Steve Vai's - Third Vai Academy Guitar Camp To Take Place Jan 2-6th in Carmel, CA

STEVE VAI’S THIRD VAI ACADEMY GUITAR CAMP  TO TAKE PLACE JANUARY 2-6, 2017 IN CARMEL, CA

PASSION & WARFARE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 180 GRAM VINYL NOW AVAILABLE

NORTH AMERICAN PASSION & WARFARE 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR CONTINUES

LOS ANGELES — Steve Vai’s third annual Vai Academy Guitar Camp — Vai Academy 3.0:  “Passion and Technique” — will be taking place in Carmel, CA at the Asilomar Conference Grounds from January 2-6, 2017.  Along with a star-studded lineup of special guests including Al Di Meola, Zakk Wylde, Carlos Alomar and others, Vai will stage the event for players and music lovers of all ages, levels, interests, and tastes. The four-day gathering offers once-in-a-lifetime activities such as jamming with Steve Vai and his band, as well as activities and workshops for master players, beginners, and enthusiastic fans alike.  For more information, including a variety of registration options, visit www.vaiacademy.com.  Register by November 24 and receive a BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive Pedal, TC Electronic Polytune Clip, and a copy of the Tone Wizards eBook when you arrive to Vai Academy.

“I’m so excited that Vai Academy has been as successful as it’s been, and it seems to become more interesting every year,” Steve Vai, the newly-inducted 2016 Long Island Music Hall of Fame Member, remarked.  “For 2017, we chose the Asilomar Conference Grounds in beautiful Carmel, California during the first week of January, which is great because everyone’s ready to start the year fresh after the holidays. This year, we’re going to focus on guitar technique, and we’ll talk about finding inspiration within yourself to write melodies and songs.  The technique is the tool.  It’s your most useful friend to express what’s inside.  We’ll unlock that together.”

“Ultimately, the main goal of Vai Academy is for everybody in attendance to feel incredibly enthusiastic when thinking about their goals, their future, and connection to the instrument, and to make some new friends, maybe find a new bandmate or two, and have a great time.”

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of his landmark album, Passion and Warfare, Vai released Modern Primitive / Passion and Warfare 25th Anniversary Edition, earlier this year via Legacy Recordings.  Modern Primitive includes previously unreleased material either recorded or written following Vai’s first solo record Flex-Able and prior to Passion and Warfare.  The 25th Anniversary version of Passion and Warfare is remastered from the original analog tapes and includes four bonus tracks (“Love Elixir,” “We Are One,” “As Above,” and “So Below”).

Now, a limited edition first time 180 Gram Audiophile vinyl of Passion and Warfare 25th Anniversary Edition is available — impeccably mastered and enhanced on two clear LPs with four recently unearthed bonus tracks from the album sessions, featured in a first time gatefold cover presentation and pressed at R.T.I.  Fans can now hear 1990’s Best Album of the Year, as designated by both Guitar World and Guitar Player, like they have never heard it before.  The 180 Gram Audiophile vinyl is available here:  http://amzn.to/2g3vk1b

Vai is currently on a critically-acclaimed, 100+ date Passion and Warfare 25th Anniversary World Tour celebrating one of the greatest instrumental rock guitar recordings of all time.  For the first time ever, Vai and his band are playing Passion and Warfare from front to back live at each tour stop.  In a show review, Mass Live said Vai “bent notes and minds” and of the performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco, SF Sonic noted, Vai “delivered a masterful performance” and added “it was hard to not get wrapped up in the enthusiasm emanating from Vai, who seemed overjoyed to be playing these songs…his playing demands and holds your attention throughout, a mark of a true master.”

The North American leg of the tour includes these upcoming concerts:    

Nov. 15 - Vienna, VA - The Barns at Wolf Trap

Nov. 16 - Harrisburg, PA - Sunoco Theater at the Whitaker

Nov. 18 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre

Nov. 19 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works

Nov. 20 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre

Nov. 21 - Durham, NC - The Carolina Theatre

Nov. 22 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall

Nov. 23 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre

Nov. 25 - St. Petersburg, FL - Palladium Theatre

Nov. 26 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Parker Playhouse

Nov. 27 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Live

Nov. 28 - Macon, GA - Cox Capitol Theatre

Nov. 29 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse

Nov. 30 - Birmingham, AL - WorkPlay Theatre

Dec. 1 - New Orleans, LA - Joy Theater

Dec. 2 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre

Dec. 4 - San Antonio, TX - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Dec. 5 - Dallas, TX - Bomb Factory

Dec. 6 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom

Dec. 7 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant

Dec. 9 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up

Dec. 10 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

Dec. 11 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theater

Dec. 12 - Scottsdale, AZ - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

To purchase tickets, EVO Experience VIP packages (including front row, meet & greet + Q&A opportunities with Steve), and for more information, visit:  www.vai.com/tourdates/

Known for his intense, virtuosic and instantly recognizable guitar style, Steve Vai is also a visionary composer, consummate producer, and relentless live performer who sculpts musical sound with infinite creativity and technical mastery. At 18 years old, he began his professional musical career transcribing for, and then playing with, the legendary Frank Zappa. More than three decades, more than 15 million in album sales, and three GRAMMY Awards later, Vai has proven himself, in his own right, as one of music’s true originals. While many artists fit easily into a single category, Steve Vai remains unclassifiable.  Throughout the years, Vai has awed fans of all genres with his exceptional guitar skills and musicianship while touring the world as a solo artist, a member of G3, with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, and bands such as Alcatrazz and Whitesnake. As an accomplished audio producer, Vai has written, produced, and engineered all of his solo albums — several released via Favored Nations, his own independent record label that has released over 70 albums by legendary musicians such as Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Lukather, Eric Johnson, Billy Sheehan, Larry Carlton and many more. For Vai, virtuosity and versatility are not mutually exclusive. He has created music for blockbuster films, bestselling video games, national sports franchises, corporate brand initiatives, as well as several accomplished orchestras around the world with whom he has performed. Vai remains one of the most honored guitarists of the past few decades.  His career accomplishments have earned him honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute.  Vai has been honored multiple times by Guitar World and Guitar Player as Guitarist of the Year and Guitar World has ranked him as one of the Top Ten Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

www.vai.com

Blind Lemon Peel All Stars - Don't Tear my Clothes - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Don't Tear My Clothes, from Blind Lemon Peel and it's a good time party. Opening with Wear What I Please, a funky R&B style track, you can tell that this band is high on musicianship and entertainment. With David "Blind Lemon Peel" Hale on lead vocal with the expressiveness of David Bromberg, a nice gliding bass line by Hugh McDonald, cool piano work from Joel Diamond and backing vocals by Randi Dokman, Carol Sylvan, Althea Rogers and Janice Pendarvis this band is real entertaining. Funky New Orleans dripping, My Dog made popular by Mr Elvin Bishop has snappy drumming and crisp guitar riffs from Steve Burgh. This was a hot track by Bishop and it's a hot track by Peel. I like the spirited guitar soloing, vocal mixes and the snare ridden drums. Very nice! No Time Off (For Good Behavior) rides low on a solid bass riff and cool keys. With real nice horn backing and raw vocals this track it has some really nice features including an understated warm, T Bone Walker like guitar solo. Excellent! I'm So Horny (The Crack Of Dawn Ain't Safe) is an obvious crowd pleaser and it's country style 2 step bottom even makes it a demand at the venue for dancers! Clever vocals, raw guitar and round piano tones give it a more serious sound, but it's obvious fun! Title track, Don't Tear My Clothes, has a nice easy pace and Burgh digs in deep for some really soulful guitar lead riffs. The background singers really do a nice job giving this track an early Please Please please kind of feel. Lead singer, Hale, plays up the vocal lead and cool horn work gives it a real nice feel. Burgh takes a hard ride on guitar grinding out some great riffs and Diamond lays down some nice key work as well. Excellent! Shuffle track, Shake Your Love Thang' has a real Bishop feel with a deliberate vocal strut over a cool walking bass line. Burgh and Diamond each take cool solos on the track making it another of my favorites on the release. Can't Get Up (Offa That Much Love) is a real hi stepper with a super backing vocals and light guitar backing rhythm. Diamond lays out some nice funky key work and Burgh paints in some cool guitar riffs of his own. Marry My Money has a swinging style and a great walking bass line. Peel has such a cool vocal style it works well against the tight horn work and warm backing vocals. Keys and sax each get nice solos in with nice punch by the brass. Lots of fun! Fat slide work and harp opens Boogie Man Of Love, with it's drone bass line. Very effective! This track has real hot slide and harp work throughout, with great vocal mixes and the bass and drum rhythm is contagious. This track is great! Wrapping the release is the R&B styled !!!! Everybody. This track would more clearly be titled **** Everybody! With it's playful bass line, soulful sax soloing, power horns and authentic shoop style backing, this track is a super fun closer. This release is really quite solid and should be on your list to checkout.



  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

David M'ore - Passion, Soul & Fire - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Passion, Soul & Fire from David M'ore and it's smokin! Opening with The Devil's Land, a really crisp Texas blues rocker it brings to mind the late great Stevie Ray and his intensity but with a voice that is a cross between Billy Gibbons and Howlin Wolf. Yeah, think about that. This is a super track and one that really hits the spot with M'ore slashing his way on lead guitar and joined by Wade Olson on drums and David De Silva on bass. Excellent! Love Again really hits ZZ Tops' old sound with the gravelly vocals and lead bass rumble. With an aggressive attack and atmospheric backing, M'ore rips a really nice solo on guitar. Stronger Thank I Realize has a almost floating feel along the lines of Robin Trower. M'ore has his own heat and his guitar work really never sounds like someone else. It is straight and tight and aggressive. Very cool! Johan Sebastian Blues rings in my ears with a touch of ZZ Top and a touch of classically oriented Dutch rock giants, Focus. This is a cool, adventurous track with ripping guitar work and great rock beats. You Said That You Love Me is one of those rock giant blues tracks that bands only come up with once in their careers if they're lucky. This is M'ore's, Since I've Been Lovin You (Led Zep) with vocals like Leslie West. Crankin' in at over 10 minutes, sit back, kick up your feet, close your eyes and cruise. Excellent!! Sweet Little Baby opens with simple acoustic guitar riffs but soon blossoms into a fat, sliding machine with thick, greasy vocals. This track has an orchestral Euro feel and solid blues riffs back to back. The 12 Song opens with a Jeff Beck (Willie Dixon) riff and opens into a cool shuffle with creamy guitar tones. M'ore does an excellent job of setting a warm stage for himself to solo over making this another track that really smokes. Cold Blooded is basic rocker with a catchy guitar romp. Every Time I Think Of You is another of my favorite tracks on the release with an Albert King underpinning but with modern blues rock guitar swagger. Very cool! Funky It Up is an interesting track with a light funky bass riff and rock drums but with a more light metal guitar attack. A cool instrumental that hits you just right. Liar returns to the Texas shuffle style with a dominant walking lead blues line. M'ore never lets up on this one, delivering smoking guitar riffs beginning to end. Wrapping the release is Mistreated, a straight forward rocker with a foot on the throttle guitar style never stopping but shifting from 3rd to 5th for tension. Very nice closer to a really super release!

 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

The Bay Area's Blues Guitar Aficionado David M'ore Releases New Album Nov. 2015

The Bay Area's Blues Rock Guitar Aficionado David M'ore to Release New Album Nov. 2015 

 

"Passion, Soul & Fire"  

 

 

David M'ore

 

"High Octane Blues Rock that smolders with salacious bass grooves and really irresistible beats... Add a few portions of electrified sexually-fueled rhythm and blues with some smokin' guitar licks that spellbind the mind all the while creating mesmerizing sounds of Classic Rock. M'ore's throaty vocals reminisce of great soulful rock legends ala Billy Gibbons, Joe Cocker, Warren Haynes, and Ritchie Havens.

 

San Francisco, CA. - San Francisco's intrinsic Bluesman Guitarist David M'ore is thrilled to announce the release of his New Album "Passion, Soul and Fire" Coming Soon... 

 

A mystical guitar man from a bygone era, David M’ore arrived to L.A in the early 90’s committed to alter the musical scene. Club goers and musicians begin to talk about the new kid with the virtuoso aggressive guitar style, raspy vocals, and his high energy fueled Blues-Rock tunes.

 

David M’ore managed to take his guitar pyrotechnics to a different level of instrumental majesty. Performing on a custom made Strat carefully modified to his specs, M’ore demonstrates his acclaimed six string technique on both originals and cover tunes. “I love to pay tribute to those who influenced me. But at the same time I like to be true to who I am,” says M’ore, whose influences include Hendrix, Blackmore, Satriani, J. Winter, Gary Moore, Albert King, and other guitar monsters.

 

From the beginning, traditional Blues and British Neoclassical Hard Rock played a very important role in the evolution of David M’ore style.

 

Born in Argentina, he picked up an old guitar that his godfather bought him for his eighth birthday and immediately began to explore vintage records. “The aggressive sound of the guitar drove me emotionally insane,” David says. “I still listen to those old records from Johnny Winter. That’s where it all began." 

 

A born troubadour, Mr. M’ore moved frequently around the world as well as in the U.S.A before finally settling in Hollywood in 1990. After the separation of his band “Blind Hole” and refusing to accept the change of the grunge movement, he escaped to Sacramento in 1993 where he obtained a music award.

 

If you're a fan of excellent guitar playing, enjoy hard rock that strays towards the blues rather than heavy metal, then you'll cherish David M'ore's expressive and explosive guitar attack. David gives plenty of workout to his vibrato bar, and wah-wah with excellent results. If you are looking for Passion, Soul, and Fire this is it! David M'ore, a man and his guitar. Today you can hear his chops in the San Francisco area with his band.

 

 

A mystical Blues guitar player with virtuoso aggressive guitar style, raspy vocals, and his high energy fueled Blues

~ Rock tunes.

 

Low Rider ain't got nuthin' on this baby... tres hombres y'awl!!!"

~ Scott Thomas Editor Guitarz Forever.com

 

Hear the music from his last release:

"From the Other Side of the River"

via

Reverbnation (Streaming Music)

Web: 

Official Website

Facebook  

twitter 

 

YouTube: 

From The Other Side of The River

http://bit.ly/1hZ9Jn7

Going High
http://bit.ly/1UCv8V2

Right Back on You
http://bit.ly/1OAzeGe

The  Sun Ain't Shininghttp://bit.ly/1Q29kvq

Corinne West Travels the "Starlight Highway" on New CD, Coming May 19 from Make Records

Corinne West Travels the Starlight Highway on New CD, Coming May 19 from Make Records

Special CD Pre-Release Show for Her Full Band Set at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California, on April 4

LARKSPUR, CA – Corinne West announces a May 19 release date for Starlight Highway, the new album from the Californian artist issued on her own Make Records imprint, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution. West will offer local San Francisco Bay Area fans a special advance musical treat in the form of a pre-release show with her full band on Saturday, April 4, at Berkeley’s famed Freight & Salvage venue (http://www.thefreight.org/) starting at 8:00 PM.

Corinne West, who recently returned from an official showcase and additional performances at the International Folk Alliance music conference in Kansas City, will perform a number of songs off the new CD at the Freight & Salvage show, backed by her group The Bandits, which includes several of the musicians who perform with her on Starlight Highway. Additionally, Corinne West and The Bandits will also perform another pre-release show as part of the “Lighted Window Concerts” series at the Unitarian Church in Campbell, California, near San Jose on April 18, at 7:30 PM. Announcements of additional US shows are forthcoming, as is an extensive European tour coming later this year.

A fourth generation Californian, Corinne West, who now resides in the mighty redwood forests of the state’s coast north of San Francisco, has been described as “the Siren of the Sierras” by the SF Bay Area’s Times Herald. Another reviewer from the North Coast Journal in Arcata, California, declared,” “West’s voice invokes angels, if angels had a dangerous side.” Corinne’s powerful and eloquent voice, coupled with the way she forges a song, has earned her a unique identity within the global acoustic roots scene. Relix noted her “voice of gold,” coming at you with honey, velvet-dusk wine and distant sage. Legendary BBC radio DJ Bob Harris proclaimed, “I love Corinne’s music and truly believe in her as an artist. She has spirit, integrity and talent. I am a massive fan.” 

The songs on West’s latest recording came about after a year-long sabbatical in Austria, which culminated in the new disc. “Starlight is my first completely self-produced record,” West says about the sessions. “I wanted to create a body of songs that moved my music forward in new directions, while paying tribute to the music I have done in the past. This influenced my decisions regarding the instrumentation; piano, organ, acoustic rock angles, heavy harmonies, the deep-drive of drums, the laid back floating ballads… I wanted to play with many flavors, and I didn’t hold back on using any spices while in the sonic kitchen.”

Joining her in creating these musical recipes are such celebrated players as Ricky Fataar – drums; Edo Castro - 7 string fretless bass; Kelly Joe Phelps - guitar, vocals; John R. Burr - Hammond organ, Wurlitzer; Karl Sevareid - electric bass; Mike Marshall - mandolin, octave mandolin; Henry Salvia - Hammond organ, piano, Wurlitzer, accordion; and Joe Kyle Jr. – acoustic bass, electric bass. Starlight Highway was recorded at Opus Studios in Berkeley, California; and the Skywalker Ranch in Novato, California.

“I am fortunate to be able to surround myself with extremely talented musicians,” offers West. “Kelly Joe Phelps and I recorded and toured as a duo for two years, and he is highly featured both vocally and on guitar. Mike Marshall produced my 2007 release, Second Sight, and it was pure fire and pearls to have him embellish a few of the slower songs and lend some serious steam to the title track. Ricky Fataar (Bonnie Raitt, Beach Boys) was recommended by my rock-solid engineer, David Luke. We connected right off the bat, and he brought in so much groove and such a bed to lean into. It's amazing how when music is tight... it all becomes beautifully loose. 

Everyone on the record was a gem to work with, and it was a high adventure for me to both steer and gently hit cruise-control at times to get just the right synergy, tones and movement the songs were reaching for. 

“The songs for Starlight Highway have taken quite a journey. Many of them were written in 2011, on the heels of my last release, and have been waiting - wherever it is that songs do wait - for a place to land and sing themselves. The songs are decidedly more revealing than others I have released; less dripping in metaphor, more direct and perhaps stark.”

“This is an intimate record, and covers a lot of territory,” adds West, summing up the new album. “I marvel at how deeply personal experiences so often translate into universal and mythic principals. It’s as though there is an invisible blueprint somewhere, continuously showing up in stories and art. My aim with this recording is to communicate a personal emotive glimpse of what we all experience in our own way, on our own roads, as we climb, fly, fall, isolate, believe, reinvent, connect, dream... Though seemingly different, we are all somehow cut from the same cloth.”

Click here to watch the fundraiser video on the making of Starlight Highway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2S2eV0GLP0

To hear song samples of some of the tracks of her upcoming CD, click on this link: http://www.corinnewest.com/starlight-highway-samples.php

For more information, visit her new website coming soon at www.corinnewest.com

PEACH & the Electric Blues Band Return to WitZend

PEACH & THE ELECTRIC BLUES BAND MAKE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO WITZEND Saturday, March 14 - 9:30 p.m. (1 set only)

(Venice, CA) - Lady of the Blues/guitarist-vocalist (and) bandleader, PEACH, appearing as PEACH & the Electric Blues Band, makes her triumphant return to WitZend, 1717 Lincoln Blvd., in Venice, on Saturday, March 14. One set only at 9:30 p.m. All ages. $10. Info: (310) 702-6765. Advance tickets available at http://witzend.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=164191&cart. PEACH & the Electric Blues Band performing at WitZend last November. (photo by Ed Simon)    "(PEACH) exhibited her guitar skills along with strong singing on Stix Hooper/Will Jenning's 'Never Make Your Move To Soon' and also showcased 'It Meant Nothin' that she co-wrote with Keb' Mo', singing ever so soulfully and supported by Gospel-liker piano solo," writes L.A. Jazz Scene in a review of her  previous show at WitZend last November. "PEACH proves that nice girls CAN sing the blues," asserts Ed Simon in L.A. Beat, in a review of the blues diva's last WitZend gig. "The music seems to flow naturally out of her almost effortlessly, a natural singer (and excellent guitar player too) who kept the crowd at the WitZend transfixed. She sings without the forced 'blues inflection' that many performers add in songs just to make it bluesy. Instead, she has a crystal clear voice that was born to sing the blues," concludes Simon.                                      About...PEACH      PEACH is at the forefront of female-fronted blues acts performing both modern and old-time blues, with an All-Star band of musicians featuring keyboardist Ken Stange (Joe Cocker); guitarist Jamie James (Jamie James & The Kingbees, Steppenwolf); bassist Jervonny Collier (Bruce Hornsby, Pointer Sisters); and legendary drummer James Gadsen (Paul McCartney, B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, Thelma Houston, Ray Charles, Freddie King, many more). In the recent past PEACH has recorded with Taj Mahal, Marty Grebb (Bonnie Raitt, Leon Russell), Reggie McBride (Elton John), Joey Delgado (Delgado Brothers), Garth Hudson (The Band) and Paul Barrere (LIttle Feat). She has co-written with Keb' Mo' and Marty Grebb and is a past Los Angeles Music Awards, Rockwired Radio Awards, All Access Magazine Music Awards, and South Bay Music Awards recipient.      "PEACH has done a duet with Taj Mahal, co-wrote a song with Keb' Mo' and uses her decades of experience to bring real blues to her audience. Her kind spirit and passion make for a unique blend of Blues artist." - INFLUX MAGAZINE.                              PEACH: "Today I Sing The Blues"                                                                    www.peach.us                            https://www.facebook.com/PeachBluesBand?fref=ts

Eclecto Groove Records artist: My Own Holiday - Reason To Bleed - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 17, 2015), Reason To Bleed, from My Own Holiday and it's raggedly cool! This two piece band featuring Joey Chrisman on guitar and vocal and Nick Bartolo on drums opens with Hold On Me, a stripped country blues rocker. With a blues overtone and that just ready to break up to on guitar tone this track is a great start. Up next is Razorblades, another simple rocker with definite roots to the old blues via Ted Nugent, Ozzie, Jack White and the Keys. I especially like the simple full tube distortion guitar solo. Very cool. Two Coins has a really nice feel with all melody on Crisman's vocals, with guitar riffs and drums punching. Excellent! Memphis has a more folksy feel with straight chord strumming (mildly distorted) and drums. Devil In Me actually sounds like what I would think a band would sound like if Jack Bruce and Josh Homme put it together. Very cool! Reason To Bleed has a traditional blues drone note and straight simple rhythm. With rough and tumble drums, this is one of the most radio worthy with a particularly memorable melody and cool guitar solo. Whiskey In The Well is a quiet acoustic ballad which is very nicely written and soft compared to the wide open nature of most of the rest of the release. Nice contrast! On The Floor Blues is one of my favorite tracks with strong tie to early American blues rock like Mountain but with a much more simplified and less amplified sound. Excellent! Smile is a boogie track with distorted vocals and a simple boogie guitar rhythm. Again bringing on the obtuse loose guitar work sets the track apart. Stone Free has a much fuller rock sound sounding less like a 2 piece band and more polished. Single note guitar soloing has more a punk effect. Very cool! Stranded is a sensitive ballad with a straightforward melody. This is another track that could easily garner widespread radio play due to it's universal feel. Don't Shine On Me has a really cool R&B feel with a great groove. The simplicity of the instrumentation compared to the dynamics of the execution, and another loosely grinding full bodied guitar solo makes it another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Right Back Where I Started has a simple country ballad feel. Clean vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment makes this a nice closer for the set. I think that this is an excellent release with guts and teeth. I saw one of the bands that they have been compared to on tv this weekend. This other band, who I really liked has added additional instruments and it took away nearly every drop of edge that they had and the polish was way to apparent. My Own Holiday is a new deal and if you like stripped down rock with a blues edge... this is it!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

AC Myles - Reconsider Me - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Reconsider Me, and I really like it! Opening with Fenton Robinson's You Don't Know What Love Is, Myles shows that he has a terrific voice for soul and guitar riffs to match. Joined by Derrick 'D'Mar Martin on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass and keys, Kid Andersen on rhythm guitar and keys, Nate Ginsberg on piano and keys and Lisa Andersen on backing vocals this track is hot! My definite favorite on the release. Rory Gallagher's Do You Read Me is really hot with a funky flavor and Gallagher's intent blended with SVR's flair. This is a really interesting track an one that will likely appeal to a broad audience. One of my favorite old Elvin Bishop tracks, Rock My Soul, is up next and even though it wasn't a Mickey Thomas era track, Myles vocals have a Thomas timbre. A fun track and a feel good track. Breaking into a full rock track, Myles breaks loose with cool rock riffs and Anderson's backing vocals really add a nice touch. Very nice! Title track, Johnny Adams' Reconsider Me, has a real nice sway and a definite gospel feel reinforced by organ filler and finite piano riffs. Myles further shows his vocal range with near falsetto high notes. His guitar soloing on this track is clean and interesting. Sweet! Roman Carter's Queen Bee has that rolling James Brown R&B feel with Myles taking total command with his strong vocal and nicely appointed guitar details. Myles takes the lead on guitar and shows how nicely a man can lead and follow his own voice. Very nice job! Livin' A Lie shows Myles ability on slide guitar with bad intention. A stylized rock track, this track is really the closest thing to a pop track on the release. With extensive flaming slide work on this track, it's a sure winner. Death Bed Blues is the first down the middle blues track on the release. With a standard 12 bar blues with vocal call and guitar response this track is rock solid. Bart Davenport track, What Is Love, is a simple ballad with a taste of country. Myles uses this simple platform to again show his versatility and nicely executed. Call 'em All Baby comes out of the gate hot with a Lynyrd Skynyrd like swagger. A catchy melody and perfect execution make this the sure fire winner for radio play. Boogie track Three Ways To Fall again finds Myles grabbing the slide and he does a real nice job on this track. His vocal styling and simple sliding technique make for a track that most blues rockers will love. Wrapping the release is Fats Domino's Blue Monday, and man does it get a make over. Myles has done a really sweet job of interpretation and I really like the way his voice sounds on this track. Kind of a mix between Thomas and John Fogherty. This funky rocker is definitely one of the best tracks on the release and a super closer for this very cool release. Looking forward to getting it into my car for further review!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Dickey Betts - Winterland San Francisco, CA 12/14/1974 - Stilladog - Guest Reviewer

Dickey Betts - guitar, dobro, vocals
Jeff Hanna - guitar
Spooner Oldham - organ
Vassar Clements - violin
John Hughey - pedal steel guitar
Oscar Underwood Adams - mandolin
Stray Straton - bass, vocals
Bonnie Bramlett - vocals, percussion
Jerry Jumonville - alto sax
David Walshaw - drums, percussion
Jerry Thompson - drums
Leon Poindexter - acoustic guitar
Walter Poindexter - banjo
Frank Poindexter - dobro

 By 1974, in large part due to Dickey Betts, Capricorn Records and the Allman Brothers Band were experiencing a success more lucrative than anyone could have dreamed. Betts, as a result, found himself free to pursue almost anything he desired musically, without having to worry about finances in the least. The situation allowed him to record his first solo album, Highway Call, and to perform with countless great musicians for the pure joy of playing, without any expectations of making money in the process. Over the course of the previous year, Betts had found a true, authentic voice, and had begun to distinguish himself within the ABB as a unique stylist, blending his love for country, bluegrass, western swing, jazz and rock into a style utterly his own - and one that would soon prove highly influential on all the Southern Rock bands that followed in the Allman Brothers' wake.

Betts’ Great American Music Show featured many of the players from his solo album, including the greatest fiddle player of his generation, Vassar Clements. Both the Poindexters and the legendary Spooner Oldham were also on board, and all these musicians combined to create a show that authentically traced the history of American music. 

Betts begins this Winterland show by showcasing his more acoustic side, with plenty of tight harmonies, sweet picking and relaxed communication between the musicians. Several of the best new songs from Betts’ solo effort are included, including "Rain," "Long Time Gone" and the superb "Hand Picked." The classic instrumental "Hideaway," as well as Allman Brothers' favorites "Blue Sky" and "Southbound," are given this new treatment with great success. Betts, Clements and the Poindexters then venture into historic American music and straight bluegrass for half a dozen songs, beginning with vintage material like "Old Joe Clark" and "Salty Dog," and closing with Vassar Clements raising the roof on "Orange Blossom Special." 

The set's closer, for which the ensemble goes electric, is perhaps its most interesting and exciting moment. This 40 minute version of "Elizabeth Reed" has to be one of the most expansive versions ever played, and is almost beyond description. Everyone in the ensemble gets several chances to shine on this unbelievable jam. All the elements that influence Betts’ music are represented, from jazz to rock to bluegrass and back. This version literally has it all, and stays amazingly cohesive and inspired throughout. The audience demands more, and the band returns for an encore consisting of the obligatory "Ramblin Man" followed by another of Betts’ most requested numbers, "Jessica." This lovely instrumental showcases the inventive playing of this large ensemble, and ventures into new areas only hinted at in versions with the Allman Brothers.
This is one of the finest examples recorded of musicians playing for the sheer joy of music, with no egos or financial concerns getting in the way. Touring this type of show was destined to be a monstrous undertaking - and ultimately a financial disaster - but thankfully, for a brief time in 1974, none of that seemed to matter.

Introduction / Rain 4:58
Blue Sky 11:05
Hide Away 9:11
Hand Picked 13:54
Long Time Gone 5:32
Southbound 9:06
Old Joe Clark 1:47
Salty Dog Blues 3:13
Carolina 2:24
Rollin' In My Sweet Baby’s Arms 3:29
Hard Time Blues 4:05
Orange Blossom Special 3:08
In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed 41:19
Ramblin' Man 7:59
Jessica 12:16 

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”