New video from dynamic roots artist!

NEW VIDEO FROM VICTOR WAINWRIGHT! "Stop Bossin' Me Baby" first release from the new Boom Town CD Blind Pig Records has released "Stop Bossin' Me Baby" as the first video from Boom Town, the new CD from Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots.  The Nashville Blues Society called the song "the tale of an overbearing lover right out of the Little Richard canon, a frenzied-pace stop-time rocker." To watch the video please click HERE. Wainwright, two time winner of the prestigious Blues Music Award as "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year," is a raucous, high-octane dynamic performer and a crowd pleaser with soul to spare. Boom Town is a tour de force of progressive roots music - high-octane boogie piano, big soul sounds, powerhouse blues, roadhouse rock, and stirring gospel  - highlighted by excellent songwriting and a unique and edgy sound that captures the energy of the band's live shows.  Upcoming Tour Dates: July 16 Panama City Beach, FL Panama City Beach Summer Music Series July 17 Birmingham, AL Ranelli's July 18 Merigold, MS Crawdad's July 19 Memphis, TN Levitt Shell at Overton Park July 23 Martinsville, VA Rives Theater July 24 Durham, NC Blue Note July 25 Washington, DC Madam Organ's July 26 Lake Harmony, PA Pennsylvania Blues Festival July 27 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's July 29 Tuscarawas, OH Canal House July 31 Woonsocket, RI Chan's Aug. 1 Damariscotta, ME Dam Blues Festival Aug. 2 Kingfield, ME Sunday Blues in the 1827 Barn Aug. 3 Rockland, ME Time Out Pub Aug. 6 Magnolia, DE Jonathan's Landing Aug. 7 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's Aug. 8 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's Aug. 9 Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Bluesfest Oct. 11 Daytona Beach, FL Daytona Blues Festival Oct. 24 Beverly, MA The Larcom Theatre

New Victor Wainwright CD Charts at Billboard!

NEW VICTOR WAINWRIGHT CD BOOMS OUT OF THE GATE! #5 On Billboard Sales Chart Boom Town, the new release from Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots, popped onto the Billboard blues sales chart at #5 this week! Boom Town is a tour de force of American blues and roots music highlighted by excellent songwriting, musicianship and production, and a unique and edgy sound that captures the energy of the band's live shows.  Wainwright, one of the most dynamic and exciting keyboard performers around, is a raucous, high-octane dynamic performer and a crowd pleaser with soul to spare. Living Blues magazine said, "Listening to Boom Town is like walking into a party that will never end. This eight-piece band specializes in supercharged blues and boogie-woogie piano, smart and sophisticated arrangements and an all-consuming passion for delivering songs with confidence and joy." Upcoming dates for Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots: June 12 Marietta, GA Darwin's June 14 St. Simon's Island, GA Lighthouse Grounds June 20 Henderson, KY W.C. Handy Blues Festival June 23 Bradley, IL Moose Lodge June 24 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends June 25 Mishawaka, IN The Midway Tavern June 26 Columbus, OH Woodland Terrace June27 Cadiz, OH Blues For A Cure July 16 Panama City Beach, FL Summer Music Series July 17 Birmingham, AL Ranelli's July 18 Merigold, MS Crawdad's July 19 Memphis, TN Levitt Shell at Overton Park July 23 Martinsville, VA Rives Theater July 24 Durham, NC Blue Note July 25 Washington, DC Madam's Organ July 26 Lake Harmony, PA Pennsylvania Blues Festival July 27 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's July 29 Tuscarawas, OH Canal House July 31 Woonsocket, RI Chan's Aug. 1 Damariscotta, ME Dam Blues Fest Aug. 2 Kingfield, ME Sunday Blues in the 1827 Barn Aug. 3 Rockland, ME Time Out Pub Aug. 6 Magnolia, DE Jonathan's Landing Aug. 7 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's Aug. 8 Ellicottville, NY Balloon's Aug. 9 Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Bluesfest

Blind Pig records artist: Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots - Boom Town - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Boom Town from Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots and he just keeps getting better! Opening with title track, Boom Town, a cocky strut, Wainright leads the way on piano and vocals. He not only has a great voice and acclaimed piano skills but a focused ability to take you places with his lyrics. Excellent! Rock and Roller, Saturday Night Sunday Morning really kicks up the dust and Billy Dean on drums, Stephen Dees on bass and Ray Guiser, Patricia Ann Dees and Charlie DeChant on sax hold tight as Wainwright hammers the white right off of the keys. What a rocker! Boss rocker, Stop Bossin' Me Baby stays in the rockin' beat and really kicks. Wainwright is known as one of the best boogie piano players of today's generation and with his solid vocals he's likely to stay on top for a long time. Stephen Dees and Nick Black lay down some hot guitar riffs on this track pushing Wainwright to keep it hot...not a problem! Funky, New Orleans flavored, If It Ain't Got Soul - Pt. 1, has a smokey flavor with Stephen Kampa on harp and Wainwright and Black on vocal. Laying out some hot Hammond on this track, Wainwright adds to the funk for one of the best tracks on the release. When The Days Is Done has a field revival sound with really nicely blended vocals of Wainwright, Dees, Black and Beth McKee. Really strong! Genuine Southern Hospitality gets that "Little Feat" funk going with some really nice slide work from Ernie Lancaster. Wainwright may be known mostly for his excellent piano work, but his vocals are so superb that he could front most any blues band. Two Lane Blacktop Revisited is a great rockin' piano boogie. Stilladog, this track has your name written all over it! Taking the tempo way down, Wildroot Farm has the feel of a Dr. John track with Patricia Ann Dees trading lead vocals with Wainwright. A cool 40's style slide with Kampa taking a nice lead line on harp, another solid track. Piana's Savannah Boogie is a real rolling piano boogie and a wide open opportunity for Wainwright to establish again why he's on of the absolute top boogie players today. Excellent! JP Soars takes the lead guitar on The Devil's Bite which has an almost Django like acoustic chord part. A great story track, excellent guitar riffs and just a great groove! Reaper's On The Prowl is a cool mix of early western/surf soundtrack, a great driving rhythm guitar and over the top vocals. Very cool! Shuffle track Back On Top, features Robert "Top" Thomas on guitar blended nicely with Kampa on harp. Cool Texas style guitar riffs and rolling boogie piano this track is really nice! Wrapping the release is WildRoot Rumble which is a freewheeling rocker with a hot drum ride from Dean joined by soloing harp by Kampa, cooking piano solo by Wainwright, slashing guitar soloing from Black and Dees, eventually breaking into a full on Mamba and then back to a circle of soloing and back again to a driving boogie. The release is a smokin' hot rife. Turn it up and jump on!

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New release from rising roots music star!

NEW RELEASE FROM VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE WILDROOTS! Blind Pig Records has released Boom Town, the latest CD from Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots. Wainwright has been making a name for himself in a big way as one of the most exciting keyboard performers on the roots music scene. Known for his potent boogie piano, big soul sounds, powerhouse blues, roots rock 'n' roll, and a voice that recalls Dr. John and Leon Russell, he's also a two-time winner of the coveted Blues Music Award for "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year." Wainwright is a raucous, high-octane dynamic performer and a crowd pleaser with soul to spare. As American Blues News put it, "he is always entertaining and madly talented.  You will never see Victor play a room and not go over with the crowd in a big way."  He's backed by the firepower of WildRoots, one of the tightest smokin' bands around. Boom Town is highlighted by excellent songwriting, musicianship and production, and a unique and edgy sound that captures the energy of the band's live shows.  With the release of this tour de force of American blues and roots music, Victor's star will surely continue to rise.   Upcoming Tour Dates for Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots: May 30 Daytona Beach, FL The Davidson Theater June 12 Marietta, GA Darwin's June 14 St. Simons Island, GA Lighthouse Grounds June 19 Clarksdale, MS Groubnd Zero Blues Club June 20 Henderson, KY WC Handy Blues & BBQ Festival June 23 Kankakee, IL Moose Lodge June 24 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends June 25 Mishawaka, IN Midway Tavern June 26 Columbus, OH Woodlands Tavern June 27 Cadiz, OH Blues For A Cure July 16 Panama City Beach, FL Summer Music Series July 17 Birmingham, AL Ranelli's July 18 Merigold, MS Crawdad's July 19 Memphis, TN Levitt Shell at Overton Park July 24 Durham, NC Blue Note July 25 Washington, DC Madam's Organ July 26 Lake Harmony, PA Pennsylvania Blues Festival July 27 Ellicottville, NY Ballons July 29 Tuscarawas, OH Canal House July 31 Woonsocket, RI Chan's August 1 Damariscotta, ME Dam Blues Fest August 3 Rockland, ME Time Out Pub August 6 Magnolia, DE Jonathan's Landing August 7 Ellicottville, NY Balloons August 8 Ellicottville, NY Balloon August 9 Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Bluesfest For more information, and a taste of the album in a short video from Victor, please click HERE.  To order dowloads from iTunes  please click HERE.   To order from Amazon, please click HERE.

Jeff Jensen - Morose Elephant - New release review

I just received the newest release (Feb 3, 2015), Morose Elephant, from Jeff Jensen exhibiting a broad spectrum of cool music. Opening with Make It Through, a happy springy bluesy track, Jensen leads the way on vocals and lays out some pretty nice guitar riffs. With a taste of R&B, Victor Wainwright adds a Whirlitzer layer and Reba Russell adds to it's spiritual feel. Get Along is a pretty straight up rocker with Bill Ruffino on bass, Robinson Bridgeforth on drums and Kirk Smothers and Marc Franklin bringing up the horn section. Jensen shows he's no beginner with some really hot guitar riffs as well. Ballad Fall Apart with its soulful lead guitar work coupled with Jensen's vocals, Chris Stephenson on keys and Smothers and Franklin on horns make this one of the strongest tracks on the release.  Going Home is given a little funk with great backing vocals by Russell and nice horns by Smothers and Franklin but Jensen really shines at the lead on both guitar and vocal on this track. Excellent! Paper Walls is a clever blues like chant (think Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning) with simple instrumentation. Stephenson on piano, Ruffino on bass, Cunningham on drums and Jensen whipping on the guitar as he tells the story, this track has some oomph! On Boogie track, What's The Matter With The Mill Wainwright does a great job on vocals and hammers the keyboard for a super conclusion to a solid blues track. Easy paced ballad, Ash and Bones is primarily Jensen accompanying himself on acoustic guitar complimented by Russell on vocal and Anne Harris on fiddle. Very nice! Cool jazz instrumental track, Elephant Blue, really pops. Jensen gives the fretboard a hard workout and and Bridgeforth, Stephenson and Ruffino push him the whole way. Hot! Bad Bad Whiskey has an easy saunter pace with Eric Hughes complimenting the vocals on harp. I'll Always Be In Love With You cranks the levelup to more of an open horn band with perky vocals. A nice cool walking bass line by Ruffino and light guitar soloing. Wrapping the release is Empty Bottles, Jensen accompanining himself on guitar and complimented by Gary Allegretto on harp. A quick bluesy ditty, a slick little track to close a cool and curious release.

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Victor Wainwright Signs With Blind Pig!

BLIND PIG SIGNS VICTOR WAINWRIGHT!New WildRoots Release Due Out In May

Blind Pig Records has announced the signing of Victor Wainwright, recognized as one of the most dynamic and exciting keyboard performers on the roots music scene. Following the signing, Victor said, "After putting a tremendous amount of time, effort and passion into this project, we’re extremely proud of the final recording. I’m excited that we are teaming up with renowned Roots and Blues label Blind Pig Records, to deliver what we feel is our best album yet!” 

Victor Wainwright & Stephen Dees at the big signing

The first release under the pact from Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots, entitled Boom Town, is scheduled to be released in late May. The CD was recorded in Edgewater, Florida and produced by Stephen Dees, who wrote much of the material on the album and is also the WildRoots bassist.  Dees is a highly respected session player whose credits include playing with Hall and Oates, Pat Travers, and Todd Rundgren.
Said Victor, "We've always prided ourselves on excellent songwriting, musicianship and production, but on "Boom Town" we've also captured the energy and edge of our live shows. Although the concept of sin and salvation has been done before, this is our own personal statement, a story of Southern life, faith, redemption, and the challenges that we all face. The unique and edgy sound fits the purpose and storytelling to a T and lifts the whole record up to another level."

Victor’s star is definitely on the rise, having won the coveted Blues Music Award as “Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year” in both 2013 and 2014, as well as anchoring the critically acclaimed Dixie supergroup, Southern Hospitality, whose “Easy Livin’” release made the Top 10 on the Billboard blues chart.

He is known for his high-octane boogie piano, big soul sounds, powerhouse blues, roots rock 'n' roll, and a voice that recalls Dr. John and Leon Russell. He's a raucous high-octane dynamic performer and a crowd pleaser with soul to spare.

WildRoots celebrate signing - l to r: Victor Wainwright, Nick Black (guitar), Patricia Ann Dees (sax, vocals), Stephen Dees, and Billy Dean (drums)

Blind Pig nabs major blues awards!

"REMEMBERING LITTLE WALTER," SHAWN HOLT AND THE TEARDROPS WIN MAJOR BLUES MUSIC AWARDS Remembering Little Walter, the live tribute to the blues harmonica genius, won two major Blues Music Awards  – “Traditional Blues Album of the Year” and “Album of the Year,” as announced by the Blues Foundation at their annual awards show on May 8th in Memphis. The recording, which features five of the top harmonica players in the field – Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia, and James Harman, received a Grammy nomination earlier this year for “Best Blues Album.” Musselwhite, who also won a BMA that evening for "Best Instrumentalist - Harmonica," said, "The best part about winning the awards for Remembering Little Walter is that Little Walter is honored for his huge contribution to blues so many years after his passing. He was my friend and a great inspiration to me. He gave me lots of encouragement when I was starting out in Chicago."  To watch Charlie performing a song from the Little Walter tribute CD show, please click HERE. "REMEMBERING LITTLE WALTER":     CD INFO              iTUNES Hummel, who produced the album, said, "I'm so thrilled and shocked we won these two major awards!!  It was so wonderful to be able to record this as a tribute to the iconic genius of the harmonica, Little Walter Jacobs, whose sound I've been chasing for over 40 years!  Plus, to have two idols of mine on the CD who knew Walter well, Billy Boy & Musselwhite, makes it even more special. Top it off with James Harman & Sugar Ray, plus the best band money could buy backing everyone up and we have a CD I'm probably more proud of than anything in my career so far." Shawn Holt and the Teardrops won the Blues Music Award for “Best New Artist Debut” for their debut recording on Blind Pig Records – Daddy Told Me.  Shawn is the son of the late legendary bluesman Magic Slim.   Said Holt, “I want to thank everybody that gave me an opportunity to carry on my father’s great blues tradition and front one of the best blues bands of the last thirty years.  I want to thank my father for putting a guitar in my hands at 16 and insisting that I develop my own sound.   I also want to thank Michael Blakemore and Marty Salzman for their confidence in recognizing that we could carry on the unique Magic Slim sound and tradition and also put my own “Shawn Holt” trademark in the mix. Thanks also to Blind Pig Records and Piedmont Talent for getting us out there and giving us the opportunity to be heard, and to everyone who, in their recognition and appreciation that Magic Slim lives on, voted for us.” "DADDY TOLD ME":    CD INFO         iTUNES Two other artists associated with Blind Pig Records also received Blues Music Awards: John Nemeth, who came to national prominence with the release of his three albums on Blind Pig, was named the winner of the “Soul Blues Male Artist” award. "NAME THE DAY!":    CD INFO       iTUNES Victor Wainwright, a principal member of the critically acclaimed roots blues “supergroup” Southern Hospitality, won the prestigious “Pinetop Perkins Piano Player” award for the second year in a row. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY    CD INFO      iTUNES Or, take advantage of our 5 CDs for $50 offer HERE. (Photos courtesy of Marilyn Stringer)