Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Sky , Randy Lee Riviere , and it's got a cool stripped down blues rock feel but more like pre classic (rock) than newer Stripes or Keys efforts. Opening with American Redoubt , Riviere on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace with a James Gang kind of vamp and monotone singing. I actually think this is quite interesting with Kevin McKendree on guitar and keys, Kenneth Blevins on drums, and David Santos on bass. Needles has a slinky southern rock structure, blues rock guitar lead, but blended with Lou Reed vocal aesthetics. Very interesting. What You Know About Pain? is a funky blues rocker with a strong underlying guitar lead. I haven't really heard anything like this since early Savoy Brown. This is definitely my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the set is ballad, Cold Cold River with a simple melody and rich backing vocals by Ann, Regina and Freda McCrary. This is an interesting release and certainl...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Sky , from The Reverend Shawn Amos and the Brotherhood and it's an airy mix of folk, rock , blues R&B... You name it. Opening with, Stranger Than Today , Amos on lead vocal and harp, backed by Brady Blade on drums, Christopher Thomas on bass, and Chris Roberts on guitar the feel is high plains and relaxed. On Counting Down The Days , the band gets a real interesting groove going with an odd guitar riff, and great backing vocals by Piper Amos, Sharlotte Gibson and Kenya Hathaway and featuring a really expressive harp solo by Amos. Very nice. Hold Back is a driving rocker with cool, Ike and Tina backing vocals. Really cool. Rolling shuffle, 27 Dollars is one of my favorites on the release is wild vocals, a super piano solo by Matt Hubbard and a tight rhythms by Blade. Wrapping the release is a cool New Orleans style track, Keep The Faith, Have Some Fun with Jamelle Adisa on trumpet, Marc Bolin on sousaphone...