Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Hear Thunder , from Tab Benoit and it's super fused swampy funky blues. Opening with title track, I Hear Thunder , Tab Benoit opens it with a bottom heavy feel, strong vocals and fiery guitar work, anchored by Terence Higgins on drums, Corey Duplechin on bass, and Anders Osborne on guitar. Heavy opener. Soulful, Still Gray has a sad, country feel that showcases Benoit's vocals nicely. Jangly guitar work by Benoit and cool lead guitar riffs by Osborne, held tight by Higgins and Duplechin make this a primary radio candidate. Swamp rocker, Watching The Gators Roll In , is aa super, Tony Joe White like track that just has that groove. Track has great electricity and fun. Bluesy, Overdue , has great soulful vocals by Benoit, caressed by warm guitar riffs. Benoit's guitar lead on this track has real nice focus making it one of my favorites on the release. Little Queenie has a strong back beat worked by Benoit and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cheat The Devil , from Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Sweet Little Devil , a funky rocker with biting lead/slide guitar work by Anthony Rosano and cowbell laden drum work by Kyle McCormick, how could you go wrong. Jake Fultz on bass really does a solid job of driving this train and I gotta say, Rosano's lead vocals sound quite a bit like one of my favorite lead voices in rock, James Dewar of Robin Trower fame and together this is a great sound. Fat, distorted guitar tone permeates the opening of slow blues, What Kind of Fool , and with deep bass and tight drum work, Rosano really works the lead vocal on this track. Dropping out all of the overdriven guitar saturation, Rosano develops a beautiful melodic guitar line. Very nice. Funky blues rocker, Jonesboro Road , really is a cool track with McCormick and Fultz laying down a great groove and Rosano singing and playing ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The New World Blues , from Alastair Greene and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Living Today , a straight up blues rocker, Alastair Green is upfront on mic and lead guitar with Tab Benoit on drums and harmony vocal and Corey Duplechin on bass and backing vocal. Adding a cool funk (think Sly and the Family Stone) on Lies And Fear brings out a whole different flavor. With funky rhythm and really warm blended harmony vocals, this track is super. Benoit shows great drumming dexterity driving Greene's guitar soloing to a new place and Duplechin's bass work is spot on and tight. Excellent! With a dash of JJ Cale styling, When You Don't Know What To Do , is a solid rocker giving Green a wide open field to really punch it. His bluesy riffs balance nicely with Benoit's snappy drumming. One of my favorite tracks on the release is No Longer Amused with it's tight bluesy bottom and soulful guitar sol...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let Go Of The Reins , from J.P. Soars and he takes you on a wild guitar saturated ride. Opening with Been Down So Long , a cool funky blues country "Elvin Bishop" kind of thing, Soars really sets a strong groove. Soars sets a funky rhythm guitar and vocal lead base over drums by Tab Benoit, B3 by Tillis Verdin, bass by Chris Peet. His lead guitar soloing ins smart and funky with a cool blues edge. Excellent opener. Osark Mountain Daredevils hit, If You Wanna Get To Heaven is a fairly straight forward remake of the original but with rip roaring guitar picking replacing the trademark harmonica riff. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky instrumental, Crow's Nest with it's a great rhythmic beat, Soars' ultra funky guitar solos and a super B3 solo by Verdin. Nice! Lonely Fire is a radio style track with a solid melody but it's the acoustic Spanish guitar playing by Soars ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Whiskey Bayou Sessions , from Damon Fowler and it's quite good. Opening with a modern take on James Brown style, It Came Out Of Nowhere , with it's cool back beat, Fowler's solid vocals, nicely stylized guitar soloing and backing by Todd Edmunds on bass, Justin Headley on drums, and Tab Benoit on rhythm guitar. Excellent opener. Fairweather Friend has some real funky juju on it with a really nice bottom and a guitar lead that really sits in the pocket. Johnny Nash's Hold Me Tight gets a real cool upbeat shuffle rhythm and a new life. This is a cool interpretation by Fowler with country flavored picking giving the track just that right amount of spice. Little Walter's Up The Line has a really strong drive and with just the right touch of guitar is set to get you moving in your seat if not on your feet. So you're itching for some of that famous Fowler slide work...wait no longer. Ain't Gon...