Jennings, Pendergast and key are back but with Walter Runge on piano. Bluesy ballad, They Never Pay Me, features some of Sicilia's vocal work carried by the soothing B3 work of Runge and nice bass lines of Pendergast and with a curiously nice guitar solo by Jennings. 60's pop track, Tell Him, made popular by The Exciters, is a cover, fairly close to the original but with a fresh spin. Lennon /McCartney track, All My Lovin' is caressed by warm tremelo by Darling on guitar, fairly isolated with Sicilia's vocals. Nice cut. Wrapping the release is Heaven, an easy floating pop track with country style guitar riffs by Jennings and the tight drum work of Key. A cohesive set of tracks with good spirit.
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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Home Town Blues, from Hot Roux, and its cool in a different kind of way. Opening with Louisiana flavored, Don't Wanna Talk About Love, Jerry McWorter on lead vocal and drums leads the way joined by Brent Harding on bass, Franck Goldwasser on guitarRJ Mischo on harp and some hot sax playing from Bill Flores (bari) and Jimmy Calire (tenor). Old style country track, Woman You Haunt Me, is a really cool track with nicely blended vocals, a tasty guitar solo fromKyle Jester and nice piano work from Carl Sonny Leyland. Swamp rocker, Misery Misery has a classic Louisiana flavor and with paired vocals and a tight guitar solo from Kyle Jester, this track should be an instant hit. Rent Party Boogie has a super bass line compliments Steve Nelson and crisp rock n roll guitar riffs compliments Johnny Main. Processed vocals by McWortner work nicely on this track and Calire's sax work is tops. With it's Latin New Orleans flavor and harp work by Mischo, this track is a funky rocker with super crowd appeal. Wrapping the release is Wake Up Slim, a funky country flavored track with a catchy melody. Ed Berghoff's nicely finger picked guitar work really adds a nice bite to this enjoyable closer.
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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bone Rattler, from the Bridget Kelly Band and it is a rocking blues party. Opening disc one with Ain't Missin' You, Kelly on lead vocal and Tim Fik on guitar gets this release rocking with Mark Armbrecht on bass and Alex Klausner on drums. What You Need is a blues rocker with attitude and influences of Johnny Winter are obvious in Fik's playing. Nice slow cooker, No Good For Me has the skeleton of T-Bone Walker with rich vocals by Kelly and real nice guitar soloing by Fik. Very nice. Leavin' On Sunday has a cool, funky rhythm and guitar with phazer giving it a Trower flavor. Bluesy ballad, Deeper Than Blue gives Fik lots of space to wail and he makes good use of it with a creative blues intro. Introspective vocals by Kelly make this one of the standout tracks.
Disc two opens with The Dark Night and features Fik on vocal. With a dark overtone and abundant use of vibrato, Fik's guitar really carries this track. Standard blues formatting is the key to Mr. Gaines, with RB Stone on harp and Fik on slide guitar and vocal. Borrowing a few from Jimi, In My Sorrow has a cool 70's vibe. Hambone hits a real nice groove with a bouncy bottom and clean guitar soloing under Fik's vocals throughout. Very cool. Driving rocker, Bad Tornado delivers and Fik is again showing Winter influences. Very nice. Swinging jazzy tune, Cat's Out Of The Bag is a lot of fun with Fik stepping out on his riffs and bright vocal from Kelly. Cool track. Wrapping the release is Your Limo-zeen, a heavy bottomed boogie. Definite nods to ZZ Top and snarling guitar leads makes this a cool closer for an enjoyable 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Story Of My Life, by Guitar Slim Jr. and it's really cool. GS Jr. (Rodney Armstrong) is the natural son of Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones). Opening with a classic Guitar Slim track, Trouble Don't Last, Jr. is front and center on guitar and vocals with Shannon Powell on drums, Rene Coma on bass, Milton Batiste on trumpet and Ernest Watson on sax. Title track, The Story of My Life, has a slower tempo and Jr. shows vocal skill along with pointed guitar riffs. Very nice. On Bad Luck Blues, Jr. maintains a lot of Sr.'s sty;e but he has his own flair with stinging riffs. On classic R&B track, Can I Change My Mind, Jr. shows a much smoother vocal style and his guitar playing is jazzy and fluid with Kerry Brown on drums, Charles Moore on bass and Keith Fazarde on keys. Hot! Reap What You Sow is my favorite track on the release with strong Sr. attributes and powerful vocal and guitar work by Jr. A lot more relaxed in delivery, I Done Got Over It includes backing horn work and hand claps with nice piano work by Jon Cleary. Wrapping the release is Sufferin' Mind with an early R&B flavor. With AJ Loria piano balancing Jr.s fluid guitar runs, and warm vocals and the backing vocals of Sylvia and Oneida Joseph, this is a solid closer for a fine 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tattoo Burn Redux, from Micki Free and it's pretty smooth. Opening with God Is On The Phone, vocalalist and guitar player Micki Free sets a cool tempo with a nice R&B baseline but with hot Santana like fiery guitar riffs. Joining Free on lead vocal is Howard Hewett, Cindy Blackman-Santana on drums, Bill Wyman on bass, and Mark Leach on B3. Title track, Tattoo Burn has a solid thumping single note bass line with Billy Gibbons style vocals and crisp blues guitar riffs. On blues ballad, Six Feet Down In The Blues, Free's soulful vocals and crisp riffs are nicely balanced by the Hammond flow of Leach. Mojo Black Coffee has great appeal with a pounding George Thorogood rhythm and featuring Randy Singer on harp. On Jimi's Hey Baby, Free does a real nice redo of the classic with a fuller guitar arrangement, pinched harmonics and fluid runs making it certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Sometimes in Winter, a straight bluesy radio track with solid backing vocals, nice B3 and Rhodes work by Leach. A real nice closer for a solid 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 16, 2017), Double Strike, from Andy T. Band and it has a cool swing. Opening with I Want You Bad, Alabama Mike leads the way on vocal with Andy T on guitar, a featured solo by Anson Funderburgh and rocked nicely by Kaz Kazanov on tenor sax, John Mills on bari sax and Al Gomez on trumpet with Larry van Loon on keys, Johnny Bradley on bass and Jim Klinger on drums. On R&B track, Somebody Like You, Mike really sets down some of his best vocals on the release with cool key work by van Loon. Deep Inside has a real nice blues lope featuring Nick Nixon on lead vocal coaxed along by Greg Izor harp. On Chuck Willis' I Feel So Bad, Nixon and Andy set a cool blues rocker pace. With stinging guitar riffs and a solid bass line, this track has a great feel. Another Chuck Willis track, Juanita, is sopping with classic R&B style making it one of my favorites on the release. Funderburgh's Mudslide is up next with thick lower octave melody and bright lead guitar work by Andy and a super solo by van Loon. Another smoking hot track is Doin' Hard Time with Andy and Funderburgh trading soulful riffs. Very nice! Funderburgh blisters the guitar on his solo on I Was Gonna Leave You, a somewhat funky blues track featuring Nixon on lead vocal. On Latin flavored Drunk Or Sober, Kaz and Andy each lay out noteworthy solos making this another of the best of the release. Wrapping the release is Where Did Out Love Go Wrong, another solid R&B track featuring Mike on lead vocal. Andy kicks it up a few notches with a crisp guitar solo and a smooth sax solo adds a deep earthy balance to this rich closer.
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”
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Tucci Band Sets
July 14 Release Date for New Album of Blues/Rock, Olivia, on Hideaway
Music, with Special Guest Larry McCray
CD Also
Includes Final Recording Appearance from Guitar Great Dan Toler
SARASOTA, FL – Blues/rock group Tucci announces a July 14
national release date for their new CD, Olivia, on Hideaway
Records. Tucci band members are Steve “Doc” Tucci – guitars and vocals; Michael
Tucci – drums; Shawn Murphy – sax and vocals; and Harry DeBusk – bass and
vocals. Blues great Larry McCray lends his guitar and vocal talents throughout
the album, and Olivia also includes perhaps the last recorded
appearance from former Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band and Great
Southern guitarist Dan Toler, who died shortly after his track was recorded.
The Tucci band will celebrate the release of the new Olivia CD
with a special performance at Bert's
Black Widow Harley Davidson, 2224 El Jobean Road, in Port Charlotte, Florida,
at Noon on Sunday, July 16.
The Tucci band continues on the path set by its previous
incarnation, The Toler-Tucci Band, which featured Dan Toler and recorded the
acclaimed CD, Doc’s Hideaway, in 2012. Dan Toler was a longtime
friend and mentor to the band, and his spirit informs the music on the new
disc. Toler passed away in early 2013 after a long battle with ALS.
Steve Tucci reflected on the impact that Dan Toler had on
the band and its music. “Several years ago over a sushi lunch, Dan Toler asked
if I had any interest in forming a band with him that would be strongly based
on friendship. He believed that good friends would be positive influences on
each other and hence, quality and creative music would result. We subsequently
formed The Toler Tucci Band and recorded what was to be Dan’s last CD. All the
music was original and greatly influenced by Dan. He was a true master of his
craft. His witting criticism of our lesser performances were taken as
constructive not, destructive. It certainly allowed us all to grow as
musicians, but, more importantly we grew into a tight-knit family. Dan was able
to play every instrument in our band and would at times play the part he
thought best on each instrument. He was like a symphony composer and knew in
his mind what notes were important to produce the desired sound. We would call
some of his abstract, but highly musical ideas, ‘Toler Notes.’ He created a
unique, very identifiable emotion in each and every composition. Dan was a
close friend, mentor and brother to each of us in Tucci. His spirit and
influence lives on in our current playing and every once in a while we can hear
the ‘Toler Magic.’ One of the hardest tasks I had to do was deliver Dan’s
eulogy and maintain my composure. He is dearly missed but, has left us memories
and a foundation we can build on for the rest of our lives.”
The all-original 11 songs on Olivia showcase
the band’s high energy blues/Southern rock sound, with flourishes of funk,
R&B and jazz. Special guest Larry McCray stamps his strong guitar work and
vocals on eight songs; and Dan Toler’s distinctive guitar stands out on the
track, “Play by the Rules.” Additional friends appearing on the new CD include
Donnie Richards (Hammond B-3 organ), Ira Stanley (slide guitar) Dan Ryan
(keyboards), Al Owen (vocals) and Bob Dielman (guitar).
Steve Tucci talked about how Larry McCray became involved in
the recording of the new CD. “After Dan’s passing, the band was in a vast void.
Our friend and great bluesman Larry McCray offered to come down to Florida and
collaborate with us on the Olivia CD. Larry’s influence, vocals
and guitar playing was the prescription the band needed to heal and get on with
our mission to create and perform good music. He truly was able to help
fill the void and create the CD. Larry fit perfectly into the goal of Tucci
being a band of friends and brothers seeking a good time through good music. I
am most grateful to Larry for his assistance on this project. Larry has an open
invitation to play with Tucci in any show.”
Produced by Steve Tucci and Bud Snyder, Olivia was
recorded and at mixed at the Spirit Ranch Recording Studio in Sarasota. Steve
“Doc” Tucci is the band’s main composer. His work on guitar and vocals is
widely respected and merges rock and soul, vintage and modern, yin and yang;
Shawn Murphy is the sax player and also possesses a soulful voice; Harry DeBusk
and Mike Tucci, bass and percussion respectively, hold everything together with
their funky, sometimes syncopated, but always musical groove.
The Sarasota-based Tucci band has been a mainstay of the
Florida festival and club circuit over the years, developing a solid fan base.
The Tucci and Toler-Tucci CDs can be downloaded or purchased at various stores
or on-line through Amazon.com and iTunes.
Steve Tucci summed up the band’s direction thusly, “I
believe a quote from Dan Toler is appropriate: ‘It is the duty of the dedicated
musician to educate the listeners as to what high quality music is. This task
should not be the role of the music business industry, which is more
financially oriented as opposed to creatively oriented’.”
Sherman Holmes of The Holmes Brothers 1st Solo Record The Richmond Sessions Mailing This Week Street Date Is July 21 Special Guests Include Joan
Osborne, Rob Ickes & Sammy Shelor World Cafe,
Mountain Stage, Music City Roots & Songs Of The Mountain Booked
Northport N.Y. - On July 21, Sherman Holmes will release his
first solo recording in his 50+ year career. The Richmond Sessions by The Sherman
Holmes Project carries on the spirit of the Holmes Brothers by re-imagining
songs and making them their own. The record will be released by M.C.
Records and maintains a bluesgrass/gospel vibe throughout that surprises
and delights. We'll be mailing CDs this week to media. Scroll down for
Sherman's tour dates. Sherman
Holmes’ solo debut The Richmond Sessions can’t help being
a milestone: It’s the esteemed singer and bassist’s first recording since
the passing of his brother and musical partners, Wendell Holmes and Popsy
Dixon, both in 2015. But his solo debut, dedicated to the memories of
Wendell and Popsy, is no somber affair. The blend of bluegrass, gritty rock
& roll and joyful gospel will be familiar from Holmes Brothers days.
And with some of his strongest vocals on record, the album shows Sherman is
still an artist in his prime. Long time friend, Joan Osborne, duets with Holmes on the Dan Penn
classic, “Dark End of the Street.” Other songs include The Band's
"Don't Do It," Credence's "Green River" and Ben
Harper's "Homeless Child."
Click The Photo to Watch A 5 Minute Video
Bio Of The Richmond Sessions Photo: Pat
Jarrett/Virginia Humanities
Sherman
Holmes' voice contains a lifetime of soul. We are so lucky we still
have him with us! - Joan Osborne
“Sounds pretty good for a 77-year-old, doesn’t it?” Holmes laughs. “I was
overjoyed to do this, because I didn’t know how I was going to restart my
career. We chose a good collection of songs that we wanted to do—We got
some gospel in there, and some bluegrass. It’s a good mix of the Americana
music, as I like to call it.”
Click The Cover to Listen To The Richmond Sessions
Photo: Pat Jarrett/Virginia
Humanities
Produced
by Jon Lohman, Virginia State Folklorist and Director of the Virginia
Folklife Program at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, The Richmond
Sessionsdraws from
Holmes’ longstanding Virginia roots. Lohman made the new album a
Virginia-style family affair, bringing in guests like the
Ingramettes—Richmond’s “first family of gospel” of 50 years standing—and
instrumentalists like dobro master Rob Ickes, twice nominated for Grammy
Awards; and Sammy Shelor, multi-time IBMA banjoist of the year. Another
notable guest is long time friend of the Holmes Brothers, Joan Osborne, who
duets with Holmes on the Dan Penn classic, “Dark End of the Street.” Look
for Sherman to hit the road for his first tour as a solo artist. “I’m
really looking forward to getting out there,” he says. “That’s my life,
man.”
Sherman Holmes Project Tour
Dates
June 21 - Tapping
World Cafe Session
June 23 - River and Roots Festival, Berryville Virginia
July 13 - Summer
Arts Festival, Huntington NY
July 16 - Mountain
Stage Taping, Charleston WV
August 2 - Music
City Roots Taping, Nashville TN
Sept. 1 - Joe
Wilson Memorial Festival, Galax, Virginia
Sept. 2 - Song of
The Mountains Taping, Marion VA
October 14 -
Richmond Folk Festival, Richmond VA
***
June 23 - River and
Roots Festival, Berryville Virginia
July 13 - Summer Arts
Festival, Huntington NY
July 16 - Mountain
Stage Taping, Charleston WV
August 2 -
Music City Roots Taping, Nashville TN
Sept. 1 - Joe Wilson
Memorial Festival, Galax, Virginia
Sept. 2 - Song of The
Mountains Taping, Marion VA
October 14 - Richmond
Folk Festival, Richmond VA
June 23 - River and
Roots Festival, Berryville Virginia
July 13 - Summer Arts
Festival, Huntington NY
July 16 - Mountain
Stage Taping, Charleston WV
August 2 -
Music City Roots Taping, Nashville TN
Sept. 1 - Joe Wilson
Memorial Festival, Galax, Virginia
Sept. 2 - Song of The
Mountains Taping, Marion VA
October 14 - Richmond
Folk Festival, Richmond VA
June 23 - River and
Roots Festival, Berryville Virginia
July 13 - Summer Arts
Festival, Huntington NY
July 16 - Mountain
Stage Taping, Charleston WV
August 2 -
Music City Roots Taping, Nashville TN
Sept. 1 - Joe Wilson
Memorial Festival, Galax, Virginia
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Took You Long Enough, from Brad Stivers and it's terrific! Just barely in his mid twenties, Austin's Brad Stivers has really hit it deep on this one. Opening with rock n roller, 2000 miles, Brad Stivers steps up to the mic with his telecaster and just lets it fly. His vocals are clear and his playing clean. On Latin flavored, You're Just About To Lose Your Clown, Mark Wilson really rips on sax and the tight drum work of Nico Loophonte, coupled with Bobby Perkins on bass sets a hot plate for sizzling hot guitar riffs by Stivers. Put It Down is a super boogie with key changes and twangy guitar riffs. Smokin! Lightly funked title track, Took You Long Enough, makes it hard to stay in your seat. Funky rhythm guitar with tight drums, and Odie Hill on bass keeps this party rolling with crisp understated low octave guitar soloing. Emily Gimble is featured on country track, Here We Go Again, with Eric Fraygocki on bass, Gimble on piano and Bukka Allen on B3. Malford Milligan takes front and center on popular blues track, Nickel and a Nail. Dripping soul this track really hits a nice groove with Bobby Perkins on bass and Allen's organ work is spot on with mature soloing by Stivers. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release, a Bartholomew/King composition is instrumental One Night With You showing the style and composure of Sean Costello or Danny Gatton. Very nice! On Can't Wait, Stivers develops that classic Texas style guitar lope with just the right syncopation and feel. Another excellent soulful track is Save Me, with Stivers literally wailing out the blues. With controlled lower octave guitar, fan picking and tremolo this track is dramatic and solid. Wrapping the release is James Brown's classic, Cold Sweat. Now I gotta tell you I have a soft spot for James Brown but Cold Sweat is near the top. Stivers does it instrumental all the way ... excellent guitar melody with Perkens and Loophonte fanning the flames for this fiery hot close to a super 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Kansas City from Nick Schnebelen and it's electrifying! Opening with Fool, a super blues rocker, founding member of Trampled Under Foot, Nick Schnebelen affirms that he is a first rate vocalist and his riffs are fresh and crisp. Joined by Cliff Moore on bass and Adam Hagerman on drums, this band conjures visions of Edgar Winter's White Trash with it's raw, gritty temperament. Excellent opener. On Muddy Waters' Herbert Harper's Free Press News, Schnebelen cranks it up a few notches but maintains that New Orleans kind of funk with strong drive by Moore on bass. His guitar work is loose and free flowing with excellent phrasing and Hagerman lays out a cool drum solo as well. Very nice. You Call That Love has a really nice thumping bass line, solid vocals and extended guitar lead. What else could you ask from a contemporary blues track...really! Smoking slide work by Schnebelen and a Bo Diddley beat by Hagerman on Bad Woman Blues gives it great teeth. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Johnny Winter's Mean Town Blues. This is a great track and Schnebelen really works the Winter slide style with the fluidity of a world class player. On boogie track, Jonny Cheat, the band really gets a JLH/ZZT groove. Schnebelen rides high with power riffs giving the crowd at Knuckleheads Saloon a real show. Wrapping the release is Conformity Blues, a really nice jazz instrumental bringing to mind Duane Allman's jams with the early Allmans. This track has a rock bottom bass/drum line and Schnebelen really takes the guitar to the wood shed giving it an exceptional workout. This is a terrific closer to a realty strong live 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Twangadelic Bluesophunk from Gary Cain Band and it's a cool mix or country finger pickin', blues and rock. Opening with Live Wire, Tom Nagy on bass really drives this track with his tight bass riffs and Donnie McDougall hangs tight on drums and Gary Cain mixes finger picking and speed metal riffs for a cool sound. On heavy bottomed, Pipes and Spoons, Cain moves more into a dark blues' sound with a crunchy guitar sound and the swagger of ZZ Top. Very cool. With it's unusual guitar riff and it's solid rhythm, No Foolin' is one of the coolest tracks on the release. Funky, Write You A Letter is a solid rocker with traces of Led Zep. Twang Strut is a real nice instrumental showcase for Cain's finger picking' work. Another ZZ Top oriented track, Got Me Where You Want Me has a stripped down feel with a hard driving beat and crunchy guitar riffs. Girl's Too Rich is a bit jazzier with a Light Latin touch and a guitar style that has come to be associated with SRV. Very cool. Wrapping the release is instrumental, Faith Healer with really nice lead melody played on guitar. Cain pulls emotional riff after riff from his guitar creating a Gary Moore like soaring dynamic. Excellent closer for a real cool 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”
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Signs To Be
Released On September 8th In North America
Available For
Pre-Order Beginning Today
2017 World Tour
Dates On Sale Now
First Track
“Make It Move” Now Available On All Streaming Services
Los
Angeles, CA --- Jonny Lang’s brand new studio album, Signs, will
be released in North America on September 8th via Concord Records. The
album (his sixth major label release) is his first in four years. The album is
now available to pre-order beginning today: http://amazon.com/dp/B071FPWNS6
The
European release for Signs will be on August 25 via Provogue Records /
Mascot Label Group.
Fans
can now get an inside look at the making of Signs here:
Anyone
who originally discovered Jonny Lang through his searing instrumental work will
revel in the huge guitar tones and go for broke solos on Signs, while
those who have appreciated his growth as an honest and passionate songwriter
will find that honesty and passion unabated. Though he long ago left blues
purism behind, Lang has never abandoned its spirit of universal catharsis
through the relating of personal trials. Signs reaffirms his commitment
to the blues and the guitar without sacrificing the modern approach that has
made him such a singular artist.
It
is hard to believe that at only 36 years old Jonny Lang has already had a successful
career for two decades. Easier to believe when you learn he released his first
platinum record at 15—an age when many young people are just beginning to play
music. Lie to Me revealed a talent that transcended the crop of blues
prodigies floating around in the late Nineties. No flashy re-hasher of classic
blues licks, even at that early age Lang was a full-blown artist with a style
of his own. Also, setting Lang apart from the wunderkind crowd was a
15-year-old voice that sounded like a weathered soul shouter. Actual life
experience was yet to come, and has been subsequently chronicled in a series of
five uniformly excellent recordings.
What
began as a bluesy sound, influenced by electric pioneers like Albert Collins,
B. B. King, and Buddy Guy, evolved over those recordings into a modern R&B
style closer to Stevie Wonder and contemporary gospel music. Lang’s
distinctive, blues-inflected licks appeared on every album, but became one
element in a sea of passionately sung and tightly arranged songs.
Signs is not merely a
return the artist’s guitar-based beginnings, but an embodiment of an even more
elemental sound. Beyond focusing attention on his soloing prowess, it is about
recapturing the spirit of the early blues, where the guitar was front and
center, fairly leaping out of the speakers. “A lot of my earlier influences
have been coming to the surface, like Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf,” he
reports. “I have been appreciating how raw and unrefined that stuff is. I had
an itch to emulate some of that and I think it shows in the songs. Still, I let
the writing be what it was and that was sometimes not necessarily the blues.”
The
record, which features funk, rock, and blues elements, is held together by
Lang’s distinctive playing and singing, and the lyrics, which center on themes
of embattlement and self-empowerment. “Some of the songs are autobiographical,
but not usually in a literal way,” Lang explains. “The main goal is for folks
to be able to relate to what I went through. If I can’t make it work using just
my personal experience, I use my imagination to fill in blanks.”
Signs
was
produced by Lang, Drew Ramsey, and Shannon Sanders. Josh Kelly helmed “Bring Me
Back Home.” Lang offers, “Josh and I cut six or seven songs together and had a
blast doing it. I am saving the other ones for who knows what, but I
definitely wanted that one to be on this record.”
Since
the release of his debut album, Grammy Award winning Jonny Lang has built a
reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his
generation. The path Lang has been on has brought him the opportunity to
support or perform with some of the most respected legends in music. He
has shared the stage with everyone from The Rolling Stones and B.B. King to
Aerosmith and Buddy Guy, who he continues to tour with today.
JONNY
LANG - SIGNS WORLD TOUR
6/10
Birmingham,
AL
Alys Stephens Performing Arts
6/11
Nashville,
TN
Schermerhorn
Symphony Center
6/16
Riverside, IA
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
6/17
Aurora,
IL
Blues on the Fox
Fest
6/18
Moorehead,
MN
Bluestem for
the Arts Amphitheatre
