Bman's Blues Report

[ album artwork ] The Bottle Rockets announce new album, song, tour The Bottle Rockets will release their new album  Bit Logic  on October 12th, 2018. The forthcoming full-length is the St. Louis quartet's first since 2015's South Broadway Athletic Club . The band recently teased a sneak preview song premiere of the album title track via Wide Open Country . In support of Bit Logic , the Bottle Rockets will continue to tour across the country, including an upcoming appearance at AmericanaFest in Nashville. Aug. 16 — El Dorado, Ark. — The Griffin Aug. 17 — Pocola, Okla. — Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino Aug. 18 — Reeds Spring, Mo. — Livin...

Aiken & Friends Music Fest Brings Three Days of Music & Workshops to Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey, on September 20-22 Proceeds Go to Scholarships for Students and Music Education BRANCHBURG, NJ – Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Mike Aiken, whose new CD, Wayward Troubadour , is generating rave reviews and solid radio airplay, will once again present his “Aiken & Friends Music Fest – North Branch,” a three-day program of music and workshops, at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg on September 20-22. Proceeds go toward scholarships and programs for the students, in keeping with Aiken’s mission to support music education. “It started with my desire to start an original music festival that would feature mostly Americana and acoustic music … from bluegrass, blues to singer/songwriter,” Mike Aiken says about the festival’s origin. “Geographically, the location needed to have a good vibe of its own....

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wild Again , from The Proven Ones and it's quite good. Opening with Jimi Bott penned, Cheap Thrills , The Proven Ones hit the high stepping with a driving bass line by Willie J Campbell, Bott on drums, Anthony Geraci on Hammond and piano, Kid Ramos on guitars and Brian Templeton on lead vocal, this is a veritable who's who band. Up next is City Dump , a rolling boogie not unlike James Brown might use with nice solos by Ramos and Renato Coranto on sax, joined by Joe McCarthy on trumpet and Robert Crowell on bari sax. Fats Domino's Don't Leave Me This Way has great dynamics with excellent vocals by Templeton and ripping guitar work by Ramos. Excellent! Peter Green's slow shuffle, If You Be My Baby , has perfect pace and with the jangle of Geraci's piano, Templeton's vocals and the stylistic playing of Ramos, this track really hits! Clarence Carter's Road Of Love had the fortune of having ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good As I Been To You , from Steve Howell & The Mighty Men featuring Katy Hobgood Ray and it's freshly familiar. Opening with 50's blues rocker, Bacon Fat, Howell leads on vocal and guitar with Chris Michaels on guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums, and Jason Weinheimer on bass and setting a strong groove. On Memphis Minnie's New Dirty Dozen , Katy Hobgood Ray takes the mic and her vocals blend nicely with the throaty guitar work of Howell. Walter Davis' Come Back Baby has a smooth approach, along the lines of Eric Clapton and Howell's vocals are perfect with just the touch of guitar. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Blues In The Bottle with it's ideal symmetry. Howell's vocals are smooth and the backing guitar, bass and drums are spot on. A lightly salted guitar solo by Howell tops off the track nicely. Wrapping the release is Blind Blakes You Gonna Quit Me played in easy shuff...

Acclaimed Saxophonist Steve Wilson Confirms Active Fall/Winter, with Concerts in D.C. and NYC, Collaborations with Billy Childs and Chick Corea, and More International Educational Efforts Continue First Tour of China as Bandleader is a Huge Success Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Steve Wilson looks forward to an active Fall/Winter, as he confirms headlining concerts at Blues Alley in Washington D.C. and at Jazz Standard in New York City, as well as collaborations with Billy Childs and Chick Corea , and an expansion of his ongoing educational efforts. The D.C. and NY concerts will feature Wilson’s Analog Band , comprised of Ray Angry on piano/keys, Ben Williams on bass and Willie Jones III on drums. Confirmed shows are as follows: September 5th       Blues Alley           Washington, D.C. September 6-9th    Jazz Standard       New York City Thes...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Same Old Blues Again , from The Blues Doctors and it's cool. Opening with The Champs' track, Tequila , a Latin flavored R&B number ever popular since it's inception in the late 50's. Handled here with melody on harp and rhythm just claps and guitar. This is a lively song and a super opener. Mud's Rollin' & Tumblin' is up next with Adam Gussow on harp and Alan Gross on lead vocal and cigar box guitar. Very nice. Another Chicago style blues track, Cry For Me Baby features Gussow on lead vocal and harp and Gross laying down some nice electric guitar riffs. Bog Boy Crudup's That's Alright gets a great workout with lead vocal and harp solo by Gussow and snappy picking by Gross. Very cool. Original instrumental track, Blues For Hank is one of my favorites on the release with a nice walking bass line by Bill Harrison and each Gussow and Gross taking nice solos. Kicking it into hi...

Vanessa Peters Photo credit: Brent Baxter Photography Acclaimed singer-songwriter Vanessa Peters set to release Foxhole Prayers via Idol Records on October 5th “a true poet and a brilliant songwriter” – Rootsville Dallas, TX-based indie-folk singer-songwriter Vanessa Peters is set to release her new album, Foxhole Prayers , on October 5, 2018, via Idol Records.  In Foxhole Prayers , Peters’s already-considerable songwriting prowess has risen to its fullest stature, presented as a concise, gut-punching collection of songs composed of piercing observations of both the outs...

AMY RAY announces new album "HOLLER" Out September 28 on Daemon Records/Compass Records Group Listen to "Sure Feels Good Anyway" and read an interview with Amy at Billboard FALL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED August 10, 2018 Nashville, TN -- At a time when hope and forgi...