Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lemon Live! , from Bling Lemon Pledge and it's solid rural style blues. Opening with Blackeyed Suzie , Blind Lemon on vocal and slide guitar set the pace with a traditional sound, trading lead with Sioux City Slim on harmonica, and backed by Mr. Peter Grenell on bass and Rockin' Juli Moscovitz on drums. With an easy blues rock feel, Sugar Rush has suggestive lyrics and easy going melodic harmonica work by Slim. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Muddy Waters' I Feel Like Goin' Home , with solid lead vocals and raw, acoustic slide by Blind Lemon and melodic harmonica lead by Slim. Very cool. Another favorite of mine from the release is original composition, You Can't Get There From Here , with a Tampa Red/Bob Dylan feel. I like it's laid back easy vocal feel and nicely composed instrumentation by Slim on harmonica. With it's snappy rhythm, Railroad Mama is another of my favorites with ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blind Raccoon and NOLA Blue Collection Vol. 4 , and it's a solid mix of blues and rock tracks. Opening with blues rocker, Sorry , Mark Cameron shows solid vocals, slide guitar and harmonica carrying a radio worthy melody. Funky blues rocker, Devil in the Dark is a cool entry by Michele D' Amour & The Love Dealers. With strong organ support and cool guitar and sax solos,  this track has a laid back feel. Trudy Lynn covers a Bluesbusters' track, If Your Phone Don't Ring and with just the right strut, and blues attitude, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wily Bo Walker's I Want To Know has a real nice R&B feel with interwoven bass, guitar and keyboard backing under Walker's infectious lead and backing vocals. Very nice. Super shuffle, Back Door Woman Blues by the Waydown Wailers sets a nice pace with strong vocals and a cool piano/guitar exchange. David Gogo sets up a simple guita...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Satchel Full of Blues , from Blind Lemon Pledge and it's an easy going folk blues rocker. Opening with steady rocker, Wrong Side Of The Blues with it's acoustic side approach but it rock rhythm. With BLP on vocal, guitar and harmonica, Peter Grenell on bass and Juli Moscovitz on drums. Moving to an amplified resonator guitar, BLP sets a slide riff under his traditional blues like vocal phrasing and cool harp response. His raw, side technique adds nicely to it's authentic feel. Ballad, Blue Heartbreak , has a sweet, R&B feel with a light touch backing, with a simple break for his melodic guitar soloing, really calling attention to BLP's vocal lead. Very nice. Shuffle track, Detour Blues has a clean, easy rock structure and forward focused vocals over a simple guitar/drum/bass backing and harmonnica accompaniment. With cool rock changes in melody, a radio style track. Before I Take My Rest has a count...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 3  from Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection and it's chocked full of tasty tracks. Opening with Time To Forget You , from Willie Bo Walker and Danny Flam , a slow paced blues track with screaming slide and fat horns is always a great start. John Nemeth 's contribution, I Can See Your Love Shine , has a cool modified reggae beat with some tasty guitar and harp work with a poppy feel. Clarence Spady 's, Surrender is a warm, slow blues with cool, soulful vocals, tight, nicely phrased guitar riffs and crystal clear piano. Laura Tate 's I Need A Man , features solid vocals and with punchy horns and snappy drums, and really nice piano work, commands attention. CD Woodbury performs classic, Can't Eat That Stuff No More , with plenty of humor and spunk. Dudley Taft blends blues and rock for The End Of The Blues , with his own stylistic boogie rock and rock guitar styling. Rocker, Memphis Hotline , is Bri...

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, Evangeline , from Blind Lemon Pledge and it's an interesting slice of contemporary blues. Opening with, Buley's Farm , a modern interpretation of an original chain gang work song, BLP recaptures the spirit of the old Lomax recordings. Very cool. One of the most curious, and possibly my favorite track on the release is Brimstone Joe with it's 30's cadence and clever lyrics. Swing track, Jump The Willie has a light, bright feel, jazzy guitar accompaniment and light brushes and piano for kicks. Slick. Language Of Love has a cool, Latin rhythm and percussion and with BLP's vocals almost sounds like The Kinks "Apeman". Very interesting. Wrapping the release is title track, Evangeline , with cool slide and resonator tones over a bluesy ballad. A solid closer for a cool release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and F...

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...

I just received the newest release, Evangeline , from Blind Lemon Pledge and it is cool and quirky. First I've got to say, I really dig his name and sense of humor. Opening with work farm track Buley's Farm , I really think this track is cool and like nothing I have heard recently (except of a Taj Mahal release, Mulebone I think). Featuring solo vocal lead by BLP and backed by the Mississippi State Prison Farm Jubilee Singers and just a stripped down acoustic slide part, this track is about as spartan as they get. Very cool! Next up is Jennie Bell , an acoustic ballad in the flavor of early Bob Dylan. Brimstone Joe is a cleverly constructed ballad with a really nice melody. Breaking the basis of the track and expanding into a ragtime track with Hugh Jorgan on keys and Isaac Izzy Cumming on drums. Midnight Assignation is really a stripped down rocker like a New York poet. With some simple but fluid slide riffs this track is a nice contrast to the balance of the release. Go...