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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label VizzTone Label Group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VizzTone Label Group. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2020

VizzTone Label Group artist: Casey Hensley - Good As Gone - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good As Gone, from Casey Hensley and there's some powerful good music on there. Opening with driving blues rocker and title track, Good As Gone and Casey Hensley wastes no time in showing what she's got. A powerful lead singer along the lines of Ann Wilson, Hensley cuts loose over a potent rhythm section of Laura Chavez on guitar, Marcos C. on bass and Evan Caleb Yearsley on drums. On You Should Be Lucky, Chavez steps up in the mix with that rich guitar tone that she's known for playing some blistering riffs balancing Hensley's strong vocals. With a shift to swing style and the beat on 2, Be My Baby (What Do You Say?) is a comfortable style for Hensley with perfect clarity and Chavez of course plays tight and right. Blues ballad, Love Will Break Your Heart is the best showcase for Hensley's vocals on the release with a smooth backing vocals, horn work by Jonny Viau and Steven Ebner and of course tasty guitar soloing by Chavez. Another solid blues ballad, Don't Want It to Stop finds Hensley pushing hard with gutsy vocals and Chavez does another beautiful job of squeezing the blues from her guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is jump track, All In, with Hensley and Chavez both showing giving it a great run. This is a super closer for a strong release. 

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Thursday, April 30, 2020

VizzTone Label Group artist: Backtrack Blues Band - Your Baby Has Left - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Your Baby Has Left, from Backtrack Blues Band and it's a solid, straight up blueser. Opening with Best Friend's Grave (Joy, Joy, Joy) Sonny Charles on lead vocal and harmonica steps off this shuffle, with Kid Royal on lead guitar, Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Joe Bencomo on drums, Stick Davis on bass, Bruce Katz on organ and piano and with backing vocals by Latonya Oliver and Dana Merriwether. Title track, Your Baby Has Left is a great boogie with super harp work by Charles and stinging guitar accents by Royal. With it's low slung lope, Natural Born Lover features Royal on lead vocal and nicely styled guitar riffs and cool piano work by Katz freeing up Charles to lay a little heavier into the harp. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is up tempo shuffle, You'll Come Back Someday. I particularly like Charles lead vocal on this track and his harp work, punched up by Vinnie Ciesielski on trumpet and Brad Guin on sax and Royal's guitar work is always  particularly cool. Wrapping the release is slow blues number, Times Is Hard with a great guitar intro and lead vocals by Royal. With nicely interwoven, short solo riffs by Guin, Katz and Charles and a more extended guitar solo by Royal, this is an excellent closer for a solid release. 

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

VizzTone Label Group artist: Phanton Blues Band - Still Cookin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Still Cookin', from Phantom Blues Band, and it's terrific! Opening with a classic R&B track by Wilson Pickett, Don't Fight It (Feel It), this band knows it's strengths and plays into it. With Mike Finnigan (keys), Larry Fulcher (bass) and Johnny Lee Schell (guitars) on lead vocals, this band lays out one of my R&F favorites with strong horn work by Joe Sublett (sax) and Les Lovitt (trumpet) and great rhythm  and Tony Braunagel on drums. What a lineup! Slipping into a New Orleans funk on Wingin' My Way Johnny takes the lead on a strongly Little Feat influenced track (dedicated to Paul Barrere) with solid slide work and a tight horn line. Slow blues, Blues How They Linger, features Finnigan on lead vocal and piano, with light backing. A strong, somber track keeps it low till about half way through when Sublett cuts loose with a real nice sax solo, punctuated by Lovitts trumpet work. Very nice! Reggae track, Shine On, has a great island beat with Lenny Castro joining on percussion and Fulcher and Finnigan on lead vocal. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored, Tequila Con Yerba, an excellent, primarily instrumental that makes you squirm in your seat...think Buena Vista. Finnigan, Sublett and Lovitt each get a spot to solo and use them well. Very nice! Shuffle track, I'm Just Your Fool, has a great sway and nicely blended vocals by Johnny with Mike give the track a warm feel. Another strong sax solo by Sublett cements the track and Schell lays in a nice run of his own. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Was Blind, a quiet ballad featuring Schell on lead vocal, backed by Finnigan. Schell lays in some warm slide work and Finnegan some nice organ work, under the basic melody giving the track a full bottom. This is a solid closer for a really cool release. 

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Monday, February 17, 2020

VizzTone Label Group artist: 11 Guys Quartet - Small Blues and Grooves

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Small Blues and Grooves from 11 Guys Quartet and it's very enjoyable. Opening with Freddie King styled, Road Trippin', Paul Lenart on guitar leads the way, sharing the front line with VizzTone President, Richard Rosenblatt on harmonica and backed by Chuck Purro on drums and Bill "Coach" Mather on bass. Solid opener.  Next up is high energy blues track, Jackrabbit, with hot riffs by Rosenblatt on harmonica. Lenart really pelts the guitar with his aggressive riffs, the group really giving it a good workout. Sleepless is a really nice slower blues with Rosenblatt blowing the harmony on harmonica. key accents by Lenart and firm bass work by Mather gives this track a solid footing on Purro's beat. I really like Speakeasy Serenade with stumble beat drumming by Purro and lower fret guitar melody by Lenart under the soulful harmonica wailing of Rosenblatt. Hey Daddyo is a real cool Bo Diddley infused jam with heavy tom tom work by Purro over a hard walking bass line by Mather. Lenart really works the guitar ala BD and Rosenblatt rides the wave. Very nice. Rhumba Boogie is another favorite with stylistic guitar lead, tight bass lines, a great rhythm and strong harmonica lead. Wrapping the release is Swamp Ride, an easy, greasy rocker. Melody by Rosenblatt on harmonica, and meaty drums are the name of this track and cool surf style guitar tones by Lenart close the loop. A really fast playing instrumental release. Very cool. 

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Friday, December 13, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Margolin - This Guitar and Tonight - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Guitar and Tonight, from Bob Margolin and it's an acoustic blend of folk and acoustic blues. Opening with delta style title track, This Guitar and Tonight, Margolin, who handles lead vocal and guitar in tandem with Jimmy Vivino on acoustic guitar lays it out like he was Skip James or Robert Johnson, pure and simple. The guitar playing is tight and vocals wailing. Solid opener. Margolin gets his Muddy on with Waters like slide work on Over Time. Margolin spent years in Muddy's band and plays his own soulful take on the classic slide style. Dancer's Boogie is a lively track with hot jazz style guitar riffs and Margolin's best vocals on the release. Harp master, Bob Corritore joins Margolin on Blues Lover, a romping shuffle. One of my favorites on the release is country style story blues, I Can't Take Those Blues Away. Margolin delivers the story over a solid guitar vamp. With a more contemporary sound, Predator, is more of political commentary on the presidency over a guitar vamp. This is a different type of release for Margolin with a definite acoustic flair. 

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Friday, November 22, 2019

Vizztone Label Group artist: Chris "Bad News" Barnes - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live, from Chris "Bad News" Barnes it's  a full blown boogie rocker. Opening with Back In A Cadillac, Barnes leads with his vocal power, joined by Gary Hoey on lead guitar, Steve Guyger onharp and backed by Sandy MacDonald on piano, AJ Pappas on bass, Matt Scurfield on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Gracie Curran on backing vocal. Little Walter's Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights gets a faster rockier pace and a strong harmonica solo by Guyger, nice sax solo by Earley, wicked guitar work by Hoey and full trumpet work by Woolverton give the track real oomph. Gravelly vocals by Barnes on a lumbering version of Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man is real nice with a humping bass line by Pappas and greasy solos by both Hoey and Guyger give the track a real grind. With it's Bo Diddley beat, It's Tight Like That, has Curran echoing Barnes lead vocals and wicked slide by Hoey sounds great over the tight horn accent. A Latin beat on Keep Your Mind On It, gives Hoey a great opportunity to show off his Spanish guitar techniques and cues up real nice Cuban style piano playing by MacDonald. Wrapping the release is Steve Cropper's R&B track, Raise Your Hand, with a healthy does of horns. Solid closer.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Paul DesLauriers Band - Bounce - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bounce, from the Paul DesLauiers Band and it's a cool rock release with deep roots in the blues. Opening with It's All on You, a swaggering track featuring DesLauiers on lead guitar and vocal with Alec McElcheran on bass and Sam Harrisson on drums. This is a really nice opener with DesLauriers' slide playing having the fat resonance of Jimmy Page. Very nice. On Take Me To The Brink, DesLauriers revs it up with a "Train Train" like rhythm and hot hot chicken pickin style. Excellent! With a rocking funky beat, Driving Me Insane has a great back beat and strong melody. I think that anyone who likes the basic sound of Led Zep would really like this. With a bit more Hendrix like bite but remaining blues based, Picked a Bad Day is a strong rocker featuring the guitar work of DesLauriers and JP Soars. Hi intensity shuffle, Feeling All Kinds of Good, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with strong rhythm drive from Harrisson and quick fingered rock riffs by DesLauriers. Very cool. Wrapping the release is slow blues ballad, Waiting on You with it's strong melody and clocking in over 10 and a half minutes gives DesLauriers a great opportunity to push the band  to flaming hot with excellent contemporary blues riffs, snappy drumming from Harrisson and McElcheran's firm hand at bass. Excellent closer.



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Monday, October 14, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Annika Chambers - Kiss My Sass - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kiss My Sass, from Annika Chambers, and it's a great mix of blues, soul and R&B tracks. Opening with rolling shuffle, Let The Sass Out, Chambers leads a powerful force with Corey Stoot and The Mighty Org on guitars, Greg Brown Jr. on drums, Larry Fulcher on bass and Anthony Terry on sax with Nicola Polar on backing vocals. Great opener. That's What You Made Me is a real nice R&B track with a heavy kick drum by Brannon McLeod and a great bass line by Fulcher. Chambers really gets in the groove on this one and glistening key work by Randy Wall and Polar's backing vocals ice the cake. Very nice. What's Your Thing is a really nice soulful track featuring Chambers with Ruthie Foster. With just the right amount of soul and steel guitar by the Mighty Org this is a really nice song.  Brand New Day is one of my favorites on the release with wailing slide in the background and a solid droning bass line really highlighting Chambers' vocal work. Blues rocker, World of Hurt is a real high stepper with hard reinforcement by Fulcher's bass and Anthony Terry on sax and featuring nice guitar work by Paul Ramirez. Another of my favorites is soul track, Stay with Stephanie York Blue on Hammond and Randy Wall on piano really giving the track a powerful dose of gospel. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Feel The Same,  acoustic duet with Paul DesLauriers on vocal and slide guitar with Sam Harrisson on percussion.

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Thursday, September 19, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Gracie Curran - Come Undone - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Undone, from Gracie Curran and it's meaty. Opening with title track, Come Undone, Gracie Curran is back with her newest release and a lot of soul. This is old school styling with Damon Fowler on guitar, Matt Walker on guitar and bass, Justin Headley on drums, Pat Harrington on drums, Victor Wainwright on keys, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax really delivers the goods. Curran's vocal phrasing and style, with a touch of reggae is just right for an excellent opener! High energy swing track, Stay Up!, shows Curran is not only happy digging in deep but very light on her feet. Fowler's fleet fingered guitar work is nicely backed by Jeremy Powell on keys and New Orleans style horn work by Woolverton and Earley give this track extra zip. On shuffle track, Sweet Sativa, Fowler pulls out the slide giving the track a down home feel and playing off backing vocals, Curran has this track right where she wants it. Very nice. If Mama Ain't Happy is a snappy piano boogie with a great bass line by Walker and featuring Wainwright on piano and great vocals by Curran. Excellent! Wrapping the release is easy paced country blues rocker, Chasing Sunset with understated slide work and Curran's powerful vocal right up front. This track has a strong melody with subdued but tight instrumental backing. Very nice closer for a solid release. 

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Tuesday, September 17, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Ben Levin - Before Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Before Me, by Ben Levin and it's really cool. Opening with Big Bill Broonzy's I Feel So Good, Ben Levin shows how it should be done as a leader on piano and lead vocals. With perfect dynamics and a great team featuring strong lead guitar work by Bon Margolin, and Bob Corritore on harmonica, this track is tight. Backing this star front line is Aron Levin on guitar, Chris Douglas on bass and Oscar Bonal on drums. Super opener. On Freddie King's instrumental, This Morning, Margolin and Corritore lay down really nice solos complimenting Levin's own solo and the tight drum work by Bernal. Excellent! On Confessin' The Blues, Levin shows some of his best vocals on the release. His style is crisp and his style is smooth. Corritore just lays back in the seat on his solo and his tone is excellent. Margolin's guitar solo is smooth and has great feel. Title track, Before Me has really nice New Orleans style blues lines and again super vocals over a Fats Domino kind of feel. Aron Levin's guitar touch on this track is particularly fine. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slow blues, So Soon, giving Ben a great opportunity to really dig in on piano. His vocals are really nice with real style. Excellent! James Cotton's Lightnin' is up next with Corritore taking the lead. His tone and feel are perfect and get Margolin revved up to one of his loosest and most enjoyable solos on the release. Ben finishes it off in concert with Corritore and Margolin. Very nice. Wrapping the release is an instrumental jam, Open Late, cooked up by Levin, Corritore and Margolin. Levin's piano style is so thick in blues you have a hard time believing that he isn't from 40's or 50's Chicago. Setting the framework for Margolin and Corritore, this is a real nice smoky closer for a solid release.


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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Terry Hanck - I Still Get Excited - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Still Get Excited, by Terry Hanck and it's jam packed with sax infused blues. Opening with a rumble, title track, I Still Get Excited has a real nice boogie feel with excellent piano work buy Jim Pugh and cool guitar work by Johnny Cat Soubrand, with backing vocals by Whitney Shea and Lisa Leuschner Andersen, bass by Kid Andersen and drums by Butch Cousins. On Smooth Tyrone, Hanck leads on vocal and soulful sax with really nicely styled guitar work by Soubrand and again really nice piano work by Pugh. On Early In The Morning I particularly like Hanck's vocals and Chris Cain adds really strong lead guitar. I like Andersen's bass attack on this track and the backing vocals by Lisa are really nice. Pugh's B3 work on this track adds that additional dimension and June Core's drumming sets up a solid opening for Hanck to solo. Very nice.  Harmonica great, Rick Estrin joins in on Come On Back playing tag with Hanck on sax. With a cool shuffle feel and a slick guitar solo by Soubrand, this is one of my favorites on the release. Slow instrumental, Rosita (No Wall Can Hold Our Love) is a really nice showcase for Hanck on his sax with warm undertones by Pugh on B3. Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin' maintains it's original arrangement and spunk. Soubrand's stinging guitar work are nicely highlighted on this track of course sharing the spotlight with Hanck on sax. Very cool. Tracy Nelson joins Hanck on lead vocal on Spring with Tim Wagner on bass, Butch Cousins on drums and a soulful sax solo by Hanck. Super. Wrapping the release is Feel So Bad with a lot of spring in the rhythm. A Stax feel really gets the blood flowing on sax and Hanck really knows how to play it. Soubrand plays some of his flashiest solos on this one and Hanck's vocals work really nicely with this style. Solid closer for a real cool release. 

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Thursday, August 15, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Heather Newman - Rise From The Flames - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rise From The Flames, by Heather Newman, and it's got style. Opening with blues thumper, I'm Coming For You, Heather Newman picks up where she left off on her VizzTone debut release, Burn Me Alive. A powerful, slashing vocal style, coupled with the relentless guitar lead of Keith Ladd, and solid backing by Ryan Matthew keys, and Adam Watson on drums. On gutsy shuffle, She Sure Looks Like Me, it's Newman's bass line that sets the pace and her vocals are really effective with some harmonic paring. Lonely on Beale is a cool track with a cool backbeat. Newman really works the vocal lines and Ladd gives his guitar a nice workout making one of my favorite tracks on the release. With it's James Brown bottom, compliments of Watson and with the addition of sax by Michael Lefever and trumpet of Teddy Krulewich Coming Home has real snap. Again, Ladd steps up with some tasty guitar lead and Newman's rich vocals anchor this track square in the groove. Latin rhythm infused, What Goes Around has great movement and Newman lays down some of my favorite vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is straight up radio track, That's All, with it's smooth melody and nice vocal pairings. This is a cool release build squarely around the strong vocal work of Heather Newman. Nice job.

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Monday, August 12, 2019

VizzTone Label Group Artist: Nancy Wright - Alive & Blue - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Alive & Blue from Nancy Wright and it's electrifying. Opening with Bugalu, a honky sax instrumental number with a James Brown kind of rhythm, Nancy Wright shows she really knows how to fill the pipes with air. With distinguishable fat sax tone and phrasing, Wright is backed by Paul Revelli on drums, Tony Lufrano on keys, Jeff Tamelier on guitar and Karl Sevareid on bass. Super jam opening. Jo-Jo has a cool walking bass line and a cool 50's jazz feel. Wright really takes flight on this track with excellent lower register work, slick trills and octave jumps. Lufrano grinds in solid on the organ followed by a sick guitar solo by timelier as well. Great track. Funky pop number Warranty has a really nice bass line by Sevaried accentuated by Tamelier with his wah wah fused guitar work. Wright's lead vocals on this track are her best on the release and her sax work really wailing.  Bernie's Blues is a really nice track but it's Tamelier that has his day on this track with some excellent guitar lines before Wright comes back and lays it out! On King Curtis' Soul Serenade, Wright really shines on my favorite track on the release. Owsley was quite a soulful player and Wright squeezes every bit of soul out of this track. Excellent! Wrapping the release is instrumental shuffle, Rutabagas, and Wright blows down to doors to give you something to chew on. Tamelier's guitar soloing is aggressive and lyrical, and Lufrano's organ work fat and chewy making this and excellent closer for a strong release.


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Friday, May 17, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Rick Vito - Soulshaker - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soulshaker, from Rick Vito and  it's really cool. Opening with low slung Texas style blues number, She's Just Too Fine, Vito is hitting on every cylinder right out of the gate. His vocals are strong and his slide work great. Backed by Rick Reed on drums, this is a great opener. I Do Believe has a snappy, revival pace with drums on the 2 and 4. Vito's slide work is contagious with excellent tone and vibrato. Doggin' Around is a cool instrumental ballad with lead slide guitar and Kevin McKendree on organ. This is one of absolute favorites on the track with a smooth style and trademark slide. Very nice. Two stepper, Dancin' Little Sister has a great beat blending early rock and roll with boogie guitar. How can you not love this! Another instrumental ballad, Soul Shadow, features strong drums rhythms by Charlies "Mojo" Johnson playing in beautiful sympathy to Vito's excellent slide playing. Wrapping the release is an excellent remake of Sam Cooke's, A Change Is Going To Come. Vito is known as an excellent slide player and this release not only confirms it again, it shouts it. If you like sensuous and soulful slide guitar … and who doesn't... your going to love this release. Excellent! (Did I say excellent?)

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Friday, May 10, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble, showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and harmonica soloing gives this track a rich feel.  Guitar boogie, Goin' To Court features Harman and Ramos and it's hot. With a great rhythm guitar line by Stone, Harmon plays for style and Ramos smokes the frets. Very nice. On Coin Operated Woman, Holiday has the mic again and Chicago guitar man, Rockin' Johnny Burgin fans the frets. Holiday is front and center on harp and does a really nice job balancing his smooth vocals and lead harp and Burgin is restrained but his riffs are tight and aggressive. Wrapping the release is This Time I'm Gone For Good featuring the excellent vocals of William Kidd. Holiday's harmonica nicely surrounds the deep richness of Kidd with only a touch of Stone's precision guitar punctuation. Very nice closer for a strong release. 

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Thursday, May 9, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Mighty Mike Schermer - Bad Tattoo - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Tattoo, from Mighty Mike Schermer, and I really like it. Opening with She Won't Be Coming Back, a cool Latin rhythm rocker features Mighty Mike on vocal and guitar and in particular Eric Bernhardt on bari sax. Nancy Wright slaps down a really nice tenor sax solo of her own and with Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass and Austin Delone, this is an excellent opener. Slipping into a really nice R&B groove on Lover's Hall Of Fame, Schermer shows his outright style on vocal and guitar backed by D'mar on drums, Kid Andersen on bass and organ and Dennis Love on congas and vocal. Shifting gears again on How Much Longer, Schermer gets on a country track with a really nice Cajun spice. With Revelli on drums, Ehrmann on bass, Delone on piano/Farfissa and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocals this track has great radio flavor and sets up explosive guitar riffs by Schermer. Title track, Bad Tattoo has a great loping swing and a solid, funny, story. With horn warmth and slick riffs by Schermer, this is definitely one of my favorites on the release. Tex Mex track, Hey Francine, is another of my favorites with tight drum rhythms, a cool guitar riff and nice lead and backing vocals by Schermer and Andersen. Excellent! Baby Down The Well is another track of specific note with Aki Kumar on harp, a slapping drum beat and a solid vocal delivery by Schermer, not to mention his hot slide work. Very cool. Make sure you check out Suffocating Love, in Johnny Guitar Watson style. Yeah, I'm talking that funky R&B blues, with a real back beat. Schermer doesn't mimic Watson's guitar style but plays twin leads and alternating solos with Chris Cain. Very very cool! Wrapping the release is Up All Night with a bright, Clapton/Cale style. Delone takes a nice piano solo, Schermer flashes his cards a few times and harmonizes with Andersen but holds back on an explosive ending. This is a nice track keeping you wanting more. This may not be the flashiest releases you will hear all year, but it may be one of the most solid end to end. Very nice work!

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Monday, April 8, 2019

VizzTone Label Group artist: Dennis Brennan & the White Owls - Live at Electric Andyland - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Live at Electric Andyland, from Dennis Brennan & the White Owls and I really like it. Opening with Johnny Guitar Watson's Cuttin' In, the band has a real strong sense of direction with Brennan on lead vocal backed by Tim Gearan on guitar, Andrew Plaisted on drums, Stephen Sadler on lapsteel guitar, Jim Haggerty on bass and David Westner on organ. Bobo Jenkins' shuffle, Nothin' But Love is up next and Brennan's vocals are solid with crisp harp accents. Original track, End of the Blues, has really cool feel a bluesy R&B feel. Underlying guitar riffs, answering the call of Brennan's vocals really gives the track a super feel and unleashed guitar soloing near the end of the track gives it a great kick in the pants reminiscent of the horsepower given Muscle Shoals tracks in the late 60's by Duane Allman. Cool lapsteel wail by Sadler opens The (New) Call of the Freaks and Brennan digs in deep on harp laying down some of the best riffs on the release. Willie Dixon's I Live The Life I Love has great swagger and Brennan's vocals are perfect for this track. Mose Allison's Foolkiller has a great Latin beat and with excellent steel guitar riffs and hot harp, is certainly one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is a somber rendition of the Stones, No Expectations. Sadler's precision lap slide compliments the temperament of the track perfectly and Brennan's soulful vocals on what is a basically a country blues track are very cool.



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