Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Overlook , from Blind Fiction and it's a cool, blues based rocker. Opening with Better Man , an upbeat, country flavored rocker with a contemporary beat, Tim Wright on lead guitar and vocal, Eric Madunic on bass, keys and backing vocals and Nick Lang on drums set a good pace. Joined by Eric Schoor on sax and Andrew Riehle on trumpet, a solid opener. I really like rocker, Deal With You Later with it's harmonized lead vocals, fanned blues chords and romping bass line. Wright gets loose on this one showing his excellent chops. Mean Old Jack maintains a rock stance but with firm blues footing, and slick slide guitar by Wright. With broad radio styling, Waiting On A Tragedy , utilizes harmony vocals, a strong guitar riff and nice additional keyboard work by Joe Howard, to create the perfect hit combination. Closing the release is You Never Know , with it's basic R&B feel but with a cool hitch rhythm giving it ...

I just received the newest release, Come Together , from Tweed Funk and it's super. I've reviewed a number of Tweed Funk releases and they just keep getting better! Opening with Light Up The Night , a track with a super solid bass line from Eric Madunic giving it's funk feel and the horn work of Andrew Spadafora on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet punching up the R&B aspects. Joseph "Smokey" Holman on lead vocals is smooth as silk and David Schoepke is tight on drums. Don't Give Up has that Memphis sound with bountiful horns and a brassy trumpet solo from Woolverton dominate the track with solid vocals from Smokey and cool backing vocals from Crissy Dzioba and Sara Moilanen. Muse continues in that soulful vein and Smokey shows some of his best vocals on the release. Sweet Music sets up with an easy guitar rhythm from JD Optekar caressing the soulful vocals of Holman. Always filled with rich horns this release is very consistent. Come Together get...

"Chicago's Hardest-Working Blues Band " for over two decades is Howard and the White Boys. They perform at he Prairie Dog Blues Festival in Prairie du Chien, WI this Friday, July 25. PRAIRIE DOG BLUES FESTIVAL PRESENTS "CHICAGO'S HARDEST-WORKING BLUES BAND," HOWARD AND THE WHITE BOYS, IN CONCERT                                    Friday, July 25 - 7 p.m.     (Prairie du Chien, WI) - The Prairie Dog Blues Festival presents Howard and the White Boys , "a/k/a "Chicago's Hardest-Working Blues Band," in concert, Friday, July 25. 7 p.m. performance. Tickets $25. in advance, per day - purchase online at http://www.prairiedogblues.com/buy-tickets/ . The Festival is held on scenic, historic St. Feriole Island, on t...

I just received the newest release (March 31, 2014), First Name Lucky , from Tweed Funk and it's a funky blues party! Opening with Blues In My Soul , a funky blues track that's kind of a mix of Booker T and Albert King. Smokey leads the way on vocals and Jon Lovas on sax and Kevin Klemme keep the horns hot. Time To Burn moves more to a rock/R&B sound and JD Optekar hits some cool guitar riffs on this one. Jon Lovas steps up on sax playing an outstanding solo as well. A song almost thought of synonymously with BB King is up next, Let The Good Times Roll and Tweed Funk keeps a lot of authenticity while having a nice jam at it. Hoodoo Power is a powerful track with Eric Madunic laying down some great bass and Klemme keeping a tight leash on the trumpet. Funky guitar work from Optekar highlights this track. Divided is a very smooth soul ballad with clear guitar accompaniment. Vocals by Smokey are really nicely highlighted on this track and backing by Chrissy Dzioba and S...

I just received the newest release (September 17, 2013), Play One For Me , from Bryan Lee and it's a soul stirred blues stew. Opening with Aretha (Play One For Me) has a real nice R&B flow featuring Kevin Anker on keys and Lee on vocals. Freddie King's It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough) has a real nice blues sway and features some real sweet guitar riffs from Lee. A strong soul track written by Bobby Womack, When Love Begins (Friendship Ends) has a great lyrical line and melody. With just the right touch of blues guitar, Lee leads Steve Gomes on bass and Robb Stupka on drums into the mist surrounded by a solid string and horn section. Tasty guitar riffs really highlight what is likely my favorite track on the release. Chester Burnett's Evil Is Going On produces a nice treat with Kim Wilson joining on harp. Anker plays really nice key work underneath the melody providing a nice balance and Lee on vocal and guitar punctuation makes this another hot track....

Revolver is a fiery, hard-driving group based out of the Chippewa Valley. Revolver’s musical goal is to fire up an audience to transcend the mundane and get its groove on as the band performs a rockin’ live show of addictive aural pleasure. Members are Nick Foytik (g), John Nietz (g), Bob Willihan (b), Eric Pierson (k), and Zach Brawford (d) - all are well-known in the musical community for their past individual projects, and now come together to create a “local legends supergroup” influenced by 70s Blues Rock, Boogie Woogie, Jazz, and Funk   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Tucked away in Midwestern obscurity, Greg Koch was a diamond in the ruff, the best kept secret in the guitar firmament. But at some point, he decided to make his move and conquer the world with his unique brand of guitarmaggedon. As he recalls of that pivotal moment, "Seven years ago my wife came home from work one day and said, 'You know what? I want to stay home with the (four) kids. You need to fire up your game.' And I said, 'Well, I'm a musician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Exactly what does firing the game really entail?'" .. .. Koch had already amassed a strong local following in the greater Wisconsinarea through his gigs and self-produced CDs (on his own Rhymes With Chalk label). He did the occasional recording session in Chicago and also began showcasing his jaw-dropping fretboard facility at Fender clinics a few weeks out of the year. It was at one such clinic, while demonstrating Fender's Cyber-Twin amp at the 2001 NAMM show inAnaheim, that Koc...

FIRST MADISON-AREA SHOW FOR ALTERED FIVE SINCE RELEASE OF CRITICALLY-LAUDED "GOTTA EARN IT," AT THE HODY BAR - FRIDAY, JANUARY 11      (Middleton) - Talented Milwaukee-based blues 'n' soul band Altered Five , riding high on the heels of their critically-lauded new album "Gotta Earn It" (Conclave Records), perform their first Madison-area show since the record's November release at The Hody Bar , 1914 Aurora St., Middleton, Friday, January 11. 9 p.m. Free. Info: (608) 831-1901 or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hody-Bar-Grill/165219870211648 .  Altered Five: Earning Great Reviews For Their New Album "Gotta Earn It:"                      " Original, rib-sticking blues numbers tossed with a little R&B soul...Taylor's voice supplies the sweetness, while guitarist Jeff Schroedl brings the spice ."          JOURNAL-SENTINEL "....

A LTERED FIVE "GOTTA EARN IT" CD RELEASE PARTY  AT MILWAUKEE ALE HOUSE - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14      (Milwaukee) - Blues/soul band Altered Five presents a CD Release Party for their new album "Gotta Earn It"  (Conclave/Cold Wind Records) at the Milwaukee Ale House , 233 N. Water St., Friday, December 14 . 9:30 p.m. $5. Info: (414) 276-2337 or www.ale-house.com .     The Milwaukee-based   quintet have received positive reviews since Gotta Earn It was released two weeks ago. "Tight, state-of-the-art band, with some of the coolest music to listen to!," says Dave Johnson, host of the  nationally -syndicated B lues Deluxe  radio show. " A wide variety of groove that are flat-out fun to  listen  to," writes Bl ues 411 .  " A really strong release from a band I had not been aware of prior to this listening. Grab a copy, I think you'll like it,"  states   Bm an's Blues Report . "I love i...

Although I did not receive a copy of this release for my review on of my pals loaned a copy and told me it was worth a listen. This cd was released sometime in 2011. Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo is a 3 piece band consisting of Williams on vocal and guitar, Eric Shackelford on drums and vocals and Z on bass and vocals. The release opens with Boom Boom, a mixture of sounds from the 40's, 60's and now. The drum intro is very reminiscent of the beginnings of rock on the late 40-s before it was rock. The vocal treatment is similar to the sound of early rock in the early 60's and the relentless slide work is very contemporary and raw. Cool track. Next up is Fat's Domino's Sick ans Tired which gets a real rockin' rockabilly treatment. My Turn is a strong soul style blues in the SJ Hawkins vein. Williams gets a chance to dig in on guitar and plays some blistering riffs with a big Hammond behind him to fill out the mix. 10:49 is a cool 12 bar blues number with vocal,...

I just received the newest release, Gotta Earn It , from Altered Five . This is one of the more entertaining new recordings that I've heard in the past few months. The opening track, Ain't That Peculiar , a song made popular by Marvin Gaye has a definite R&B feel revved up with Albert King like guitar riffs by Jeff Schroedl. What's not to like! Three Wishes , having more of a soul ballad style really showcases leader Jeff Taylor's vocal abilities and gives Jeff Schroedl a nice opening to again showcase his chops on lead guitar. The title track, You've Got To Earn It , has a definite southern soul sound but holding tight to the blues with blistering guitar riffs from Jeff Schroedl and fine rhythm backing from drummer Scott Schroedl, bassist Mark Solveson and key man Ray Tevich. Keep The Best takes a modern uptempo blues shuffle stance with the ever constant great vocals from JT but unexpected ripping guitar soloing from Jeff Schroedl who not only exhibits gre...

This is some down and dirty New Orleans style blues, scraped right out of the gutter, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Paul Black is a wickedly nuanced slide guitarist, playing a mixture of traditional blues (three by Robert Johnson), Stones covers ("The Last Time" and "Factory Girl"), and bunch of originals. Armed with this introduction, I sat down expecting a Stevie Ray Vaughn clone. Boy, was I wrong! Black’s got his own set of moves, with a great bending slide movement, and the set’s about half electric, half acoustic. Black’s got a real funky feel, with a genuinely scary voice that moves from a low gravely rumble to a broken yelp. The Flip Kings, especially Andy Linderman on harp, provide just the right slow-blues backing. The only two misses are the Stones covers, although "Factory Girl" is interesting–actually less bluesy than the original, with a weird repeated percussive chomp driving through the entire song. This is a very nicely recorde...

Frederick Charles Slack (August 7, 1910 – August 10, 1965) was an American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader. Born in Viroqua, Wis., he learned to play drums as a boy. Later took up xylophone and at 13 changed to piano. He studied with a local teacher throughout high school. At 17 his parents moved to Chicago where he continued his musical training. He met Rosy McHargue, a well known clarinetist, who took him to hear many leading musicians including Bix Beiderbecke and Earl Hines. His first job was with Johnny Tobin at the Beach View Gardens. He later moved to Los Angeles where he worked wioth Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett and Lennie Hayton, before joining Ben Pollack in 1934. He played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in the 1930s and was a charter member of the Will Bradley Orchestra when it formed in 1939. Known to bandmates as "Daddy Slack," he played the piano solo on Bradley's recording of "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", one of the early white bo...

ALEX WILSON grew up in a family of talented musicians..... Alex's grandmother, Rosa Saviano was a renowned professional jazz singer in Chicago in the 1940's and 50's. Tom Wilson, Alex's father, is a multi-faceted musician who has had the distinct pleasure of accompanying nearly every blues performer to pass through the Milwaukee/Chicago music scene in the last thirty years. Marc Wilson, Alex's uncle AND drummer, is one of the most sought after drummers in the country. He's played with B.B.King, Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Susan Tedeschi, Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers to name but a few..... Alex picked up the guitar at five years old and never put it down. Immersed in the Milwaukee blues scene, Alex was surrounded, and influenced by such local luminaries as Stokes, Lee Gates, Jim Liban and Milwaukee Slim..... Alex formed his own garage band at thirteen. By seventeen he began to dig deep into the blues, learning the songs and...