Stacy Jones - Love Is Everywhere - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Is Everywhere, from Stacy Jones and it's a cool mix of blues, folk, country and pop. Opening with Mojo Potion #61 & 49, a cool rocker with just a touch of country western, Stacy Jones on lead vocal, harmonica and guitar leads the way backed by Jeff Menteer on guitar, Rick Bowen on drums and Tom Jones on bass. Seaan Denton steps up on second lead guitar and Angelo Ortiz adds cool rhythm on washboard for a tight opener. Wait For Heaven has a definite southern rock/Toy and Tommy Caldwell feel. One of my favorite tracks, Can't Find Love, is a strong alt rock track sounding like a mix of Frank Black and the Catholics and Fiona Apple. A great melody with a cool beat and guitar/strong vocal combination. A real nice instrumental, Stomp Jump Boogie features the infamous Lee Oskar joining on harmonica. Super twin harps and a great walking bass line makes for a terrific track. One of the strongest melodies on the release is Can't You Be Mine with hints of Paul McCartney. With a bluesier feel and soulful guitar soloing, another cool number.  With Fiona Apple like style and Curtis Mayfield undertones, title track, Love Is Everywhere, shows yet another side of Jones. On jump track, One Stop Light, Mike Marinig really blows out the sax and sets the road to a cool guitar solo by Jones. Wrapping the release is, I'll Be On My Way, a rambling blues track along the lines of Are You Ready For The Country. With snappy drums by Bowen, cool resonator and harp work by Jones and a solid bass line by Tom Jones, this is a solid 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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Devestunes & LI'L. T. artist: The Halley DeVestern Band - Keep On Playin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Playin', from The Halley DeVestern Band and it has a cool sound. Opening with title track, Keep On Playin', Halley DeVestern on lead vocal is joined by David Patterson with creamy guitar tones, Rich Kulsar on drums, Heinig on bass and Steve Jabas on guitars, keys and backing vocals.  A lumbering blues rocker, this track has strong bones and R&B style backing vocals. Time For You To Light Things is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a cool guitar riff at it's core. Patterson is featured nicely and really add great texture. Bangin' has an easy tempo with Latin undertones. Probably the best showcase for DeVestern's vocals, and with a solid melody, this track has the strongest radio potential. Wrapping the release is Hit Twice with it's slinky bass line, crisp drums and sliding guitar riffs. DeVestern really works the track showing her influences with Big Brother. A solid 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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Reference Recordings artist: Doug MacLeod -Break The Chain - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Break The Chain, from Doug MacLeod and it's a cool, textural documentary of contemporary observations. Opening with boogie rocker, Goin' Down To The Roadhouse, Doug gets into a real nice groove with slide on resonator joined by Denny Croy on bass and Jimi Bott on drums. On Lonesome Feeling, Doug really gives his National steel body a rough workout. His wailing and slide work nicely together creating a feeling of solitude and emptiness. Very nice. Another stand out track is One For Tampa Red featuring a solid walking bass line by Croy and Doug sliding out the melody on his National "O". Boogie track, Who's Driving This Bus is another stand out track with a great driving rhythm and clever lyrics. A very nice track, Church Street Serenade has a really sweet melody and strong guitar articulation. One of my favorites. Wrapping the release is title track, Break The Chain, a simple stripped down rocker with Jesse Macleod on guitar, Doug on vocal and slide, Oliver Brown on percussion and Denny or bass. Cool closer to a simply 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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Jonny Lang & Black Stone Cherry

JONNY LANG EXTENDS SIGNS WORLD TOUR

Twenty-Five New North American Shows Added

Tickets On Sale This Week

Signs To Be Released On September 8^th In North America

Los Angeles, CA --- Jonny Lang’s brand new studio album, Signs, will be released in North America on September 8th via SayRai / Concord Records.  The album (his sixth major label release) is his first in four years. The European release for Signs will be on August 25 via Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group.

The new album is available to pre-order here: http://amazon.com/dp/B071FPWNS6.  All pre-orders will include both “Bitter End” and “Make It Move” as instant gratification tracks.

This morning, twenty-five new shows in North America have been added to Jonny’s World Tour in support of Signs.  Tickets for most of these shows will go on sale this week.  VIP tickets will be available starting this Tuesday via www.jonnylang.com

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.

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.

Jack Broadbent and Guthrie Brown have been confirmed as direct support on a majority of the appearances scheduled for August through October in North America. Both artists will appear solo.  For appearances in Spokane on November 27 through January as announced below, support will be announced in the coming weeks.

Guthrie Brown is a Nashville transplant by way of Montana who began playing the guitar at age six. By the age of seventeen, he left high school for Nashville to pursue his dream of being a professional recording artist. Now at twenty-two Guthrie has toured the country relentlessly, signed a publishing deal with BMG and is currently recording his first full length album with GRAMMY® Award winning producer, Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Dawes, Of Monsters and Men, James Bay).  For more information http://www.guthriebrownmusic.com/. 

Jack Broadbent was hailed “The new master of the slide guitar” by the Montreux Jazz Festival, and “The real thang” by the legendary Bootsy Collins.  He has spent the past year wowing international audiences with his unique blend of virtuosic acoustic and slide guitar, and poignant folk and blues inspired vocals. Born and raised in rural England, Jack grew up listening to artists such as John Lee Hooker, Peter Green, Robert Johnson, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, to name a few. These legends of rock, blues, roots and folk influenced his distinctive song writing, singing and performance style, which have a depth and heart that defies strict musical genres. Broadbent‘s performances exude a warmth, humor and energy that has electrified audiences worldwide. For more detail: http://www.jackbroadbent.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/JackBroadbentMusic.

JONNY LANG SIGNS WORLD TOUR

8/10     Los Angeles, CA                                                                    The Grammy Museum

8/11     Los Angeles, CA                                                                    Teragram Ballroom

8/13     Arlington, WA                                                                        Stillaguamish Festival

8/19     North Thornton, NH                                                               White Mountain Boogie

8/20     Alexandria, VA                                                                      The Birchmere

8/22     New York, NY                                                                       Highline Ballroom #

8/23     Philadelphia, PA                                                                     World Café Live #

8/25     Toronto, ON                                                                           Danforth Music Hall #

8/26     Trois-Rivieres, QUE                                                               Trois-Rivieres en Blues 

9/08     Aspen, CO                                                                              Belly Up+

9/09     Boulder, CO                                                                           Boulder Theater +

9/10     Arvada, CO                                                                             Arvada Center +

9/12     Tulsa, OK                                                                               Cain’s +

9/14     Dallas, TX                                                                              House of Blues +

9/15     Houston, TX                                                                           House of Blues +

9/16     Austin, TX                                                                              ACL Live +

9/18     Kansas City, MO                                                                    Knuckleheads #

9/19     St. Louis, MO                                                                         Pageant #

9/21     Milwaukee, WI                                                                       Potawatomi Casino #

9/22     Milwaukee, WI                                                                       Polawatomi Casino #

9/23     Chicago, IL                                                                             House of Blues #

9/24     Louisville, KY                                                                        Bourbon & Beyond Festival 

9/26     Indianapolis, IN                                                                      The Vogue #

9/30     Hartford, CT                                                                           Infinity Hall +

10/01   Fairfield, CT                                                                           Warehouse +

10/03   Boston, MA                                                                            The Wilbur Theater #

10/04   Portland, ME                                                                          Aura #

10/06    Cranston, RI                                                                          Park Theatre #

10/07   Hampton Beach, NH                                                              Hampton Beach Casino #

10/08   Reading, PA                                                                           Reading Blues Festival

10/19   Huntington, NY                                                                      Paramount

10/22   Zwolle, NL                                                                             Hedon

10/23   Cologne, Germany                                                                 Gloria

10/25   Berlin, Germany                                                                     Columbia Club

10/27   Hamburg, Germany                                                                Mojo

10/29   Copenhagen, Denmark                                                           Amager Bio

10.30   Oslo, Norway                                                                          Rockafeller

10/31   Stockholm, Sweden                                                                Nalen

11/04   London, UK                                                                            SBE (London Folk and Roots Fest)

11/05   Leuven, Belgium                                                                    Hep Depot (Leuven Blues Festival)

11/07   Cleon, France                                                                         La Travene (Blues de Travene)

11/09   Marseille, France                                                                    Espace Julien

11/10   Six-Fours-les-Plages, France                                                  Espace Malraux

11/11   Paris, France                                                                           La Cigale

11/13   Prague, Czech Republic                                                         Lucerna

11/14   Vienna, Austria                                                                       Porgy and Bess

11/16   Sumperk, Czech Republic                                                      House of Culture (Blues Alive Fest)

11/27   Spokane, WA                                                                         Bing Crosby

11/28   Seattle, WA                                                                            The Neptune

11/29   Vancouver, BC                                                                       Commodore Ballroom

12/01   Grants Pass, OR                                                                      Rogue Theatre

12/02   Tahoe, NV                                                                              Montbleu

12/03   Sacramento, CA                                                                     Crest Theatre

12/05   Santa Cruz, CA                                                                       The Catalyst

12/06   Solana Beach, CA                                                                  Belly Up

12/08   Pasadena, CA                                                                         The Rose

12/09   San Juan Capistrano, CA                                                        Coach House

12/10   San Juan Capistrano, CA                                                        Coach House

1/09     Buffalo, NY                                                                            Tralf

1/10     Cleveland, OH                                                                        House of Blues

1/12     New Buffalo, MI                                                                    Silver Creek Event Center

1/16     Jacksonville, FL                                                                     FL Theater

1/18     St. Petersburg, FL                                                                   Palladium

1/19     Lake Buena Vista, FL                                                            House of Blues

1/20     Myrtle Beach, SC                                                                   House of Blues

1/22     Atlanta, GA                                                                            Centerstage

1/23     New Orleans, LA                                                                    House of Blues

1/25     Lafayette, LA                                                                         Acadiana PAC

1/26     San Antonio, TX                                                                    Aztek Theater

1/27     Oklahoma City, OK                                                                Diamond Ballroom

2/01     Agoura Hills, CA                                                                    Canyon

2/02     Scottsdale, AZ                                                                        Talking Stick Casino

Planetary Blues Band Performing at Prairie Magic Music Festival

PLANETARY BLUES BAND PERFORM AT PRAIRIE MAGIC            MUSIC FESTIVAL, AT SUNSET HILL FARM COUNTY PARK Saturday, August 12/ Showtime: 1:00pm/ Tickets: $15.

(Valparaiso, IN) - The Planetary Blues Band are one of the headliners at the Prairie Magic Music Festival, Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Rd., Saturday, August 12. Festival begins at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $15. (Adults), $10. with Student I.D. Children 12 and under free with a ticketed adult. Info/tickets: (219) 548-0219 or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2977487.   The Prairie Magic Music Fest is a celebration of rock, bluegrass, folk, and Americana music nestled in the heart of a beautiful County Park just minutes from the expressway. Also performing: The Crawpuppies, Foster Ross & Young, and the Blues Project, and the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra.   The festival will also highlight Craft Food and Beer vendors. Valpo Velvet Ice Cream and Bartlett's Gourmet Grill will be satisfying hunger while a beer garden will make local microbrews available to those 21 and over.                              About...The Planetary Blues Band Michael Schaefer-Murray: guitar and vocals Martin Schaefer-Murray: guitar and vocals Bobby Schaefer-Murray: bass guitar Nick Evans: drums   The Planetary Blues Band consists of the trio of brothers Martin Schaefer-Murray (guitar and lead vocals) Bobby Schaefer-Murray (bass) and Michael Schaefer-Murray (guitar), with their longtime friend Nick Evans on drums. The band is based in Valparaiso, IN and has been paying dues in Midwest bars and at local festivals for over fifteen years. They've shared the stage with some of their biggest influences, such as Son Seals and Buddy Guy, including opening up for Buddy Guy at his own club, Legends. The PBB is influenced by a wide range of musical styles. Like most rock bands worth their salt, Planetary got their start playing, and being influenced by, the Blues. The band was born in 1999 in “Mom’s basement”, where countless hours were spent learning entire albums by Chicago Blues greats like Buddy Guy and Son Seals. Over the course of the past fifteen-plus years, Planetary has held onto those roots, while expanding outward into various other corners of the musical universe. The Planetary Blues Band recorded and produced their most recent album, Once Upon A Time In The South Loop, all “in-house” (engineered by Michael S-M), and it received stellar reviews both nationally and internationally. www.planetaryblues.com https://www.facebook.com/theplanetarybluesband Join us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter       Send us an Email

PRE-ORDER Hamilton Loomis's new CD "BASICS" NOW!!

"BASICS" -- the new CD by Hamilton Loomis NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!! Pre-order Hamilton's long-awaited new CD by clicking here: http://shop.hamiltonloomis.com/Basics-2017-Basics-PRE-ORDER.htm  Estimated ship date is Aug. 16, 2017! You can also download the entire CD (includes artwork) by clicking here: https://hamiltonloomis.bandzoogle.com/music  ALBUM NOTES: Hamilton Loomis does indeed go back to basics on his new album, which is his most personal and emotional effort to date. Gone are the double entendres for which Loomis is known; this time, his lyrics are direct, personal, and often autobiographical. The “basics” theme runs through the entire CD, in its lyrics (“Prayer,” “Cloudy Day”), single-chord progressions (“Sugar Baby," "Looking Into a Dream”), simple melodies (“Come and Get Me”), and stripped-down instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums (“Reason," "Getting So Big”). Still, Loomis’s trademark deep-grooved funk and soulful blues-rock is definitely present. “I wanted this record to be more stripped-down. Even the CD jacket is black and white and pretty basic itself," he says of the disc, which features songwriting collaborations with Grammy-award winning songwriter/ producer/bassist Tommy Sims, co-writer of Eric Clapton's “Change the World." Loomis’ 2013 album “Give It Back” showed his pay-it-forward attitude of passing on knowledge to young, up-and-coming musicians, just as his mentors (notably Houston’s Joe Hughes, Johnny Copeland and rock icon Bo Diddley) once did for him. On Basics, Loomis continues the tradition by featuring several of his young protégées, and finishes the record with a jam session by some of his favorite Houston-area youngsters, whose ages range from 13 to 16. Loomis is also on a mission to raise awareness about hyperinsulinism (HI), a rare disease that causes low blood sugar. His 3-year-old son was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition in 2015, and Loomis dedicates Basics' opening track, “Sugar Baby,” to Congenital Hyperinsulinism International (www.congenitalhi.org), an organization that heads research on the disease, educates doctors and hospitals, and supports families affected by the disease. “They call HI kids 'sugar babies,' so I wanted to write a song in appreciation for all they do for families all over the world,” Loomis says.

www.hamiltonloomis.com

Moondogg Records artist: Johnny Ray Jones - Feet Back In The Door - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feet Back In The Door, by Johnny Ray Jones and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Feet Back In The Door, Johnny Ray Jones show strong soul roots with a great rhythm and horn section. His vocals are strong, joined by Mike Finnigan on piano, Hutch Hutchinson on bass, and Tony Braunagel on drums and topped off with Joe Sublett on sax, Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Teresa James on backing vocals. Very nice. I really like the bass work on Come Up And See Me Sometime which really carries Finnigan's organ line and sets a cool stage for Jones to strut. Jones' vocals on High Cost Of Loving and Johnny Lee Schell throws down some stinging blues guitar riffs making this one of my favorites on  the release. Z.Z. Hill's, I'm A Blues Man has a great balance of heavy bass, big brass, snappy drums and warm vocals giving Jones and Schell a wide open slate to sing and play. Very nice. Allen Toussaint's A Certain Girl is always a great track with New Orleans flair, and a real nice sax solo by Sublett. The playful vocal interplay is super. Original track, In The Heart Of The City has a real nice melody and Schell's melodic guitar solo further enhances the radio drive on this track. Wrapping the release is Leon Russell's Hearts Have Turned To Stone. Using classic Leon riffs throughout but with his own signature, Jones closes nicely with smart piano flair from Finnigan, nice vocal highlights by James and tight brass punctuation by Leonard.

  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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Floating Records artist: Jeffrey Halford and the Healers - Lo-Fi Dreams - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lo-Fi Dreams from Jeffrey Halford and the Healers featuring country, soul and rock laden music. Opening is Two Jacksons, a simple rock radio track with flavors of John Cougar and the Eagles. Halford on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Adam Rossi on drums and keys and Bill MacBeath on bass. Elvis Shot The Television is a cool track with a memorable lyric, cool slide by Halford and cool keys and drums by Rossi. One of my favorite tracks, Door #3 has a great melody, cool backing vocals by Rossi and iridescent guitar lines by Tom Heyman. Bird Of Youth is a hot country rocker with a hint of British style, a driving beat, a cool bass line and a healthy dose of slide guitar. Very cool. Sweet Annette is a curious track with a hint of Lou Reed, cool lead guitar and euphoric steel guitar swirling in the air. Cool blues rocker, Looking For A Home, has a simple melody and country blues style with a snappy drum beat, raw slide guitar work and cool harp work by Jimmy Dewrance. Wrapping the release is ballad, Great Divide, with somber vocals by Halford, tension added by Rossi on keys and really cool Spanish flavor added by acoustic guitar. Very 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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3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Features Best Lineup Yet!

             

THE 3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH: LIVE BLUES, GREAT FOOD, SWING DANCE COMPETITION, BEST LINEUP YET

Saturday, September 3, 2pm-10pm Robbins Ballpark, Clarksville, VA  

                                                

                                                   (Rain or Shine)

    

    (Clarksville, VA) - Announcing the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash, Saturday, September 30, from 2pm-10pm (rain or shine), on the Lake at Robbins Ballpark, 104 Woodland Drive in Clarksville, VA. Tickets $25.00 (Early-Bird Special till August 31 - purchase here), $30.00 General Admission (September 1-September 29), $35.00 at the gate/day of the Festival. Limited number of $75.00 VIP Tickets available (includes admission plus two complimentary drinks, premiere seating under Stage Side Tent, and access to the catered Hospitality Tent for a 'Meet-And-Greet' with the performers. Also a Swing Dance Competition on the Lake, food for sale by top area restaurants and food trucks, plus an Arts and Crafts Vendors Village.

   "We've arranged for some of the finest performers in the Blues to entertain and amaze." says Woolly, Founder/Promoter of the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash and creator of the famed Woolly's Big Blues jam. Emcee is Confessing The Blues radio show Host, Cleve Baker.  Rain or shine - in the event of bad weather, the Festival will be moved to an indoor location. Info: (919) 451-4356 or visit us on-line at http://www.bbibb.org/.

   "This Year's Entertainment Lineup Is Our Best Yet!" - Woolly

Four-time Blues Music Awards nominee, Hammond B-3 organist extraordinaire, Bruce Katz, headlines the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Saturday, September 30.

Jon Spear Band, nominated for "Best Live Blues Recording" in 2016 by Blues Blast Magazine,  are a popular national touring act fronted by talented guitarist, Jon Spear (second from right).

The pride of Plano, Texas, guitarist extraordinaire Anson Funderburgh has also been called "the nicest man in the Blues" by Blues Festival Guide. Funderburgh is joined onstage by Stern and Cotton at the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Blues Bash.

North Carolina-based trio James-Pace and Preslar, fronted by guitarist-vocalist T.A. James (pictured), are a popular band on the Blues Festival circuit.

Parker & Gray bring their soulful blues to Big Buggs Island Blues Bash.

They're joined onstage by Ken Farmer from the PBS television series

Antiques Roadshow, himself a American-Roots vocalist-guitarist.

3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH ON YOU TUBE: