Bman's Blues Report

The "original Blues Brothers " bring their Windy City blues stylings to NYC on this vintage 1978 concert album! Performing a set of standards, fan favorites and heavily improvised jams, these recordings drip with smoky atmosphere, emotion-packed antics and extremely cool vibes! The legend of the Wells-Guy blues era continues to grow - and this incredible concert album will surely add to the power of that rich legacy! 🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand) Add this Record to Your Collection Available in Heavyweight Vinyl, CD, and Digital Formats. 🛒 Buy Album on Amazon Store As an Amazon Associate, Bman earns from qualifying purchases. < The Deep Dive Can't tell you how excited I am to get this new live release from Jr. Wells and Budddy Guy .   Recorded Live in NYC the release opens with C...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sunset Blvd 1969 , by Humble Pie and it’ gives a very cool insight into one of the most dynamic blues rockers of the era. Headlined by Peter Frampton , a well known guitar wiz and Steve Marriott , possibly the best blues rock vocalists of our time, this band was spectacular. This is a recording that I have never heard and recorded live at the Whiskey A Go-Go , this catches the band in all of it’ s rawness and very finely recorded on their first US tour. Opening with the Yardbirds ’ For Your Love , this track has a whole new feel. Jerry Shirley sets a cool bongo like rhythm and Peter Frampton plays Flamenco  stylized acoustic guitar, backed by Marriott on acoustic rhythm guitar. Marriott, always soulful wails the lyrics, complimented by Frampton who plays lush acoustic lead throughout. This is a real cool track and not at all what you’d expect from the band who “Rocked the Fillmore” but it’s quite good. Next up i...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, self titled Two Wolf and it's a solid, blues based rocker. Opening with Keep On Movin', Two Wolf features four seasoned players with Lance Lopez on lead guitar and vocals with Greg T. Walker ( Blackfoot ) on bass, Kris Bell on guitar and vocals and Rusty Valentine on drums and vocals. Definitely a guitar blazing band with well blended vocals and scorching guitars, this is a hot opener. Will I Believe has an edgier feel, penciled by Bell and wide open guitar with plenty of overdrive and powerful drumming by Valentine. Percussive guitar work permeates The Wrong Road and paired lead vocals give the track a definite radio presence. Searing lead guitar work with the addition of wah and southern influenced lead guitar phrasing and riffs give the track a distinctive feel. Fox Chase really has the Southern rock aggressiveness with dueling guitars (like Blackfoot or Skynyrd ) really giving the listener the adrenalin...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Temple of Blues , from Cactus , and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Bukka White's Parchment Farm really rocks. Using Mayall's basic arrangement, Carmine Appice on drums really drives it hard with Billy Sheehan on bass, Jim McCarty on guitar, Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar and Jim Stapley on vocal and harp. Excellent opener. Willie Dixon's Evil gets a real nice heavy makeover with heavy weight drum work by Appice and great guitar lead by McCarty. Dug Pinnick on bass really sets the groove and Dee Snider on lead vocal is outrageous. Coopper and White's country anthem, No Need To Worry is now a slow blues with excellent vocal and guitar phrasing by Warren Haynes with Jorgen Carlsson on bass and Appice on drums. Cactus original (from their 70's album) Big Mama Boogie (Pts 1&2) is a great track with Appice in his own seat at drums and James Caputo on bass. Stapley on vocal and harp does a r...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Slow Ride - Live In Concert , from Foghat and it's an excellent record of the energy produced by one of the best blues rock bands of their time. Spawned from Savoy Brown, Kim Simmonds brain child, Lonesome Dave Peverett (vocal and guitar), Tony Stevens (bass), Roger Earl (drums), joined up with slide master Rod Price and Foghat was an immediate hit. This concert was recorded in 1999 after the departure of Price and joined by Molly Hatchet's Bryan Bassett resulting in this line up. Opening with Drivin' Wheel , Bassett's gain saturated slide work gets things going and Peverett's incredible pipes lead on this terrific opener. Always known as a potent rocker Earl and Stevens provide a serious bottom. Excellent opener. On Elmo James' deep blues, It Hurts Me Too , again Peverett and Bassett have just a magical sound. Soulful vocals and overdriven slide is killer and with Earl and Stevens on the bottom, th...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back In Time , by The Hillbilly Moon Explosion and it's a strong blend of retro, country and punk infused rock. Opening with Sometimes Late At Night , Emanuela Hutter on lead vocal and rhythm guitar leads the way in fine style. Duncan James on lead guitar drives the boat with slashing punk like lead and Dick Dale riffs, backed by Oliver Baroni on bass and Sylvain Petite on drums. Solid opener. Knocked Down has a great bass lead with Baroni on lead vocal and James again showing nods to Dale with echo and cool underplayed rockabilly lead. Petite keeps the rhythm with rim shots. Very cool. Moody, A Sudden Ring , is really nice with traces of Hope Sandoval in the vocal and the addition of tremolo guitar work, James mixing in a cool baritone guitar and Baroni adds piano to the mix. Country flavored, Always Just You , is a really nice track with simple vocal lead by Hutter's voice isolated over clean guitar, bass, and d...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Need A Star In My Life , from Humble Pie and it's good to hear Mr. Marriott on some new tracks. Opening with Sam Cooke's Shake , Marriott and Clem Clempson lay down a solid rock and roll riff and Marriott has at it vocally with Greg Ridley on bass and Ian Wallace on drums. Lloyd Price's Send Me Some Lovin' features Tim Hinkley on lead vocal who does a really nice job, also contributing piano and organ which really sets it off nicely. Marriott's Street Rat has a real Humble Pie feel with trademark vocals and a driving beat. High and Happy is reminiscent of Hot n Nasty with just a little more R&B groove. Marriott truely has one of the best rock soul vocals of all time. Marriott's Louisiana Blues is really sweet with wild vocals and a potent bottom. Clempson and Marriott get a chance to rip a bit on guitar, complimented by Wallace on drums. Cocaine , a Pie composition, gets that funky, Pie, gr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Start Over Again , from The Rockats and it's a great rocker. Opening with Nervous Breakdown , it's hard not to sing along with it's classic rockabilly flavor and even some Johnny Cash like vocal. This is and excellent opener with Dibbs Preston on vocal, Danny B. Harvey on guitar, Barry Ryan on guitar, Clem Burke on drums and Smutty Smiff on bass. With it's surfy feel, Rock Baby Rock , will get you bobbin with Ryan taking the first solo and Harvey taking the second solo. Very cool. Low slung bluesy ballad, Start Over Again could get all the couples on the dance floor and a real nice guitar solo by Ryan gives the track a solid blues kick. One of my favorites on the release is swinging, Lucky Old Rockabilly has super guitar riffs by Harvey and Preston's vocals are always solid. Wrapping the release is Tanya Jean with Tim Scott on guitar with Ryan and Tommy Darnell on drums. This is a straight up rocker w...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jukebox Junkie , by Finnish rocker Andy McCoy and it's a solid rocker with a twist. Opening with I'm Gonna Roll , a great power rocker with a driving beat, McCoy is up front on guitar with Sammy Aaltonen, Matthew Janaitis and Tommi Piipponen on vocal, Christian Wentzel on drums and Matthew Janaitis on bass.  Hot Night In Texas gas a great thumping bottom with Jamie Hembree and Niki Westerback on vocal and Jouni Kari on keys giving McCoy a great platform to show his guitar aero acrobatics. Very cool. Climax Blues Band's I Couldn't Get It Right , gets a minor redo with Janaitis on vocals and Roni Star on percussion, Kari on keys and overlayed guitar soloing by McCoy. 60's surf styling comes to play on Funnel of Love featuring Sofia Zida on vocal and space age keyboard work by Kari and some otherworldly guitar from McCoy. Wrapping the release is UKSubs' Countdown with a cool rock bottom by Janaitis a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Early Sides 1963-1973 from Linda Gail Lewis and is runs the gamut from early R&B to early rock, country and blues. Opening with CC Rider , Lewis on vocal really swings it. Joined by Scotty Moore on guitar and George Webb on bass, Morris Tarrant on drums, W R Fields on and with honking sax work by Luke Wright, this track really hums. With telling, string backing, country ballad, Small Red Diary is a solid showcase for Lewis' vocals with Jerry Reed on guitar, Harold Bradley on guitar, Bob Moore on bass and Buddy Harmon on drums. Blues rocker, Jim Dandy , has great energy with flashy guitar work by Mike Deasy and Ben Benay and Butch Parker on keys. Another solid country ballad, My Heart Was The Last One To Know . With Pig Robbins on piano, Kenneth Lovelace on fiddle and solid steel guitar work, this is a classic. Another great country entry is What Is Love with potent steel guitar work, Robbins on piano and Lovelace...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Legend , by Junior Wells , and it's terrific. This is a compilation of vintage singles from the 50's and 60's and includes the entire gamut. Opening with Cut That Out , Junior Wells trademark harp sound is front and center with his vocal, joined by Johnny Jones on piano, Louis Myers on guitar, Dave Myers on bass and Odie Payne on drums. Excellent! Well's most notable track, Hodo Man (HooDoo Man) is on deck with Wells paired with Elmore James on his infamous slide guitar. Early In the Morning features the great Otis Spann on piano pushing Wells to the limit with Muddy Waters on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass  and Odie Payne on drums... What a lineup! On Lawdy! Lawdy! Wells harp seems to float on air, Spann on piano is excellent and of course the entire band really rocks. Syl Johnson adds guitar flair to Two Headed Woman over an active bass line by Dave Myers.  Slow blues, I Could Cry is a really gre...

 I just had the opportunity to review a recent release, A Tribute to Eric Clapton from Cleopatra Records and it covers much of his popular music over his vast career. Opening with JJ Cale's, Cocaine, blues guitar man and vocalist Kirk Fletcher and organ master Brian Auger team up for what may be Clapton's biggest hit. With Clapton like phrasing  Fletcher sets the pace for the balance of the release.  From the Cream era, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton composition, The Sunshine of Your Love is actually pretty interesting with Eric Gales on vocal and on guitar. Gales vocals are solid and his guitar soloing explosive, balancing out the Baker like powerful drumming by Adam Hamilton. Bob Marley's I Shot The Sherriff , was certainly a cool choice by Clapton for his 461 release and covered here by Pat Travers on vocal and guitar and joined by Artimus Pyle on drums has just a bit more rock that Claptons version with a great cowbell line and excellent riffs by Travers. Certain...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Specials & Beyond from Neville Staple and it's a straight ska pop release. Opening with Right From Wrong , OK Two-Tone Ska legend Neville Staple and his wife Sugar Staple are upfront, joined by Steve Armstrong on bass, Matty bane on drums, Joe Atkinson on keys, Billy Shinbone on guitar, Drew Stansall on sax, and Peter Johnson on trombone. With the addition of Armstrong on vocal, Don't Let Life Pass You By has just a touch of Northwest indie influence making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. A twist of reggae on a DJ mix of Miss Dis n Dat makes this another stand out track with the addition of Clint Eastwood on vocals. World Turned Upside Down has a more sophisticated arrangement with really nice accents by Shinbone on guitar, Armstrong on bass and trombone by Peter Johnson. Wrapping the release is earlier smash hit, Monkey Man . A straight forward ska track, it's energy is perfect to ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Animals Reimagined: A Tribute To Pink Floyd and it's quite interesting. Opening with Pigs On The Wing, Part 1, Cutting Crew vocalist, Nick Crew is paired with Jethro Tull's Martin Barre for an ethereal acoustic intro that nicely wets the appetite. The first of three major compositions on the release, (17 minute) Dogs, features Rainbow's Graham Bonnet on lead vocal, UFO's Vinnie Moore on guitar, Utopia bassist Kasim Sulton, Dream Theater key player Jordan Rudess and King Crimson drummer Pat Mastelotto. This is a really cool idea of bringing together contemporary progressive players to reinterpret these masterpieces. We've got a different lineup for the 2nd of the major compositions, (11 and a half minute) Pigs (Three Different Ones) including Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie, Return To Forever and major solo artist Al DiMeola on guitar, Blue Oyster Cult bassist Joe Bouchard, Moody Blues  key player Par...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Energy Overload , from Carmine Appice-Fernando Perdomo Project and it is packed with energy. Opening with Blown Speaker Boogie , the band leaves no room for misunderstanding...they are here to rock. With the firm bottom of Appice (ex Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck) on drums and accomplished guitarist, Fernando Perdomo on bass and guitar, this track is hopping. Perdomo plays solid blues rock riffs against his own aggressive bass riffs and fluid progressive rock guitar lead. Very cool. Title track, Energy Overload is a hot rocker with both partners on overdrive. Perdomo adds fluid keyboard work to this already powerful mix of bass and guitar paired with Appice on drums for a driving Steve Morse vibe. Rocket To The Sun is a progressive rocker with a dynamic drum bottom and driving guitar vamp. Great driving music! One track on this release really stands out for me and that's McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed . Taken at...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Legends Play The Beatles , from Cleopatra Records , and it's an interesting mix of Beatles covers by notable rock, pop and folk icons. Opening with Here Comes The Sun , Richard Page has the lead vocal and Steve Morse has the guitars, backed by Jay Schellen on drums and Billy Sherwood on keys. With a nearly identical arrangement to the original, Page sets the stage. Heart's Ann Wilson does an acoustic cover of Across The Universe backed by acoustic guitar and percussion. Very nice. Surprise rockers Molly Hatchet Cover Back In The USSR ... Beach Boys style backing vocals and all. Air Supply covers, A Long And Winding Road with a bit more theatrical vocal lead by Russell Hicthcock and nice bass work by Billy Sherwood. Another interesting cover is Tomorrow Never Knows by Electric Moon. Komet Lulu's FX, Sula Bassana synth and drums by Marcus Schnitzler rocks this track. My disappointment on the release is Jack Bruc...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Blues Pathway , from Kirk Fletcher and I really like it. Opening with R&B flavored, Ain't No Cure For The Downhearted , Fletcher is front and center on lead guitar and vocal over a pumping bass line by Travis Carlton and drums by Lemar Carter, with Jeff Babko on keys, Joe Sublett on sax and Mark Pender on trumpet. Strong opener. No Place To Go is one of my favorite tracks on the release with is stepping pace, strong vocals and the horn work of Sublett and Pender accenting crisp guitar riffs by Fetcher. Very nice. Slinky blues, Struggle For Grace , is in the vein of King's Thrill is Gone with solid lead vocals and stinging lead guitar by Fletcher, David Kida on drums and warm horn support by Sublett and Pender. Super. Slow blues, Heart So Heavy really finds Fletcher in a nice groove with his trademark soulful guitar bends and fluid runs and his vocals sound as good as ever. Excellent! Sonny Boy Williamson...