Bman's Blues Report

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 ...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, You Greasy Devil , by Hardcore Sex and it's raw and real and I like it. Opening with Clarksdale , a modern stripped down blues, Bear Ryan wails the lyrics and plays drums and Brian Johnson has super saturated and distorted guitar, not dissimilar but not the same as early The Black Keys with heavy blues and punk edge. This is great! Sister has a soulful vocal line by Ryan and Johnson's slide work is fatter than fat with a catchy guitar vamp and showing a band that is just loose enough to give it a rag tag feel but tight enough to keep you glued. Down My Throat takes raw to the next level with overt sexual lyrics that give the raw bluesy feel even more edge. This duo takes the blues as close to punk as I've heard it and has super aural presence. Great guitar tone man! Excellent! Wrapping the release is Tiger Meat ,a led footed blues rocker with a really wide girth and erotic lyrics. This band knows how to hold i...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fresh Air , from Johnny Nicholas and it's got breadth. Opening with Moonlight Train , Nicholas keeps it light with his own vocal and harmonica backed by Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar and John Chipman on drums. An early blues sound drives this track with purity. Sleepy John Estes' Kid Man Blues is up next with a cool bop. Cindy Cashdollar makes an appearance with some cool slide and Newcomb adds in nice mandolin giving this track a whole new feel. With a Little Feat kind of funk, Blues Time , has a real nice groove. Backaing himself on guitar with Cashdollar on slide and super percussion and drums by John Chipman and Bruce Hughes this track has a real nice feel. Country flavored, Red Light , gets a real nice lap flavor from Cashdollar and with slick piano work, Steve Riley on button accordion and Newcomb's guitar, Nicholas' vocals are perfect. Sweet Katrina has a smoky Latin feel emphasized by precise pi...

Heralded Austin Musician Johnny Nicholas Brings a Breath of Fresh Air with New Blues/Roots CD Coming September 2 AUSTIN, TX – Acclaimed roots musician Johnny Nicholas has announced a September 2 release date for his new CD, Fresh Air , which showcases his multiple talents on various guitars and soulful vocals for an album surely to be one of the best musical revelations of the year. Watch the Johnny Nicholas video that includes musical excerpts from the Fresh Air album: Fresh Air was produced by Bruce Hughes and recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Scrappy Jud Newcomb (guitars, mandolin, mandocello), John Chipman (drums, percussion, vocals) and Bruce Hughes (bass, vocals, percussion), plus a guest list that includes Cindy Cashdollar (lap steel and additional guitars), the new CD creates a satisfying statement of true American roots music at its finest and most authentic. “ Fresh Air is a collection of ...

I just received the newest release (July 8, 2016), A Little Too Late ,from Travis Green and it's quite good. Opening with title track, A Little Too Late , Travis Green on super lead vocals, shows country two step style, with Kid Andersen on guitar, Randy Bermudes on bass, Jason Hansen on drums, and nice key work from Jim Pugh. Cowboy styling on Please Don't Cry has a lot of polish with Lisa Leuschner Andersen on harmony. This is a real nice track that should hit the radio. Everybody Knows crosses over more to a rock sound, still influenced by country flavor. With the line "Everybody Knows That You're A Bitch A Heart" it is an auto hook that will certainly be a crowd favorite. Solid bass work from Bermudes and sassy sax work from Nancy Wright give this track a solid kick. Blues based ballad, The Only Love , has really nice organ work by Pugh giving it a great feel. Kid Andersen lays in some real nice bluesy country guitar riffs for good measure. Very cool. Kee...

I just received the newest release, SoulSlide , from Jeff Plankenhorn and it's a cool melodic release with a country twist. Opening with Lose My Mind , a gospel flavored track, Jeff Plankenhorn shows strong vocal prowess and excellent electric slide skills. Joined by Miles Zuniga on guitars, Yoggie on bass, Brannen Temple on drums and Ruthie Foster and Malford Milligan on backing vocal, this track is excellent! Sam and Dave's, You Got Me Hummin' get's a cool make over with lead vocals shared by Plankenhorn and Milligan, backing vocals by Foster and relentless with fat slide leads. Very nice. Trouble Find Me lays back a bit with more of a pop country flavor. Warm vocal harmonies, organ work by Dave Scher and Rami Jaffe complimented by a super slide guitar voice makes this a prime radio track. Like Flowers has a driving rock beat with Plankenhorn and Foster trading lead vocals. Strong slide work on this track makes it a real strong seller, nicely complimenting the ...

Austin-Based Dave Insley Is Just the Way That I Am on New CD Coming April 29 from DIR Records Latest Country Disc Features Special Guests Kelly Willis, Dale Watson, Elizabeth McQueen, Redd Volkaert and Rick Shea CD Release Party Set for April 23 rd at The White Horse AUSTIN, TX – Dave Insley announces an April 29 release date for Just the Way That I Am , the latest album from the Austin-based singer/songwriter issued on his own DIR Records imprint. Backing him on the new CD are the members of his regular band, Dave Insley’s Careless Smokers, along with several special guests including singers Kelly Willis, Elizabeth McQueen and Dale Watson, as well as guitarists Redd Volkaert and Rick Shea.       Dave Insley will celebrate the new disc with a CD release party at The White Horse in Austin on Saturday, April 23rd (500 N. Comal, Austin, Texas 78702 - doors open at 3 pm). The evening lineup includes: 7:00 pm - dance lessons with Two ...

Austin-Based Singer/Songwriter Ashley Monical Is Facing the Shadow on Debut CD, Coming October 16 on Firecat Records New Album Features Members of the Band of Heathens AUSTIN, TEXAS – Austin-based singer/songwriter Ashley Monical announces an October 16 release date for her debut CD, Facing the Shadow , on Firecat Records. Produced by John Evans and recorded in nearby Wimberley, Texas, Facing the Shadow is the calling card for an exciting new Americana artist, showcasing 11 original songs either written or co-written by Ashley Monical. Backing Monical (lead vocals, guitar and keyboards) on the new disc are Falcon Valdez (drums) and Scott Davis (bass, guitar and organ), with special guest appearances by Emily Bell on background vocals, Eleanor Masterson on violin and Trevor Nealon on keyboards. Monical will tour substantially in support of the album’s release, including dates throughout Texas, plus Tennessee, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. The...