Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release (July 8, 2016), A Little Too Late ,from Travis Green and it's quite good. Opening with title track, A Little Too Late , Travis Green on super lead vocals, shows country two step style, with Kid Andersen on guitar, Randy Bermudes on bass, Jason Hansen on drums, and nice key work from Jim Pugh. Cowboy styling on Please Don't Cry has a lot of polish with Lisa Leuschner Andersen on harmony. This is a real nice track that should hit the radio. Everybody Knows crosses over more to a rock sound, still influenced by country flavor. With the line "Everybody Knows That You're A Bitch A Heart" it is an auto hook that will certainly be a crowd favorite. Solid bass work from Bermudes and sassy sax work from Nancy Wright give this track a solid kick. Blues based ballad, The Only Love , has really nice organ work by Pugh giving it a great feel. Kid Andersen lays in some real nice bluesy country guitar riffs for good measure. Very cool. Kee...

I just received the newest release, Hungry Soul , from Juke Rockets Blues Band and they play from the heart. Opening with American Train , a country style rocker, Carlene Thornton leads on vocals with solid drums from Tim Woitowitz, bass from Steve Mellor and guitars from Ron Casillo. On 12 bar number, Can't Complain Blues , Ron leads the way on guitar and Steve pops in a real nice bass solo. JRBB slows the tempo a bit for Cougar , with seductive lyrics, and some of the most ambitious, San Francisco style guitar playing on the release. Title track, Hungry Soul, is a simple ballad with a nice melody, clearly articulated guitar work and nicely blended vocals. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Keep On Walkin' with a thumping bass line and real nice grinding slide guitar riffs. It also shows some of Thornton's best vocals on the release. JRBB brings it down real low for Mister 7 . Showing guitar chord structure like Mr T Bone Walker over structured bas...

I just received the newest release, Live at the Kessler , from Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat and it's really fun. Opening with I Declare , Suhler gets the crowd warmed up on lead vocal with excellent piano support from Shawn Phares, Chris Alexander on bass and Beau Chadwell on drums. Suhler has a great voice and great tone. On swampy, Across the Brazos , Chadwell's snappy drum beat and accordion like key work by Phares add extra flavor. Rock n' Roller, Doin' The Best I Can , is a hard driver with Suhler showing his super slide technique. This is a great cranker and Suhler presses on with strong support by Phares on keys. Excellent! Tijuana Bible has a real nice thumping bass line and grinding guitar riffs. With it's memorable melody and ZZ Top like feel, this track is hot! Deja Blue has a cool tandem vocal/lead guitar melody with accordion keys giving it a cajun feel. Single note bass line and steady drum lines gives the track a simple structure accenting Suhler...

I just received the newest release, Live At Rosa's Lounge , from Omar Coleman Band and it's quite good. Hot on the heels of his super 2015 release, Born & Raised , Coleman has put out a dynamic live release flexing his power. Opening with Guy/Wells composition, Snatch It Back And Hold It , with some pure soul on vocal Omar leads the way over a great bass line from Dave Forte. Neal O'Hara takes a nice organ solo, with Marty Binder on drums and Omar wraps it up with harp. Cool opener. On Willie Dixon's, I'm Ready , OCB stays the course of Morganfield, adding a real nice piano solo by O'Hara. On funky, Born and Raised , Coleman gets a great James Brown feel going with wah wah and Preston style organ. His vocals are nicely crafted and delivered. This track has some really nice harp soloing as well and a hot guitar solo by Pete Galanis. Very cool. Rocker, Slow Down Baby , has solid drive and Chuch Berry like guitar riffs by Galanis and hot piano riffs fro...

I just received the newest release, Unresolved Blues , from Bing Futch and it's a freewheeling acoustic ride. In 2015, he became the first mountain dulcimer player in the history of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis to advance to the semifinals and in 2016, he advanced to the finals, winning the "Best Guitarist" award. Opening with Robert Johnson's Sweet Home Chicago , Futch brings a solid boogie woogie beat with organ, percussion and bass support under solid vocals. Interstate 10 Blues has a really cool feel with Futch's vocals over a mountain dulcimer. Very nice. Juke Joint Hen has a mountain bluegrass sound with excellent finger work on his dulcimer. A reel like instrumental, this track is super. Harperville is played on resonator dulcimer giving it a metallic overtone on the dulcimer. Solid vocals and firm string work give this track authentic roots. Drinkin' and Drivin' Blues is smooth and slow. Nicely phrased blues solo on dulcimer...

I just received the newest release, Cities In Blue, by Danny Marks and he covers a lot of blues territory from coast to coast. Opening with a super T-Bone Walker style track, Houston to L.A. Danny Marks handles vocals and displays his strong capability to swing that guitar. Very nice! Belt Line Blues has a rural country style with Al Cross on drums, Danny Marks on slide and Johathan Goldsmith on keys. Once I Was Crazy has a great period feel highlighted by strong riffs from Chris Whiteley on trumpet and Ken Whiteley on Banjo. Very cool. Swing track, Kansas City Shout , has a real nice piano line by Julian Fauth and Marks with Alec Fraser on vocal backed by Mike Wark on sax is super. I'm particularly attracted by the guitar intro on Memphis Got Soul which has nice Albert king blues influence and the solid bari sax work by Phil Skladowski gives it that Memphis horn sound. With a light springy rag style, Heading Down To New Orleans , strongly features Marks' vocals and nic...

I just received the newest release, The Happiest Man In The World , from Eric Bibb and North County Far with Danny Thompson and it's quite fun. Opening with title track, The Happiest Man In The World , Eric Bibb creates his upbeat blues style with a rural flair joined by Danny Thompson on upright bass, Ollie Haavisto on slide guitars and Janne Haavisto on drums and percussion. Toolin' Down The Road is a really cool track with a nice weave of acoustic instruments bringing instant comparison in my mind to early Ry Cooder work. Very nice. I'll Farm For You has a cool little guitar riff and Bibbs superb vocals supported by light but intriguing slide work. Tossin' And Turnin' has a real smooth feel a nice blend of acoustic and resonator guitar work and upright bass and features Petri Hakala on fiddle. Creole Cafe' has a real nice 3/4 time making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. Bibb really has a nice voice and with lightly appointed mando work, thi...

I just received the newest release, Circus , from Jim Zeller , and it's a rock stew. Opening with Down To The River , a kind of bolero rocker with a taste of Midnight Rider and French Cafe twist on Old Man River, this release will keep you guessing. Wild Life has a more metal feel with vocal echo but with synthesized accordion sounds giving it a more euro sound. With Freddy Freedom and Jean Millaire on guitar, David Devine on drums and Marc Deschenes on bass, a nice harp solo sets it off. A light rocker, Bad Girl , has an interesting sound with harp and a jazzy beat. Possibly my favorite track on the release, overdriven guitar rhythm is very cool as is the howl of the harp and Richard Beamder on sax. Ballad, Ain't So Bad has a solid melody with traces of the Kinks and smooth harp work. Driving rocker with traces of All Along The Watchtower, Halloween in Hollywood With Johnny Depp is a cool track with some hints of Spanish guitar and cool guitar riffs. One Step Closer To Ve...

I just received the newest release, Long Road , from Diana Rein , and it's got strong commercial potential. Opening with title track, Long Road , Diana Rein shows real clarity in vocal performance on a well written ballad with ultra clean Fender guitar work. Very nice! Wild One has a thumping bottom and strong rock bones. A driving rhythm guitar line and aggressive lead guitar work gives this track real sting. Livin' Loud has a slinky feel warming up to a guitar infused rock break. Cool. Green Light has a power pop feel with a springy 3 chord drive under blues lead. Rebel With A Cause opens with a Latin flare but breaks down to a heavy footed rocker. A solid radio style track with modest guitar riffs keeps it simple. The Real Thing has a nice fat Fender guitar sound with with nicely written melody lines. Breakout guitar work on this track gives it another dimension but still staying mostly in the power pop area. Nice. Done Me Dirty , another strong radio entry has some s...

I just received the newest release, The World Moves On , from The Hitman Blues Band , and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Bad, Bad Man , The Hitman Blues Band stomps onto the scene with a real cool rocker. Led by Russell "Hitman" Alexander, this band has a great swagger with Hitman's strong vocal attack and slide guitar work, firmly backed by Kevin Bents on piano and organ, Mike Porter on bass and Guy LaFountaine on drums. That's What It's Like To Be A Man is a cool boogie track with a cool driving bass line from Glassman and great slide work from Hitman. Very cool! Rocker, Don't You Tempt Me , has a modern blues rock beat. Hitman really delivers on vocals and horn backing by Mikey Vitale on tenor and Nick Clifford on bari give the track full traction. Moving On reminds me quite a bit of I've been Down So Long By The Doors. Another gem, this track not only features super slide work from Hitman, Clifford and Vitale on sax but nice organ work from K...

I just received the newest release, Upset The Status Quo , from Alabama Mike , and it's a cool groove. Blending R&B, Blues and funk, Mike has put together a fine set here. Opening with title track, Upset The Statue Quo , a bluesy shuffle, Mike leads the way on vocal joined by Aki Kumar on harp, Bernard Anderson on sax, Kid Andersen and Bob Welsh on guitar, Kedar Roy on bass and D'Mar Martin on drums, this track is a great start. Identity Theft opens with a a cool bass line from Jerry Jemmott this track and an overall R&B feel which is quite cool. B3 punctuation, backing vocals by Loralee Christansen and Lisa Leuschner and a hot sax solo by Anderson tops the track off nicely. Low slung blues number, MISSISSIPPI is a great track with a serious lope and Kumar doing some fine work on harp and a nice piano solo from Bob Welsh. Funky number, Think, also shows the strong bass work of Jemmott and features nice B3, Anderson on sax as well as a hot guitar solo from Kid Ande...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Enjoy The Ride , from Debbie Bond , and it is a soulful grouping of radio styled tracks. Opening with title track, Enjoy The Ride , Bonds leads the way on vocal backed by serious heat by Rachel and Carla Edwards. Will McFarlane lays in some real nice slide guitar and Dave Crenshaw really plays some super percussion. Easy jazz rocker, Rainbow , has a pleasant melody and solid rhythm. R&B track, Love Vibration , with Rachel and Carla backing Bonds shows some of the best vocals on the release and featuring Spooner Oldham on B3. Left Me In The Dark has a cool Latin influenced rhythm and features a sassy guitar solo by Bonds. R&B track, Find A Way , has great bones with hot horn work from Brad Guin and sassy vocals from Bond. Possibly my favorite track on the release. I Am The Blues has super backing vocals by Rachel and Carla and cool harp backing to the lead vocals by Bond. Warm organ and nice sax work and clean horn wo...

BILL KIRCHEN & AUSTIN DE LONE Transatlanticana New Studio Album Unites the Titan of the Telecaster with the Godfather of Pub Rock Recorded in Austin, TX and London, UK with an all star cast Tour and festival dates announced including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2016 (August 26, 2016; Red House Records) Stream their tribute to Merle Haggard, "The Hounds of the Bakersfield" on Popmatters now     Bill Kirchen  and  Austin de Lone  team up for a hands-across-the-Atlantic collection with their new studio album,  Transatlanticana ,  out on August 26, 2016 on Red House Records. This long-overdue release unites the pioneers of two major musical movements: Kirchen co-founded the original “Americana” band,  Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen,  and hi...