Bman's Blues Report

'BADASS BLUES' STRAIGHT OUT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS: LOVELACE BROTHERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE, GET READY TO TOUR THE U.S.    (Houston, TX) - Straight out of Southeast Texas, home of ZZ Top, the late, great Johnny Winter, and Janis Joplin, The Lovelace Brothers have released a smokin' new single, " Leaving ," (purchase the single at CD Baby, here ) and are readying a U.S. tour for the Summer of 2017, Billy Lovelace, the group's guitarist-vocalist and principal songwriter, has announced.   The Lovelace Brothers, who made thei...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Apocalipstick , from the Harpoonist & The Axe Murder and it's a fine mix of  cool music. Opening with pop rocker, Get Ready , Shawn Hall on vocal and harmonica teams up again with Matthew Rogers on guitar, bass and synth to create their latest endeavor. Fool Forever , has a hook almost sounding like the R&B Stones stuff. This track with it's vocal blending and guitar forward sound has strong commercial potential. I'm Back has a really nice tremolo guitar intro leading into a synthesized zone before breaking into a solid melody. These guys have really matured from their last release with intricately woven instrumentals giving the track significant appeal to a more sophisticated audience. With John Raham on drums and Geoff Hilhorst on organ, this track is hot. Very nice. A country/gospel influenced track, Pretty Please is high energy with traces to early rock n roll and latter influences of Cheap Tr...

COUNTRY SOUL PIONEER ARTHUR ALEXANDER’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM RETURNS IN EXPANDED EDITION FROM OMNIVORE RECORDINGS 1972 rel...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Swamp Rock Country Blues , by TG Swampbusters and it's loose and cool. Opening with Honky Tonk Song , TG Swampbusters sets the pace with an interesting mix of old style country, JJ Cale and RL Burnside. TG on guitar, vocal and harp leads the way with Patch on drums and Swampy Jo Klienfelttr on bass. One Hundred Proof Blues has a great driving rhythm with throaty rhythm guitar and cool Keith like guitar riffs under solid vocals. Another track with a solid JJ Cale feel, Pitching A Tent has a great lower octave rumble, flamboyant but loose rock n roll guitar riffs and radio forward vocals. Very cool. Twist My Rubber Arm has the lofi of modern blues rockers like Black Keys and White Stripes rolled in country grass. Cranberry Corners is a driving 2 stepper with fat, mid range blues tones and sonic harp work making tyhis one of my favorite tracks on the release.  Wrapping the release is She Gave M...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backwoods Glance , by Blind Lemon Pledge and Friends . Pledge is back with an easy folk/country release featuring Tom Cline on dobro, Jimi Edwards on keys, Peter Grenell on bass, Cal Keoola on fiddle, Marisa Malvino on vocal and John Pearson on cajon, djembe and percussion. Opening with easy pop country track, Polly Come Out , Keaoola and Cline add essential components to the vocal blending of Pledge and Malvino. The Hills Of West Virginia is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an 1800's country sound. Very cool! Lynchburg Town is a solid track with a nice melody and super dobro work by Cline. I particularly like Fayetteville with a great melody...reminds me of classic Ray Davies.  Ma Belle Cherie is a coo Cajun track featuring classic fiddle work from Keoola and the best vocal work from Pledge and Malvino. Wrapping the release is Give My Poor Heart Ease , a somber ballad with strong vocals and nice...

Gregg Allman, one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band, has died. He was 69. The southern rocker's passing was announced on his official website , adding that Allman "passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia" on Saturday. Allman's death comes after rumors circulated last month that he had entered hospice care. A rep for the rocker told ABC News that the rumors were not true. Despite reports, Gregg Allman has not entered hospice Gregg Allman condemns 'Bathroom Bill,' will still perform in NC Still, Allman had been suffering from ill health in recent years, dealing with a respiratory infection, a hernia, a liver transplant and an irregular heartbeat. Back in March, he canceled all his 2017 tour dates to support his upcoming album "Southern Blood" due to his health. Michael Lehman, a close friend of Allman's, said in a statement posted to his website : "I have lost a dear friend and the ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos and it's a hot fusion of rock and biting blues. Opening with 20 Days , a tight rocker featuring Anthony Rosano on lead vocal and stinging fat slide guitar, Jeremy "JB" Bustillos on  vocal and harp, Paul Warren on bass and Scott Smith on drums. Shuffle, Give Me Strength has a cool groove with Warren romping the bass, harp attack by JB and a slick guitar solo from Rosano. You Don't Know Me is a mover and Rosano's guitar tome is warm and meaty. With a great beat and stinging guitar riffs, this track is super. Boogie track, Wicked Grin is hot with unbridled guitar riffs and a cool sax solo from JB. Excellent! Funky, Shakin' In The Veins , features really cool slide work by Anders Osborne  and with a definite southern flair, cool harp work by JB pushing the track even further. Bound To You is a solid ballad with a scorching guitar intro. I particularly l...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Can't Do That , by Mick Kolassa & Mark Telesca and it's quite entertaining. The concept, to take classic Beatles compositions and remake them in a new style as a group is cool... I mean possibly the greatest pop band of all time. Opening with I'll Cry Instead , the arrangement has a casual New Orleans strut and features a muted trumpet by Marc Franklin. With a creative blues bottom, early Beatles track, I Feel Fine takes on new air with suspenseful bass lines and bluesy harmonica work by Eric Hughes. One of my favorite tracks on the release is the sorrowful rework of Fixing A Hole . Telesca's vocals and stylistic acoustic guitar lead really hits. Very nice. Just the flatting of key notes in Lady Madonna transforms it from a springy pop tune into a New Orleans flavored track with soulful fiddle work by Tommy Borroughs and snappy drumming by James Cunningham. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a ...

Delta Wires Sets June 30 Release Date for New CD, Born In Oakland, on Mudslide Records San Francisco Bay Area Blues Band Delivers the Goods on 7 th Album of High Energy Harmonica/Horn-Infused Music OAKLAND, CA - Seminal San Francisco Bay Area blues band, Delta Wires, announces a June 30 release date for their new CD, Born in Oakland , on Mudslide Records. The album, recorded and mixed at Brickwall Sound in Concord, California, showcases 10 originals and unique covers of a wide assortment of blues styles. Delta Wires will celebrate the release of Born in Oakland with two special “Album Debut” performances on Friday, June 30, at San Francisco’s Biscuits & Blues (voted America’s #1 blues club by the Blues Foundation), with shows at 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm. For more info, visit http://www.biscuitsandblues.com/ . On June 23, Delta Wires will also play the kick-off to the Fountain Blues Festival at San Pedro Square Market Place in downtown San Jose at 7:00 pm. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sanctified , from Low Society and it's solid. Opening with John Prine's Angel From Montgomery , vocalist Mandy Lemons takes front and center, filling the room with her powerful voice. Backed by Sturgis Nikides on guitars, Jacky Verstraeten on bass, Bart De Bruecker on drums and Rick Steff on keys this is a great opener. On Raccoon Song , an interesting mix of blues and punk (think Pixies) Lemons works the crowd and Nikides lays in some real cool slide work. Bluesy, The Freeze , has the atmospheric qualities of Pink Floyd and the blues feel of Savoy Brown with tasty guitar riffs. Very nice. Nina is a real interesting rock ballad with tastes of CSN, Grace Slick and Joe Walsh with Will Danger on drums. Interesting composition using acoustic guitar, slide and nicely blended vocals. All out rocker, Drowning Blues , has a great driving bass line, nice slide guitar work and cool swagger giving it a great chance ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feelin' Freaky , by John Nemeth and it quite cool. Opening with pop tune, Under the Gun , John Nemeth is joined by Danny Banks on drums, Matthew Wilson on bass and Johnny Rhodes on guitar. S.T.O.N.E.D . is a really cool track with a earthy, thick bass line and Nemeth on vocal and harp. Very cool. Title track, Feelin' Freaky , is a high steppin' R&B track showcasing Nemeth's vocal and harmonica work over a snappy beat. Rainy Day is a strong, soul track and a really nice vocal track. Nemeth's vocals on this track push him high in the line of modern soul singers, nicely backed by Marc Franklin on trumpet, Art Edmaiston on sax, J Kirkscey, B Luscombe, J Munson and P Tsai on strings and Charles Hodges on organ. Very nice. Funky, You Really Do Want That Woman , had a cool R&B feel and the bass lines couples with the horn punctuation really hits the groove. Gave Up On You is a cool bluesy track wi...

    ANNOUNCING THE 15TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL:     TWO BIG DAYS OF BLUES ROYALTY IN BEAUTIFUL WINTER PARK, CO Enjoy Fabulous Thunderbirds, Anders Osborne, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Carolyn Wonderland, Alvin Youngblood Hart, And More, All In A Beautiful Mountain Setting! ~ Presented With Pride By The Grand County Blues Society, In Memory of Blues From The Top Founder, John Catt ~ Saturday, June 24 (11am to 6pm); Sunday, June 25 (10:30am to 6pm)   ...