Ruf Records artist: Royal Southern Brotherhood - Don't Look Back - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Don't Look Back, from the Royal Southern Brotherhood and it's a funky, reggae, soul and blues jam. Opening with I Wanna Be Free, a hot rocker with white hot guitar riffs from new members, Bart Walker and Tyrone Vaughan, and a solid bottom from Charlie Wooton and Yonrico Scott. Reach My Goal adds just a little funk and some cool B3 from Ivan Neville with an almost Doobies sound. Cyrille Neville, Walker and Vaughan blend nice vocally and Walker plays a fluid guitar solo making this an ideal radio track. A real nice bass intro by Wooten opens reggae infused title track, Don't Look Back, with Walker on banjo and nice percussion work from Neville and Scott. Hit Me Once has a light funky jazz sound with an R&B vocal style. This is a cool track and Neville's vocals hit! Walker and Vaughan trade some slashing riffs on this track enforcing this as one of my favorites on the release. The Big Greasy has a slippery funk style with a contagious bass line from Wooton and a hot key solo from Neville. Hard Blues has a nice swagger courtesy of Wooton and Scott and Neville's vocals balance well with the stinging guitar riffs of Walker. Better Half brings it way down for a super sweet southern soul track. This is likely my favorite track on the release with a Luther Ingram feel. Excellent! Penzi has a cool Caribbean feel with excellent percussion and a great bass line holding the bottom. Walker adds a light Spanish feel with stylistic mandolin playing. Another track with broad airplay potential. It's Time For Love has a smooth soulful jazzy feel with nicely phrased guitar riffs and silky vocal lead. Bayou Baby is a really smokey track with red hot slide work. This track has a infectious groove that really gets you... try to just play it once! Excellent! Poor Boy is a R&B flavored rocker with a hot bass line. Vaughan lays out a cool guitar riff complimenting cool, Bobbie Tench like vocals. Nice! They Don't Make Em Like You No More gets into the Tower of Power range with sax work from Max Abrams and Jimmy Hall as well as trumpet from Paul Armstrong. Funky wah wah guitar riffs give this track an edge and plucky bass riffs by Wooten push it on! Nice! Come Hell Or High Water has a really strong melody and maintains an almost Isley Brothers R&B feel. Another track that could easily garner broad radio play, vocals are warm and guitar riffs rich. Wrapping the release is Anchor Me, a quiet acoustic ballad. Coming out with the big guns and retiring with a quiet track, I really like this new release by RSB.

  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”

 

Delmark artist: Omar Coleman - Born & Raised - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Born & Raised, by Omar Coleman and this guy can sing! Opening with Shuffle track, Tryin' To Do Right, Coleman exhibits his solid vocals and harp work complimented by Pete Galanis on guitar, Neal O'Hara on keys, Ari Seder on bass ad Marty Binder on drums. Man Like Me has a pure Chicago sound with nice harp work from Coleman and a tasty guitar solo from Toronzo Cannon. Funky Sit Down Baby is anchored by O'Hara's organ work and nicely driven by Seder and Binder. Coleman rides the top with great vocal style and Galanis pops off some stinging riffs along with Colemans harp work pulling the track together. Soulful, I Was A Fool, blends a light funk and soul into the blues for a really strong track. Guest guitarist Mike Wheeler plays some really soulful riffs on this track, making it one of my favorites on the release. A bit more funky, Wishing Well, has a down right limp. It gets so funky you may need an air freshner and Wheeler is right there with fluid guitar riffs keeping the track tight on. Rocker, Slow Down Baby, finds Dave Herrero laying down a solid Chuck Berry riff and O'Hara rides the 88's as Coleman delivers on vocal and harp. Herrera rips a nice solo on this track making Coleman holler for help! Cool track! Another funky track, Lucky Man, with perfect drum riffs by Binder digs a real nice groove. Galanis plays a perfect response to Coleman's vocal call and O'Hara lays right in the groove on organ. Galanis steps up with heated guitar riffs giving the track another dimension altogether making this another favorite on the release. Upbeat shuffle track, You Got A Hold On Me, opens with a real nice harp intro from Coleman. Cannon's back setting the pace with a nice guitar lead and Binders drums are particularly crisp. The coolest harp work on the release falls right into place on this one making it the complete package. Title track, Born & Raised, is a high stepper with Coleman keeping his feet high. Galanis rips a real nice guitar solo on this one over the wah wah rhythm. Very cool! Slow soul track, One Request is the most memorable melody on the track making it my choice for radio track of the release. I really like Coleman's vocal leads on this track and the light organ support by O'Hara on this track is perfect. His piano work is nicely presented, Seder's bass hand is right there and Binder is spot on. Again Galanis steps up with a nice guitar solo on this track but just enough to emphasize the dynamics on the track. Nicely done. Funky jazz track, Tell Me What You Want, has a nice bass line from Seden which really sets the table for me. Coleman's vocal phrasing on the track as well as his harp work is nicely complimented by hot guitar riffs from Herrero. New Orleans infused, I Know You Been Cheating, has an almost rhumba feel with a nice harp solo from Coleman. Seder on snare and O'Hara on piano really emphasize the cultural richness and Galanis throws down a tasty solo to ice the cake. Wrapping the release is full out jazz track, Raspberry Wine, with Coleman showing that his vocals can carry off even the more challenging style. Galanis steps up again with a real nice guitar solo on a carrier of organ and piano by O'Hara. O'Hara pulls off a real nice solo of his own on organ and then as is traditional Coleman steps back up to take the track home and the band joins in on vocals. Really nice closer.  

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 - Self Titled - New Release Review

I just received the newest self titled release from Bo & the Bluesdrivers and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Out On The Streets, a straight ahead blues rocker, Bo takes total command on vocals and guitar. His stinging guitar tone and slashing riffs give the track a nice bite. Ass, Gas or Grass, a boogie track with cool double stops and a smooth driving bass line from Brian "Chewy" James and tight drumming from J J Garcia really digs a nice groove. Easy paced, Sea Song, is an interesting guitar exploration on a simple theme, not unlike some of the Dickie Betts runs of days gone. Very nice. Walkin' In The Park has a very distinctive contemporary Allman Brothers sound with a jazz rock feel. It's an interesting play on a familiar theme that should bode well for the Bluesdrivers. Chillin' also has a southern rock feel but a little jazzier, say Les Dudek. This is a cool track with fluid guitar riffs and a breezy melody. This is a cool first outing for Bo & the Bluesdrivers and should garner them significantly more attention.

  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”

 

Honey For My Queen - The Josh Garrett Band - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Honey For My Queen, from the Josh Garrett Band and it's deceptively hot! Opening with title track, Honey For My Queen, Garrett crafts a smooth southern pop track with a dash of country. Accompanied by Clay White on harp, and CR Gruver on keys, this track will make a solid radio track. Memphis has a laid back feel and continues with a rural easiness. Same Boat gets moving into a R&B slot and features James Johnson on guitar. With the fluidity and unpredictability of Mark Knopfler, intelligent guitar riffs flow nicely. Goodnight, Goodnight is a nice acoustic number with a blues flavor featuring Garrett on vocal and resonator and White on harp. Instrumental track, Slide in "G", starts the avalanche with it's driving beat and White's harping playing off of Garrett on slide and Gruver on keys. Easy Chair is a modern day "Help Me" blues with a nice groove and B3 cushion. Garrett really turns on the guitar heat on this track and it should make you sit back and pay attention. Whole Bottle Of Whine is another track built over a blues riff with a cool funky groove added over the top. Garrett explores another facet of guitar with a bit of chicken pickin and a few jazz riffs. Cool! My favorite track on the release, Ain't Nobody's Business, sets straight any thoughts about Garrett's blues chops. A nicely executed blues cover with excellent feel, this track is smokin! Dat's Alright With Me, is full out train style country rocker. Following the format of the Blues Is Alright or That's Alright Mama, this track takes full advantage of it's country rock roots with slick guitar riffs, Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle and cool vocals. Wrapping the release is Moonshine and Cigarettes with it's new Orleans gait. Almost like a cakewalk delivering the happy spirits at the end of a long day, this track carries a summary of great music and instrumentals to the end. Very nice!

  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”

 

Busted Flat Records artist: Cheryl Lescom & The Tucson Choir Boys - 1953 - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, 1953, from Cheryl Lescom & The Tucson Choir Boys. Opening with Dime Store Lover, a slinky pop track, highlights Lescom's vocal styling and sets the mood for the release. Soul Shakin' Romance makes you feel like you're on the set of an Elvis movie with backing vocals by acoustic guitarist, Sameday Ray, bass player Les Graham, and Michael J Torbay. Surrender is a keyboard driven blues rocker featuring Steve O'Connor on keys and a tight vocal group. Dave The Cat leads Just Pressed Send with a rockin acoustic guitar riff. Too Much Time crosses over into modern country style with Dave and Robert Reid setting a nice line of acoustic guitar. This is a contemporary style radio track and should be well received. Hot boogie number, Party Girl, is driven by Graham on bass and O'Connor on piano and Lescom is belting out the blues with cool vocal backing by the Choir Boys. It's Not You, It's Me is another country flavored ballad. A strong acoustic lead solo by Dave is nicely presented. Places I've Been has a familiar note. I don't know why but I think Bonnie Tyler or Meatloaf.... you tell me. Nice Mix Of Crazy feels like a Texas 2 stepper with a touch of Bo Diddley and rock. Another clean guitar solo by Dave adds another dimension. Measure Of A Man is another solid ballad. I particularly like Dave's solo on this track with a unique acoustical clarity. The release is wrapped by Twenty Foot Memory, a song with a touch of gospel and a touch of country. A feel good track with a clever country guitar riff, this is a nice closer for a solid 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”

 

Smith & Wesley Present "Choices & Chances" on Debut CD, Coming July 17 on Garage Door Records; CD Release Party Show Set for Nashville's City Winery on July 28

Smith & Wesley Present Choices & Chances on Debut CD, Coming July 17 on Garage Door Records

CD Release Party Show Set for Nashville’s City Winery on July 28

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Chattanooga-based Garage Door Records announces a July 17 release date for the label debut from country music group Smith & Wesley, Choices & Chances, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution. The band will celebrate Choices & Chances with a special a CD release show at the City Winery in Nashville on Tuesday, July 28 (www.citywinery.com/nashville).

Based out of the North Georgia/Chattanooga, Tennessee area, Smith & Wesley have already developed an extensive loyal fan base throughout the region, as evidenced by their headlining the Unum Stage at last week’s Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga.

Smith & Wesley is led by brothers, Scott and Todd Smith, who changed the name of the group from the Brody Johnson Band to its current moniker as a tribute to their father, Wes, who passed away recently. In addition to Scott on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Todd on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocal harmonies, the rest of the lineup includes keyboard player Greg Gordy,  Steve and Josh Pettyjohn on electric guitars, Dee Callihan on bass and Brad Thompson on drums. All of the musicians in the band have strong family or personal connections, which helps create the special musical interplay that is a hallmark of their sound. With influences ranging from traditional country, bluegrass and folk music to southern rock, Smith & Wesley have crafted a unique, powerful sound that makes casual listeners instant fans.

Produced by Shayne Hill, Choices & Chances was recorded at Beach Street Studio, Watershed Studio and Mainframe Studio in Nashville. The extra musicians on the sessions each brought their own special talents to the songs they play on, giving them a solid foundation throughout. Danny Shirley, lead singer for multi-platinum sellers Confederate Railroad, joins in as a special guest on “Country Dreams,” the album’s closing song. The seamless harmonies of Scott and Todd come from a mix that only a brotherly bond can do, bringing depth and richness to their vocals.

Scott and Todd Smith have either individually or collectively written most of the songs on Choices & Chances. The 11 songs on the album are at once personal, yet universal in their appeal. “The new CD was recorded to be heard as a listening experience from start to finish,” says Scott Smith. “The first part of the album is about decisions made and the repercussions from those decisions.” Adds his brother Todd: “Whether it is betrayal, bad habits or questionable decision making, most of these types of choices often have less than favorable results. As the journey proceeds, the songs lend themselves to better moods, courtship, love and reflection; thus proving there is a chance of a better tomorrow out there.  However, life would be boring without both Choices & Chances.”

About “Need Somebody Bad,” the first single from the CD, Todd Smith explains: “Everyone has been part of a relationship which ended in a breakup. Regardless of who made the decision or if it was amicable or not, breakups just aren’t fun. Whether you want to call it a rebound situation or just a one night stand, ‘Need Somebody Bad’ speaks to that feeling and about trying to forget about it.”

“Some of the more upbeat songs on the album such as ‘Whiskey,’ ‘Roll on Smoothly,’ and ‘Bottle’s Half Full,’ lend themselves to telling a story of good times that were carried a little too far,” offers Scott Smith.

“And I guess you could say that ‘Prove My Love,’ ‘You’re the One’ and ‘I Love Loving You’ represent our tender side,” Todd says with a smile. “I’ve had guys come up and tell me they enjoy these ballads as much as our up-tempo songs because they remind them of their own situation, or they’re everything they wanted to say to their wives or girlfriends. I guess everyone needs a little tenderness.”  

Scott Smith calls “Country Dreams,” the last track on the album, “the most personal song on the album to me. I will always be thankful that our father, Wes Smith, introduced Todd and me to the country classics and all the legends in country music at an early age. ‘Country Dreams’ is a tribute to those legends and the influence they have had on our passion, thus allowing us to be fortunate enough to do what we love to do...play music and share it with as many folks that will listen.”

BROTHER DEGE'S NEW "SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: DELUXE" CD OUT 7/24! 2 VINYL REISSUES OUT 7/10!

BROTHER DEGE'S "SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: DELUXE EDITION" OUT JULY 24TH ON CD & DIGITAL!

BROTHER DEGE'S FIRST TWO ACCLAIMED ALBUMS FOLK SONGS OF THE AMERICAN LONGHAIR & HOW TO KILL A HORSE TO BE REISSUED ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME JULY 10TH VIA MAGIC BULLET RECORDS!

CLASSIC ROCK PREMIERES BROTHER DEGE'S NEW TRACK "SOMEWHERE" CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

BROTHER DEGE KICKS-OFF U.S. SUMMER TOUR DATES JUNE 24TH IN SAN ANTONIO!

The Deep South's forgotten son comes banging out of the gates with his third album under the Brother Dege moniker, Scorched Earth Policy: Deluxe, morphing his signature Delta, sonic-slide sound (as heard in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained official soundtrack) into the psyouthern, psych swamposphere. Joined by his touring band, The Brethren, Brother Dege & Co. push these 12 tracks into rural cinematic realms, adding their post-millennial update to the southern rock & roll lexicon. 

Following his two previous acclaimed solo efforts (2009's Folk Songs Of The American Longhair & 2013's How To Kill A Horse) Brother Dege released a unique 19-track digital-only "summer mixtape" last year entitled Scorched Earth Policy, featuring a mix of newly recorded studio songs, demos, covers and field recordings. Now Dege has updated it into a more cohesive studio album, Scorched Earth Policy: Deluxe paring down some of the rougher demos and field recordings and has added four new studio tracks to it. This is the first time any of these 12 songs will be available on CD. 

Brother Dege's Scorched Earth Policy: Deluxe Edition will be available July 24, 2015 on CD and digital formats.

SCORCHED EARTH POLICY: DELUXE TRACK LISTING

(* new studio tracks)

1. Set It Off

2. Pay No Mind *

3. Somewhere *

4. Day I Was Born

5. Supernaut

6. Yellabone

7. Tower Of Babel

8. Revolution

9. Souls of the Darklands *

10. Calabasas *

11. Jones For War

12. Way of the Lamb

In addition, Magic Bullet Records will be reissuing Brother Dege's two critically acclaimed first studio albums, Folk Songs Of The American Longhair & How To Kill A Horse, on July 10th on vinyl for the first time. Director Tarantino had this to say about the former album, "Frankly, every track on the Brother Dege CD could have been in the movie [Django Unchained]. It works and has a badass score sound to it. Almost every song could be a theme song. It’s like a greatest hits album.”

BROTHER DEGE 2015 TOUR DATES:

June 24 - 502 Bar - San Antonio, TX 

June 26 - Shipping and Receiving Bar - Ft. Worth, TX

July 10 - Southgate House Revival - Newport, KY

July 11 - Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill - Grand Rapids, MI 

July 16 - Machines With Magnets - Pawtucket, RI

July 17 - The Barn (Restaurant & Tavern) - Pawlet, VT

July 18 - Donovan's - Bellows Falls, VT

July 20 - Sweet Afton - Astoria, NY (SOLO)

July 21 - Grand Victory, Brooklyn, NY

July 24 - 10th Avenue Burrito - Belmar, NJ

July 25 - Shepherdstown Opera House - Shepherdstown, WV

August 3 - WDVX Blue Plate Special, Knoxville Visitors Center - Knoxville, TN 

August 4 - Sleepy Owl Brewery - Kingsport, TN

August 5 Awendaw Green Barn Jam - Awendaw, SC

August 6 - Rusty Rudder - Mt. Pleasant, SC

August 7 - Palmetto Brewing Dock Series - Charleston, SC

August 8 - L L Creek Bar - Waycross, GA

August 21 - Blue Moon Saloon - Lafayette, LA

(MORE DATES HERE & ABROAD TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!)

FOR MORE INFO ON BROTHER DEGE:

Mavis Staples / Live at Cambridge Corn Exchange ahead of Glastonbury appearance

MAVIS STAPLES Live at Cambridge Corn Exchange - 1st July 2015

‘One of the 100 greatest singers of all time.’ ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE 2015 has seen the loss of Ben E. King. Percy Sledge and BB King…just three of the giants from the era of sixties soul, r‘n’b and gospel. It will be a truly unique chance then, on Wednesday 1 July, to still be able to watch another true soul/gospel legend from that era, when Mavis Staples walks on stage at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in one of just three UK concerts. Now in her seventies, this incredible singer has been performing both solo, and in earlier years with The Staples Singers, for over 50 years. Tracks include classics like If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) and The Weight along with numerous other soul and gospel classics. More recently Mavis Staples took the award for best Americana album at the 2011 Grammy Awards for her album You Are Not Alone, produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. It was an emotional first Grammy for the Chicago-based artist in a 50 plus-year career winning against Rosanne Cash, Willie Nelson, Los Lobos and Robert Plant. She has just released Your Good Fortune, a new four-song EP produced by the acclaimed young cross-genre soul explorer Son Little. The songs merge Staples’ iconic and soulful voice with Little’s talent for reconfiguring genres including soul, hip-hop and heavy rock. The resulting tracks retain every bit of Staples’ emotional delivery, while adding an array of modernist sounds created with the cut and paste of contemporary hip-hop. “I’m always excited to do new songs,” Mavis says. “And this young man wrote two just for me. Seemed like we were a team made in heaven. He writes from his heart; he’s a great singer who sings from his heart, and he reached my heart.  I’m so glad we got to work together. The whole experience right down to the finished product was just extraordinary.” Mavis Staples appears at Cambridge Corn Exchange on Wednesday 1 July at 7.30pm. Tickets from £22.50. Box Office 01223 357851