Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues for the Southside , from Mike Zito and it's really strong! Recorded live at the Old Rock House in St Louis, MO. this band is cranking. Opening with Mississippi Nights , Mike Zito is up front on lead vocal and guitar. Mike has great a super grinding tone and his slide work is great. Backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on piano, Doug Byrkit on bass, this band is smoking. Larry Davis' Texas Flood really gives Zito a chance to put his foot to the floor and he doesn't hesitate a bit. His vocals are firm and his guitar work inspired and scorching! Hell On Me is a great, rolling blues with a solid walking bass line from Byrkit opening up a super land for Zito to wind it up and he's on it. Building a lot tension with his vocals and nice use of a chorus pedal, Zito sets it up nicely. Stephens' organ work adds a lot of lather setting the lob up for a slam by Zito to close. Very nice. Openin...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Relish , from Dave Kalz , and it's a strong retro blues rocker. Opening with Mexico with it's drum heavy rhythm, hits the road running right from the start with Kalz on guitar and vocal, Greg Hulub on bass, Lewis Stephens on organ and Kevin McDonald on drums. Kalz of course brings experience from being a founder of Honeytribe with Devon Allman, as well as other high profile groups. On title track, Relish , with it's British blues influences, Kalz stretches a little on guitar with it's continuous guitar runs. Very cool. Werewolf Blues is one of my favorites with it's sauntering shuffle beat and realy cool electric and slide guitar riffs from Kalz and Mike Zito. Stone Cold Stuck is a hot rocker with laid out rock n roll riffs and a driving bottom. Texas style blues rocker, Route 666 not only has a great rock form but excellent guitar riffs and tone and traces of RBG. Surf rocker, She's Got A Hemi i...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Taking It To The Street, by Tony Campanella and I really like it. Opening with title track, Taking It To The Street, Tony Campanella, and it's an aggressive blues rocker with a veracious guitar sound and a Jimi style swagger.  Shuffle's have never sounded so good as when SRV was cooking but Pack It Up sounds great. Mike Zito's rhythm guitar is fat and solid and Campanella's lead is firm and authoritative. Very nice. Slowing it down a bit on One Foot In The Blues, Campanella shows he has great vocal shops and his lead guitar work is strong and soulful. Backed by Terry Dry on bass, Matt Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keys and Zito on rhythm, this track is hot! My first exposure to Good Morning Little Schoolgirl wasn't Sonny Boy or even Johnny Winter. It Was Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. Every take I've heard on this track has been solid but this is a real nice one with hard kick bass drumming ...