Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review themost recent release, Tell Tale Heart by the Avey Grouws Band and it runs the gamit from straight up radio focused, vocal tracks and some stiff, guitar blues balladry. Opening with rocker, Love Raining Down , Jeni Grouws on lead vocal and rhythm guitar takes the lead, with Chris Avey driving the train with agressive lead guitar riffs, Randy Leasman on bass, Bryan West on drums and Nick Vasquez on keys. Crisp opener. With a strong guitar fed, R&B style Bad, Bad Year has a real nice feel. Avey has just the right amount of  gain and saturation to get a nice growl out of his guitar and Grouws vocals are sassy and powerful. Avey sets off on a gritty blues rock solo which gives the track a stinging kick. Title track, Tell Tale Heart , is a bluesy ballad with a wide open floor for Grouws to shocase her vocals and she really does a nice job. Avey's guitar soloing on this track is the stuff that guitar heroes like Gary Moore are made of wi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil May Care , from Avey Grouws Band and it's a swinging blues release. Opening with shuffle, Come And Get This Love , Jeni Grouws has the leash with lead vocals backed by Chris Avey on guitars, Bryan West on drums, Randy Lesman on bass and Nick Vasquez on keys. A radio flavored track, this one is smooth.  With a driving Latin influenced beat and a western structure, Rise Up is a cool track. Not only does it give the band room to stretch, and Avey a crisp opportunity to lay down some solid riffs, it is also some of my favorite vocals by Grouws on the release. Weary is one of the coolest tracks on the release with a low key background and total vocal melody, over the glistening guitar trim of Avey and Vasquez key work. With a real Latin sway, Dirty Little Secrets has a definite groove. West sets a strong path on drums and Avey channels his inner Peter Green (Santana). Very Nice. Dig What You Do is a real ro...