Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sonic Mojo , from Foghat and it's a super classic blues based rocker. Opening with She's A Little Bit of Everything, Foghat shows that they still know how to rock. Teaming up with Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds on writing, this track has that swagger. Foghat originated from Savoy Brown when Lonesome Dave Peverett and Roger Earl left Savoy Brown to pursue a more rocking sound and Simmonds kept his band which was really the king of boogie bands. This track is anchored by Earl on drums and fronted by Scott Holt and Bryan Bassett on vocals and guitars, with Rodney O'Quinn on bass and vocal and Eddie Lefebvre on percussion. With it's driving rhythm, catchy melody and stinging guitar, it's a solid opener. Simmonds' pen is definitely on Drivin' On with it's boogie feel and featuring Bassett on slide. Earl and O'Quinn really push the bottom making this one of my favorites tracks on the release...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At 3rd and Lindsley from Hurricane Ruth and it's got real swagger. Opening with Roll Little Sister , Ruth shows "her take no prisoners" attack with her raw, energetic vocals, joined by Scott Holt on slide and Nick Nguyen guitars, Calvin Johnson on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys and drum master Tom Hambridge driving the train. Strong opener. Dirty Blues really has enough grime on it to be a Keith Richards deal. Ruth knows how to work it and Holt's slide work combined with Hambridge's drum work makes this a firm contender. Slow blues, Faith in Me takes Ruth out of her classic blues rocker stance and into a more soulful mode. Holt steps up with a solid guitar solo, with some real nice phrasing, joined by Stephens on piano. Cool track and obviously a crowd pleaser. Fenton Robinson's (Peppermint Harris) As the Years Go Passing By is up next and features Ruth teaming up with ex Wet Willie and Je...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Life , from Hurricane Ruth and it's a charging blues rocker. Opening with driving, Like Wildfire , Ruth La Master is upfront and on fire with her dominant vocal style, backed by Scot Holt on guitar, Calvin Johnson on bass, Bruce Katz on B3 and Tony Braunagel on drums. Good Life is a slower ballad with deep soulful roots. Katz's B3 work on this track adds real depth and I love Holt's guitar phrasing punctuating the track nicely. Kicking in the rock bottom, Ruth shows her rocking edge with some of her grittiest vocals on the release. My favorite track on the release, Late Night Red Wine has a super traditional rock beat with a solid melody. Holt steps up with a stinging guitar solo with a blues edge and Katz's organ work pulls it all together. Very cool. Wrapping the release is ballad, I've Got Your Back , with Ruth bringing on her sensitive soul vocals. Nicely balanced with Katz on piano and organ...

Holt made his first step toward musical apprenticeship when his father took him to Chicago to hear bluesman Buddy Guy. “I had never been in a club before or heard a really great guitar player like Buddy live,” Holt recounts. After a backstage meeting, the young student and venerable master stayed in touch. Over the next year or so Holt was invited on stage to jam with Guy, and then one day Guy called to invite Holt into his band. “I’d never even been in a band before,” Holt says. “I tried to get bands together in my parents’ basement in Tennessee, but it never worked out. So all of a sudden at 18 I was leaving home for Chicago with my guitar, my amp, a suitcase and my passport.” Holt played at Guy’s side for a decade. “Buddy taught me everything, from how to order at a restaurant to how to run a band and win over a crowd. He is my hero and one of my best friends. To this day, what he can do never ceases to amaze me.” And Guy remains an enthusiastic supporter of Holt. “He heard Ku...

Buddy Guy... what else is there to say... see him while you can!!