Tyler Porch Band - Only The Sky Knows - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Only The Sky Knows, from the Tyler Porch Band and it hits hard. Opening with Who Am I, TPB sets a aggressive blues rock posture. This band picks up where Mahogany Rush left off and as a trio these guys are heavy! Featuring Porch on vocal and lead guitar, Brad Kemp on bass and Joey Robertson on drums. This track has a nice helping of flashy guitar riffs as well as a cool bass solo and cowbell...love cowbell. Oh, Lady is up next with a cool slide solo reminding me quite a bit of the Allman's Every Hungry Woman but progressing into something much heavier...think Mountain with vocal harmonies. Very nice! Title track, Only The Sky Knows, is more of a quiet rock ballad has nicely blended vocals and guitar soloing not unlike Joe Bonamassa or Peter Frampton... you say that's quite a spread? Not as much as you might think. Jess is a straightforward rocker with a pop hook. This track is the automatic radio track with Steeley Dan clean vocals. Smooth guitar soloing and a nice portion of it, keeps the track from standing out as a separate thought. This is a really nicely written track with solid, broad potential. My Love has a swift bass line and driving guitar feel. Robertson should not be underrated on drums keeping these two string hungry instrumentalists on a leash. Solid! Wrapping the release is Leftovers From Woodstock, a cool jazz rock funky fusion instrumental. With lead melody by Porch on guitar, Kemp and Robertson provide a lively platform to solo over. With overdubbed twin lead guitars, this track takes on just a pinch of it's southern roots but maintains it's spontaneity throughout the 6 plus minute interlude. This is a cool release and a pack of fellows that you should watch out for.

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Greaseland Records artist: Aki Kumar - Don't Hold Back - New Release Review

I just received the newest release from Aki Kumar and it's a solid dose of Chicago blues. Opening with Snooky Pryor's Judgement Day, a smooth slinging number, has Kumar on vocal and harp and Little Jonny with crisp guitar work. On Hank Ballard's Hoochie Coochie Coo, Kumar really gets the band in the groove with his focused vocals. Frankie Ramos adds a real nice sax soloing to the mix and Bob Welsh lays down some real nice piano lead. I particularly like Rusty Zinn's guitar soloing on this track. On title track, Don't Hold Back, Ramos again adds the heat on sax and June Core on drums as well as Vance Ehlers on bass really hold the line. On James Moore's Buzzin', Core sets a snappy snare rhythm and Kumar sets up a nice harp melody. Johnny Cat Soubrand and Little Jonny lay down some nice guitar on this track as well. On original track, Let Me Get Closer, Kumar really sets a nice table both vocally and on harp. On Jimmy Reed's She Don't Want Me No More, Welsh rolls a super nice piano solo and Kumar slams down hard with a nice ripper of his own. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Drifting Blues, has an almost John lee Hooker like drive to it. With essentially no bridge, this track is a full blown train rolling down the tracks and Kumar is blowin the harp. Very nice! Little Walter track Blue Baby has a real nice simple pace backed by Welsh on piano and with nicely placed harp riffs throughout. A real nice harp solo carries the melody on this track making it another of the best tracks on the release. On Willie Dixon's I'll Get You Too the band gets a bit of the 60's rock feel with a distinct drum pattern and sax work from Ramos. Kumar on vocal and Kid Anderson on organ nicely embellish the authentic feel of this track. LC Fraiser track, Wish Me Well, has a real nice groove complimented by Welsh and Soubrand and Little Jonny and Kumar does his best harp work on this track. Classic blues track Freight Train finds Litte Jonny on lead vocal and Kumar laying down a great train riff along side of simple acoustic country slide. Very nice! An extremely hot jump track, The Mumbai Express, is up next and a perfect showcase for Kumar to show what he's got. This is a great shuffle track with Soubrand laying in some really nice guitar riffs. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh (A Strange Story), which has a definite eastern twist. With it's 50's styling, it shows a world interpretation on our native blues. Unconventional guitar patterns and vocal styling complimented by traditional blues sax riffs make for an interesting conclusion to an otherwise straightforward Chicago blues release.

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

 

Fo'Reel - Heavy Water - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Heavy Water, from Fo'Reel and I gotta say it's spectacular! Opening with one of my favorite all time funky blues tracks, Breaking Up Somebody's Home this band sets a solid groove. C.P. Love is a superb singer and he's gunning hard on the first track. Johnny Neel on organ and Mark Domizio on guitar set the pace and Domizio really makes the guitar squirm with his soulful riffs. A super horn section consisting of Jon Smith (tenor sax), Ward Smith (bari sax) and Barney Floyd (trumpet) really add depth to this already deep recording. Excellent! Next up is the title track, Heavy Water, and it has a funky New Orleans jazz funk feel. Love is again leading the way and Daryl Burgess keeps the bottom really tight pushing David Hyde on bass. Nice solos from Neel and Domizio add nicely to Love's lush vocals. Leave Your Love Alone has a change up on vocals lead by Rick Lawson. A walking bass line by Hyde really sets the tempo for this track and with it's orchestral swing feel the horns fill it up. A real cool solo from Neel and Domizio is nicely complimented by a super sax solo from Smith. Blues is a mid paced R&B style track (think Thrill Is Gone) with solid vocals from Lawson and an excellent guitar solo from Domizio and super slippery riffs from Smith. Gate is a terrific instrumental track that puts me in mind of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. Opening with clean guitar riffs from Domizio and followed by Neel on keys, a super sax solo from Smith and cool trumpet work from Floyd... this track is hard to beat! Hot! What I Can Do has a cool Latin flavor and Love on lead vocals. Neel is on electric piano with shimmery overtones and organ for fullness. Domizio skips the natural fall back "Santana" solo and puts up some real nice guitar phrasing and some sultry slide work. Very nice! Luther Allison's What's Goin On In My Home  is a super funky R&B blues style track with a lot of high stepping. Love really grabs the track by the short hairs with his vocal prowess. Domizio plays a bright articulate guitar solo over Neel riding the organ and Hyde laying down the funk.  Super!  Just As I Am opens with a super gospel feel highlighted by the piano and organ work of Neel. Allyn Robinson joins on drums and does a really nice job of sitting on the pace. Love's vocals on this track are even better than ever and with the warmth of the horns, this may be my favorite track on the release! Burgess is back on drums opening Shake N Bake, a TOP style track with hot horn funk. Hyde and Domizio really turn up the funk and with Lawson on vocals, you better be nailed to your seat lest you get fired for dancing at work... "Can't Hep Mysef" ! Excellent! Outside Love has the most traditional blues feel of all the tracks on the release, again with Lawson on lead vocals. Neel really cements the feel on this track and Domizio plays a healthy portion of slide backed by heavy horns giving it a great bluesy sound. Wrapping the track is funky Tater with really nice tandem sax work by the Smiths. Hyde really has the bottom moving on this track and Neel takes the opportunity to smoke the keyboards one more time leading up to an unconventional guitar solo from Domizio. Burgess and Hyde get a nice chance to show their stuff adding to the already smoking fire. This is an awesome release and one that you should really check out... but be ready to groove!

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Vizztone Label Group artist: the Chris O'Leary Band - Live At Blues Now! - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Live At Blues Now! from the Chris O'Leary Band and it has a super groove. This release was recorded live in Basel, Switzerland in March of 2014. Opening with Give It, a one-chord modal blues structure with a repeating guitar figure and Diddley-style rhythm, O'Leary leads the way into this live set on vocal and harp. Joined by Chris Vitarello and Alex Schultz on guitar, Andy Stahl on tenor sax, Chris DiFrancesco on bari sax, Matt Raymond on bass and Jay Devlin on drums this band is tight. On jump track, Trouble, the band ramps it up with Schultz laying down some hot smokin' guitar work. O'Leary cranks it up as well with a mighty solo of his own. Very nice! Louisiana Woman has a swampy sound with a nice bass lead from Raymond. Cool shimmery guitar effects from Vitarello as well as a soulful guitar solo and the masterful harp work from O'Leary make this a really cool track. R&B style track Walk The Walk really invites the horn work of Stahl and DiFrancesco. A thick and juicy sax solo from Stahl and aggressive guitar work from Vitarello highlighted by the tight drumming of Devlin. Water's Risin' is a funky rocker with Vitarello and Schultz trading bluesy chicken pickin' style guitar solos. Billy Boy Arnold's I Wish You Would is a perfect showcase for O'Leary on harp. With solid sax work and complex drum rhythms this track has a life of it's own and even a little tribute to Lee Oscar. Mr. Used To Be has a western style blues swing but with sax instead of steel guitar giving it a totally different flavor. O'Leary lays down a real nice harp solo on this one proving to be a real crowd favorite. My favorite track on the release, Blues Is A Woman, slows it way down and O'Leary really does a hot job on lead vocal. Vitarello plays heavy T-Bone Walker stylized riffs making this track seven plus minutes particularly memorable with DiFrancesco and Stahl giving the track heft. Excellent! King of The Jungle has a real nice lope and with it's Chicago style, gives O'Leary a great chance to play his harp out. Vitarello lays in a few real nice riffs tying it all up. Tchoupitoulas has a real cool New Orleans sound and DiFrancesco really adds bottom. The sax work on this track is over the top and complimented with sly guitar riffs and marching drum style so I really do like it! Waiting For The Phone To Ring opens with some great bari sax and a great story telling style. Overlayed sax and guitar riffs make this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the track is History, which has a great new Orleans funk feel. This is a groove that you have to love. Clocking in at 9 plus minutes, this is a New Orleans style lovers dream. Filled with excellent guitar, harp and sax work, this is a super way to wrap up a fine concert recording.

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HAMILTON LOOMIS -- October 2014 Schedule

TEXAS: Come on out and welcome Hamilton & Band back from their Europe tour! Our Houston show  (Last Concert Cafe) on Fri. Oct. 3 features the youngest bands to ever do a show with Hamilton (ages 9, 11, 13, & 13)...see the listing below for details! 10/3/14 Houston, TX Last Concert Cafe (w/guests Campfire Soul & Rusted Avenue) 8pm TICKETS 10/4/14 Houston, TX Guitars N Cars Fundraiser @ Sam Houston Racepark 6pm TICKETS 10/10/14 Breda, NETHERLANDS Blues Night Breda @ Mezz 8pm 10/11/14 Dunkerque, FRANCE Bay Car Blues Festival 11:30pm 10/24/14 Beaumont, TX Madison's 9:30pm 10/25/14 Houston, TX Private Event 10/30/14 Ganado, TX Rear Window Listening Room 8pm 10/31/14 Galveston, TX Crow's Cantina 9pm Halloween Party! 11/1/14 Conroe, TX Dosey Doe Music Cafe 8pm TICKETS Please forward this email to any of your friends/family in these cities!!

www.hamiltonloomis.com

Bloodshot Records artist: Luke Winslow-King - Everlasting Arms - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (September 30, 2014), Everlasting Arms, from Luke Winslow-King and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Everlasting Arms, LWK sets an easy spiritual blues feel singing in tandem with wife, Esther Rose. A laid back country blues, LWK handles primary lead vocal and smooth slide guitar work. Very nice. Swing That Thing has a lot of jangle and a feel of the hill country blues. A simple blues holler not unlike Mr Burnside might put down, and clean rhythmic guitar rhythm and slide work ...this is a very cool track. Levee Man has a strong feel of New Orleans jazz and bright trumpet Ben Polcer as well as some nice clarinet and trombone work. A very nice Basin Street feel. Graveyard Blues is a simple ballad with nice piano accompaniment by Polcer. An easy set 3/4 pace really showcases the nice blend between Rose and LWK's vocals. Cadillac Slim digs deeper into the New Orleans feel with drummer Benji Bohannon leading the way. LWK lays down a clean electric solo on this track and upright bassist Cassidy Holden sets a solid bass line. La Bega's Carousel again features really nice vocal blending and the island rhythm which enriches New Orleans' heritage. A featured trumped solo by Polcer over a naked drum rhythm by Bohannon is really cool! The Crystal Water Springs has a much more traditional blues feel and raw guitar sounds. I really like the slide work on this track with it's raggedy edges and earthy feel. Wanton Way Of Loving features Rose in front and LWK echoing on second vocal. Enriched with a country fiddle sound, this track is solid and clean. Interlude (As It Goes) is a very interesting track with what to my ear sounds like Mali guitar work. Excellent! Last Night I Dreamed My Birthday is a strongly written ballad and one that could easily find it's way to multiple genre playlists. Domino Sugar is a sugary sweet rock track that rivals anything that John Mayer puts up but with cool slide work. Very nice! Interlude II is a short experimental instrumental track. A nice break and adds texture. Home Blues has a great St' James Infirmary feel with a super play between the horns and bass line. A beautiful clarinet solo on this track not only gives it a feeling of authenticity but makes you wonder why it doesn't find it's way onto more contemporary tracks. Polcer really finds the groove on this track with his solo trumpet work and LWK delivers on vocals making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Traveling Myself, a bouncy country style blues track primarily LWK on vocal and guitar with improvised percussion. This is a deceptively cool release which you need to listen to a few times to really get... and you should get it!

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

 

Canadian Singer / Guitarist Drew Nelson Returns With The Other Side

 

  

 

 

 

"Nelson tackles not just traditional blues, but rock, country and even a bit of jazz. It’s quite the mix, but Nelson deftly pulls off the transitions. One thing about Nelson is that he’s a heck of a talent on the guitar: if Brian Wilson thought he was starting fires in the neighbourhood where he was recording Smile just by making music, Nelson pretty much starts infernos every time he touches his instrument’s strings. The guy can shred, particularly at slide guitar, and his voice is somewhat reminiscent of heartland rocker John Hiatt." - PopMatters

Drew Nelson, conceivably one of Canada’s most criminally underrated musicians, is back with his first album in eight years and a renewed determination to reignite a successful career that he had almost turned his back on. The Ottawa based singer/songwriter/guitarist decided to focus on domestic life for a while after many years of playing 200-plus dates. “I grew tired of the constant travel but after a while I began to miss doing the thing I love and am good at,” says Nelson.

 

Steve Marriner, the multi-talented and energetic front man of the Juno Award winning trio MonkeyJunk had also been thinking that it was time for Nelson to return to the spotlight. The younger Marriner had often been invited on stage to perform with Nelson and his band and felt it was time to help reinvigorate his career.

 

The two talked for several months and it was agreed that Marriner should produce the new project. The death of Nelson's father was a pivotal event. “I had been stressed for months and then it was over,” says Nelson, “I knew my Dad would have wanted me to move forward.”  At Marriner's urging, Nelson began writing some new songs, dusting off a couple of old ones and the two got together to do some writing. The result is The Other Side, a polished 11-track album of blues/roots songs of heartache, redemption and love.

 

Influenced by rock & roll and Chicago blues, Nelson began his career at age 16. In his early twenties he co-founded a group with the late harmonica legend Back Alley John. In 1989 he launched The Drew Nelson Band and won over audiences and critics across the country. He became widely known for his slide guitar playing, gritty vocals and well-crafted songs.  Nelson organized tours and recorded with the late Canadian blues pioneer Dutch Mason and has shared the stage with artists including B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and others.

 

Each of the 11 songs on The Other Side showcase Nelson’s mastery of the guitar, beautiful, poignant and often hard-hitting lyrics, gruff vocals and a sense that Nelson himself may be the protagonist in the tales within. Opening with a rare and catchy Bob Dylan tune called “Seven Days”, followed by the lively “Make It Right”, a stunning rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird On The Wire” is a highlight, “Please Come Home”, one of the more bluesy numbers, features Marriner on the harmonica, “Get It!” is a barn-burning rocking blues track that was written on the spot and recorded in one, glorious take. “The Other Side” is a tribute to Nelson’s late father, questioning life and death and everything in between.

 

The Other Side is a genre-bending musical narrative that marks Drew Nelson’s triumphant return to the music scene.  

 

  www.drewnelson.ca   

Track List:

1.    Seven Days (3:55) 

2.    Make It Right (3:34)

3.    Stick Around  (3:43)

4.    Bird On The Wire (3:07)

5.    One More Chance (3:30)

6.    Valentine (3:21)

7.    Drifting Away (3:47)

8.    Please Come Home (3:55) 

9.    Did You Ever? (3:30)

10.  Get It! (2:14) 

11.  The Other Side (4:19)

 

RIYL: Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, John Campbell, Steve Earle

Red House Records artist: Dave Ray - Legacy - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (October 28, 2014) Legacy, from Dave Ray and I have to say the intensity of these recordings is staggering. I've been listening to the raw blues since I was a kid and am really only familiar with Ray's work in passing. This is a 3 disc collection of blues tunes with roots in the 20's, 30's and 40's which for the most part has never been widely available. Disc one is primarily solo work, recorded between 1962 and 1987. 16 tracks beginning with Leroy Carr's Alabama Women and you would swear that this is a clean recording of an original artist from the time. Excellent! Included on this disc are a number of tracks written by Ledbelly, Brownie McGhee, Skip James, Sleepy John, Muddy, Blind Blake, originals by Ray and concluding with an incredible version of Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime. Outstanding! The second disc covers 1988 to 1994 and the Ray and Tony Glover Years. 21 tracks on this disc are a little more polished but retain that raw energy. Covering Jimmy Rogers, Muddy, Memphis Minnie, Robert Petway, Tommy Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Memphis Slim and Mississippi Fred these tracks are real and raw. Excellent! Just listen to the second track on this disc, Muddy Water's  Long Distance Call and you hear a pure artist, doing another artist's track and making it sound original and vibrant! Blind Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues has a life of it's own with real blues syncopation... not modern timing. Very very nice! Disc 3 has a cleaner more modern recording sound but the blues is still raw and real. These 18 tracks were recorded between 1995 and Rays death in 2002. Opening with Tommy McClennan's Shake 'em On Down , Ray has you in the palm of his hand. Beautiful harp trimming on top of a rhythmic guitar with true blues vocals. Super! The countryified Coal Man, written by Peg Leg Howell has real life. Percy Mayfield's My Mind Is Trying To Leave Me is excellent! Further tracks by Big Joe Williams, Bill Monroe, Percy Sledge, Joe Callicott, Blind Blake, Bobby Womack, Big Bill Broonzy, and the great Arthur Crudup make this one of the absolute best "modern roots of blues" releases that I may have ever heard. Ray on 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars and vocals accompanied by really hot harp work by Tony Glover. There is a terrific 32 page booklet with insight into the Ray's life and recordings, photos, track listing and commentary. This is one of the true raw early style blue gems that I have had the privilege to review since starting my report a number of years back. This is an excellent collection and I highly recommend it.

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Blue Kitty Music artist: Liz Mandeville - Heart 'O' Chicago - New Release Review

I just received the newest release. Heart 'O' Chicago from Liz Mandeville and it's quite cool! Opening with Cloud Of Love, a blend of soul, R&B, funk and gospel; I really like the feel! Featuring sax solo's from Oz Landessberg and Eddie Campbell as well as a cool trombone work from Eric Campbell and hot bass from Darryl Wright, this smokes. On These Blues, the band falls back into a calm swing and Mandeville goes from a hot spiritual vocal style to more of a club jazz style. Minoru Wright on guitar and Joan Gand share the instrumental spotlight backed by Wade baker on trumpet, Eric campbell on trombone and Oz Landessberg on sax and the slick stick work of Jeremiah Thomas on drums. Don't Doubt My Love finds Charlie Love in a vocal duet with Mandeville on an easy R&B track. Maruyama lays down a nicely stylized guitar solo on this track which nicely dresses it. So Called Best Friend has a cool groove set by Wright and Thomas and featuring Mandeville on vocal. Billy Branch lays down some real nice harp on this one as does Maruyama with his stinging guitar riffs. Quit Me On Voice Mail has a real nice slow sensibility. Eddie Shaw digs in on this track showing some of his best chops on anything I've heard in a while. Mandeville shows real comfort moving from the slow ballad to the moving R&B and high energy spiritual. Maruyama again steps up with sweet sweet blues riffs. Very nice! Shuffle track, Party At The End Of Time, lead by a rolling bass line from Wright, features Branch back on harp and a cool solo line from Maruyama. Silver Lining (Shirley's Blues) is a cool R&B track again with gospel energy. I have always liked this style of track and mandeville's voice is nicely suited for this. I really dig Wright's bass work on this track and well articulated guitar work from Maruyama is tops. Baker, Campbell, Landessberg and Gand really get this track swinging! Tic Tok has more of a Rock/R&B feel with strong horn backing and nice B3 work from Gand. Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues is a high stepping track with a super nice groove. Mandeville takes one of the most aggressive, raw guitar solos on the release immediately elevating it to one of my favorites. Smart Women Foolish Choices again features a vocal duet with Charlie Love and Mandeville. A slick modern shuffle, features really nice bass work again from Wright and a cool trumpet solo from Wade Baker. (Life Is Like A) Wave takes standard 12 bar format and features Dizzy Bolinski on harp. Mandeville steps up with a little blues swagger of her own on guitar in tandem with Bolinski for a simple conclusion to a very cool release.

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The Chris Duarte Group to release the new album "Lucky 13" on Blues Bureau International October 14. 2014

Chris Duarte Group Lucky 13 Blues Bureau International 14 October 2014

Chris Duarte Group emerged on the scene out of Austin, Texas, in the early 90’s and gained notoriety after wowing a packed room of industry insiders at the South X Southwest convention. In the wake of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s passing, Duarte quickly gained a national reputation as a young man imbued with a playing style comparable at times to the late guitarist. After fielding interest from a number of labels, Duarte signed to Silvertone Records and his debut album “Texas Sugar/ Strat Magik” reportedly sold in excess of 100,000 units in the United States, no small feet for a blues/rock guitarist. This coupled with Duarte’s strong commitment to touring, was the impetus for Chris’ winning the “Best New Talent” in Guitar Player’s 1995 Reader’s Poll. He also finished fourth in the magazine’s “Best Blues Guitarist” category that year behind legends Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and B.B. King. Throughout the last decade, Duarte honed his chops as a guitarist, songwriter, and singer as he recorded three more critically acclaimed records, “Tailspin Headwhack” in 1997, “Love Is Greater Than Me” in 2000 and “Romp” 2003, the latter two of which were on the Zoe/Rounder label. Not one to rest on his laurels, Duarte has constantly worked on his growth as a musician and the years of recording culminated purposefully in this past decade’s “Blue Velocity”, “Vantage Point”, “396” with Bluestone Company, “Blues In The Afterburner”, “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, All Things Blue”, “Infinite Energy”, “My Soul Alone”, and 2013’s “Chris Duarte Group Live”. All records aptly showcase many sides of this brilliant artist in the context of high energy blues rock with moments that bring to mind legendary artists as diverse as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Johnson. Chris’ recordings have always been rooted firmly in the blues with a rock and roll edge which further established Duarte as one of the rare musical talents of his generation. “Lucky 13” continues in the tradition of contemporary blues rock with bursts of fusion, pop, and heavy psychedelia throughout. This CD contains a heavy dose of Duarte’s legendary blues guitar chops over a diverse set of grooves and lyrical themes. TRACK LISTING   1. You Know You’re Wrong 2. Angry man 3. Crazy For Your Love 4. Who Loves You 5. Here I Come 6. Let It Go 7. Man up 8. No Chasing It 9. Weak Wheels 10. Ain’t Gonna Hurt No More 11. Meus Via Vita Suite:       a. Let’s Go For A Ride       b. Minefield Of My Mind c. Setting Sun 12. Jump The Trane’ Points of  Interest   • The Blues Bureau label has developed a strong following for its superior blues rock recordings. Chris Duarte takes his place among artists in the label’s legacy that includes such blues rock legends as Rick Derringer, Pat Travers, Eric Gales, and Leslie West.   • Chris’ masterful guitar and vocal performances on “Lucky 13” portend a great response from these loyal blues fans, as guitarists of this quality and intensity are few and far between.   • The Chris Duarte Group is a perennial touring act, and have played as many as 300 dates in a single year, and has developed a legion of loyal fans spanning across the United States.   • Guitar Player Magazine has revered Duarte, and its readers have named him one of the greatest guitarists in the industry in a reader’s poll.   • Fans of guitar-oriented music have followed Chris Duarte for nearly two decades and his fans are waiting in anticipation of this phenomenal record.   • As a guitarist, Duarte has been compared to some of the greatest players of all time. This record, while featuring some of his most impressive and extended guitar work to date, also reveals him to be a strong singer/ songwriter in the blues rock genre. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisDuarteGroup Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamChrisDuarte Official Website: http://www.chrisduartegroupfans.org/ TOUR DATES: 2014 10/9 - THE GREY EAGLE - Asheville, North Carolina 10/10 - THE RUSTY NAIL - Wilmington, North Carolina 10/11 - ANDREWS BREWING CO. - Andrews, North Carolina 10/12 - THE POUR HOUSE MUSIC HALL - Raleigh, North Carolina 10/24 - BRADFORDVILLE BLUES CLUB - Tallahassee, Florida 10/25 - SKIPPER'S SMOKEHOUSE - Tampa, Florida 10/26 - EARL'S HIDEAWAY LOUNGE - Sebastian, Florida 10/28 - OLDE FISH HOUSE - Matlacha, Florida 10/30 - "Bike Night" at TWO BROTHERS BAR & GRILL - Punta Gorda, Florida 10/31 - THE ALLEY - Sanford, Florida 11/1 - THE FUNKY BISCUIT - Boca Raton, Florida 11/11 - THE IRIDIUM - New York City, New York 11/13 - COURT STREET GRILL - Pomeroy, Ohio 11/14 - THE BEACHLAND BALLROOM - Cleveland, Ohio 11/15 - MOONDOG'S - Blawnox, Pennsylvania 11/16 - SPORTSMEN'S TAVERN - Buffalo, New York 11/18 - VIOLET'S VENUE - Barrie, Ontario, Canada 11/19 - CHAN'S - Woonsocket, Rhode Island 11/20 - THE HUNGRY TIGER - Manchester, Connecticut 11/21 - THE ELKS LODGE - Franklin, New Hampshire 11/22 - THE STONE CHURCH MUSIC CLUB - Newmarket, New Hampshire 11/23 - ABILENE BAR & LOUNGE - Rochester, New York 11/25 - HILL COUNTRY LIVE - Washington, D.C. 11/29 - SMITH'S OLDE BAR - Atlanta, Georgia 12/3 - GEORGE'S MAJESTIC LOUNGE - Fayetteville, Arkansas 12/4 - THE VANGUARD - Tulsa, Oklahoma 12/5 - THE BUFFALO ROSE - Golden, Colorado 12/6 - CRYSTOLA ROADHOUSE - Woodland Park, Colorado 12/8 - TAOS MESA BREWING - Taos, New Mexico 12/9 - THE RHYTHM ROOM - Phoenix, Arizona 12/10 - THE SKYLIGHT - Santa Fe, New Mexico 12/12 - KEYS LOUNGE - Fort Worth, Texas 12/13 - DAN'S ELECTRO BAR - Houston, Texas 12/14 - THE ROOST - Austin, Texas 12/15 - EXECUTIVE SURF CLUB - Corpus Christi, Texas 12/16 - SAM'S BURGER JOINT - San Antonio, Texas 12/17 - The Guitar Sanctuary - McKinney TX

Delmark Records artist: Mississippi Heat - Warning Shot - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Warning Shot, from Mississippi Heat and it's real nice! Opening with Sweet Poison, an Elmore James like track, featuring Inetta Visor on vocal and Giles Corey on super slide. Pierre Lacocque lays in some smoking harp work backed by Neal O'Hara on piano, Brian Quinn on bass and Kenny Smith on drums. Alley Cat Boogie is a fast paced boogie with a driving piano line from O'Hara and Andrew Thomas on drums. Visor really rolls with the vocals on this track backed by Mae Koen, Diane Madison and Nanette Frank on backing vocals. Lacocque rips a super harp solo on this track and Sax Gordon blows a fine solo of his own! Come To Mama has a definite New Orleans flavor with added percussion from Ruben Alvarez. O'Hara puts a real authentic spin on the piano work and Gordon adds some really cool sax work to compliment Lacocque's excellent harp phrasing. I Don't Know is a club style ballad and Visor really digs into her vocal style. Lacocque shows his impeccable harp style on his solo work on this track and Corey also lays out some really nice guitar soloing on this track. Yeah Now Baby really gets into gear with an uptempo blues track. Michael Dotson takes the lead on vocal and Lacocque really shines on this track. Andrew Thomas sets the pace on drums with a tight snare ride throughout. Funky track Birthday Song gets back to that New Orleans sound with a good amount of bounce. Visor, Koen, Madison and Frank played against the horns and keys make for a nice contrast and Carl Weathersby rips it loose on guitar as well. Alvarez, Gordon and Quinn each take nice solos as well for a really cool jam. Nowhere To Go has a cool lope for a more traditional Chicago sound. Lacocque takes advantage of the pace and lays down another super harp solo. Title track Warning Shot has a cool swing and O'Hara takes a nice organ solo followed by Corey and Gordon who both lay it out! Swingy Dingy Baby is a super shuffle featuring Dotson on vocal. A slick guitar solo heats up this track and Lacocque and O'Hara squeeze it for what it's worth. Too Sad To Wipe My Tears has a early delta feel with simple guitar riffs and expressive harp soloing. Visor's rich vocals are well suited to this style as well. Recession Blues returns to the Latin flavor with distinctive percussion from Alvarez. An easy blues rock overtone gives Corey a opening to play some really stylized guitar riffs followed by Lacocque. Excellent! Evaporated Blues has an unusual approach to the blues with a staggered military kind of drum work and a swampy feel. This is a cool track featuring Dotson on lead vocal and cool key work from O'Hara throughout. Hank Williams classic, Your Cheating Heart, gets a swing makeover with Lacocque taking the melody on harp. Gordon takes a really throaty sax solo on this track as well giving it extra body. A Part Of Something Special has a really funky groove and Visor puts forward my favorite vocals on the release. Gordon gets into a really grinding groove followed by a crisp solo by Lacocque making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. What Cha Say? is a really nice slow blues instrumental lead by Lacocque over a strong bass line from Quinn. Kenny Smith takes the lead on vocal on this track and Corey adds some nice slide guitar work as well. Wrapping the release is Working Man, a quick paced Chicago style blues with Visor back on lead vocal. With O'Hara setting the pace and Lacocque playing to the lead, Corey and Lacocque each take turns with cool solos. O'Hara and Smith warm the track making this is a nice conclusion to a really cool release.

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Yonder Mountain String Band Announces 4-Night NYE Run @ Boulder Theater!

Yonder Mountain String Band
Announces 4-Day NYE Run @ Boulder Theater
December 31, 2014 - January 3, 2015
Boulder, CO

Boulder, CO -- Thursday, September 25, 2014 -- New Year's Eve in Boulder, CO has become a tradition for Yonder Mountain String Band. Come ring in the New Year at the Boulder Theater for a 4-night run with plenty of foot stompin' and hand clappin' as Yonder burns it down with special guest violinist Allie Kral and mandolin player Jake Jolliff; additional special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. This year, YMSB kicks off the run on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. On New Year's Day, the venue will roll out some mighty fine Bloody Marys and other libations to help fans start the year off right as YMSB keeps the party going through Saturday, January 3, 2015. Pre-sale tickets are now available via YMSB's Tour Page with the general on-sale starting this Friday, September 26, 2014 via the Boulder Theater box office and online. Leading up to the NYE run, YMSB will be on the road for their Fall Tour 2014 with headlining stops at the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival (Oct. 4: Raleigh, NC), Mulberry Mt. Harvest Festival (Oct. 16 - 18: Ozark, AR), and select venues in the South, East Coast, and Midwest. For some fun in the sun this December 11 - 15, don't miss YMSB's Strings & Sol happening in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. YMSB interviews and hi-res photos are available upon request.

Bluegrass is a music steeped in tradition, but over the past decade and a half -- much of it spent on the road -- Yonder Mountain String Band has spearheaded a renegade movement to rewrite the definition of the genre. Alongside other neo-bluegrass friends such as Leftover Salmon, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, The Travelin' McCourys, and Railroad Earth, YMSB has thoroughly revitalized and contemporized bluegrass and introduced it to many thousands of new fans. Rolling Stone said that YMSB "liberates bluegrass' hot-shit riffing and blue-sky harmonies from its hidebound formalism," while Paste Magazine wrote, "The Yonder Mountain boys have found a formula that works: take rootsy bluegrass influences, add in some rock 'n' roll, and seek out an adventurous audience."

Yonder Mountain String Band is comprised of Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), and select special guest artists who will appear with the band throughout 2014. Two standout musicians regularly performing live with YMSB are Jake Jolliff (mandolin, vocals) and Allie Kral (fiddle, vocals). Jolliff is an award-winning mandolin player (First Place, National Mandolin Championship 2012, Walnut Valley Festival), and was a founding member of the disbanded Americana outfit, Joy Kills Sorrow. Kral is well-known as the former fiddle player for Cornmeal (2003 - 2013), and she's worked alongside various notable artists including moe., Railroad Earth, Warren Haynes, and others. For confirmed line-up information, please see the tour dates listed below.

With the band having one of the strongest touring bases in the industry, fans and critics alike have been drawn to both their live shows and singular studio albums. Reporting from the All Good Music Festival (2009), journalist Jarrett Bellini from CNN Showbiz Tonight notes, "The trophy for best musical set goes to Yonder Mountain String Band who, as the sun began to set, left it all on the stage for an hour and a half. The pickers from Colorado had the audience dancing and shaking, kicking up a joyful storm of dust into the cool summer sky."

YMSB has evolved into something of a phenomenon on the concert and festival circuit. The band has sold out Colorado's famed Red Rocks several times, and played sold-out shows with Grateful Dead and Furthur bassist Phil Lesh at his Terrapin Crossroads venue in August 2012. They also host three singular music festivals every year -- Northwest String Summit (now in its 14th year and hosted by YMSB every year), Harvest Music Festival (where they will host for the fifth time in October 2014), and Strings & Sol (Yonder hosts for the third year-in-a-row in Mexico in December 2014) -- and have consecutively sold out runs of shows at Telluride Bluegrass Festival year after year. Every other year, YMSB also hosts Kinfolk Festival @ Planet Bluegrass. In all, Yonder Mountain logs over 100 live dates per year.

Yonder has always played music by its own design. Bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences, they've come to pioneer a sound that they alone could only champion. With a traditional lineup of instruments, they may appear to be a traditional bluegrass band at first glance but they've taken the customary old-timey instrumentation to new heights, transcending any single genre. Yonder has become a regular performer at major music festivals like the iconic Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Summer Camp, and DelFest as well as massive multi-stage events like Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits Festival.

YMSB is currently working on a new full-length studio recording; fans can expect a new album to be released in early 2015.

For more information on Yonder Mountain String Band, please visit www.yondermountain.com.

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND FALL & WINTER 2014 TOUR DATES
10/4 - Raleigh, NC - Wide Open Bluegrass*^
10/16 - 10/18 - Ozark, AR - Mulberry Mt. Harvest Festival*^#
10/23 - Augusta, GA - Riverwalk Revival*^
10/24 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City Music Hall*
10/25 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theater*
10/26 - Savannah, GA - Trustee Garden*
10/29 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom*^
10/30 - Chattanooga, TN - Track 29*^
10/31 - Roanoke, VA - Shaftman Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center*^
11/1 - Winston-Salem, NC - Ziggy’s*^
11/5 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom*^
11/6 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*^
11/7 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues*^
11/8 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues*^
11/12 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Ballroom*^
11/13 - Boston, MA - House of Blues*^
11/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts*^
11/15 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl*^
12/11 - 12/15 - Puerto Morelos, Mexico - Strings & Sol*^
12/31 - 1/3 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater*^

Special Guest Performers:*Jake Jolliff (mandolin, vocals)
^Allie Kral (fiddle, vocals)
#Jerry Douglas (dobro)

Too Bad Jim Exclusively Reissued for Vinyl Me, Please

Too Bad Jim Exclusively Reissued for Vinyl Me, Please Record of the month club, Vinyl Me, Please, announces the upcoming exclusive pressing of R.L. Burnside’s Too Bad Jim in the year that marks the 20th anniversary of its release. Available only to Vinyl Me, Please members, the 180-gram vinyl reissue includes a custom poster insert (24” x 24”) and is limited to 4,500 hand-numbered copies. Accompanying the album is a bespoke piece of commissioned artwork by Andrew Gunthardt and a cocktail recipe to complete the listening experience. “Fat Possum Records is proud to share this special edition of R.L. Burnside’s Too Bad Jim with the members of Vinyl Me, Please. Produced by New York Times music critic Robert Palmer and recorded in 1993 at Junior Kimbrough’s juke joint near Chulahoma Mississippi Too Bad Jim is Burnside at his best, with a family band and “adopted son” Kenny Brown on second guitar. This record and Junior Kimbrough’s All Night Long are the records that started it all for us. So sit back and fix yourself a Bloody Motha (featured cocktail pairing & favorite of R.L.) and enjoy this record.” “Our main promise to our members is that each month we’ll send them an album that’s essential to any vinyl collection and Too Bad Jim was an easy choice given that criteria.” - Tyler Barstow, Vinyl Me, Please co-founder. The album described by Robert Palmer, who produced the album, as below… “Chaos, chance, charm and luck are a primary blues paradigm, of course, and a late twentieth-century scientific paradigm as well. The Chaos Theory of post-relativity physics tell us of Strange Attractors – inexplicable higher-order functions that provide a kind of boundary or shape or structural dynamic for chaos systems – and this model fits R.L’s music as well. The essential character of R.L,’s blues is chaos-on-wheels; it rocks as hard as any music on the planet while spreading sonic waves of sex and mayhem far and wide. But it is grounded in an implicit order: the rhythmic and melodic deep structures of North Mississippi blues.” - Robert Palmer A limited number of membership slots are currently available by requesting an invite here: http://vinylmeplease.com/request-an-invite/.

Cash Box Kings coming to Phoenix, AZ!

THE CASH BOX KINGS PERFORMING IN PHOENIX, AZ! "The Cash Box Kings' cast of aces sizzle the hip side of classic Chicago blues with an old delta branding iron. A prime homage to the blues' rich history with creative, enthusiastic twists." - Hittin' the Note The Cash Box Kings make an appearance in support of their latest award-winning CD, Black Toppin',  as follows: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18THTHE RHYTHM ROOM 1019 E. INDIAN SCHOOL RD602-265-4842 8:30 PM  $10 These illustrious torchbear­ers skillfully capture the essence of postwar Memphis and Chicago blues, while adding their own bravado, energy and freshness to the mix.  No less an authority than recent Grammy winner Charlie Musselwhite said, "The Cash Box Kings play with taste and feel and it was faith restoring to know there are guys out there that still know and appreciate real blues."    Black Toppin' won the Blues Blast Music Award for "Best Traditional Blues Album" and is a 2014 Blues Music Award nominee in the same category.  The release was also named one of the "10 Best Blues Recordings of 2013" by Apple iTunes. In addition to delivering authentic, back-in-the-day Chicago blues, they display their deep af­finity for Delta and Louisiana swamp blues, jump blues and their own signature "blues-a-billy."   Living Blues magazine proclaimed their release, "a great record by one of the best blues bands in the land," while No Depression added, "The ghosts of Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins and Little Walter must be smiling.  Black Toppin' might be the best blues album you'll hear this year."

Ruf Records artist: Devon Allman - Ragged & Dirty - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (October 14, 2014), Ragged & Dirty from Devon Allman and it's surprisingly good. Devon's uncle Duane was one of my absolute influences into music listening and everything Allman which was to follow has always been pale by comparison. Devon Allman has finally struck on something really special and I'm happy to be reviewing it. Pairing up with writer,producer Tom Hambridge has been a super decision and this music is a result. Opening with Half The Truth, a blues rocker with a Robert Johnson flavor but a fresh attack is really borrowing from the original Allman Brothers song book. They had a unique ability to take an original blues track and make it sound fresh. Hambridge and Allman have taken a brand new approach with a totally new song based upon a seasoned riff and come out on top. Allman has a really cool voice and a guitar voice all his own. Can't Lose 'em All has a funky rhythm and Allman, joined by Hambridge on drums, Felton Crews on bass, Giles Cory on guitar and Marty Sammon on B3 delivers a cool track. Now I will admit to hearing a taste of Allman Brothers phrasing in this track but it isn't a predominant theme. Leavin' finds Cory on acoustic guitar and Bobby Schneck Jr. on lead guitar. Allman and Hambridge harmonize nicely on vocals and Schneck skillfully slices his lead work throughout the track. I'll Be Around, made popular by the Spinners, keeps much of it's original R&B feel and Allman and backing vocalist Wendy Moten do a real nice job of covering this classic track. Allman takes a really nice clean guitar solo on this track with not even a tip of the hat to anything "Allman". Slick! One of my favorite tracks on the release, Traveling, has a swampy rock feel with Crews on bass and Allmans own guitar riffs nicely punctuating his vocals. Allman takes an extended guitar solo on this track and sounds fresh and expressive. Very nice. Instrumental track, Midnight Lake Michigan, penned by Allman is a bluesy exploration into his own soul via the guitar, joined by Hambridge, Crews and Sammon. Even though this track clocks in at over 9 minutes, it doesn't get tiresome or repetitive. Excellent! Ten Million Slaves has a particularly strong vocal lead with harmony vocals from Schneck. With an almost UK folk sound overlaid by a rock drive, this is an interesting track. Funky Blackjack Heartattack, another Allman composition, has a super rhythm and again Allman's vocal prowess lead the way. The band really shows it's control on this track where it almost seems as if Allman's vocals are solid and compressed and the band literally explodes around him. Really cool! Blues ballad, Back To You is really top notch. With some of the best writing on the release this track has it all. A dynamic guitar solo capping off the R&B sound with backing vocals from Hambridge and Moten, this track is hot! On Times Have Changed , Allman and Cory play twin guitar leads but with more of a Rossington/Collins flare than a Betts/Allman duo. A country rocker, Allman, Hambridge and Schneck blend nicely on vocal. Luther Allison's Ragged & Dirty is killer. Allman really digs in deep with his guitar riffs sounding more like Albert King than Duane Allman. Solid rhythm set up by Hambridge and rowdy singing from Allman makes this a sure choice for the title track. Wrapping the release is quiet folk rocker, Leave The City, with Allman on vocal and resonator and Hambridge on drums and xylophone. With the final track being more of a cool down than a crescendo, this is a really super release which deserves to cast it's own shadow.

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Jimmy Carpenter - Walk Away - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (9/23/14), Walk Away, from Jimmy Carpenter and it has style. Opening with Can't Let Go, a strong melodic track featuring Carpenter on vocal and sax, Anson Funderburgh and John Fohl on guitar, John Gros on B3, Casandra Faulconer on bass, and Wayne Maureau on drums. Title track, Walk Away, has clean simple vocal harmonies and a slick funky beat featuring cool sax work from Carpenter. When You're Ready, another catchy tune, shows a stronger hand on guitar with the addition of Mike Zito and a stinging solo results. She's Not You is a slower ballad with a cool sax intro from Carpenter. Reba Russell adds nice backing vocal on this track and Gros warms the bottom with organ melodies allowing plenty of space for Carpenter to solo further on sax. Coming off with a strong strut, 7th Street Shuffle has a real nice swagger led by Carpenter on sax. Fohl has a nice op to lay down a cool guitar solo and Gros is right there with B3 over a solid lead bass line from Faulconer. No One's Ever is a cool R&B with a very strong melody. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Carpenter does a nice job on lead vocal and sax. More Than Meets The Eye is another strong radio track with nice trumpet accents from Antonio Gambrell and warmly blended vocals with Carpenter and Russell. Hard To Be Cool opens with a strong sax trumpet intro and a sultry groove. Carpenter has a solid voice and using a bari sax really pushes the depth on this track. A deep throated sax solo and Electric key work from Gros on this track sets it apart on this release. Crazy 'Bout You' has a bright poppy sound with an accentuation on vocal harmonies. The instrumental, C King Blues really puts me in mind of the great Curtis Ousley so that makes it one of my favorites on the release. With solid sax lead and a memorable melody, this is one of the strongest tracks on the release. Very cool! Favorite Muse has an easy jazz feel over a Latin rhythm. Fohl's clean guitar work, Gros' solid organ styling and Maureau's snappy percussion hold tight on this track rounding out this track, primarily a vocal track. On The Outside is a bright and bouncy rocker with a catchy melody. Wrapping the track is Fellow Traveler, a simple ballad with a country flavor. Carpenter shares lead vocals with Reba Russell and also vocal duet. A clean simple track, this is a nice conclusion to well written release. Oh Yeah...boy can sing!

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Roy Buchanan- Shredding The Blues - Live at My Father's Place 1978 & 1984 - Guest writer Stilladog - New release review

Let me preface this review by stating I am an unabashed fan of Roy Buchanan and have been since I was 18 years old. I have heard a lot of his recorded material both production and bootleg varieties. I've seen him play live numerous times, particularly during the time period of these recordings. So there's a degree of bias here. The recordings took place for tracks 1 through 7 during a gig at My Father's Place, a famous house of blues on Long Island, NY, back in 1978. The final 3 tracks were recorded in 1984 with a completely new band when Roy returned to that venue. I believe these recordings which come from the sound board were once available as bootlegs. There once was a Yahoo! fan group called Roy's Live Recordings which traded in non-production bootlegs of Roy's concerts. And that's where I think I may have first heard this stuff. But even that's been more than 10 years ago so I cannot be sure. Anyway, this is a production release by Rockbeat Records that you can buy at Amazon or wherever. The sound quality has been re-engineered well for being from old source (analog) tapes. Albums of this nature inherently suffer from weak source recordings to begin with and Shredding the Blues is no exception. The best part about this release which sets it apart from a truly weak offering marketed under Roy Buchanan's name, Shake, Rattle, and Roy, is that it actually accentuates Roy's guitar. On Shake, Rattle and Roy (which I believe is mostly Danny Denver and His Soundmasters featuring Roy Buchanan) you can barely hear what Roy is playing. Live at My Father's Place is none of that. The set starts out with a version of the Howlin' Wolf tune, I'm Evil. A few minutes in Roy warms up and unleashes a barrage of his classic licks and runs which sets the audience on edge. On this tune, and actually most tracks that Roy himself sings the vocal track is weak. Now if you've ever seen Roy sing you know it's was not his strong suit and he practically whispers the words anyway. But the guitar is fantastic! More guitar is featured on the second track, Soul Dressing. However the feature of this tune is a nice extended piano solo, something which is rarely heard on Buchanan's recordings. A very nice keyboard break is in Baby Won't You Tell Me Where You're At also. I'd like to tell who is playing it but personnel was not provided. I'm pretty sure Malcolm Lukens was in the depths of heroin addiction by 1978, or recovering, so it wasn't him. Most all the numbers feature Roy just lighting it up on the fretboard. He makes the Telecaster scream, he makes it cry, he makes it wah-wah without a pedal. Fast as your ears can follow to slow and easy in a heartbeat. Tone like nothing you will ever hear elsewhere. And of course there's a ton of "pinched harmonics" for which he is famous. On Hey Joe he thanks Jimi Hendrix, then ends the tune with an extended Foxy Lady riff. And the unparalleled Messiah Will Come Again is in there as well. The final three tracks from 1984 were songs in development for his albums When A Guitar Plays The Blues and Dancing On The Edge, Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn and the title track for When A Guitar Plays The Blues. This is a fair representation of what Roy sounded like when he played live back in the 70s and early 80s. Vocals are rather weak and crowd noise at times becomes a distraction. But if you want to hear some electrifying guitar work, you should check this one out. If you've never heard Roy play, this probably isn't the place to start (Livestock is a much better live album). But if jaw dropping axe work is your thing you're gonna love Shredding The Blues.  

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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Clarksdale, Mississippi's DELTA BUSKING FESTIVAL returns with 2 stages over 3 days!

Clarksdale, Mississippi's 2nd annual Delta Busking Festival pays tribute to blues music's street musician tradition   DELTA BUSKING FESTIVAL FEATURES THE HISTORIC STREETS OF CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI, AS A FREE STAGE FOR THE BLUES   Clarksdale, Mississippi – This weekend, the Delta Busking Festival returns for its second year in blues-historic Clarksdale, Mississippi. It is part of the tri-state area's Bridging The Blues roster of events.   "As far as we know, this is the only blues festival created in tribute to the Delta's street musician tradition," said festival co-organizer Roger Stolle, also owner of Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art. "From Robert Johnson to Foster 'Mr. Tater' Wiley, the blues has always been built on the tips and exposure that street performances offer hard-working musicians."   This year's Delta Busking Festival runs Friday-Sunday, September 26-28. It is a daytime event on two stages (plus pop-up performances around town) in front of downtown Clarksdale's iconic Cat Head blues store and world-famous Rock & Blues Museum. And, as co-organizer Theo Dasbach loves to point out, the music doesn't stop at 5pm.   "In Clarksdale, we are very fortunate to enjoy live blues music 7 nights a week, every week," said Dasbach, also the founder of the Rock & Blues Museum. "After you enjoy our festival stages during the day, you can go out for music at Red's Lounge, Ground Zero Blues Club and other hot spots at night."   The festival is a free event. The event poster was sponsored by Clarksdale-Coahoma County Tourism. Attendees are encouraged to tip the festival musicians as well as buy CDs from the artists.   More information: www.blues2rock.com www.cathead.biz www.bridgingtheblues.com www.msbluestrail.org   2014 DELTA BUSKING FESTIVAL LINE-UP (subject to change): Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 Cat Head Stage (252 Delta Ave.) 11am - RL SUPERBAD 1pm - Libby Rae Watson 3pm - Orland Moses with BluesGate Jams Rock & Blues Museum Stage (113 E. 2nd St.) 11am - T.D. Boogieman 1pm - RL SUPERBAD 3pm - Made In Blues Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014   Cat Head Stage (252 Delta Ave.) 11am - Stinkeye 1pm - The Blues Doctors w/Adam Gussow & Alan Gross 3pm - Zakk and Big Papa Binns Rock & Blues Museum Stage (113 E. 2nd St.) 11am - RL SUPERBAD 1pm - Made in Blues 3pm - La La Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014   Cat Head Stage (252 Delta Ave.) 11:30am - Preston Rumbaugh 1pm - Deak Harp Rock & Blues Museum Stage (113 E. 2nd St.) 11am - RL SUPERBAD 1pm - Made in Blues 3pm - Tony Mac and The Blues Connection   ####   ATTACHED: - Bridging The Blues (logo) - Delta Busking Festival (poster)