Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Power Without Power , by Randy McAllister and I like it. Opening with Surprise!!! , a smooth shuffle with solid vocals and harmonica work by Randy McAllister and with some real nice slide work by Brandon Hudspeth making this a strong opener. (Somebody) Ease My Troublin' Mind is a terrific track in the vein of Sam Cooke and a terrific showcase for McAllister's soulful vocals. Fanned by the tight rhythm work of Hudspeth, this is my favorite track on the release. Envy's Embrace has the format of a country blues with a "train" rhythm by Hudspeth on acoustic guitar and with McAllister on harmonica working in close unison with Hudspeth on slide. Very nice. Not Everybody Leaves (Her Words) is a soulful ballad and another great showcase for McAllister's fine vocals. With the simplest of acoustic guitar rhythm and tasteful slide work by Hudspeth, this is another super track. Wrapping the release is Like ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spitball, Shatter and Patch , from Randy McAllister and it's a healthy dose of country blues. Opening with Relax Watch the Crash , McAllister on lead vocal teams up with Heather Newman on backing vocal and supported by Brandon Hudspeth on slide guitar and Bill Mckemy on tuba take a soft acoustic approach to the blues with a lightly country style. A quiet but effective opener. Slamming the door open on The Loudest Chicken with the addition of Cliff Moore on bass, and McAllister's own drums Hudspeth winds up the slide and McAllister really winds it up. A hard driving blues rocker. Soulful, Kingsland is one of my favorites on the release with expressive vocals and harmonica by McAllister over well balanced acoustic picked and slide guitar. Pure blues is the story on The Song That Writes Itself, with a solid melody, vocals and BB King like phrasing by Hudspeth. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, The Girl's ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Triggers Be Trippin , by Randy McAllister and the Scrappiest Band In The Motherland and it's smokin' good blues rockin'! Opening with In A Flick of a Bic , a driving rocker with solid vocals and harp by McAllister, and exceptional slide phrasing by Brandon Hudspeth this track is really cooking. Patrick Smith is tight on bass and Danny Cochran adds excellent bottom on drums. Super opener. Beauty and Ugly Upside Down (Ode to Lizzie Velasquez) is a natural radio rocker with a good melody, backing vocals by Andrea Wallace, cool  lyrics and classic slide work. Very nice. Add in just the right amount of dirty funk and you got Bring It On Backbreaker with gritty harp work, a great bass line by Jacque Garoutte, stinging guitar soloing by Hudspeth, with and drums by Cochran. Wrapping the release is We Can't Be Friends (If You Don't Like Jimmy Reed) with it's R&B feel, hot slide, catchy lyrics and s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fistful of Gumption , from Randy McAllister and the Scrappiest Band in the Motherland and it's flavorful. Opening with C'Mon Brothers and Sisters , a southern flavored soul track with a cool rock edge, features McAllister on vocal and drums backed by Rob Dewan on guitar, Maya Van Nuys on fiddle, Matt Higgins on bass and Andrea Wallace on backing vocals. Cool opener. On Time For The Sun To Rise , McAllister's vocals are warm and Dewan's guitar riffs have a magical Mali like sound. A nice violin solo by Van Nuys is really nice and Dewan's guitar soloing is fluid and inviting. Ride To Get Right has a real Cajun flavor with Van Nuys and McAllister (on drums) really putting on the steam. Roll With The Flow has a real nice revival like sound with warm backing vocals by Benita Arterberry-Burns and nice piano work by Carson Wagner. Aggressive rocker, My Stride showcases some real nice Rory Gallagher like s...

I just received the newest release, Gristle to Gold from Randy McAllister and it has a lot of soul. Opening with The Kid With the Really Old Soul , McAllister on lead vocals and harp is joined by Rob Dewan on guitar, Matt Higgins on bass, Maya Van Nuys on fiddle, Kevin Shermerhorn on drums and Andrea Wallace on backing vocals for a real R&B style rocker. The Push really shows the strength of McAllister's vocals and features solid vocal backing from Wallace. I particularly like Dewan's guitar work on this track. Something That Don't Cost A Dime has solid R&B roots with gospel fusion reinforced by the driving bass lines of Higgins and backing vocals by Wallace. Crappy Food, No Sleep, A Van and A Bunch Of Songs actually puts me in mind of Golden Earring in blue. With punctuation by McAllister on harp and backing vocals by Benita Aterberry-Burns, this track gets rockin'. I'm Like A Boomerang is one of my favorite tracks on the release with solid R&...