Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Johnny Max and His So Called Friends and it's a great blend of NO blues , country, rock and a big pot of fun. Opening with You Can Do Better Than Him , Johnny Max on vocal leads the way with Jim Casson laying down a great NO style drum rhythm and Bill Evans on piano. Mitch Lewis and Dylan Wickens , and Wayne DeAdder add real nice guitar riffs and with Steve Goldberger on bass this is a fun opener. Another track with a bit of attitude and with an easy country beat, I've Said All The Sorrys I'm Gonna Say , should get some good airplay with super lyrics and vocals. Max on vocal is joined by DeAdder who also does some cool guitar work and Casson on drums keeps a steady keel. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I've Never Met A Bridge , with it's country blues feel. N. Jay Burr on tuba adds great bass lines and Max's vocal delivery is perfect over a basic guitar rhythm by Lewis. Another favo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Watch Your Step! , from Mojo Minefield , and it's a cool blues based rocker. Opening with title track, Watch Your Step , Tyler Fry on lead guitar and vocal set the pace with a tight drum rhythm by Ethan Meters, Scott Carere on bass, and organ work by Nick Royal McNeil. Fry cuts loose with some real solid soloing using fuzz and overdrive giving it a real edge. Livin' Ain't That Hard is a strong blues rocker with a great drum rhythm and solid vocal harmonies under Fry's lead vocal and matched with guitar lead with real attitude. Love this track. Change The World is another favorite with a heavy bottom. It got a great call and response with Fry singing the melody and then the trio coming back with a power response (think a more refined War Pigs with super harmonies and fluid bluesy guitar lead). Another strong track. Forget You Blue s is a deeply rooted blues rocker nodding to Muddy but with real rock edge. F...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From Steve's Shed , by Gravely James and it's an upbeat folk blues release. Opening with 103 , James shows a lot of energy on vocal and acoustic guitar with foot stomps and spoon like percussion featuring Gravely James (Chris Madronich) on vocal and guitar. Well structured ballad, Atlantis on My Lips has a radio friendly melody and a quiet approach making it my selection for radio play. With it's driving guitar rhythm and excited vocals, Farewell Anita is likely to be a strong crowd favorite in live performances with a memorable melody, hootin' and hollerin'. Shoot 'em Down has the classic lines of a traditional folk song with a super melody and straight forward accompaniment. With it's winsome whistling, Cold Stone Heart is a peppy little track with snappy guitar riffs and some of James' best vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is Beers with Joe Lapinski, a vibrant and energet...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tired of Talkin' , from Steve Strongman and it's his best release yet! Opening with title track, Tired of Talkin' with a wicked blues fused, southern rocker feel Strongman up front on lead vocal and guitar shows swagger. Backed by Dave King on drums, James Haggerty on bass, Jesse O'Brian on piano, Pat Sansone on on keys, and with Audrey Freed on guitars, excellent opener. Laid back, Still Crazy 'Bout You , is really cool with it's JJ Cale or Levon Helm texture. Strongman's dobro work complimenting his vocal work is the key. Funky, Just Ain't Right , is really fun with some strong slide work by Strongman, and tight bass/drum work by Haggerty and King and heavy organ by Sansone. Excellent! Hi octane blues rocker, Can't Have It All with Strongman on harmonica and guitar and snappy drumming by King really moves. Highway Man falls back into a more pure delta sound with dobro and vocal. This ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Ballad of Albert Johnson , from The Smoke Wagon Blues Band and we got some tasty stuff here. Opening with title track, Ballad of Albert Johnson, a romping boogie with a great bass line courtesy Jason Colavecchia on bass and strong lead vocals and harmonica by Corey Lueck. With Mike Stubbs on guitar, Brandon Bruce on keys, Gordon Aeichele on sax, Steve Sherman on guitar, and Tibor Lukacs on drums, this is a strong opener. Bluesy ballad, Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool is a great showcase for Lueck's vocals and a super radio track. New Orleans flavored, Lay Say Lay has a great beat with great piano work by Bruce and snappy drum work by Lukacs and percussion by Sherman, topped off with really nice sax work by Aeichele and backing vocals by Stubbs, Bruce, Sherman, Colavecchia and Lukacs. Poor Man Blues has a great shuffle feel and gives Lueck a wide open stage to play his harmonica and he does a terrific job, follow...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Prove It On Me , by Rory Block and it's pretty tasty. Opening with Helen Humes' He May Be Your Man , Rory Block uses her laid back bluesy style with some of her best vocals in years, matched by her always concise guitar riffs. Excellent opener. Stuff Smith's If You're a Viper is a great tune, paying tribute to Rosetta Howard. Block's vocals are altered into a cool, more vintage feel and with light percussion and great slide, all played by Block. Very nice. Ma Rainey's Prove It On Me is the title track and shines brightly with full, thick vocals and sweet slide work. Blocks really hits her stride on this release, with a clean contemporary recording of excellent old classics. Memphis Minnie's In My Girlish Days is among my favorites on the release with rich vocal styling and Block's well known slide techniques, backed by her own angelic harmonies. Merline Johnson's Milk Man Blues (Yas...

I just had the opportunity to review the debut self titled release from Northern Social and I really like it. Like earlier work by Wickens and the Grand Nationals this new release has a lot of edge and genuine blues feel. Opening with Waiting , a strong rugged blues rocker, Dylan Wickens, who handles lead vocal, guitar and bass, paired with Mike Rajna on drums and percussion created a sound that is much bigger than two guys. Solid rhythms, vocals and power guitar makes this a great opener. Am I Wrong has a straightforward rock beat with vibrant rhythm guitar with Wicken's vocals carrying the melody. King Of Hearts has a lumbering blues feel with a heavy accent on the 2 and 4 and a fat fat guitar rhythm. Wicken's lead guitar work is tasty and raw where Rajna's drum work is tight and focused. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Dead Neighbor Blues with an easy acoustic country blues feel. Particularly effective is the simplicity of foot drum and tambourine by Rajna u...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Sunday Wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks and she hasn't missed a beat. Opening with Willie Dixon's Evil, a slinky, bluesy number with glistening guitar riffs by Ari, and Wilde's trademark vocals, the band is rolling with Wilde on piano, Arek Chamski on bass and Collin Craig on drums. Dead Man's Clothes is an interesting number with a predominant modified walking base line, percussive rim shot rhythm and cool soaring guitar riffs. Sure to be a crowd favorite, Dead Presidents is a quirky boogie and the inference that everybody loves money... yes they do. Slow blues take on London's It Hurt's Me Too , is a dynamic vocal showcase for Wilde who accompanies herself on piano with only a basic bottom and a really nice guitar solo by Ari. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Spirits up My Friend with it's somber melody and Wilde's vocals paired nicely with her stark piano accompaniment...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Gail Gunnis & The Dirty Roosters and it is a mix of classic blues artists with the bands cool personal arrangements. Opening with Freddie King's I Love You More Everyday , Gail Gunnis leads the way on vocal, backed by Fabio Parovel on guitar, Paul Kidd on sax, Chris Rooney on bass and Duncan McBain on drums. Solomon Burke's Cry To Me is up next with a great R&B feel. Pat Carey steps up with a rich sax solo and McBain's tight drums give the track just the right snap. Ann Peebles' I Can't Stand The Rain is one of my favorite tracks on the release with some of Gunnis' best vocals and a thumping bass line by Rooney. Another cool sax solo by Carey sets the track off nicely. Hot R&B track,  I Know , is a great track to pull out of the hopper with a super beat. again Carey is featured on sax and again, nice job. Since I Fell For You , another classic soul track written by B...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Live The King , from Elliott And The Audio Kings and it's terrific. Lead singer and guitarist, Mike Elliott, joined by Jonny Sauder on drums and Scott Fitzpatrick on bass for an old school raw blues rocker with a lot of guts. Opening with jump rocker Zim Zam Zoom , the guys start on full throttle and never let up. Elliott lay down the hot riffs and Sauder and Fitzpatrick keep it pumping. Super. Rolling in to All Revved Up , a low slung shuffle, these guys are really in the groove. With it's stripped down sound (raw guitar, vocal and rim shots) Shoulder The Weight is a cool Latin fused rocker with grip. Very nice. Pringles and Perrier is a real nasty instrumental with excellent lead guitar melody and just the basics for backing with an infectious Texas style lope. Excellent! With a real Chicago style, Day Drinking has just the right drag with a great guitar vamp and harp by Elliott, solid vocals and tight...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everything Intertwined , from Tom Savage and it's a solid rock release. Opening with Forever, a rocking ballad, Savage on vocal and guitar, shows influences of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Diamond, joined by Tony Silvestri on keys, Seamus Cowan on bass and backing vocals and Bonz Bowering on drums. Title track, Everything Intertwined , is a quiet ballad with a solid melody and acoustic backing. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Sad When You're Not With Me with a catchy melody and warm keys and strong but understated guitar. With more of a humble country rock feel, like the Band, another strong entry is Come Home with Savage's best vocals on the release. Pushing further into the rock arena, 17 Years has a rock solid bottom, twangy guitar riffs and a rocking beat. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Cold But Free , a strong ballad with a good melody and simple but effective instrumentation...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Time Like Now , by Steve Strongman and he shows a lot of contemporary approaches. Opening with title track, No Time Like Now , Strongman, joined by Rob Szabo on bass and Adam Warner on drums presents a happy, dance style track with heavy tom tom work and a bubbly vocal line. Bring The Hammer Down has a solid lumbering feel with a solid blues format and traces of Billy Gibbons. I particularly like Strongman's  guitar work on this track accented by Szabo on keys.  Very cool. Another high energy, Money In The Bank , features Dave King on drums with a snappy feel and full vocal backing leading to a tight guitar solo. On BTO's You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet , Strongman changes things up a bit with a less driven cover and featuring Randy Bachman on guitar. Gospel inspired, Love, Love, Love has a great guitar riff, solid lead vocals and nice backing vocals with Alec Fraser on bass, Jesse O'Brien o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Elliott and the Audio Kings and its a smoker! Opening with What they say about you ..., Mike Elliott leads the way on guitar, vocal and harp. Backed by Jonny Sauder on drums and Scott Fitzpatrick on bass and these guy have the place really hopping. Elliott has terrific boogie woogie rock guitar styling and is not bashful to throw down some riffs. Excellent! On One Of A Kind I really groove on Elliott's guitar tone with is warm and fat. With double stop rhythm/lead, this track is super. The recording quality of the track is really clean, allowing the tone of Fitzpatrick's stand up bass to come through. With a rockabilly strut, What Tomorrow Brings , slinks along like an alley cat. Come On Home has a really cool drum beat with a central American rhythm. With creamy guitar rhythm tone and backing vocals by Sauder and Fitzpatrick and fanned guitar riffs, this track gets down. Easier Said Than Done is low slu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tearing Up The Rails , from The Lucas Haneman Express , and I quite like it. Opening with The Verdict , a poppy track with blues roots, Lucas Haneman fronts the band on lead vocal and guitar. He is firmly supported by Jeff Asselin on drums, Megan Laurence on backing vocal and Martin Newman on bass. Guest artist, Steve Marriner rips loose with a nice harp solo leading into a double time rip by Haneman on guitar and close. Give Me Life is a quick paced radio track with a snappy beat, vocal harmonies and some real nice guitar riffs. Calling the Blame has a real catchy melody and an infectious rhythm. Haneman shows his more jazzy side with some real nice guitar riffs on this track. Marriner is back on Run To You blowing some particularly bluesy harp riffs. With it's Howlin' Wolf basis, stinging guitar riffs and a dramatic delivery, this is one of my favorites on the release. Blind Man's Blues has ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Into The Dark , by Ollie Vee and it's quite outstanding! Opening with To Hell With Your Grey Eyes , lead singer and guitarist, Jesse Adamson leads you on a  euphoric journey. Joined by lead guitarist and backing vocalist, Johnny Vassos who's work is impeccable, Howard Linscott on bass and backing vocals and Adam Perzia on drums, these guys really have it going with a retro country western feel. Excellent opener! Feeling Bad continues in the same vein but with a light taste that reminds me of Frank Black and the Catholics. Very nice. The Filthy Streets has a Bo Diddley beat enhanced by strong bass work by Linscott and cool slide work by Vassos. It's Hot is a great title for this track which runs like it's tail is on fire. With a country western flair and a train feel, this track hits it rocking. Stinging guitar riffs by Vassos and stomping drum work by Perzia is tight. Into The Dark is a beautiful tra...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cigar Store , by The Smoke Wagon Blues Band and got a bit of everything. Opening with Walking Cane , a funky blues rocker, Corey Lueck has the lead on vocal and Jason Colavecchia on bass and Tibor Lukacs add the hot bottom. Nick Succi brings it on piano and Gordon Aeichele lays down a cool sax solo. Must've Read It Wrong is a driving blues rocker with a solid bass line by Colavecchia. Succi and Aeichele each lay in nice solos and Mike Stubbs' on guitar and Lueck on harp add the dressing. On R&B style track, I Tried , Stubbs lays in a nice intro and Aeichele plays warm sax lines complimenting Lueck's soulful lead vocals. Hoodoo Woman has a real interesting contemporary blues sound, stripped down and basic. With cool raspy vocals and a simple melody line and guitar riff, reinforced by Lueck's harp work. Put The Quilt Out To Dry has a cool percussive feel over a basic, Sonny Boy Williamson feel. With i...

I just received the newest release, Blueberries and Grits , from Sunday Wilde and it's sassy. Opening with New Orleans flavored, Show Me A Man , Wilde's trademark vocal style and piano finesse blends nicely with the trumpet work of Roger Reupert and backed by Sturgis Nikides on dobro, Reno Jack on bass, Rickey "Quicksand" Martin on drums. Latin spiced, Early In The Morning , a Louis Jordan track, is one of my favorite tracks with April Mae on washboard and Dave Fecca on acoustic guitar. Momma's Drinkin's Done has traditional boogie lines featuring strong vocals blanketed in Reupert's trumpet and Wilde's own piano work. Simple rocker, That Man Drives Me Mad , has primitive roots with Mandy Lemons on backing vocals. Billy Earheart's Cottage Pump Organ teamed with Wilde's piano work gives it an interesting sound blended with pop punk phrasing. Radio style track, Too Many Troubles , has a catchy melody and features some nice acoustic guitar wo...