World's Best Blues & Beer Meet in Ventura: Two-Day California Beer Festival is Back

WORLD'S BEST BLUES & BEER MEET IN VENTURA: TWO-DAY CALIFORNIA BEER FESTIVAL IS BACK     Ventura Beer Week: Sept. 14-21   Craft Beer Heaven: Saturday, Sept. 20 (12:30 p.m. -5 p.m.) Blues & BBQ Festival: Sunday, Sept. 21 (11 a.m.-6 p.m.)       SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: CBF'S FAMOUS "CRAFT BEER HEAVEN" - OVER 140 LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL CRAFT BEERS ON TAP, PLUS WIDE ARRAY OF GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS AND ALL-DAY MUSIC     SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21: "BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL" - AMAZING MUSIC LINEUP (TAB BENOIT, GARY HOEY, TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT, MORE) AND ALL-DAY BBQ SAMPLING, WITH CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER, FREE

(Ventura, CA) - All roads lead to Ventura as the world's best Blues music and Craft Beer once again meet at the 6th Annual California Beer Festival, Mission Park, 185 E. Santa Clara St., Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. Prior to that is Ventura County Beer Week, from September 14-21, with nightly Craft beer-themed activities at selected venues throughout Ventura. The California Beer Festival is now a yearly post-Labor Day event that draws several thousand people during each of it's two distinctly different days - Saturday primarily for Craft Beer enthusiasts; Sunday for Blues lovers of all ages permitted (children 12 and under, free). Tickets priced as follows: Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven, $50.; Designated Driver tickets (Saturday only), $25.; Sunday's Blues & BBQ Fest (only), $30.; Blues & BBQ Sample Judge ticket, $45. (get to sample up to eight BBQ entries and vote for the winners! Sunday only); V.I.P. 3-Day Pass (Friday's 'Brew With A View,' Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven and Sunday's Blues & BBQ Fest, $109; 2-Day Pass (Craft Beer Festival and Blues & BBQ Fest), $75. Buy tickets now at http://www.californiabeerfestival.com/ventura/buytickets.php. Info: (805) 351-5650. In keeping with the yearly tradition, a portion of the proceeds from each day benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to student athletes to assist in their pursuit of both scholastic and athletic success in Ventura County.                     Saturday, September 20: CRAFT BEER HEAVEN        Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven (12:30-5:00 p.m.) is one of the largest yearly beer festivals in the state, and with over 140 craft beers on tap, it's a great place to come sample amazing craft beer from all over the world. Sample such fine beers as the legendary Burt's Honey Wheat; Karl Strauss; Surf Brewery; Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company; Creekside brewing Company; Woodchuck Hard Cider; Twisted Manzanita Ales; Wolf Creek Brewing Company; Mike's Hard Lemonade Company; American Vintage Beverage; Headlands Brewing Company; The Lab Brewing Company; Tap It Brewing Company; Fireman's Brew; Chaucer's Cellars; The Boston Beer Company; Ace Cider; Twisted Tea Brewing Company; Indian Wells Brewery; Reverend Nats Hard CIder; Anderson Valley Brewing Company; Einstok; Venice Duck Brewery; Frozen Beer; Mendocino Brewing Company; Mission Brewery; Telegraph Brewing; Crabbie's Ginger Beer; Crabbie's Orange Spiced; Kronenbourg Blanc 1664; Oskar Blues; and Coronado Brewing Company. Live music throughout the day by Rey Fresco, Dr. M and Petty Theft, the ultimate Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers tribute band. A great place to expand your mind and educate yourself on new and old styles of craft beer! Space is very limited; must be 21 years or older to attend. (Note: Beer Sampling times are from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.).       Guitarist Tab Benoit (pictured) heads Sunday's stellar Blues & BBQ Festival lineup. Also performing; Gary Hoey; Trampled Under Foot; Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds; Michael John & The Bottom Line; Jonathan "Boogie" Long.                Sunday, September 21: BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL      Sunday's Blues & BBQ Festival features perhaps the most ambitious and eclectic lineup yet, in addition to amazing barbecue from top teams throughout California (special tickets must be purchased for BBQ sampling).      Headlining the main stage is guitarist Tab Benoit, Louisiana’s No. 1 roots export. More than just an acclaimed bluesman, he is an indefatigable conservation advocate. Benoit is a driving force behind Voice of the Wetlands, an organization working to save Louisiana’s wetlands. In 2010, he received the Governor’s Award for Conservationist of the Year from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. Benoit also starred in the iMax motion picture Hurricane on the Bayou, a documentary of Hurricane Katrina’s effects and a call to restore the wetlands. In 2007, Benoit won the dual awards of B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and Best Contemporary Male Performer at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards). In 2006, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues. Benoit's latest album, his seventh on the Telarc label, is titled Medicine. http://www.tabbenoit.com/.           World-renowned, rock guitarist Gary Hoey takes on the Blues with his new album, Deja Blues (Wazoo Music Group). "This is an album of original blues songs I’ve wanted to record for a long time. The blues has always been near and dear to my heart," states Hoey. "I have so much respect for it. When I’m recording a blues song, it’s a five-minute journey and you can’t take a breath, you can’t keep punching in the recording button to fix stuff or it loses the vibe.” To this day the guitar aficionado continues to tour extensively, endorsing Fender guitars and Amps, Monster cable, GHS Strings, and Rocktron to name a few. Hoey has toured and traded licks with the likes of Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, The Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Styx, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale. http://garyhoey.com/.       Trampled Under Foot was originally formed as a family band consisting of Danielle, Nick and Kris Schnebelen. The trio headed to Memphis in 2008 for the IBC's, winning first place honors. Riding the wave of support following the IBC's, TUF took their unique style of power blues-rock to audiences around the world. After a series of headlining tours and standout performances at blues festivals across the globe, TUF earned the reputation as one of the hottest bands on the blues circuit. While their fan base grew world-wide, the trio released multiple CDs and DVDs under their own label, TUF Records, including 2011's highly-acclaimed Wrong Side of the Blues. The success of that album caught the attention of many throughout the music industry and in 2013 the band partnered with Concord Music Group to release their major label debut, Badlands. Hailed by fans and critics alike, Badlands revealed a musical sophistication well beyond the band’s years and provided further proof that Trampled Under Foot was the real deal. In 2014, after brother Kris announced he was leaving the band, Danielle and Nick solicited long-time friend/fellow KC musician Jan Faircloth to join them on drums. The addition of Faircloth inspired TUF to make other lineup changes; the group then added keyboardist Mike “Shinetop” Sedovic, turning the trio in to a four-piece and adding a new dimension to their already-stellar live performances. http://www.tufkc.com/.        Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds is a seven-piece powerhouse that put a modern spin on classic soul. The band is led by Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow), whose astoundingly powerful voice and sly demeanor make for a spellbinding presence onstage. She is backed by the mighty force of The Dirty Birds, a flock of seven men who masterfully lay down thundering grooves and soaring melodies. While each of the Birds are capable of lighting up the stage with jaw-dropping displays of musicianship, it’s clear they’re all focused on delivering the band’s infectious music as a single entity. Simply put, the band’s live show is explosive. Sister Sparrow’s commanding style alone is more than enough to dazzle audiences, but the magic doesn’t end with her: the band’s palpable camaraderie, undeniable talent and passion for music makes for a contagious combination that is taking the country by storm. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds’ blend of seductive soul and dirty blues-rock reminds audiences why they love live music. http://www.sistersparrow.com/.          Southern California native Michael John and his band, The Bottom Line, have earned their spot in the Blues scene. This six-piece, high-energy contemporary original blues band has played at many Festivals, concert theaters and venues such as The Doheny Blues Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, BB King's Blues Club, Galaxy Theater, Coach House, and Ventura Theater. They have shared the bill with Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, The Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Coco Montoya, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, John Hammond, Bobby Blue Bland, Solomon Burke, Rod Piazza and Tommy Castro to name a few. Michael John's strong, soulful vocals are without a doubt his main instrument while also supporting the groove with a style all his own on harmonica and rhythm Guitar. Their music has received positive feedback and airplay on blues stations throughout the U.S. http://michaeljohnandthebottomline.com/.        Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jonathon “Boogie” Long was born with the blues coursing through his veins. Brought up in a Southern Baptist community, he first picked up the guitar at the age of six, teaching himself old gospel songs. At fourteen, Long left school to lay down his roots touring with local legends such as Henry Turner Jr. Since then, Long has shared the stage with standout musicians like Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule, Dr. John, Rockin’ Dopsie, Monte Montgomery, Ellis Hall, Kenny Neal, Larry Garner, Henry Gray, Lil Ray Neal, and Lou Marini of the Blues Brothers Band. Long currently fronts his own blues/soul trio, The Blues Revolution. His soul-stomping vocals and monster guitar shredding, paired with bluesy songwriting chops, make his powerhouse performances a “must see.” In 2013, Long was tapped by B.B. King to support his four-week tour.  He was also given a prime slot at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Long's debut record was released in April of 2013. http://jonathonboogielong.com/.                http://www.californiabeerfestival.com/ventura/index.php     https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-California-Beer-Festival

Blue South Records artist: EG Kight - a new day - New Release review

I just received the newest release (September 16, 2014), a new day, from EG Kight and she displays a full deck of down home sounds. Opening with soulful ballad Holdin' On, Kight, backed by drummer Gary Porter, bassist Johnny Fountain, guitarist Ken Wynn and keysmith Mike Harrell, sets a wholesome tempo for this new endeavor. Shuffle track, Graveyard Dead Blues, opens with Harrell on electric piano and Kight on solid vocals. Wynn whips out the slide for some hot, freewheeling guitar work and Harrell takes a nice piano solo as well. On blues ballad, Comin' Down With The Blues, Wynn plays a bluesy melodic guitar intro as well as a tasty solo and Kight holds the audience in the palm of her hand as she sings from her heart. Ex Cowboy Tommy Talton opens with a reverb saturated guitar riff, leading Kight into a full tent revival track backed really nicely by Willie Morris. Randall Bramblett adds his signature on B3 and Paul Hornsby contributes cool piano work. Very nice! On Catch The Wind Kight sings both lead and back vocal for an extremely pleasant blend. One of my favorite tracks on the release, this track is a solid soul ballad with Hornsby on B3 and Harrell on piano. Guitarist, Wynn takes another well articulated guitar solo icing this beautiful vocal duet. Bad Times is another exceptional soul track on the release featuring Greg Nagy sharing the lead vocal spot with Kight. Instrumentally, Cliff Meyers (tenor sax)really lays it out there with Bill Stewart (drums), Marshall Coats (bass), Tommy Talton (guitar), Paul Hornsby (piano and B3), Marcus Henderson (alto sax), Earl Ford (trombone) and Jerry Mullins (trumpet)really tow the load. Misunderstood is a clear radio track with a hi stepping beat, Kight again singing duet with herself and sweet guitar solo from Talton. Low Mileage Woman has a Latin beat reinforced by Johnny Fountain building a cool bass line and solidified by Gary Porter on drums. Harrell takes a nice ride on the piano as does Wynn on guitar. Another clever track that could easily see cross interest on the airwaves. Time To Move On is the bluesiest track on the release, stripped down and featuring Talton on acoustic guitar and slide. Paul Hornsby plays some particularly nice piano riffs supporting Kights superb efforts on this release closer.

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Vizztone Label Group artist: Rob Stone - gotta keep rollin' - New release review

I just received the newest release (September 9, 2014), gotta keep rollin', from Rob Stone and it smells of sweet Chicago. Opening with a strong Chicago style blues, Wait Baby, Stone is out front singing and blowing his harp backed by Chris James on guitar. Cool harp work and solid guitar riffs over a solid beat provided by Patrick Rynn (bass) and and Willie Hayes (drums)provides for a great opener. John Lee Willamson's easy stepping Wonderful Time features nice piano work from David Maxwell and a different slice of Stones super vocal work. His harp work complimented by James on guitar makes for an happy go lucky track. Another Chicago style shuffle track, Lucky 13 gives Stone a wide road to play his harp and he takes every inch of it. Cool vocal phrasing, a tight guitar solo from John Primer and a cool melody makes for one of the most memorable tracks on the release. Anything Can Happen features Eddie Shaw on sax and he tears up the solo opportunity as you would absolutely expect. Very cool! Jazz Gillum's, She Belongs To Me, has a subtle easy pace lead by Frank Rossi on brushes giving Stone an easy cloud to sing and especially harp over. Billy Emerson's Move Baby Move, has a great swing and a ringing guitar solo rhythm throughout. James steps out nicely on guitar on this track but leaves room for the super Eddie Shaw to wind it up and blow it out. Very nice! Strollin' With Sasquatch is a very cool instrumental featuring Stone on harp, Ariyo on piano, Maxwell on piano, James on guitar, Rynn on bass and Hayes on drums. Smooth! Wired and Tired has that Muddy Waters jump feel. Featuring Henry Gray on a signature piano solo and Eddie Kobek on drums this track moves. Stone lays out some great harp riffs and James is ever ready on guitar. Super! Willie McTell's Cold Winter Day is a real down and dirty blues track featuring some of my favorite harp work on the release. Maxwell rolling in some really nice piano work and with hot guitar riffs from Primer not only in solo form but also under the melody this is another of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Cornelius Green's It's Easy When You Know How has a certain R&B feel featuring Maxwell on piano under the vocal and harp work of Stone. Having more of a pop feel, this track should have broad appeal. Blues Keep Rollin' On features cool vocal harmonies with Clarke Rigsby and a really infectious melody/rhythm. Not No More' is a great final track for this release with a driving drum rhythm from Hayes, tidy guitar riffs and solo work from James, super piano work from Maxwell, clever lead vocals from Stone, accentuating backing vocals by Mike Mahany and an overall good feeling. Very cool!

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 This track not on this release but a good example of Stone's work:

Ben Poole - Hey Joe

After playing over 40 shows across 7 countries through the past couple of months, Ben and the band now have a few weeks off. Next show is with the full 6 piece line-up playing at the prestigious ‘Suwalki Festival’ in Poland on Friday 11th July. Gig dates throughout the UK are now confirmed in October, and Ben Poole will also be “Special Guest” of Matt Schofield on his November UK Tour. European tour being planned for February/March 2015,





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Otis Clay and Johnny Rawls Team Up as "Soul Brothers" for New CD Coming from Catfood Records On October 21

Otis Clay and Johnny Rawls Team Up as Soul Brothers for New CD Coming from Catfood Records On October 21

EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces an October 21 release date for Soul Brothers, the new album featuring Blues Hall of Fame singer Otis Clay and Blues Music Award winning vocalist Johnny Rawls for what promises to be one of the musical highlights of the year.

Produced by Johnny Rawls and recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, Soul Brothers showcases the deep soul/blues veterans at their very best. They’re backed by the solid, in-the-pocket band, The Rays: Richy Puga (drums), Bob Trenchard (bass), Johnny McGhee (guitar), Dan Ferguson (keyboards), Andy Roman (sax), Mike Middleton (trumpet) Robert Claiborne (trombone), Nick Flood (sax) and The Iveys - Arlen, Jessica and Jillian - (background vocals).

Also joining in the sessions was Southern California percussionist Jon Olazabal.

Last year saw Otis Clay join Johnny Rawls as a special guest on three tracks of his multi-Blues-Music-Award-nominated CD, Remembering O.V., which paid tribute to Rawls’ late friend and mentor, O.V. Wright and featured nine songs associated with Wright, plus an original cut, “Blaze of Glory,” that saluted the legendary soul man. Remembering O.V. also won the latest Living Blues Magazine Critics' Poll for “Southern Soul Album of the Year.” 

The 10 tracks on Soul Brothers showcase original songs from Rawls, Clay, Trenchard, Al Basile, Darryl Carter and Jose Hernandez, plus soul-powered takes on a versatile mix of tunes popularized by Dave Mason (“Only You Know and I Know”), Jimmy Ruffin (“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”), Tyrone Davis (“Turn Back the Hands of Time”) and Kay Kay Greenwade (“Waiting for Dreams”).

Both men are uniquely qualified to sing the gospel of soul music. Johnny Rawls was O.V. Wright’s music director and guitarist back in the 1970s and after his mentor died in 1980 he played a large role in keeping Wright’s band going strong into the 1990s. (They backed and opened for R&B stars like Little Johnny Taylor, Little Milton and Bobby “Blue” Bland). In his own long-established solo career, Rawls continues to draw inspiration from Wright’s Southern soul music, as well as the other greats.

Although he had some early success at other labels, Otis Clay made his bones starting in the early 1970s during his stay at the legendary Hi Records in Memphis, under the tutelage of the great Willie Mitchell, who produced a long string of soul music classics for Clay, including “Trying to Live My Life Without You.” During that time, he also became an international touring star, drawing huge crowds throughout Europe and in Japan, too. He was enshrined in the Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013, a testament to his ongoing success as a recording artists and touring performer.

While both Otis Clay and Johnny Rawls traveled in the same circles back over 40 years, they never really connected on a personal level for many years. “We really got to know each other well starting about 10 years ago,” says Rawls. “I was a big fan of Otis. Working with O.V. was a wonderful experience, and now getting a chance to work with Otis is even better. We have a lot in common: both of us come from a gospel background. We had a lot of fun recording this album.”  

Clay’s comments echo Rawls’ feelings. “We knew each other before we knew each other,” jokes Otis. “O.V. Wright and I go back to when we were both doing gospel music and our careers were very similar. Johnny absorbed all that great music from O.V and we had such a good time recording these songs. For me, it’s a good feeling to talk to someone like Johnny about names, places and events we’re both familiar with from back in the day. There’s so much that we have in common. And Bob Trenchard is really tuned into all this music and just let us go for it.” 

Smelly Cat Records artist: Kirby Sewell Band - Girl With A New Tattoo - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (September 30, 2014), Girl With A New Tattoo, from the Kirby Sewell Band and is really cool! Opening The Devil's In The Details with tom tom's pounding by Jim Johnson and a funky rhythm from Neil Gunhold and Morgan Turk on guitars pushed by Jae Cho on bass, these guys are rumbling and Sewell adds super vocals. A cool slide solo and nicely flat picked solo on this track really kick it in the butt. Great start! Simply Not Enough is an easy going, well constructed ballad with a solid melody and vocals. Twin guitar leads and warm chords make this a certain radio track. Title track, Girl With A New Tattoo, is a cocky blues track with a Chuck Berry feel. This is a real cool track with tasty guitar riffs and a solid bottom (think Berry's Almost Grown). Very cool! Carry Me Home is a blues rocker with some swagger. A tight back beat mixed with a soft bridge makes it a unique track. Stop and Go opens with a real nice bass line and Sewell is right on it with nicely phrased vocals. A little different kind of funk with a jazzy rock line makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. A "southern style" slide solo gives this track a little extra punch. $1.11 is a fast rocker with a rolling bottom. Cho really has this track moving and Johnson does a really nice job of keeping things rolling. Clever guitar riffs and solid vocals again make this a really strong track. A Better Reason slows down to a soft ballad with steel guitar like riffs. A sweet melody and clever lyrics make this another track that could easily get strong airplay. Kiss You Tonight is a real toe tapper with cool slide work. Sewell demonstrates over and again that he has a super voice for a band like this. Overall this is a really cool track with a hot guitar riffs and a nice hook! Cryin' All The Way has a really nice opening bass line developing into a strong rocker. Having a taste of Joe Jackson's Is She Really Going Out With Him, and a sucker punch at the end of bar, solid vocals and smokin guitar riffs, I really like this track. Great rocker! Wrapping the release is Till The River Starts To Overflow, a light handed but briskly finger picked track. With the hand claps and springy feel, this track is a light weight revival track. A really nice closer for a cool new release.

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Etta Britt - Etta Does Delbert - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Etta Does Delbert, by Etta Britt and it's quite enjoyable.  Britt sings a collection of Delbert McClinton songs adding one original. Opening with Somebody To Love You, Etta Britt shows she has spunk and swagger. With a country feel and a bluesy twist, Britt is backed by Kevin McKendree on keys, Steve Mackey on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and Dana Robbins on sax. Guitarist Bob Britt keeps it low but throws some really nice stingers in there. Old Weakness (Coming On Strong) keeps with a country feel but with a definite Keith Richards guitar feel from Britt. Etta has a real cool feel for the music and McKendree plays a nice piano throughout. On Boy You Better Move On, Britt trades lead vocals and is backed by Scat Springs, Regina McCrary, Ann McCrary George Pendergrass, Bob Britt and Alfreda McCrary. Cool track! Starting A Rumor is a strong ballad with a particular strength actually putting me in mind of "The Weight". A solid B3 solo from McKendree takes the spotlight momentarily but it's the melody and warm harmonies that make this track click. Lie No Better has a funky groove with a plucky rhythm part featuring Bob Britt and Mackey. A definite R&B country fusion is happening here on this, one of the strongest tracks on the release. Every Time I Roll The Dice opens with cool slide work from Bob Britt but it's a solid two stepper like Seeger's Old Time Rock 'n' Roll. Crankin up the voice on this track Britt really takes command, and with cool piano work from McKendree and guitar work from Bob Britt, one of my favorite tracks on the release. You Were Never Mine has a definite soul ballad feel and Britt digs in with strong support from the McCrary sisters. Best Of Me returns to the more country overtoned feel and Bob Britt takes a real nice rife on his fretboard reinforced by the stylized piano work of McKendree. Very nice. I'm With You gets a little country swamp funk going and Britt is on like glue. McKendree both on piano and organ does a really nice job supporting Britt and her sure footed backing vocalists. I'm With You is a strong shuffle track with cool guitar work from Bob Britt and solid bass work from Mackey. This is the best track on the release with a nice blend of vocal, groove and instrumentals featuring Bob Britt and McKendree stepping out. The Jealous Kind is a simple ballad with warm vocal backing. Dana Robbins add a strong soulful sax solo to the mix making this a standout track. Wrapping the release is When I Was With You which has a definite R&B feel along the lines of Knock on Wood. Written by Britt and McKendree, this has a nice feel with a jazzy guitar lead by Bob Britt icing the track.

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Alabama Singer Lisa Mills Says "I'm Changing" on New CD Coming Oct. 21 from Her MillsBluz Record Label

Alabama Singer Lisa Mills Says I’m Changing on New CD Coming Oct. 21 from Her MillsBluz Record Label

MOBILE, AL – Blues, roots and gospel singer Lisa Mills announces an October 21 release date for her new CD, I’m Changing, on her MillsBluz record label, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution. I’m Changing was recorded primarily at Back Door studios in Mobile and was produced by Lisa Mills and Ian Jennings. The album showcases Mills backed by an impressive cast of musicians including guitarist Rick Hirsch and drummer T. K. Lively of Wet Willie fame, as well as guitarist Corky Hughes (Bo Diddley, Black Oak Arkansas). Bassist Ian Jennings has a host of world-class recording credentials, including work on albums with Jeff Beck (Crazy Legs), several albums with Van Morrison and Tom Jones, plus appearances with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Ian was also named Britain's best bassist last year by one of the UK’s top blues magazines.

Lisa Mills is a Mississippi native who currently lives in Mobile, Alabama. Her last CD, Tempered in Fire, was released in 2010 and won her universal acclaim for its rootsy mix of blues, country and gospel sounds powered by her incredibly soulful voice. UK writer Grahame Rhodes described her as “a full-throated female Otis Redding, with some Muscle Shoals soul and Nashville country touches for good measure.” Another reviewer praised her “unique vocal ability to make one feel the good times and bad times in every song,” comparing her to Lucinda Williams.

As its title implies, I’m Changing is actually a re-constructed new version of tracks Lisa originally recorded and released in 2005, with the added benefit of the more pure expression of her artistic desires and abilities. Perhaps most importantly, Lisa was able to put the new project in the hands of groundbreaking producer Trina Shoemaker, the first woman to win the Grammy Award for album engineering, having worked her magic on sessions with Sheryl Crow, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Dixie Chicks and Indigo Girls. Under Shoemaker’s mixing mojo, I’m Changing became an entirely new animal from its predecessor, and the results are explosive.

The even-dozen tracks on the new CD include 10 originals, plus scintillating covers of the Rev. Robert Wilkins’ “Wish I was in Heaven (Sittin’ Down)” and the Jimi Hendrix classic, ”Little Wing,” which undergoes an amazing transformation courtesy of Mills’ soulful vocal attack.

“There are two fully re-recorded tracks on the album,” says Lisa: ‘Take My Troubles and Tell Me’ and three new songs: ‘Rain in the Summertime,’ ‘I Don't Want to be Happy’ and ‘Eyes So Blue.’ All of these tracks are original songs.”

She also admits that during the original 2005 sessions of I'm Changing, she was having a terrible time with her voice and thought she’d have to re-record just about everything for the new release. “But once Trina got started on the mixing,” she adds, “it became apparent that the vocals were actually really good and so the only thing I re-sang was one phrase in ‘Little Wing’ and the two tracks I had recorded in Los Angeles – ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Take My Troubles.’ These were recorded entirely in the original Mobile, Alabama studio.  Also, I went back and used an original vocal done in Mobile instead of a take I tracked in L.A.”

Lisa’s Gulf Coast background brings a hotbed of Southern musical influences that have informed her sound from the get-go. She often sings the blues – but to call her a blues singer would be to limit her potential audience reach. “I tend to think of myself more as a bit of a blue-eyed-soul singer armed with a guitar,” says Mills. “If anything, I would refer to what I do as American Southern roots music.” And that includes straight-up gospel, as she does in daringly a cappella fashion on “Tell Me.” 

Prior to going her own way, Lisa toured with Big Brother & The Holding Company, singing the songs of one of rock’s most revered vocalists, and her understanding of Janis Joplin’s gifts is far more insightful than the superficial norm. One listen to the fragile balance of vulnerability and indomitability she brings to “Better Than This” will bear this out.

Lisa Mills will tour both in the U.S and in Europe to support I’m Changing. 

World's Best Blues & Beer Meet in Ventura at 6th Annual California Beer Festival

WORLD'S BEST BLUES & BEER MEET IN VENTURA: TWO-DAY CALIFORNIA BEER FESTIVAL IS BACK Ventura Beer Week: Sept. 14-21 Craft Beer Heaven: Saturday, Sept. 20 (12:30 p.m. -5 p.m.) Blues & BBQ Festival: Sunday, Sept. 21 (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: CBF'S FAMOUS "CRAFT BEER HEAVEN" - OVER 140 LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL CRAFT BEERS ON TAP, PLUS WIDE ARRAY OF GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS AND ALL-DAY MUSIC SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21: "BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL" - AMAZING MUSIC LINEUP (TAB BENOIT, GARY HOEY, TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT, MORE) AND ALL-DAY BBQ SAMPLING, WITH CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER, FREE

(Ventura, CA) - All roads lead to Ventura as the world's best Blues music and Craft Beer once again meet at the 6th Annual California Beer Festival, Mission Park, 185 E. Santa Clara St., Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. Prior to that is Ventura County Beer Week, from September 14-21, with nightly Craft beer-themed activities at selected venues throughout Ventura. The California Beer Festival is now a yearly post-Labor Day event that draws several thousand people during each of it's two distinctly different days - Saturday primarily for Craft Beer enthusiasts; Sunday for Blues lovers of all ages permitted (children 12 and under, free). Tickets priced as follows: Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven, $50.; Designated Driver tickets (Saturday only), $25.; Sunday's Blues & BBQ Fest (only), $30.; Blues & BBQ Sample Judge ticket, $45. (get to sample up to eight BBQ entries and vote for thew winners! Sunday only); V.I.P. 3-Day Pass (Friday's 'Brew With A View,' Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven and Sunday's Blues & BBQ Fest, $!09; 2-Day Pass (Craft Beer Festival and Blues & BBQ Fest), $75. Buy tickets now at http://www.californiabeerfestival.com/ventura/buytickets.php. Info: (805) 351-5650. In keeping with the yearly tradition, a portion of the proceeds from each day benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to student athletes to assist in their pursuit of both scholastic and athletic success in Ventura County.             Saturday, September 20: CRAFT BEER HEAVEN    Saturday's Craft Beer Heaven (12:30-5:00 p.m.) is one of the largest yearly beer festivals in the state, and with over 140 craft beers on tap, it's a great place to come sample amazing craft beer from all over the world. Sample such fine beers as the legendary Burt's Honey Wheat; Karl Strauss; Surf Brewery; Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company; Creekside brewing Company; Woodchuck Hard Cider; Twisted Manzanita Ales; Wolf Creek Brewing Company; Mike's Hard Lemonade Company; American Vintage Beverage; Headlands Brewing Company; The Lab Brewing Company; Tap It Brewing Company; Fireman's Brew; Chaucer's Cellars; The Boston Beer Company; Ace Cider; Twisted Tea Brewing Company; Indian Wells Brewery; Reverend Nats Hard CIder; Anderson Valley Brewing Company; Einstok; Venice Duck Brewery; Frozen Beer; Mendocino Brewing Company; Mission Brewery; Telegraph Brewing; Crabbie's Ginger Beer; Crabbie's Orange Spiced; Kronenbourg Blanc 1664; Oskar Blues; and Coronado Brewing Company. Live music throughout the day by Rey Fresco, Dr. M and Petty Theft, the ultimate Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers tribute band. A great place to expand your mind and educate yourself on new and old styles of craft beer! Space is very limited; must be 21 years or older to attend. (Note: Beer Sampling times are from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.). Guitarist Tab Benoit (pictured) heads Sunday's stellar Blues & BBQ Festival lineup. Also performing; Gary Hoey; Trampled Under Foot; Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds; Michael John & The Bottom Line; Jonathan "Boogie" Long.            Sunday, September 21: BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL    Sunday's Blues & BBQ Festival features perhaps the most ambitious and eclectic lineup yet, in addition to amazing barbecue from top teams throughout California (special tickets must be purchased for BBQ sampling).    Headlining the main stage is guitarist Tab Benoit, Louisiana’s No. 1 roots export. More than just an acclaimed bluesman, he is an indefatigable conservation advocate. Benoit is a driving force behind Voice of the Wetlands, an organization working to save Louisiana’s wetlands. In 2010, he received the Governor’s Award for Conservationist of the Year from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. Benoit also starred in the iMax motion picture Hurricane on the Bayou, a documentary of Hurricane Katrina’s effects and a call to restore the wetlands. In 2007, Benoit won the dual awards of B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and Best Contemporary Male Performer at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards). In 2006, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues. Benoit's latest album, his seventh on the Telarc label, is titled Medicine. http://www.tabbenoit.com/.     World-renowned, rock guitarist Gary Hoey takes on the Blues with his new album, Deja Blues (Wazoo Music Group). "This is an album of original blues songs I’ve wanted to record for a long time. The blues has always been near and dear to my heart," states Hoey. "I have so much respect for it. When I’m recording a blues song, it’s a five-minute journey and you can’t take a breath, you can’t keep punching in the recording button to fix stuff or it loses the vibe.” To this day the guitar aficionado continues to tour extensively, endorsing Fender guitars and Amps, Monster cable, GHS Strings, and Rocktron to name a few. Hoey has toured and traded licks with the likes of Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, The Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Styx, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale. http://garyhoey.com/.   Trampled Under Foot was originally formed as a family band consisting of Danielle, Nick and Kris Schnebelen. The trio headed to Memphis in 2008 for the IBC's, winning first place honors. Riding the wave of support following the IBC's, TUF took their unique style of power blues-rock to audiences around the world. After a series of headlining tours and standout performances at blues festivals across the globe, TUF earned the reputation as one of the hottest bands on the blues circuit. While their fan base grew world-wide, the trio released multiple CDs and DVDs under their own label, TUF Records, including 2011's highly-acclaimed Wrong Side of the Blues. The success of that album caught the attention of many throughout the music industry and in 2013 the band partnered with Concord Music Group to release their major label debut, Badlands. Hailed by fans and critics alike, Badlands revealed a musical sophistication well beyond the band’s years and provided further proof that Trampled Under Foot was the real deal. In 2014, after brother Kris announced he was leaving the band, Danielle and Nick solicited long-time friend/fellow KC musician Jan Faircloth to join them on drums. The addition of Faircloth inspired TUF to make other lineup changes; the group then added keyboardist Mike “Shinetop” Sedovic, turning the trio in to a four-piece and adding a new dimension to their already-stellar live performances. http://www.tufkc.com/.    Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds is a seven-piece powerhouse that put a modern spin on classic soul. The band is led by Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow), whose astoundingly powerful voice and sly demeanor make for a spellbinding presence onstage. She is backed by the mighty force of The Dirty Birds, a flock of seven men who masterfully lay down thundering grooves and soaring melodies. While each of the Birds are capable of lighting up the stage with jaw-dropping displays of musicianship, it’s clear they’re all focused on delivering the band’s infectious music as a single entity. Simply put, the band’s live show is explosive. Sister Sparrow’s commanding style alone is more than enough to dazzle audiences, but the magic doesn’t end with her: the band’s palpable camaraderie, undeniable talent and passion for music makes for a contagious combination that is taking the country by storm. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds’ blend of seductive soul and dirty blues-rock reminds audiences why they love live music. http://www.sistersparrow.com/.    Southern California native Michael John and his band, The Bottom Line, have earned their spot in the Blues scene. This six-piece, high-energy contemporary original blues band has played at many Festivals, concert theaters and venues such as The Doheny Blues Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, BB King's Blues Club, Galaxy Theater, Coach House, and Ventura Theater. They have shared the bill with Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, The Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Coco Montoya, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, John Hammond, Bobby Blue Bland, Solomon Burke, Rod Piazza and Tommy Castro to name a few. Michael John's strong, soulful vocals are without a doubt his main instrument while also supporting the groove with a style all his own on harmonica and rhythm Guitar. Their music has received positive feedback and airplay on blues stations throughout the U.S. http://michaeljohnandthebottomline.com/.    Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jonathon “Boogie” Long was born with the blues coursing through his veins. Brought up in a Southern Baptist community, he first picked up the guitar at the age of six, teaching himself old gospel songs. At fourteen, Long left school to lay down his roots touring with local legends such as Henry Turner Jr. Since then, Long has shared the stage with standout musicians like Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule, Dr. John, Rockin’ Dopsie, Monte Montgomery, Ellis Hall, Kenny Neal, Larry Garner, Henry Gray, Lil Ray Neal, and Lou Marini of the Blues Brothers Band. Long currently fronts his own blues/soul trio, The Blues Revolution. His soul-stomping vocals and monster guitar shredding, paired with bluesy songwriting chops, make his powerhouse performances a “must see.” In 2013, Long was tapped by B.B. King to support his fou r-week tour.  He was also given a prime slot at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Long's debut record was released in April of 2013. http://jonathonboogielong.com/.                http://www.californiabeerfestival.com/ventura/index.php     https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-California-Beer-Festival

R. Music, Inc artists: Generation Blues Experience - Private Angel - New release review

I just received the newest release, Private Angel, from Generation Blues Experience and it's hot! Opening with Little Mama, a cool blues track with a Latin feel features Sammy Lee on vocal and the crisp guitar style of Ray Goren. Lester Lands lays out a really nice bass rhythm joined by Albert Trepagnier Jr on drums and Tadg Galleran on keys. Dan Weinstein (coronet and trombone) and Bobby Hurricane Spencer (tenor sax) add some depth on horn. Goren opens the second track, the title track, Private Angel, with soulful BB King like riffs and takes lead on vocals. A young but solid voice, Goren does a really nice job. Crazy slows it down for a deeper blues and Jamie Powell on vocals. Powell has a great blues voice and he hits it here! Lee adds a nice harp backing on the vocals and Goren really rips it loose on guitar on this track. I like his feel of texture and reckless abandon. Not saying he sounds like Buddy Guy, but Guy is one player who has made reckless abandon his trademark and Goren seems to be exploring this avenue. Excellent! R&B track Rainin' features Goren on lead vocal with solid horn backing. A cool radio player, this track is the lead single for the release. Sammy Lee is back on lead vocal on Katrina and BB King like guitar attack by Goren shows strong composure. A cool swinger, Goren tackles this blues like an old pro developing some nice chops. Sugar Momma is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a really nice harp intro from Lee on the intro. Lee's rich voice resonates nicely on this track and Goren trades guitar riffs with lee on harp for a solid set. Very nice! Lester Lands steps up to the mic for Put Love On Your Guest List. He has an exceptional voice more along the lines of Curtis Mayfield or some of the better R&B singers and I really like it. Goren plays a tasty swing guitar solo backed nicely by Powell and Lands on rhythm guitar. Weinstein and Spencer add warmth to this already smooth track on horns. Swingin'! On Bill Withers', Ain't No Sunshine, Goren takes the lead on vocal and the track has a bit more of a "Thrill Is Gone" rhythm allowing Goren the chance to really stretch it out a bit. With really nice bends and and double stops, this is absolutely Gorens chance to lay it all out there. Taking the volume down for some dynamic range Goren works the crowd. Nice job!

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If You Don't Give Me What I Want - Miss Ida Blue

There's a flood of old timey jazz bands right now and a bunch of jug and blues bands but really, no one else is NYC is singing the bawdy but uptown vaudeville blues style of Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, Memphis Minnie, and others--let alone doing it so well! Ida emanates Brooklyn attitude, which stems partly from her hoodrat-meets-Amy Winehouse fashion sense, from ripped tights to a diamond cheek piercing. Ida (real name Mara Kaye) was born and raised in Mill Basin, Brooklyn. She says, "I'm really into rapper gold and boss chains. Even in a black and white photo that gold shines through. It looks hard against my white socks and little dresses? rough around the edges. It's Brooklyn, the Brooklyn I know about, the Brooklyn I grew up with... Back in '95 in mill basin you either had a nameplate necklace or a nameplate ring or, if you were lucky, you had both."

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Blind Pig Records artist: Sena Ehrhardt - Live My Life - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (September 2, 2014), Live My Life, from Sena Ehrhardt. Opening with pop country rocker, The Stakes Have Gone Up, Sena, who is a serious vocalist is joined by lead guitarist Cole Allen for what would be an opening radio hit. Things You Shouldn't Need To Know opens with twin guitar lead of Allen and Smokin' Joe Kubek. Rick Roussell lays down a nice bass line and Paul Peterson adds a nice drum rhythm. Kubek steps up on this track with a cool slide solo as well. Classic R&B track, Slow Down, gets a nice rework for one of the most enjoyable tracks on the release. Joined by St. Paul Peterson on bass and Michael Bland on drums this track has spunk. On Leon Russell's Help Me Through The Day, Ehrhardt puts her soul into this solid ballad. Bruce McCabe add some real nice key work on this track and is joined by Jimi "Primetime" Smith on rhythm guitar allowing a nice space for Allen to lay down a smokey guitar solo. Title track, Live My Life, has a funky feel with a definite pop edge. Allen throws down a short but blistering guitar solo to ice this track. Chilled To The Bone is an easy rocker with a catchy melody and smooth rhythms. Allen sits back on the track but does lay in some nice guitar riffs complimenting Ehrhardt's strong vocals. Too Late To Ask has a bluesy feel with Ehrhardt and Allen sharing lead vocals. This is probably the hot track for radio play with all of the right components for broad appeal. Funky rocker, Everybody Is You, has a real nice groove and Ehrhardt gets right into it. I particularly like Allen's attack on guitar on this track. Albert Collin's If Trouble Was Money drags Ehrhardt into the grit and she is right on it. The bluesiest track on the release, Allen takes his guitar for a nice ride... very cool! Did You Ever Love Me At All is another pop rocker with a bit of sting. Allen on second lead vocal is a nice contrast to Ehrhardt and again with rugged guitar work gives the track a bit more edge. Wrapping the release is Come Closer, an easy country ballad. Overall this is a fairly pliable release with a little something for everyone. A number of the tracks should appeal to broad audience and the release is fairly consistent in style.

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American Showplace Music artist: John Ginty - Bad News Travels DVD - New Release Review

I just received a cool new DVD from John Ginty, The Showplace Sessions Live. This is a live video session of Bad News Travels and it's quite live, tight and entertaining. Opening with Switch, a walking bass line driven B3 extravaganza. Paul Kuzik sets the tempo and Ginty takes over where Booker T left off. With a double drums setup featuring Dan Fadel and Andrei Koribanics this is a tight track. Very nice! Arrivals is a funky jam with cool guitar lines by Mike Buckman and Ginty playing against his retort. Next up is Black Cat featuring Albert Castiglia. A slow blues groove, Ginty sets a really nice stage for Castiglia to take the lead on vocal and guitar. I've only ever seen Castiglia on Youtube (never live) and he is an exceptional player. I am looking forward to seeing him if he ever makes it to Phoenix. He doesn't over sing, his phrasing is inviting and his vocals are really nice. Ginty plays both piano and B3 solos taunting Castiglia into a really sweet and extremely fiery guitar solo. Excellent! On funk infused Elvis Presley, again Castiglia takes the lead on vocals with the feel of Boz Scaggs. I've reviewed a few of his releases and all favorable but watching him in person quickly elevates him to the list of people who I want to see in person soon! Castiglia's smokin' soloing played against Ginty's strong improvisational skills on keys makes this one terrific track. Up next is Peanut Butter, an easy shuffle featuring Todd Wolfe. Ginty's B3 work is exemplary and Wolfe grabs his tele just choking the life out of it. I've seen Wolfe in concert a few times and have always walked away smiling but Ginty coaxes a flame thrower out of Wolfe's bag of tricks. Excellent! I think that I mentioned that it was hard for me to fathom a blues band that was primarily built around a B3 player but Ginty is one guy who can really carry it off. He is no wallflower and really cooks the keys. On Rock Ridge, there is a cool phase shift during the B3 intro that messes with your head a little bit. Wolfe uses a coricidin bottle to get his slide tone before breaking into a cool jazz style jam with Kuzin walking the bass lead and Ginty and Wolfe stretching it out. Very nice! Next up is Seven and the Spirit, a bluesy rocker featuring Alexis P. Suter. I just reviewed Suter's terrific new release and it's a pleasure to see her join Ginty on stage with her guitar player, Jimmy Bennett. This is one of today's elite female blues singers with Jackie Scott and Karen Carroll in my opinion. Bennett lays into his Les Paul and Ginty adds substantially to the track with his well heeled organ work, along with the drumming of Fadel and Koribanics elevating the track to a full revival feel (Can't Turn You Loose). Guitarist/vocalist Cris Jacobs and Castiglia join Suter and Ginty on stage for Damage Control, a funky rocker with more than a little taste of country. Jacobs knows his way around the telecaster and plays some blistering solos but also venturing into Jerry Garcia territory in style. Castiglia, playing his custom strat style guitar with rosewood fretboard and what look like some pretty expensive humbuckers. Sharing vocals on this track each player gets a chance to take his day in the spotlight making for a pretty cool jam. The Quirk opens with a cool B3 riff from Ginty, joined by Castiglia and Jacobs. Kuzik is solid on bass and Ginty gets a chance to stretch a bit. Jacobs takes the first guitar solo with a very round sound for a tele. Castiglia is up next mowing the fretboard's upper register. Ginty brings the tension back down with his laid back melody before driving off on his own solo. Off the Cuff is a keyboard feature track for Ginty with primarily drum and bass backing. The duo drumming actually brings me in mind of early Allmans with Trucks and Jainoe. Listening to it multiple times I actually think I hear a trace of Trouble No More hiding in there somewhere. Fadel and Koribanics take a pretty nice drum break showing the cleanliness and coordination of two guys who play a lot together. Ginty takes a free form solo without any backing. Creating a musical impressionistic painting as an abstracted graphic forms on the screen is a definite change. Sliding right in to the beautiful intro of Mirrors, Ginty and Jacobs trade riffs before opening into a funky rock track. Jacobs gets a Santana like tone out of his tele and plays sparingly as Ginty crafts the body of the track, taking extended times breathing very soulful solos from his tele. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Trinity featuring all of the guest artists along with Ginty and band. Again, a tent raising revival style track finds Ginty leading the way. Breaking into a smooth sway Castiglia is fist to take the floor followed closely by Jacobs. Shifting gears again to a bit of a pop feel, Ginty creates a theme line and Buckman gives his first solo. Jacobs isn't far behind with a hot blistering riff followed by Bennett on slide. Castiglia paces himself taking the longer of the solos with plenty of spark. Wolfe is also more patient but lays out a crisp solo as well. Cool conclusion to a really nice show.

 The extras include an impromptu interview with Ginty as he sets up his B3 and Leslie. This is primarily an opportunity to meet John the man and his dedication to his own craft. Another feature is an interview with producer/director Ben Elliott. A walk around the control room shows the super analog equipment present in Showplace studio. Some of the history of the studio and equipment and it's significance to the sound is really cool. Additional footage shows the live room where the musicians sit. An explanation of how the acoustics are controlled and different acoustic effects as well as isolation rooms are featured.  

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