CHARLIE PARR signs to Red House, premieres first track from the new album

CHARLIE PARR   Signs to Red House, new album, "Stumpjumper," set for release on April 28 Listen to an album track, "Over the Red Cedar," now at MPR The Current  Recorded with a full band in North Carolina with producer Phil Cook   St. Paul, MN: Red House Records is proud to announce that songwriter/guitarist CHARLIE PARR has joined its roster. Parr will be releasing a new studio album, Stumpjumper, on April 28, 2015.  You can listen to a track from the album, "Over the Red Cedar," today premiering at MPR The Current here. Charlie has announced tour dates through April (scroll down for complete dates), including a Nashville show at Ryman Auditorium on Saturday February 7 supporting fellow Minnesota players Trampled by Turtles.    Long a part of the vibrant Duluth, MN, music scene (Low, Trampled by Turtles), Charlie traveled to North Carolina to record this album with fellow musician Phil Cook (Megafaun, Hiss Golden Messenger). As well as being the first album Charlie has recorded outside of his native Minnesota -- he joined Cook and a cast of local players, setting up in an old outbuilding on the “Down Yonder Farm” in rural North Carolina -- it’s also the first to feature a full band.   Percussive and raw, the 11 songs on Stumpjumper, 10 originals and his version of the venerable murder ballad, “Delia,” could be lost field recordings from another era. His blistering picking -- he switches between acoustic guitar, dobro and banjo -- and keening, cut-through-the-crowd vocals resonate with a conviction that runs deep and true. It's the music of a self-taught guitarist and banjo player who grew up listening to his dad's recordings of America's musical founding fathers, including Charley Patton and Lightnin' Hopkins, Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. His heartfelt and plaintive original folk blues and traditional spirituals don't strive for authenticity: they are authentic.    “Red House has always held an exalted place in my heart because of their connectedness to the Midwest, because of Greg Brown, because of Koerner Ray and Glover, Paul Geremia, Guy Davis and so on and on,” Parr says. “Greg Brown introduced me to [late Red House founder] Bob Feldman at least 12 years ago on a farm in Wisconsin and he was so gracious and kind. I'm looking forward to being part of the family.”   “Signing Charlie is one of the most exciting things we have done in recent years,” says Red House president Eric Peltoneimi. “He is a mesmerizing artist and we have been fans of his for a long time. Charlie is one of only a very few these days whose music sprouts from the true vine ... from that deep-rooted place in the American soul."   Parr’s inspiration is drawn from the alternately fertile and frozen soil of Minnesota; his songs exude a Midwestern sensibility and humility. Parr  grew up in the Hormel meat packing city of Austin, MN (population 25,000) where most of the world's favorite tinned meat, Spam, is still manufactured. The combination of growing up with both of his parents working proud union jobs in an industrial meat factory and his largely rural environment had a broad impact on Parr.   "Every morning you'd hear the [factory] whistles blow, when I was a kid they had the stockyards and  animals there, so you were surrounded by this atmosphere," Parr says. Out the back door were soybean fields, as far as the eye could see. "As a kid I thought it was kind of boring, but now I go and visit my mom and I think it's the most beautiful landscape there is."    Most of his recordings to date have eschewed typical studio settings; he’s recorded in warehouses, garages, basements and storefronts, usually on vintage equipment, which gives his work the historic feel of field recordings. It's not because he wants to sound like he was discovered 75 years ago by Alan Lomax; it’s because most modern recording studios make the reticent and self-effacing Parr feel uncomfortable. After a health scare a few years back, he lives very simply, no alcohol and a vegan diet, often cooking up his rice and beans on his engine manifold on the lonely, cross-country drives. He doesn’t go in much for fashion and frills and lives simply on the road, usually sleeping in his car.   The songs for Stumpjumper were written on the road, where Parr, touring solo, spends a few hundred days a year. “I was in a cocoon, traveling alone with my guitar, spending entire days without saying a word out loud.” Overwhelmed by the endless stream of bad news he was hearing, Charlie flipped off his radio and drove in silence to North Carolina to record at producer Phil Cook’s studio in rural Hillsborough, NC, where he met his “band” for the first time.   “I drove through the trees and into a clearing where a group of buildings and some horses and a couple donkeys stood around. Phil stepped out from the barn to welcome me to my new home, at least it felt like home,” Parr says. “I left North Carolina after we recorded these songs, all live, mostly first takes, and drove with all the windows down all the way to Knoxville, listening to the world's wind rush by, hearing its news. It was good news, finally.”   The songs are inspired by family members, the Bible, overheard conversations and places in his life. A native Minnesotan, he draws sustenance from the surprisingly large, thriving and mutually  supportive music scene of Duluth: Parr's 2011 album of traditional songs, Keep Your Hands on the Plow, features locals including Charlie's wife, Emily Parr, old-timey banjo/fiddle band Four Mile Portage and Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low.    The title track finds Charlie tapping into his childhood. “Songs aren't normally very autobiographical for me, they're more like stories, but this one is different,” he says. “I can see a 1966 International Harvester pickup truck with no hood and four snow tires, breaking field road land-speed records on my way to my job in a filling station.”   Tracks include “Evil Companion,” “Frank Miller Blues” (Death visits Frank to take him home but Frank needs to finish his chores and so Death helps out. Frank's wife is pissed) and “Remember Me If I Forget” which Parr dedicates to his Aunt Mid. “She was a tough customer ... also wise, sensitive, and hilariously funny. She stomped the terra, as they say.”   “Empty Out Your Pockets” is a song Parr describes as “another angry hymn from me.”   “All of the ones I've written so far seem to rely on God being a kind of big brother who shows up one day after you've been getting your ass kicked all over town by bullies and he takes care of business. I know, it's juvenile, but take a close look at a lot of legitimate hymns - ‘when I die I'm gonna tell God what you did to me’ comes to mind.”   Quiet and thoughtful, Parr always includes a few traditional songs of the hard life and the hereafter in his live sets. Such music isn't necessarily rooted in the Methodist church in which he grew up: "It was more like, let's get the service over quick so we can get downstairs and drink coffee and have pie!"    But faith, though undefined, underlines all of Charlie's music, both in the listening, the covering, the writing and performing. For more information on Charlie, go to              Charlie Parr on Tour * With Trampled by Turtles # With J.D. Wilkes + With Betse Ellis             TH 2/5             Bloomington, IN - Bluebird Nightclub *             FR 2/6             St. Louis, MO - The Pageant *             SA 2/7             Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium *             FR 2/13           Dresser, WI - Trollhaugen             SA 2/14           La Crosse, WI - The Root Note             FR 2/20           Berwyn, IL - Fitzgerald’s Nightclub             SA 2/21           Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center             SA 2/28           Ludlow, KY - Ludlow Theater #             MO 3/2            New York, NY - The Iridium             WE 3/4            Northampton, MA - The Parlor Room #             TH 3/5             Cambridge, MA - Atwoods Tavern #             FR 3/6             Winooski, VT - The Monkey House             SA 3/7             Rochester, NY - Abilene Bar and Lounge #             SU 3/8             Albany, NY - The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio #             TU 3/10           Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe #             WE 3/11          Maumee, OH - Village Idiot #             TH 3/12           Milwaukee, WI - Linneman’s             FR 3/13           Bayport, MN - Bayport BBQ             FR 3/20           Minocqua, WI - Minocqua Brewing Company             SA 3/21           North Mankato, MN - Equinox Fair, Best Western Mankato             MO 3/23         Lutsen, MN - Papa Charlie’s             FR 3/27           Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theater             SA 3/28           Denver, CO - Hi-Dive +             WE 4/1            Boise, ID – Nerolux +             TH 4/2             Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern +             FR 4/3             Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios +             SA 4/4             Missoula, MT - Top Hat Lounge             MO 4/6-WE 4/8          Reno, NV - Peppermill Resort Spa Casino +             TH 4/9             Berkeley, CA - Freight and Salvage +             TH 4/23           Winona, MN - Midwest Music Festival (Broken World Records)             FR 4/24           Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House             SA 4/25           Zumbrota, MN - Crossings At Carnegie - 7pm   CHARLIE PARR ONLINE Official Website Facebook Twitter

Joe Bonamassa to release "Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks" DVD, Blu-ray & CD

"MUDDY WOLF AT RED ROCKS"

JOE BONAMASSA’S TRIBUTE TO
MUDDY WATERS AND HOWLIN’ WOLF

RELEASED ON DVD, BLU-RAY, VINYL & CD ON MONDAY 23rd MARCH 2015

"They always try to write off the blues; well we’ve proven tonight that at least 9,000 people like the blues," says celebrated blues rock master Joe Bonamassa who releases "Joe Bonamassa – Muddy Wolf At Red Rocks" on DVD, Blu-ray and CD set on March 23, 2015.
The exclusive concert experience, which is a tribute to blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, was filmed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre over Labor Day weekend in 2014.

Joe Bonamassa "Muddy Wolf At Red Rocks" Album Trailer

Carved into the bedrock of Colorado’s majestic Rocky Mountains, the famed amphitheatre sets the stage for Bonamassa’s fiery delivery of over 2.5 hours of bluesy guitar-wailing and horn-filled tunes honouring the two Blues greats. Playing to a sold-out crowd of 9,000 fans, this marks the biggest show of Bonamassa’s career, a major milestone for the bluesman.
The Blu-ray and DVD contains over 1.5 hours of bonus features including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, photo gallery, historic footage of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and a featurette of Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley’s trip to The Crossroads.

Photo Credit:© Christie Goodwin

Unlike any Bonamassa show before, Muddy Wolf marks the start of a tribute concert series that will display a different band and catalogue of material that will vary from Bonamassa’s music as a solo artist. For Muddy Wolf, songs were carefully selected from the catalogues of Howlin’ Wolf, one of Chicago’s most influential bluesmen, known for his deep, scratchy voice, and Muddy Waters, considered the "father of modern Chicago blues."
Muddy Waters was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion of the 1960s, a genre that has heavily influenced Bonamassa’s original music throughout his career.

Photo Credit:© Christie Goodwin

The concert features a selection of songs from each artist, followed by a 30-minute set of songs from Bonamassa’s own extensive catalogue, plus a line-up of players different from Bonamassa’s touring band, dubbed the “Muddy Wolf Band” which includes Anton Fig (drums), Michael Rhodes (bass), Reese Wynans (piano, Hammond organ), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, horn arrangements), Ron Dziubla (saxophone), Nick Lane (trombone), Mike Henderson (harmonica), and Kirk Fletcher (guitar).

"MUDDY WOLF AT RED ROCKS" (PRD 7457)

(2CD/2DVD/BLURAY/3LP)

MUDDY WATERS SET

Mississippi Heartbeat (Intro)

1. Tiger In Your Tank
2. I Can't Be Satisfied
3. You Shook Me
4. Stuff You Gotta Watch
5. Double Trouble
6. Real Love
7. My Home Is On The Delta
8. All Aboard

HOWLIN’ WOLF SET

1. How Many More Years
2. Shake For Me
3. Hidden Charms

i. Band and Introductions
ii. Spoonful
iii. Killing Floor
iv. Evil (Is Going On)
v. All Night Boogie (All Night Long)

JOE BONAMASSA SET

1. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
2. Oh Beautiful!
3. Love Ain't A Love Song
4. Sloe Gin
5. Ballad of John Henry
6. Muddy Wolf Credits

BONUS FEATURES

1. Joe and Kevin’s Excellent Adventure… to The Crossroads
2. Behind the Rocks - An Exclusive View Behind the Scenes
3. The Originals - Historic Footage of Muddy Waters & Howlin’ Wolf
4. Rockagram Gallery

Photo Credit:© Christie Goodwin

Of the experience, a humbled and grateful Bonamassa says - "Inspired was the feeling that permeated the camp from the very downbeat. It was the gig of a lifetime for me. What you see on this DVD is what it was like to play in front of the largest audience of my career, playing music that I loved, love, and fell in love with again in a much bigger way than I had before.
The concert is presented by Keeping the Blues Alive (KTBA), which Bonamassa founded, and helps to promote the heritage of the blues to the next generation, fund music scholarships, and supplement the loss of music education programs in public schools. With ticket sales from the show, KTBA raised over $40,000 for schools across the country. 
What was proved on this night, with $40,000 raised for charity and 9,000 fans dancing to Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf songs, is that blues music is alive and well.

Photo Credit:© Christie Goodwin

JOE BONAMASSA ONLINE

Official Website | Official Facebook | Official Twitter

Official YouTube Channel | Official Instagram | Mascot Label Group

JPC Records artist: Jeff Chaz - Chronicles - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Chronicles, from Jeff Chaz and it's a hot mix of R&B and blues. Opening with Tired of Being Lonely, a R&B style track with horn backing, Chaz shows he's learned a thing or two from mentor, Little Milton, with his soulful voice. His guitar style is unique with a bit of funk and some of that Isley juju. Instrument of Pleasure digs deeper for a slow blues vibe. Again, Chaz's vocals are soulful and his guitar chops unpolished and screaming. Very cool. I Smell Something Funky is up next with a real nice bass line and simple vocals and flailing guitar riffs. Morning Coffee is another funky track but this one is hyped up on caffeine. Rapid fire guitar riffs and keyboard soloing on this instrumental make it a don't miss. Dreams Don't Lie is a jazzy ballad with controlled vocals and smooth guitar chords. Nicely articulated single line blues guitar soloing highlights this track. Very nice. Don't Go Monkeyin' Around is a vocal duet boogie with Tomato and although not as polished or fluid as Clapton, Chaz'z guitar soloing exhibits many of the same characteristics. Slow blues Seafood Dept. Blues allows Chaz the room to really allow his guitar work to blossom and I feel he does some of his nicest soloing on this track, at time even creating a frenzy. Very nice! The Scent Of A Woman has a bit more "hit" with a catchy melody and easy rhythm. Chaz takes a nice casual walk on the fretboard on this track as well as some pretty slippery slide work. Hello Blues takes a basic 12 bar format but with a boogaloo twist and adds some manic guitar. Clever. Wrapping the release is shuffle track, I've Got To Be Clean. Chaz really gets the track grooving and rocking. Hard driving bass lines and rowdy blues guitar riffs make this a perfect tract to conclude the set.

  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”

 

Purple Pyramid Records artist: Harvey Mandel - Snake Box - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Snake Box, from Harvey Mandel and it's very adventurous. For those of you unfamiliar with Mandel's work, he played with Charlie Musselwhite, Canned Heat, John Mayall, Rolling Stones, Love and the Ventures. This 6 disc set, 5 studio releases packaged in original covers and one live jam set make up a good cross section of Mandel's early work. Also in the box are 4 pages of liner notes, poster photos and track info.

Disc One, Cristo Redentor was released in 1968 and shows a strong slice of the musical experimentation that was happening at the time. Before Six with it's Latin rhythm and horns is not unlike things that Butterfield was experimenting with. Musselwhite adds his distinctive harp tones on the Lark. The Snake has a lot of the sounds that you would expect from a San Francisco band of the late 60's. Long Wait shows true signs of blues roots with interesting interweaving of guitar, keys and percussion. A long experimental guitar solo on Wade In The Water backed by strings shows definite direction. You Can't tell Me has a poppy rhythm but again aggressively mixed musical styles. This is a disc that definitely warrants a listen if you don't know or already love the roots of jam music.

Disc Two, Righteous, released in 1969 shows a blues progression opening with the title track and Mandel doing guitar swells over a 12 bar melody. Jive Samba has a much smoother jazz ballad feel with strong horn backing. Funk steps up on Love Of Life with horns and drums laying down a 60's splashed horn track and Mandel taking a bluesy solo over the top. Quite cool! Poontang again shows the early fusion of blues, soul, rock and R&B with keys and guitar. Cool! Just A Hair More is a straight up slow blues with Mandel wailing away. Excellent!

 Disc Three, Games Guitars Play, released in 1970 shows a more mature and adventurous jazz blues fusion opening with a cool funky Leavin' Trunk. Very nice! Classic Honky Tonk has the blues country feel with a Roy Buchanan like flair. Excellent! Capurange is one of my favorites on this disc with a cool rhythm and twin guitar leads. A cool exploration with just enough solidity.

 Disc Four, Baby Batter, released in 1971 has an even closer to the funky side of the blues with similarity in features to the Oblivion Express. Title track has a great groove and more succinct guitar soloing. Midnight Sun, remaining in the funky groove shows Mandel's continued maturation and control of his own expression on the guitar. Morton Grove Mama is a cool boogie with Mandel trading off with Howard Wales on organ and a strong driving bass line of Larry Taylor. Freedom Ball is a real funky track but with wailing guitar work from Mandel and groovin drums by Colin Bailey and congo by Big Black. El Stinger has some really intense guitar work over a loose funky rhythm. Hank The Ripper, the disc closer goes back to primary 12 bar form but with again loose experimentation. A definite change in each disc.

 Disc Five, The Snake, released in 1972 shows a further polishing and change to a more structured but still intense style. Opening with The Divining Rod has a great tight drum intensity and Mandel takes a structured approach to his experimentation. Very cool! Title track, The Snake has a real swampy funk and a eerie guitar lead. Levitation is a cool 12 bar number with steel and 6 string work. Certainly not your typical blues but definitely a solid blues beat and cool guitars. Wrapping disc 5 is Bite The Electric Eel with a solid drive consistent with the style I associate with Jeff Beck. Straight ahead beat and reckless guitar work. Excellent!

 Disc Six, Live At The Matrix was recorded live in San Francisco in 1968 with Jerry Garcia, Elvin Bishop, Stephen Miller, Mickey Hart and John Chambers. Opening with Jam, a 36 plus minute jam featuring a dead like extended guitar jam. Elvin Bishop's You've Got to Feel It is up next and holds the soul groove to Bishop's band. Nice guitar work and Miller's key work fill the track. An extended 3 O'clock In The Morning has a definite blues groove. Picking up speed as the track progresses over 9 minutes, the guitars interweave. She's A Mojo Worker has a definite R&B feel and extending over 20 minutes, finds the guitar players searching each expression.

 This is a very cool exhibition of Mandel's early work and one that will find interesting to the extent that you like guitar, improvisation and history of rock and blues music.

  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”

 

Eclecto Groove Records artist: My Own Holiday - Reason To Bleed - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 17, 2015), Reason To Bleed, from My Own Holiday and it's raggedly cool! This two piece band featuring Joey Chrisman on guitar and vocal and Nick Bartolo on drums opens with Hold On Me, a stripped country blues rocker. With a blues overtone and that just ready to break up to on guitar tone this track is a great start. Up next is Razorblades, another simple rocker with definite roots to the old blues via Ted Nugent, Ozzie, Jack White and the Keys. I especially like the simple full tube distortion guitar solo. Very cool. Two Coins has a really nice feel with all melody on Crisman's vocals, with guitar riffs and drums punching. Excellent! Memphis has a more folksy feel with straight chord strumming (mildly distorted) and drums. Devil In Me actually sounds like what I would think a band would sound like if Jack Bruce and Josh Homme put it together. Very cool! Reason To Bleed has a traditional blues drone note and straight simple rhythm. With rough and tumble drums, this is one of the most radio worthy with a particularly memorable melody and cool guitar solo. Whiskey In The Well is a quiet acoustic ballad which is very nicely written and soft compared to the wide open nature of most of the rest of the release. Nice contrast! On The Floor Blues is one of my favorite tracks with strong tie to early American blues rock like Mountain but with a much more simplified and less amplified sound. Excellent! Smile is a boogie track with distorted vocals and a simple boogie guitar rhythm. Again bringing on the obtuse loose guitar work sets the track apart. Stone Free has a much fuller rock sound sounding less like a 2 piece band and more polished. Single note guitar soloing has more a punk effect. Very cool! Stranded is a sensitive ballad with a straightforward melody. This is another track that could easily garner widespread radio play due to it's universal feel. Don't Shine On Me has a really cool R&B feel with a great groove. The simplicity of the instrumentation compared to the dynamics of the execution, and another loosely grinding full bodied guitar solo makes it another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Right Back Where I Started has a simple country ballad feel. Clean vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment makes this a nice closer for the set. I think that this is an excellent release with guts and teeth. I saw one of the bands that they have been compared to on tv this weekend. This other band, who I really liked has added additional instruments and it took away nearly every drop of edge that they had and the polish was way to apparent. My Own Holiday is a new deal and if you like stripped down rock with a blues edge... this is it!

  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”

 

Jeff Jensen - Morose Elephant - New release review

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

  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”

 

Those Winter Blues: New Release and Video from Singer-Songwriter Lee Palmer

Lee Palmer, Al Cross, Lance Anderson, David Woodhead, Elmer Ferrer

 

 

 

Toronto based singer-songwriter and guitarist Lee Palmer has released two full length CDs, both recorded live off-the-floor. His third recording is set for release in Spring 2015.  

“Those Winter Blues” is a sneak peek from Lee Palmer’s third album, Like Elway. The seasonally correct single highlights well known Toronto musicians Al Cross, David Woodhead, Lance Anderson and Elmer Ferrer. Elmer Ferrer also mixed, co-produced and co-wrote the track “Wonderful Life”, from Like Elway, to be released in the Spring of 2015.

Respected recording engineer, George Seara recorded the 10- track, live album at Noble Street Studios in Toronto. It all took place one cold winter day, this past December.

“Those Winter Blues" is available on CD Baby, Radio Submit and Airplay Direct.

Quotes:
 

"...Americana with a big arching A, incorporating blues, folk and country ... You get the feeling that in those years before he started making his own records, that Palmer was a bit of a collector of stories and was probably more than a bit player in a lot of them, there is a tone, a quality to the material that suggests a real sense of ownership." - Neil King, Fatea Magazine

 

"A first-rate singer-songwriter. Worthy to be heard, this Lee Palmer. Where have you been all this time, Lee?" - Fred Schmale, Real Roots Cafe

 

Videos:

Those Winter Blues - view on YouTube

 

Radio Download Links:

 

Radio Submit

 

Airplay Direct

 

 

CD Baby 

 

 

www.leepalmer.ca

 

New release from Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King!

NEW RELEASE FROM SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING NOW AVAILABLE!   Blind Pig Records has released Fat Man's Shine Parlor,  the latest studio album from Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King, one of the most talented guitar tandems in any genre. Joe and Bnois have been thrilling music fans all around the world with their red-hot Texas rockin' blues for twenty-five years, and have developed into a dynamic musical tour de force, with Joe's flame throwing guitar work complemented by Bnois' cool, jazz-inflected playing and soulful vocals.  Their incendiary live shows feature two top flight guitarists intuitively locked in with each other and backed by a firepower rhythm section, making for a powerful and irresistible combination. Regarding the CD title - as a young musician, Smokin’ Joe Kubek would venture in the wee hours after a gig to a declining, somewhat unsavory Dallas neighborhood in search of fried chicken. A commercial district for African-Americans, the area had been a hotbed for jazz and blues musicians from the 1920’s through the 50’s where you could also find gun and locksmith shops, tattoo studios, pawnshops, and pool halls. Joe was fascinated by one remaining establishment across the street called “Fat Man’s Shine Parlor.”   Ostensibly a place to get your shoes shined, to those in the know, it was also a place for other activities such as gambling, drinking, and womanizing. Joe sees this CD in a similar light – crack open the door, and inside you’ll find lots more than advertised.  Only in this case, the pleasures will be musical. For more info, or to order this great CD for $15, please click HERE.  To buy this CD for only $10 as part of our 5 CDs for $50 offer, please click HERE. To order the CD or downloads from Amazon, please click HERE.  You can pre-order the album now from iTunes, with individual tracks available on the release date, next Tuesday, February 3rd.  For the iTunes store, please click HERE.

Jazzhaus Records artist: Eric Sardinas and Big Motor - Boomerang - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Boomerang, from Eric Sardinas and Big Motor and it rocks! Opening with with kick ass Run Devil Run, a blues rocker with a strong back beat and great slide. Great opener featuring Sardinas on vocal and slide, Levell Price on bass and Byran Keeling on drums. Kicking out the stops with a real rocker is title track Boomerang. This is a hard driving rocker with the heart of a freight train. Taking down the tempo a little, Tell Me You're Mine keeps a heavy rock flavor but with slide and blues riffs, it's hard not to hear the blues roots. Sardinas has his own slide style which breaks the Duane Allman/Derek Trucks/Bonnie Raitt mold influenced more by the likes of Steve Marriott or Johnny Winter to my ear. Morning Glory has a much more acoustic blues feel featuring mostly Sardinas on slide and vocal. Very nice. Bad Boy Blues takes the standard 12 bar format and classic guitar riffs complimented by Dave Schulz on keys. This is a straight forward blues track with a load of slide ... what's not to like! Hard pop rocker, If You Don't Love Me, aims square at the radio with a catchy melody and call and response vocals. Leiber and Stoller classic Trouble gets a stiff blues rock slap with a slow bluesy start including raucous slide resonator work but wrapping the track in fine rock fashion. Very cool! Long Gone is another solid rocker with solid blues roots. Although Sardinas doesn't sound at all like Lynyrd Skynyrd (the real Lynyrd Skynyrd) I can help thinking that he captures the spirit of them on a track like this. Rock on! On Howlin' Wolf's How Many More Years, Sardinas sets a really nice shuffle groove with a stiff rhythm. Again his own rowdy slide style adds nicely to the ruggedness of the overall track making it a definite blues track and a definite rocker. Super! Wrapping the release is rock n roller Heavy Loaded with strong shuffle beat. With a fun, raw rhythm and Celine Cavin on Mojo Juice Harp this is a terrific rock, boogie to conclude a very enjoyable 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”

 

Bo & The Bluesdrivers: SoCal's Hardest-Working Blues Band On Tour

BO & THE BLUESDRIVERS ARE SOCAL'S HARDEST-WORKING

BLUES BAND WHO ARE NOW ON TOUR THROUGHOUT 2015

Performing Locally: Sue's Tavern in Frazier Park - Saturday, February 7

   

   “I’m out on the streets again/I’ve been sleeping in my car/I got these worn-out shoes/ Just smoked my last cigar,” drawls the St. Augustine, FL, native known simply as Bo, front-man of Bo and the Bluesdrivers, buttressed by a stinging guitar and a sturdy rhythm section held down by longtime musical partners, Bluesdrivers bassist Brian “Chewy” James and drummer, J. J. Garcia.

   *Bo and the Bluesdrivers perform locally at Sue's Tavern, 3440 Mt. Pinos Way, in Frazier Park, Saturday, February 7. Showtime 9 p.m.-1:15 a.m. Free Info: (661) 245-1100 or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sues-Tavern/.

  

Bo and the Bluesdrivers Cover Story in the December issue of All Access Magazine. Read it here: http://allaccessmagazine.com/2014/12/18/introducing-bo-bluesdrivers/

   That’s right, Bo & the Bluesdrivers play it like they’ve lived it, paying those hard-living dues, forming from a chance meeting after joining forces at an open jam hosted a decade ago by Chewy and J.J. Ten years after, they’re still together and tighter than ever.

   “From the streets of New York/To the streets of L.A./It seems all the same/Day to day/I’ve been through the darkness/I’ve walked through the light/The streets are all the same/Night after night.”

   The band have performed on special occasions in the L.A. area over the years at clubs and parties of friends, but more recently have started to develop a strong following that has seen them with consistent bookings all over Southern California (full itinerary below). “The band came together both naturally and organically, with no stress or drama…Just making music that we dig," says drummer JJ Garcia.

    Says Bo: “We’re a band of brothers with mutual respect for each other and our abilities. Always striving to be the best at what we do.”

   A veteran of the Florida club scene, Bo’s travels have seen him sitting in with legendary drummers Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies, Delfonics, Bootsy Collins) and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Artimus Pyle, before moving from Florida to L.A. fourteen years ago. A world-class guitarist, you can hear his affinity for a variety of genres - from jazz, funk and soul to rock & roll, coming through loud and clear on such originals as “Out In The Streets”; audience favorite “Walkin’ In The Park”; and tasty instrumentals like “Sea Song” (and) “Chillin’”, along with well-chosen covers of classics by Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd and ZZ Top, among others.

  Bo’s Bluesdrivers backbeat is provided by the stalwart team of J.J. and Chewy, who have worked together for close to two decades - previously performing in renowned SoCal-based band Stone as well as also currently with the steadily-growing rock group, Judge Jackson. The longtime rhythm section have several national tours under their belts and a resume that includes collaborations with famed horror director John Carpenter, both on-screen and as part of the soundtracks for his films, including Vampires and Ghost of Mars. Judge Jackson has performed and recorded music that has appeared on a variety of TV, movies and sporting events, including Fox Sports and Super Bowl XLV.

  Bo & the Bluesdrivers have just finished recording a new album at Pawnshop Studios, which is slated for release later this year.

               "Out On The Streets" - Bo and the Bluesdrivers 

BO AND THE BLUESDRIVERS - UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS/SPECIAL EVENTS

Feb. 5 (Thur.)            BERGIES                                   Santa Clarita, CA

Feb. 7 (Sat.)              SUE'S TAVERN                          Frazier Park, CA

Feb. 13 (Fri.)             KX93.5 FM LAGUNA BLUES*     Laguna Beach, CA

Feb. 17 (Tues.)              HOUSE OF BLUES                      West Hollywood, CA

Feb. 20 (Fri.)             ARCADIA BLUES CLUB              Arcadia, CA

Feb. 21 (Sat.)            LAKESIDE SPORTS BAR             Helendale, CA

Feb. 28 (Sat.)            MADD BAILEY'S PUB                 Pine Mtn. Club, CA

March 1 (Sun.)          MADD BAILEY'S PUB                 Pine Mtn. Club, CA

March 5 (Thur.)         BERGIES                                  Santa Clarita, CA

March 7 (Sat.)            HARRY'S NIGHT CLUB             Pismo Beach, CA

April 2 (Thur.)           BERGIES                                  Santa Clarita, CA

May 22 (Fri.)              RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY           Winnemucca, NV

May 23 (Sat.)             RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY           Winnemucca, NV

May 24 (Sun.)            RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY           Winnemucca, NV

May 30 (Sat.)             INDIAN HILL MUSIC FEST        Tehachapi, CA

May 30 (Sat.)             DOGHOUSE SALOON              Tehachapi, CA

July 3 (Fri.)                 WINDY MESA                         Page, AZ

July 4 (Sat.)                WINDY MESA                         Page, AZ

Aug. 8 (Sat.)               FIESTA DAYS FESTIVAL          Frazier Park, CA

VizzTone Label Group artist: Robin McKelle & The Flytones - Heart Of Memphis - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (2/10/15), Heart Of Memphis, from Robin McKelle & The Flytones and it's got a cool vibe. Opening with About To Be Your Baby, a funky, high stepping, horn infused soul track. If you grew up in the 60's and 70's listening to Al Green and the like, you'll certainly find this groove! Up next is Good Time, a faster, Ike Turner like track again in the soul vein. Thick with horn and including a tambourine, this track is jumping. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, made popular by The Animals, gets a bit of a kick in the pants with a faster pace, unusual key work and brighter vocals. Control Yourself is an easy paced ballad with pop jazz overtones. It really has a nice bop making me think a bit of Badu. Very cool! Delbert McClinton's Forgetting You is a soulful ballad with simple horn backing and a country twist ... almost like a Muscle Shoals recording.  Title track, Heart Of Memphis is an easy soul ballad with a simple back beat. Like A River is back in the Al Green arena with a nice slap and solid horns. Easier That Way opens with a nice guitar riff settling into a soul ballad. Warm B3 and organ work blended nicely with horns makes this a solid radio track. What You Want has a real nice bottom and McKelle shows over and again that she really has the voice to carry off soul like it was invented. I real nice groove with a bit of Gladys Knight feel makes this a memorable track. Good & Plenty is a soul rocker with a solid straight up beat and tight horn backing. Baby You're The Best has a real smooth soul sound with a lot more contemporary feel. Down With The Ship is more of a pop track with a soul twist. Light guitar backing, with keys and horns deliver the vocals on top. Wrapping the release is a tight soul ballad, It's Over This Time. Exhibiting strong emotion and nice vocal backing, this is a great track to wrap a fairly cohesive of contemporary soul tracks.

  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”