Bman's Blues Report

NEW CASH BOX KINGS ALBUM OUT APRIL 28th! Blind Pig Records has announced an April 28th release date for Holding Court , the latest album from award-winning fan favorites, The Cash Box Kings .  On Holding Court the band continues their mission of carrying on the spirit of the 1940's and 50's post-war Chicago blues sound as well as the Delta blues music of the 20's and 30's. But these illustrious torchbear­ers also add a bravado, energy and freshness to the mix that results in a distinctive musical expe­rience. With a focus on the raw, stripped-down, ensemble playing that was the hallmark of the post-war sound, the band showcases the music of Chess Records and Sun Records while add­ing a healthy dose of original music that captures the essence of the Memphis and Chicago blues sounds of the 40's and 50's. No less a blues authority than Charlie Musselwhite said, "The Cash Box Kings play with taste and feel and it was fa...

We hope this note finds you doing well and staying warm out there! We've had some time off at home this month getting our plans together for the release of our next LP, Bones . More on that soon, so keep an eye out!  In the meantime, we'll be back on the road in just a few weeks  testing out some of these new songs on stage for you guys. We're excited to announce our next Nashville show will be on March 21, celebrating Tin Roof's 13th Anniversary  with our friends Phin, Sam Lewis & Logan Brill. Tickets are $10 and they are only available at the door. There are a limited number available so make sure and get there early! Also, we're teaming up with our new friends, Lionize  for an extensive tour in April. If you haven't seen these guys before, get excited because they put on a hell of a show. Tickets for all these shows are available now. Full list of dates below, see you on the road!   SPRING 2015 TOUR DATES 3...

        In just a few weeks since the release of  Swamp Tooth Comb  by TG and the Swampbusters, critics and DJs across North America and beyond have been quick to add positive reviews, extensive airplay and continued placements on the !earshot  campus/community charts   for this Hamilton, Ontario guitarist and local legend.    Here's what some of the reviewers had to say:    “This disc sounds exactly as I hoped it would- nasty, evocative, bluesy... right up my alley … these songs have a Stones-like swagger to them, but I’d hardly call them sloppy- full of attitude is more like it, and slinky grooves abound."   – John “The Rock Doctor” Kereiff, Gonzo Online   “Gibbons fronts a guitar/bass/drums trio with a virile sound that draws on blues, country and rock 'n roll with real finesse... Gibbons has a gritty Dylanesque vocal style and is a fine songwriter.”  – Kerry Doole, Ne...

Multiple Blues Music Award Nominee Tad Robinson Brings His Soul/Blues Sound from Day Into Night on New CD, Coming April 21 from Severn Records ANNAPOLIS, MD – Severn Records announces an April 21 release date for Day Into Night , the new CD from seven-time Blues Music Award nominee Tad Robinson. This new CD is the long-anticipated follow-up to his last release, Back in Style (2010), and features the soul/blues singer backed by the Severn Records house band of Johnny Moeller – guitar, Kevin Anker – keyboards, Steve Gomes – bass and Robb Stupka – drums. Joining in the fun are special guest appearances from blues guitar heavyweights Alex Schultz and Anson Funderburgh.   This veteran team of musicians, recorded at Severn Sound Studios in Annapolis, Maryland, shows its experience by focusing on how best to serve each song. “It’s not about excess,” notes Robinson; “rather, paring down the accompaniment to the essence of each song.” That restraint is...

I just received the newest Grateful Dead release from Real Gone Records, Disk's Picks Volume 12 . Starting Disc 1 with a jam that leads into what many have labeled "the most extraordinary live version of China Cat Sunflower ever recorded". Transitioning with Mind Left Body /Jam into I Know You Rider this is an exceptional recording. Having a little fun with the Beer Barrel Polk a and then Truckin' these guys are really on a roll! Spanish Jam has a lot of fire and a certain spirit that is different from much of what I have heard throughout the other recordings. Very cool! Up next is Wharf Rat and then super closer Sugar Magnolia . The band is tight and on fire.  Disc 2 opens with Eyes Of the World , the encore from the Boston show. Needless to say it is superb. The legendary second set of the Boston show opens with the rare performance of Seastones (Phil Lesh and Ned Lagin's electronic piece). The balance of the concert as recorded includes Sugar Magno...

I just received the newest release (March 31, 2015), Into The Sun , by Robben Ford and I really like it! Opening with Rose Of Sharon a smooth bluesy track with a very clean melody, Ford strokes a well articulated solo making very use of single and double time for emphasis. Day Of the Planets actually has an garage rock feel but but delivered on a polished silver platter. Howlin' At The Moon hits the road with a funky staggered rhythm. Brian Allen on bass lays down a nice funky groove with Wes Little on drums and Ford plays off the funk delivering a solo that rides the rumble. Very cool! Rainbow Cover is a straight up rocker with organ highlights and clean guitar riff adornment. Juttified features guests Keb Mo' on vocal and Robert Randolph on pedal slide. An easy blues swing with rolling piano and stylized fiddle set a super floor for Ford to highlight his nicely stylized solo. Breath Of Me featured ZZ Hill on lead vocals for possibly my favorite track on the release. H...

                                   Story By Roger Stolle       Sad news in the blues world today. Mr. Robert "Wolfman" Belfour — RIP. Arguably the deepest of the surviving, old-school, Mississippi bluesmen was found deceased at his home in Memphis this morning by relatives. He had been suffering from various health issues (mainly diabetes and mobility related) for over a year but had recently been doing better. He had not performed since last June but was slated to play at Juke Joint Festival in April.       Mr. Belfour's family is in desperate need of money for funeral services. The Memphis Blues Society is trying to raise money to help the family with funeral costs. Those wishing to donate can do so through The Memphis Blues Society Benefit li...

I just received the newest release, Heavy Love , from Duke Garwood and it's quite different. Opening with Some Times , a dark, atmospheric track Garwood paints in dark colors in the moonlight. With only vocals, percussion and guitar this track has you listening. Very cool! On Heavy Love , joined by Jehnny Beth and Johnny Hostile on backing vocals, Johnny on keys and Paul May on drums, Garwood has a more conventional yes still aloof blues feel on this track. Burning Seas has a real moody sound but with traditional country blues guitar riffs under solo vocals. Disco Lights has an interesting approach with electric instrumentation with bass by Fred Lyenn Jacques and specifically electric guitar creating tension. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Sweet Wine is a slow folksy ballad. All acoustic guitar and vocal. Snake Man has a feel of a Lou Reed composition with a mostly poetic/chant lyric bass and percussion with light guitar riffs floating. Suppertime in Hell has a l...

Denver area-based Dr. Izzy Band perform at a three-group "Night of Blues" at The Toad Tavern in Littleton on Friday, March 6. DR. IZZY BAND PERFORM AT THREE-GROUP "NIGHT OF BLUES" AT THE TOAD TAVERN IN LITTLETON - FRIDAY, MARCH 6   (LITTLETON, CO) - Denver area-based  Dr. Izzy Band perform at a three-group "Night Of Blues" at The Toad Tavern , 5302 S. Federal Circle, in Littleton, Friday, March 6. Showtime: 8:30 p.m. Tickets $8.00. Info: (303)  795-6877 or http://toadtavern.ticketfly.com/ . Also appearing: Eef and the Blues Express and Soulshine.                     THE STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM "BLIND AND BLUES BOUND"    Dr. Izzy Band's 2013 album Blind & Blues Bound is aptly named for their female lead singer/band frontperson Dr. Izzy,...

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 CD Coming April 21 from Forty Below Records Previously Unreleased Live Recordings Feature John Mayall, Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood LOS ANGELES, CA – Forty Below Records announces an April 21 release date for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 (Never Before Heard Live Performances) , a very special archival recording of one the best of the Bluesbreakers band lineups, featuring legendary musicians John Mayall (vocals, keyboards, harmonica), Peter Green (lead guitar), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). Distributed by Sony/RED, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 showcases a band that was together for only a scant three months, yet created a lasting legacy, made an immense impact on music and led to the formation of one of the most acclaimed groups of all-time when Green, McVie and Fleetwood left to form Fleetwood Mac. The genesis of Live in 1967 came about because a staun...

I just received the newest release, Blind & Blues Bound , from Dr. Izzy Band and it's got spunk. Opening with Matches Don't Burn Memories , featuring Dr. Izzy on vocals and James Cotton ripping some great harp riffs over a solid 60's style guitar rocker. Sounding at times like Nugent or Marino, Robert Morrison cranks on the guitar. Soul Dance has a sultry feel of an 18th century ballad as articulated by the Brits in the 60's. A cool retro style track with violin and a crisp guitar solo. Been Long Time Comin' is built around a standard blues riff but with arpeggios. The Dr. has a clean vocal attack and Morrison over tracks his guitar solo's nicely creating an interesting weave. Earth Bound has a bit more sting with searing electric guitar work. A heavy bottom on this track gives it a Mountain like feel but Morrison's guitar work is succinct and different from Wests. Old Black Crow features Otis Taylor with a more modern but country R&B feel. Int...

House of Cards Says Yes To “Looking For The Magic” The Dwight Twilley Classic Will Appear In The Season 3 Opener on Feb 27 th Atlanta, GA – Legendary musician Dwight Twilley found out his classic song, “Looking For The Magic” will appear in the very popular N etflix Original Series HOUSE OF CARDS, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. This dramatic series has a cult like following and leaves the audiences losing sleep til they see the next episode. The Season 3 premieres February 27, 2015 exclusively on Netflix. Dwight is no stranger to having movies and TV use his power-pop music. One of his firsts was in Wayne’s World , starring Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey with “Why You Wanna Break My Heart” and then a string of others followed over the years. His catchy hooks are great for a scene on the screen for it draws the viewer in – as if they were actually there. Most recently, the indie film Dairy of A Teenage Girl picked up “Looking For the Magic” to be the fi...

Meet John McNamara The Bluesman Down Under And the blues came a calling...... Every once in a while something intriguing addresses your senses and you are mesmerized by its presence.  This happened at the IBC Memphis 2015.  Allow me to back up a bit: My friend Barry Maxwell who is a blues radio show host extraordinaire down under has always been kind to me whenever I have submitted music for air time consideration.  Barry has an immensely popular radio show and so I don’t take his kindness to review CDs from my clients lightly. After all everybody wants their music to be on the BAZ man’s show.  So just before I left for IBC Memphis Barry drops me a note. It was a suggestion.  He invited me to take in John McNamara’s performance and then perhaps meet with him afterward.  Barry, as I say, has always been fair with me and by extension good to my clients.  So without any re...