Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Service , from Tony Holiday , and is solid throughout. Opening with Payin' Rent on a Broken Home , a strong blues rocker, Tony Holiday on lead vocal and harmonica sets a cool strutting pace, backed by Landon Stone on guitar, Max Kaplan on bass, Danny Banks on drums with Ori Naftaly on guitar and Victor Wainwright on keys. Low slung shuffle She knocks Me Out , has a great feel and Holiday's harmonica tone is full and a tasty work solo by Stone is poised and tight. A cool island feel spins Day Dates (Turn Into Night Dates). With simplified drum rhythms and airy guitar work Holiday crafts this track nicely and blends vocally with Kaplan, complimented by melodic harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ol' Number Nine, a rumbling blues rocker with nicely paired vocals and a rumbling bass line by Kaplan. Holiday's vocals are strong and his harmonica work reinforces the "train" theme of ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crossing Borders , from Evelyn Rubio and it's a solid blues/R&B effort with with a lot of radio appeal. Opening with One More Last Time , a sassy R&B number with super lead vocals by Rubio and Lori Michelle on backing vocal. The band features David Grissom on guitar, Kirk Covington on drums, Zach Person on guitar, Red Young on keys and Larry Fulcher on bass. Very nice. Just Like A Drug is another track that screams for radio attention with it's Latin rhythm and complimentary guitar lead by Johnny Lee Schell and Rubuio on lead vocal sax. Mike Finnigan joins on keys, Jorge Orta Cro Cro on percussion and Tony Braunagel on drums making this a tight unit. He Did Me Wrong, But Did It Right, is a cool track with just the right amount of bluesy sway. Rubio shines on vocal and sax on one of my favorite tracks on the release. Rubio turns the jazz card with a real swinger, Cruel , where she works it like a pro on ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Skyline Drive , by Scott Ellison and I like it. Opening with Latin seasoned, blues rocker, I'm Missing You , Ellison on lead vocal and lead guitar is joined by Chris Campbell on backing vocals, Ron Getman on guitar, Jon Parris on bass, Robbie Armstrong on drums. With a solid melody, tight vocals and cool guitar lead, this is a strong opener. Title track, Skyline Drive is a cool shuffle with warm B3 under the cool vocal melody and with jazz influenced blues guitar. Very nice. Driving blues rocker, I'm All Wound Up is fueled by hot lead slide by Getman, the tight drumming of Chuck Reavis and Hank Charles on piano. It has great swagger making it one of my favorites on the release. These Blues Got A Hold On Me , has a slower more deliberate tempo with understated organ underpinnings and a real nice solo and Ellison takes time for a real nice guitar solo of his own. Very nice. Overwhelmed is a super blues rocker w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Black Crow Moan , from Eliza Neals and it's a tasty blues rock package. Opening with country flavored, Don't Judge The Blues , Neals on lead vocals teams up with Michael Puwal on slide guitar, and with light percussion by Brian Clune, getting the blood flowing. Bluesy, Why You Ooglin' Me really has a classic Joe Walsh slide feel and Neals slips into the pocket vocally with some of her best vocals on the release. Puwal's slide work is really nice and with the addition of keys by Neals, and with Clune on drums, cool rocker. Title track, Black Crow Moan is a bluesy ballad with solid vocals by Neal and a strong guest appearance by Joe Louis Walker on guitar and with Skeeto Valdez on drums and John Abraham on bass.  Big Mama Thornton's Ball and Chain is one of the definite highlights on the release with super vocals by Neals and featuring Derek St. Holmes who lays down some exciting riffs on guitar. Wit...

Gibson Custom  and  Epiphone  "Signature Artist"  JOHNNY A.  to Perform a July 2nd Livestream Show From Secret Music Venue Boston, MA – Guitar virtuoso and Gibson/Epiphone “ Signature Artist ” Johnny A. continues to push the musical envelope, just as he has done his entire career, and is excited to share a special live venue concert experience in conjunction with bandsintown.com and veeps.com for fans direct to their smart TV or device! . Music = Freedom - And on July 2, 2020 Johnny A. invites you to celebrate with him and kick off Independence Day Weekend with his one man show. The"Just Me...And My Guitars: Stay-dium at Home Edition" streamed LIVE from the stage of a SECRET MUSIC VENUE - complete with full lighting and sound production!   Watch and chat with fans from around the world via JohnnyA.veeps.com as Johnny seamlessly weaves technological innovations into his musical performance, mesmerizing the audience with intricate ri...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 20/20 from The Walk-A-Bout and it's cool and jazzy. Opening with Victory Parade , a solid pop rocker with tight drums by Drew Bertran and nicely harmonized vocals by Darren Sullivan and Dave Christian who also plays electric guitar. Kevin Anderson on acoustic guitar plays a strong part with a good part of the body  of the instrumentation being his guitar work and Keenan Zach on bass. Date Nut Porridge has a real nice New Orleans funk, emphasized by Bertran and Zach and a super vocal melody by Christian and Sullivan who also plays harmonica and warm Hammond work by Mark Rechler. Very nice. Timeless is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a Latin influenced beat and potent rhythmic percussion by Bertran and strong vocal harmonies by Sullivan and Christian. Very nice. Hero , possibly the top radio track on the release has a strong melody and vocals that could be right from a 70's Spirit release. Christian...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil Beside Me , by Ben Hemming and it's a unusual, yet interesting take on the blues. Opening with Dead Man Blues , a dark, lumbering blues rocker with contemporary influences, Ben Hemming on vocal and guitar shows the colors of metal rock joined by James Hosking on bass and Luigi Rampino on drums. Droning guitar riffs swirl on Inside as a heavy footed Rampino drives this train. Me And The Leper has a lot of movement with a highly active bass line, solid lead vocals and slide guitar with highly effective string  to hand contact on overmiked acoustic guitar. Very cool. One of my favorites on the release is One Eyed King with a driving rock beat and grinding slide guitar work by Hemming. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is The Sea , with a quiet, acoustic guitar backing under Hemming 's vocals. The electric guitar melody is what hooks me on this track with it's haunting sound. Very nice.  ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stories To Live Up To , from Harvey Dalton Arnold and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Stay Here With Me , a cool, R&B style rocker with a swampy overtone. Arnold leads on vocal and guitar with Zev Katz on bass, Charley Drayton on drums, Rob Arthur on keys and Zak Alister on rhythm guitar. Strong opener. What's On Your Mind has a rubbery slide guitar vamp and snappy drum rhythm by Drayton and some of Arnold's best vocals on the release. Very cool. Soulful, Poor Boy is a real nice radio track with a great melody, warm keys by Alister, solid guitar work and an intoxicating feel. Rock n roller, Lone Outlaw , has a great rock beat and just the right swagger with driving drum work and smart guitar and piano making it another favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is a new take on Catfish Blues with super top end drum work, raw guitar slide and a great bottom. Super closer for a solid release. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weed 'Em & Reap by Misty Blues and it's a cool mix of R&B and jazz/blues. Opening with No More To Give , Gina Coleman on lead vocals sings from deep in her soul and accompanying herself on cigar box guitar, with Benny Kohn on keys, Bill Patriquin on trumpet, Aaron Dean on sax, Rob Tatten on drums and Seth Fleishmann, Diego Mongue on bass and Wes Buckley on guitars.  I Ain't No Giving Tree has a great New Orleans flavor with a fat sax solo by Dean and a clean, rhythmic guitar solo by Fleischmann. Blues rumble, Don't Send Me Home has a cool. Willie Dixon kind of feel with Dean's sax anchoring the bottom. A cool key solo by Kohn and a grinding solo by Fleischmann add real texture to Coleman's vocals. Swing My Blues is another track with a cool. New Orleans like rhythm. I think this track showcases Coleman's vocals better than most of the tracks and with solid solos by Fleischmann, K...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Walkin' The Blues , from Frederico Luiu and it's pretty tasty. Opening with blues shuffle, You Don't Love Me, Luiu, who handles lead vocal and guitar shows pure style on guitar with Simone Scanu on bass, Mauro Cau on drums, Alberto Gurrisi on Hammond, and filled out with a horn section of Anthony Brancati on Tenor sax,  Alison Young on Bari and alto sax and Alexis Baro on trumpet. With it's catchy chorus, a solid radio track. Funky Bee is a strong, horn infused, blues track with a strong funky rhythm by Scanu and Bau and red hot riffs by Luiu. On slow blues, What You've Done To Me , Luiu is featured on lead vocal showing real emotion with heavy bari support by Young and nice backing vocals by Roberta Michele Quilico leading to clean, BB style guitar phrasing by Luiu. Very nice. Driving shuffle track, S he's Gone with Matt Schofield sitting in with some really healthy guitar riffs adds real spic...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Last of the Boogiemen , by Rusty Ends & the Boogiemen and it's got a cool style all it's own. Blending old style 50's rock, blues, punk, R&B and country these guys come up with a sound that's familiar but different and vibrant. Opening with rockin' Cheap Wine , Rusty Ends on guitar and vocal shows solid style and flair on guitar with Uncle Dave Zimheld on backing vocal and bass, Gene Wickliffe on drums and Gary Falk on tenor sax. Super opener. Pulling riffs from the 80's and Mississippi Hill country sensibility, Ends raps on Hillbilly Hoodoo over a swampy blues like rhythm. Not a rap fan but this track has just the right funk. Slowing down to a soothing blues number with jazz style chords, Ends croons the blues on I Forgot To Say I Love You . Really kicking out the stops, Rockabilly Boogie # 1003 is a simple, Chuck Berry style rocker with plenty of flair. Stiletto Heels and Fishnet Ho...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Ago, from Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer and the title aptly describes the musical journey. Opening with 20's song, Singin' The Blues, Howell on lead vocal and guitar, backed by bassist Jason Weinheimer and with the addition on lush jazz chords and runs by Dan Sumner sets the stage for this easy paced release. Jobim's Dindi has a real nice arrangement with Howell and Sumner playing guitar runs over a Bossa Nova backing. Very nice. Johnny Mercer's ballad, I Thought About You, gets a finger picked overlay by Howell giving it a bit of a country styling but the warm chords of Sumner maintains the jazz richness under Howell's understated vocals. Another jazz standard with  Bossa beat is I'll Remember April and the beauty of the melody is enhanced by the poise of Howell, Weinheimer and Sumner on this instrumental remake. Horace Silver's Song For My Father is another jazz track ...

I Just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tryin' To Get To You , from The Nighthawks and it's energy packed. Opening with Come Love , the Nighthawks have a new lead guitar player, Dan Hovey who also covers lead vocals. With Mark Wenner on lead vocal and harmonica, Mark Stutso on drums and lead vocal and Paul Pisciotta on bass and vocal, these guys can harmonize. I Know Your Wig Is Gone has a real nice shuffle pace with lead vocal by Hovey and giving both Wenner and Hovey a nice opportunity to show their skills. Very nice. Rain Down tears is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it dark easy pace and solid vocals by the crew. The guys vocal blending is strong and Wenner and Hovey each take fluid solos adding to the tension. Very nice. Chairman of the Board is a cool blues rocker with a drone bass line (we all love them) and alternating guitar and harmonica soloing and some of my favorite lead vocals on the release by Stutso . Wrapping the relea...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Church House Blues , from Crystal Shawanda and it's an interesting mix of pop, R&B and blues. Opening with title track, Church House Blues , Crystal Shawanda is upfront with her powerhouse voice with Louis Winfield on drums, Dave Roe on bass, Dewayne Strobel on guitar, Peter Keyes on keys, Dana Robbins and Miqui Guittierez on sax. Bluesy ballad, Evil Memory has a really nice feel with melodic guitar soloing and strong vocals by Shawanda. Blues rocker, Rather Be Alone has a real nice sway, emphasized by precisely placed guitar accents and warm organ. Hey Love has an early 60's rock rhythm and possibly the strongest track on the release with warm vocal backing by the McCrary Sisters, Angela Hurt, KG Green, and Quisha Wint. Bigger Than The Blues is definitely the radio track on the release with it's strong melody, solid vocal lead and concise guitar solo making it the ideal track. Wrapping the release ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Magnificent Heart , from Peter Karp and has nicely blends rock, blues and folk throughout the release. Opening with Sitting On The Edge Of The World , Karp on lead vocal and guitar and Kim Wilson on harmonica find a solid balance in contemporary blues with John Ginty on B3, Niles Terrat on bass and Michael Catapano on drums. She Breaks Her Own Heart has a cool, swampy, R&B feel with a cool sax solo by David Kasper and horn work by Jacob Wynne on trumpet. The Grave has a cool, low slung feel with Karp pulling out his slide and Wilson adding some real nice harmonica and Ginty adding real depth on B3. The Cold City Horns really funk up Let It On Out , with a solid bass line by Terrat and nicely woven guitar and horn jamming. Very cool. Going Home is a roots blues style track with ace harmonica work by Jason Ricci, slick resonator slide work by Karp and military style snare drum work by Capano.  Wrapping the rele...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Goin' Home, by Blind Lemon Pledge and he gets a great Delta sound going. Opening with I Feel Like Going Home, Pledge is on steel string guitar and slide with his wailing vocal with Peter Grenell on bass, delivering the word. Very original sound for a great opener. On Come Back Baby, another solid entry, Pledge shows a solid blend of his artful acoustic guitar work, some even sounding Mali influenced, and vocal strength on another Delta style track. Very nice. JJ Cale's Crazy Mama is a strong contemporary entry with moderate changes from Cale's original. With the jangle of the resonator on his finger picking and the warmth of the slide, this is a nice remake. Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime gets a new look with more of an understated take than I've heard from the many interpretations. There's no grand electric guitar blow out as with most remakes, but Pledge manages the track nicely delivering...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The Shadows , from Tyler Morris , and it's a cool blues rocker. On this, his second release, Morris plays lead guitar and sings with band mates Terry Dry on bass, Matthew Robert Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on B3 and Wurlitzer. Gary Moore's hard driving rocker, Movin' On , sees the band on full tilt with Morris throwing every rock based riff you can think at it. Quick fingered runs, and bends with just a bit of distortion to make it sound dirty gives this track it's sting. Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito guest on vocals on Tony Joe White's Polk Salad Annie . Maintaining that original swamp rock feel this is a cool track with Morris working the slide nicely  over the steady drumming of Johnson. Bluesy ballad, Temptation , is Morris' best showcase of his vocal strength and Stephens' B3 enhances the tension giving Morris a nice platform to play melodic blues runs on guitar. Amanda...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Bodhisattva Blues , from Reverend Freakchild and as always, he puts a cool spin on the blues. Opening with I Can't Be Satisfied , Freakchild puts a funky spin on Waters' stellar hit with loads of acoustic slide and Chris Parker on drums. Excellent! Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster also gets a more low slung treatment with cool slide and vocals by Freakchild. Scott Hackler does a real nice job of rolling the piano on this one and with Malcolm Oliver on bass and Parker on drums, solid shot. John Lennon's Yer Blues has always been one of my favorite rock/blues tracks and Freakchild must share that sentiment with his cover. With Mark Karan on lead guitar, Robin Sylvester on bass, Hugh Pool on harmonica, Melvin Seals on organ and Parker on drums, this track is packing. Rev Gary Davis' Death Don't Have No Mercy gets a more contemporary almost folk rework and Freakchild's voice carries the l...