Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transatlanticana , from Bill Kirchen and Austin de Lone and it's a country party. Opening with country rocker, Hounds of the Bakersfield , Kirchen on lead guitar and vocal and Austin de Lone on piano deliver a cool country two stepper showcasing some of Kirchen's super riffs as well as solid backing vocals. Joining are Paul "Bassman" Riley on bass, Malcolm Mills on drums and Louise Kirchen on harmony vocal. On straight country track, Wine Wine Wine , Kirchen really pulls out the country stops on my favorite track of the release. With the addition of Bobby Black on pedal steel this track is classic. Shifting to a bit more of a JJ Cale style blues rocker, De Lone takes the lead on vocal for a cool radio track, Let's Rock . Oxblood is a rock n roller featuring Kirchen and Butch Hancock on lead vocals. With Kirchen on baritone guitar and driving it, de Lone on super piano and Gurf Morlix on guitar, Davi...

THE ESSENTIAL GRETCHEN PETERS Proper Records, February 5th 2016 New 2-CD collection + UK tour dates On 'The Essential Gretchen Peters,' this very special Nashville-based singer-songwriter  combines career-defining tracks with rare outtakes, demos, and B-sides to provide a two-disc snapshot of her remarkable journey as a singularly fearless and creative talent.  The album is released to coincide with her latest UK tour. January 2016 Sun Jan 31 GLASGOW, MACKINTOSH CHURCH - CELTIC CONNECTIONS February 2016 Mon Feb 1 ABERDEEN, LEMON TREE Thurs Feb 4 DURHAM, GALA Fri Feb 5 SOUTHPORT ATKINSON Sat Feb 6 SHREWSBURY, WALKER THEATRE Sun Feb 7 MUCH MARCEL, HELLANS MANOR Tues Feb 9 RHYL, PAVILLION THEATRE Wed Feb 10 HARPENDEN, PUBLIC HALLS Thur Feb 11 BEXHILL-ON SEA, DE LA WARR PAVILION Sat Feb 13 BUXTON, PAVILLION Sun Feb 14 HIGH WYCOMBE, TOWN HALL Tues Feb 16 LONDON, UNION CHA...

BILL WYMAN SHARES NEW SINGLE 'WHAT & HOW & IF & WHEN & WHY'  TAKEN FROM HIS FIRST SOLO ALBUM IN 33 YEARS THE ALBUM 'BACK TO BASICS' IS RELEASED ON PROPER RECORDS, JUNE 22ND LISTEN TO THE SINGLE HERE Photo credit to Judy Totton ‘What & How & If & When & Why’ is the first single from Bill Wyman’s new album, ‘Back To Basics’. The lead track on the CD, both the single and album are released on June 22nd. “I was watching the video of Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues with the song cards that he tosses aside and I thought I’d like to do something like that. Not that my song is anything like it of course but I think it inspired me. So I set about working on different sets of rhymes, sixes and fours, and it just came into being. It’s not the sort of song I usually write.” B.W. Sounding a little like a cross between Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen with a passing nod towards Ian Dury, ‘What & How & If ...

RICHARD THOMPSON announces new album 'STILL' Produced by JEFF TWEEDY Released June 29, 2015 on Proper Records RICHARD THOMPSON ELECTRIC TRIO – UK tour in Aug & Sept 2015 “Richard Thompson is the kind of guitar player other guitar players revere. It’s not just his technique, nor the fact that he’s equally at home with an electric or an acoustic guitar. He’s also a songwriter of uncommon skill.” — NPR "Richard's been one of my favorite guitar players for a very long time. When I think about it, he's also one of my favorite songwriters and favorite singers. He's the Ultimate Triple Threat. Getting to work closely with him on this record was a truly rewarding experience, not to mention a great thrill. And he keeps alive my streak of working exclusively with artists who make me look good as a producer." - Jeff Tweedy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 28th, 2015 – The renowned guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson will release Still, an a...

BILL WYMAN ANNOUNCES FIRST UK SOLO ALBUM IN 33 YEARS 'BACK TO BASICS' TO BE RELEASED JUNE 22 ON PROPER RECORDS    Back To  Basics does exactly what it says on the tin. It is unashamedly stripped back. The snappy lyrics are refreshingly audible and the instrumentation is clean, subtle and accomplished. Back To Basics wears its influences on its sleeve – Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, JJ Cale – and there’s more than a passing nod to Bill’s own English background. It is that rare thing, a meld of styles and genres that a...

I just received the newest release, Ske-Dat-De-Dat ... Spirit of Satch from Dr John and I quite like it. Oh yeah. With a tribute to an older statesman, there are some old time ballads but with a fresh look which is overall very interesting. On opener, What A Wonderful World , The Blind Boys Of Alabama add a different dimension to what is done sixties pop style with a twist of New Orleans. Terrence Blanchard a really nice melodic trumpet solo over what is otherwise a funky orchestral arrangement. Mack The Knife gets a total revamp with a solid New Orleans strut. With very little except lyrics to the original track, this is an ingenious mix with brilliant work from Blanchard. There is a rap break which I don't care for but overall the track is excellent. Tight Like That has a real Latin feel with vocals by Telmary and sweet Spanish guitar and really smart trumpet work by Arturo Sandoval. I've Got The World On A String stays with very traditional arrangement say, Tony Benne...

I just received the newest release (February 3, 2014), Let's Start Again , from Bap Kennedy and it's quite entertaining. Opening with the title track, Let's Start Again , Kennedy creates the feel of real wholesome American country (rock) music. Very clean and straightforward with Richard Nelson on pedal steel, the band sounding quite like Gram Parsons. Excellent! Revelation Blues is a bit more fast paced with John Fitzpatrick behind the melody on fiddle and Rabb Bennett on train like drums. Another strong track. If Things Don't Change is a boogie track with slide giving it a bit more of a relaxed feel. Kennedy is an excellent song writer and backing vocals by Maura Donaghy, Mudd Wallace and Tony Hughes add substantially to the feel of the track. King of Mexico has a simple pop sound with a south of the border/Caribbean feel. Song Of Her Desire is a zippy little ballad. Again, well constructed this is a track that could easily reach strong airplay. Radio Waves is...