Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mule , by Henry Townsend , and it's solid old school blues. Opening with Bad Luck Dice , Townsend is on vocal and piano laying down really strong piano blues. This is a great intro of things to come. Townsend's vocal wailing continues into Things Have Changed with terrific piano and added mandolin by Yank Rachell. On boogie piano track, The Old Man's Soul , Townsend changes it up a bit but it's all Townsend with signature piano style and vocals. Very nice. Vernell Townsend has excellent lead vocals on Tears Come Rollin' Down with additional guitar to henry by Norman Merritt. One of my favorite tracks on the release is It's A Hard Road To Travel with some of the more refined vocals by Townsend with smooth piano lead. Rachell joins Townsend on guitar on Talkin' Guitar Blues, another solid romping blues track with a cool jagged rhythm. Piano instrumental, Alley Strut is a cool piano boogie w...

Been trying to write this review for a few days but life keeps getting in the way. I just received the new release, Mule by Port City Prophets and it's a blast. Opening with Close Your Eyes , Tim Kirkendall shows who's boss with a swingin' blues number and solid vocals. On tongue in cheek Jesus Saved My Soul, But... , Troy Tolle gets a fat slide tone going on a traditional slow 12 bar blues format. The rawness of this track with open slide tuning, basic drums by Henry Ancrum and the simplicity of Kirkendall on bass and vocals makes it one of my personal favorites on the release. I Already Know is a gospel/soul style track with added organ by William Nance. This is a particularly cool track showing the best of Kirkendall's vocals. Tolle steps up with a nice guitar solo on this track as well. Mule Is A One Horse Town has a lot of the construction characteristics of the early British blues tracks and I really like it. Possibly the best track on the release. Still k...