Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hot Sauce , by Jon Spear Band and I quite like it. Opening with Bottom of the Bottle , Jon Spear Band gets into a really nice groove somewhat like Come and Go Blues but with more texture, cooler guitar riffs and better vocals for my taste. With Dara James on guitar, harp and vocal, Jon Spear on guitar and vocal Andy Burdetsky on bass and vocal John Stubblefield on drums and vocals, this is a super opener. Geographical Cure has a more pop styling, clever rhythm and warm vocal harmonies making it an ideal radio track. Title track, Hot Sauce is a spicy track with smoking sax work from Ron Holloway trading on guitar riffs and and great vocals. One of the top tracks on the release. With it's R&B/Blues feel (Help Me/Green Onions) this track is really smoking hot and in your face. The vocals are strong, the percussion is tight and the guitar riffs tasty. With a uptempo, jazzy feel, Hit The Quarter really gets you mo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Is Everywhere , from Stacy Jones and it's a cool mix of blues, folk, country and pop. Opening with Mojo Potion #61 & 49 , a cool rocker with just a touch of country western, Stacy Jones on lead vocal, harmonica and guitar leads the way backed by Jeff Menteer on guitar, Rick Bowen on drums and Tom Jones on bass. Seaan Denton steps up on second lead guitar and Angelo Ortiz adds cool rhythm on washboard for a tight opener. Wait For Heaven has a definite southern rock/Toy and Tommy Caldwell feel. One of my favorite tracks, Can't Find Love , is a strong alt rock track sounding like a mix of Frank Black and the Catholics and Fiona Apple. A great melody with a cool beat and guitar/strong vocal combination. A real nice instrumental, Stomp Jump Boogie features the infamous Lee Oskar joining on harmonica. Super twin harps and a great walking bass line makes for a terrific track. One of the strongest melodies on...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Playin', from  The Halley DeVestern Band and it has a cool sound. Opening with title track, Keep On Playin' , Halley DeVestern on lead vocal is joined by David Patterson with creamy guitar tones, Rich Kulsar on drums, Heinig on bass and Steve Jabas on guitars, keys and backing vocals.  A lumbering blues rocker, this track has strong bones and R&B style backing vocals. Time For You To Light Things is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a cool guitar riff at it's core. Patterson is featured nicely and really add great texture. Bangin' has an easy tempo with Latin undertones. Probably the best showcase for DeVestern's vocals, and with a solid melody, this track has the strongest radio potential. Wrapping the release is Hit Twice with it's slinky bass line, crisp drums and sliding guitar riffs. DeVestern really works the track showing her influences with Big Brother. A solid ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Break The Chain , from Doug MacLeod and it's a cool, textural documentary of contemporary observations. Opening with boogie rocker, Goin' Down To The Roadhouse , Doug gets into a real nice groove with slide on resonator joined by Denny Croy on bass and Jimi Bott on drums. On Lonesome Feeling, Doug really gives his National steel body a rough workout. His wailing and slide work nicely together creating a feeling of solitude and emptiness. Very nice. Another stand out track is One For Tampa Red featuring a solid walking bass line by Croy and Doug sliding out the melody on his National "O". Boogie track, Who's Driving This Bus is another stand out track with a great driving rhythm and clever lyrics. A very nice track, Church Street Serenade has a really sweet melody and strong guitar articulation. One of my favorites. Wrapping the release is title track, Break The Chain , a simple stripped down roc...

JONNY LANG EXTENDS SIGNS WORLD TOUR Twenty-Five New North American Shows Added Tickets On Sale This Week Signs To Be Released On September 8 th In North America Los Angeles, CA --- Jonny Lang ’s brand new studio album, Signs , will be released in North America on September 8th via SayRai / Concord Records.  The album (his sixth major label release) is his first in four years. The European release for Signs will be on August 25 via Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group. The new album is available to pre-order here: http://amazon.com/dp/B071FPWNS6 .   All pre-orders will include both “Bitter End” and “Make It Move” as instant gratification tracks. This morning, twenty-five new shows in North America have been added to Jonny’s World Tour in support of Signs .  Tickets for most of these shows will go on sale this week.  VIP tickets will be available starting this Tuesday via www.jonnylang.com Anyone who originally discovered Jonny La...

             PLANETARY BLUES BAND PERFORM AT PRAIRIE MAGIC            MUSIC FESTIVAL, AT SUNSET HILL FARM COUNTY PARK Saturday, August 12/ Showtime: 1:00pm/ Tickets: $15.   (Valparaiso, IN) - The Planetary Blues Band are one of the headliners at the Prairie Magic Music Festival , Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Rd., Saturday, August 12. Festival begins at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $15. (Adults), $10. with Student I.D. Children 12 and under free with a ticketed adult. I...

"BASICS" --  the new CD by Hamilton Loomis NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!! Pre-order Hamilton's long-awaited new CD by clicking here: http://shop.hamiltonloomis.com/Basics-2017-Basics-PRE-ORDER.htm   Estimated ship date is Aug. 16, 2017! You can also download the entire CD (includes artwork) by clicking here: https://hamiltonloomis.bandzoogle.com/music   ALBUM NOTES: Hamilton Loomis does indeed go back to basics on his new album, which is his most personal and emotional effort to date. Gone are the double entendres for which Loomis is known; this time, his lyrics are direct, personal, and often autobiographical. The “basics” theme runs through the entire CD, in its lyrics (“Prayer,” “Cloudy Day”), single-chord progressions (“Sugar Baby," "Looking Into a Dream”), simple melodies (“Come and Get Me”), and stripped-down instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums (“Reason," "Getting So Bi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feet Back In The Door , by Johnny Ray Jones and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Feet Back In The Door , Johnny Ray Jones show strong soul roots with a great rhythm and horn section. His vocals are strong, joined by Mike Finnigan on piano, Hutch Hutchinson on bass, and Tony Braunagel on drums and topped off with Joe Sublett on sax, Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Teresa James on backing vocals. Very nice. I really like the bass work on Come Up And See Me Sometime which really carries Finnigan's organ line and sets a cool stage for Jones to strut. Jones' vocals on High Cost Of Loving and Johnny Lee Schell throws down some stinging blues guitar riffs making this one of my favorites on  the release. Z.Z. Hill's, I'm A Blues Man has a great balance of heavy bass, big brass, snappy drums and warm vocals giving Jones and Schell a wide open slate to sing and play. Very nice. Allen Toussaint'...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lo-Fi Dreams from Jeffrey Halford and the Healers featuring country, soul and rock laden music. Opening is Two Jacksons , a simple rock radio track with flavors of John Cougar and the Eagles. Halford on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Adam Rossi on drums and keys and Bill MacBeath on bass. Elvis Shot The Television is a cool track with a memorable lyric, cool slide by Halford and cool keys and drums by Rossi. One of my favorite tracks, Door #3 has a great melody, cool backing vocals by Rossi and iridescent guitar lines by Tom Heyman. Bird Of Youth is a hot country rocker with a hint of British style, a driving beat, a cool bass line and a healthy dose of slide guitar. Very cool. Sweet Annette is a curious track with a hint of Lou Reed, cool lead guitar and euphoric steel guitar swirling in the air. Cool blues rocker, Looking For A Home , has a simple melody and country blues style with a snappy drum beat, raw sl...

               THE 3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH: LIVE BLUES, GREAT FOOD, SWING DANCE COMPETITION, BEST LINEUP YET Saturday, September 3, 2pm-10pm Robbins Ballpark, Clarksville, VA                                                                                                       (Rain or Shine)           (Clarksville, VA) - Announcing the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Island...