Bman's Blues Report

Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations bring a wealth of vintage blues authority and roots-rock grit to the forefront of the contemporary Americana scene. Fronted by the soulful, commanding vocals and fiery harmonica work of veteran musician Dustin Arbuckle , the band features an incredibly tight instrumental foundation built on Brandon Hudspeth ’s electrifying guitar lines, Caleb Drummond’s deep bass grooves, and Colby Aiken’s steady, driving rhythm. Emerging from the heartlands, the group has earned a fierce reputation for cross-pollinating traditional delta blues with swampy southern soul , country rock , and high-energy roots swagger. On their latest album, this collective musical maturity takes center stage, channeling decades of road-tested experience into a powerful showcase of unfiltered songwriting, blistering instrumentation, and deeply authentic groove.   🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM   Add this Record to Your Collection Available in Digital Forma...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Getaway , from Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations and it's a solid blues rocker.  Opening with Say My Name , Dustin Arbuckle, formerly of Moreland and Arbuckle, is upfront on harmonica and lead vocals, backed by Branden Hudspeth on guitars, Dr Mark Foley on bass, and Kendall Newby on drums. With a solid rhythm and the strong vocals that M&A was known for, this is a strong opener. With a familiar Muddy Waters like melody, ramped up tempo and Arbuckle's soulful vocals, Across The Desert is a great follow up. You Got To Go crosses further into the rock arena with R&B rhythm and soulful vocals. With a strong harp vamp and a cool guitar riff, Arbuckle's vocals ride high on top like Peter Wolf on JGB. Very cool. Darlin' Dear is a really nice radio track like Jackson Browne meets Marshall Tucker Band. Nicely blended vocals, and a strong melody are the key to this track. Another interesting track is Whe...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Folie a deux, from Hudspeth & Taylor and its a contemporary take on contemporary acoustic blues. Opening with Big Fat Hairy Lie , an acoustic boogie featuring Brandon Hudspeth on acoustic guitar and slide and Jaisson Taylor on vocal and percussion. Solid opener. I Know It's Gonna Rain Again is a nice, quiet, almost supernatural sounding slower blues. Hudspeth's guitar work is patient and supportive under Taylor's vocals. A cool Piedmont Style Candy Man has a happy go lucky feel with articulate picking and casual whistling under the smooth vocals of Taylor. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Low Down Dirty Dealer Man with a cool percussion rhythm and contrasting high fret slide work by Hudspeth. Acoustic guitar run, and title track, Folie a Deux is a really nice display of finger picking style. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Daddy Baby , the most complex and funky of the tracks on this r...