Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Happy Little Songs About Futility And Despair , from Bob Eike and it's quite good. I'll start by saying this is a lot of music from a man and his guitar...think early Ry Cooder for style and taste. Opening with That's Just Not Right , Eike plays country rag style and has no hesitation on the strings. This track is super. Next is My God's Better Than Your God , a slower paced rag style track again with the light hearted look at life. Had To Leave Louisiana has a more traditional RGD or Hot Tuna style with great story, guitar runs and turns. Lucifer Jesus Jones is a clever track with obvious contrast and shows some interesting progressions and plenty of fleet finger work. Very cool. That's The Way It Goes is a very strong folk type song in the manner of Pete Seeger or Bob Dylan. My Oven's Broke is a great little blues track and the cracking on Eike's voice is a great accent to the general feel. You Can't Go Home ...

I just received the new release, Friend , from Billy Thompson and I think it's really super! Opening with Soldier of Misfortune , a funky rocker, Thompson demonstrates not only a cool singing voice but unique arranging talent and hot guitar riffs. Backed by Chris Dominicion keys, Gene Monroe on bass, Jonathan Greenburg on trumpet, Ian Charlton on sax, Tom Tierney on sax and Eric Selby on drums Thompson really lays out nice guitar riffs making this a really hot track. Garden has a contemporary Latin rhythm and Thompson really shosw a mastery of slide guitar and vocals and is also backed by Mr Bill Payne on keys. Interlude is a deep gripping blues ballad featuring some of the best vocal work that I have heard in weeks. Mike Finnegan adds warm organ to this track and Thompson skillfully adds nice guitar backing to his own vocals like a master trimming his bonsai. A really tasty guitar solo erupts but never out of character of a contained ballad. Masterfully beautiful! Farmer Kenny...