Vizztone Label Group artist: Dennis Gruenling - Ready Or Not - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Ready of Not, from Dennis Gruenling and it's a barn burner. Opening with hig energy blues rocker, Knockin' My Knees, Gruenling joins forces with Doug Demingon guitar, Andrew Gohman on bass and Michael Bran on drums for a blend of blues, rock n' roll and New Orleans jazz for a great opener. Bram's strait snare work along with Dave Keyes on liano really stand out on this track. On Missing Person, Slim Harpo's influence is strong with a super boogie reinforced by rim shots and Gruenling's harp work is hot. Another track with a New Orleans feel, Ready Or Not to me gets that classic R&B sound and Deming steps out with a real nice guitar solo. Simmer Down has a classic rock tom tom riff that sets the pace and Gruenling's harp work has a great vocal like quality. Very nice! Little Sugar is a pure rock n' roller with early roots. Deming takes center stage on this one with country flavored rock riffs. A solid rocker, one of the best tracks on the release. Swinging blues rocker, If You Wanna Rock, has a great groove and Gruenling delivers on vocal and his harp work really hits the target with backing vocals by Dave Gross and Michael Bram. Gruenling really lays out some great blues harp on Ready To Burn with basic blues rhythm under his vocals. Very nice! Instrumental, Rockin' With The Rev is a really hot track (can you hear me Stilladog) with Gruenling really cooking it. This is a great track and the band is hot and tight! Another rocker, Open The Door, this time with a Chuck Berry flavor, gets down and gritty with solid riffs from Deming and Keyes as well as a nice solo from Gruenling. Sizzling blues/jazz number, Think Twice, is smoking hot with Gruenling riffing out on harp followed by vocal lead. Deming plays a really nice stylized solo of his own followed by an extended solo by Gruenling. Excellent! Give Me Back My Heart has a real retro blues feel with Gruenling on lead vocal and with male backing vocals, hand clap percussion and stylized guitar soloing, topped off by Gruenling. Wrapping the release is Count Chromatic of course featuring Gruenling up front of chromatic harp but with really nice guitar riffs by Deming. This is a great track and a great 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”

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Big Toe Productions artist: Paul DesLauriers Band - Relentless - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Relentless, from the Paul DesLauriers Band and it is relentless! Opening with Stewtro Rock, a hard driving rocker with a heavy bass line, this track shows that modern rockers are still making great music and with the partnership of Greg Morency on bass and Sam Harrison on drums, DesLauiers leads the way on lead vocal and guitar. Very nice! Boogie fused, I'm Your Man had eased up on the throttle a little but with intense work on guitar, drums and bass, this track is a serious entry. I really like it. Ten Feet Tall has a bit of arena feel to it with but with cool guitar riffs and raspy vocals, this track is a solid radio player. Another strong blues entry, Still Under My Skin has great guitar tones and a swampy feel reminding me of Jim Suhler. Paul really twists the guitar on this track and with rock solid bottom by Morency and Harrison, this may be one of my favorites on the release. Super. Funky blues number, Up In The Air has a rally swampy feel with a subdues slide riff under the melody. DesLauriers has some of the swagger of Ronnie VanZandt with great drums and bass kick. Raspy slide work by Paul really kicks this track up a few levels. Very nice. We Just Might is another driving rocker with real oomph. DesLauriers kicks out the stops on his guitar solos and another solid radio rocker. Blues ballad, If I Still Had You, is a soulful track with highly expressive guitar soloing. Easily the most powerful track on the release. Gonna Make You Move is a funky pop track with a jangly cow bell and smoking drum riffs. Also included is a more subtle Gonna Make You Move with just a bit more dynamics. This is a cool rocker and one to check out.




  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”

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Hipsterdumpster Records artist: Matty T. Wall - Blue Skies - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Blue Skies, by Matty T. Wall and it takes the best from rock, pop and blues and blends it together for a crisp new sound. Opening with blues rocker, Burnin' Up Burnin' Down, Matty T. Wall grinds out a great rhythm guitar sound with a thick cut of sound. His vocals are solid and with strong support from bassist Stephen Walker, Gordon Cant on organ and Jasper Miller on drums, these guys rock the house. On Keb Mo's, Am I Wrong, Wall puts up a high energy level, rocking with a smoking bottom and rhythmic top. Original blues ballad, Love Gone Away, is a sweet Gary Moore style track with soulful vocals and high reaching ruitar lead. Bound to be a crowd favorite, this track is hot! Scorcher is a runaway train with machine gun picking, super harmonic bends and snappy country style drums work. Excellent! Title track, Blue Skies, has a catchy melody and nice harmonies with Deli Rowe making an ideal radio track. This Is Real is a lightly funk salted track with a jazzy bottom. Another track with strong radio appeal showing the lighter side of Wall. Hendrix's Voodoo Chile gets a total rework with a monotone bass bean and an almost spiritual arrangement on the vocals. Wall takes a new approach on the guitar lead blending Muddy Waters' style in making one of the most unusual and successful covers of this track I have heard in quite some time. Jamming for almost 12 minutes, Wall and crew really work this track out, pushing the envelope without repeating the past. Very nice. On Broken Heart Tattoo, the first thing that hits you is the snarl of Wall's guitar. With Walker on walking bass and light percussion by Miller, Wall casually tells the story as he throws quick blues riffs in a as accents before breaking into his guitar refrain. very interesting. Smile is a very nicely written track, basically acoustic rhythm guitar paired with airy melodic electric guitar lead. This is a very cool track. Wrapping the release is a modern stylized acoustic folk cover of Robert Johnson's Hellhound On My Trail. With a lightly covered Dazed and Confused acoustic undercurrent, tension is add against Walls solo vocals, augmented by percussive guitar and drum rhythms. A very cool closer for a pretty strong 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”

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Eller Soul Records artist: Little Charlie And Organ Grinder Swing - Skronky Tonk - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Skronky Tonk, from Little Charlie and Organ Grinder Swing and it's massive! Little Charlie Baty has teamed up with Lorenzo Farrell on Hammond and J. Hansen on drums to put together a really swinging blues/jazz release. Opening with title track, Skronky Tonk, Little Charlie takes a departure from the blues of the Nightcats with this groove swing track instrumental showcasing Little Charlie at his best. Charlie plays long flowing nicely formed guitar phrases stacked up nicely with Farrell on Hammond. Excellent! Morgan Lewis' How High The Moon really made popular in recent times by Les Paul is really ripped by Little Charlie who cranks it up and lets it fly. Another excellent Hammond solo by Farrell and these guys deliver. Latin influenced, Receita de Samba shows yet another side of Baty with sensitive yet quickly articulate playing. Hansen is tight on drums and Farrell's organ work is clean. Gypsy jazz favorite, Nuages, by Django Reingardt is quiet and precise with feeling. Very nice! Arthur Johnson's, Pennies From Heaven, has a cool swing in very much a 50-60's jazz style. Baty and Farrell nicely jam over the solid bottom for an extremely well done cover of an old standard. High energy, Gerontology, is a Baty original and he absolutely dances on the fretboard. Farrell provides a super match for baty and Hansen balances them out for a great trio. One of my all time favorite jazz melodies is Django by John Lewis. Lindsay Buckingham and John McLaughlin with Jeff Beck covered it and now Baty. This is a terrific improvisational tune and showing just how deep Baty goes...terrific! Charlie Christian's, Swing To Bop, covers a lot of ground with Baty tested to produce. Everyone knows that he's a master bluesman but not everyone knows he's a masterful guitar player...well, they will now. Excellent! Henri Woode's Broadway has a solid groove bottom that will really keep you tuned in. Farrell and Baty both take nice solo passages keeping the feeling tight and Hansen busting a few heads himself. Another Latin track, Um A Zero, penned by Pixinguinha really has a great beat. Baty really captures the moment with his light finger work emphasizing the beat. Super. Breaking into an original swing blues, Cobalt Blues, Baty, Farrell and Hansen are solid. This is what most fans know Baty for and he delivers in spades. Erroll Garner's Misty gets a total make over with a jazzy swing feel with a touch of Latin under the bottom. Farrell leads the way on melody but Baty does shows his chops a number of times with nicely placed solos. Wrapping the release is Lionel Hampton's Flyin' Home is a cool closer with Baty and Farrell each showing a super solos to close out this hot instrumental 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”

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Squirrel Nut Zippers Announce Fall Tour / Hot 20th Anniversary Edition Out This Friday

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS ANNOUNCE FALL TOUR

20TH ANNVERSARY REISSUE OF HOT

To Be Released On Vinyl and Digitally

This Friday July 29^th

Album Release Show In New Orleans At Tipitina’s On July 30^th

July 25, 2016 – It was about 20 years ago when NPR’s Morning Edition said: “It’s not easy to categorize the music of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, except that it’s hot.” 

2016 marks the 20^th anniversary of the Squirrel Nut Zippers most celebrated and commercially successful album Hot.  Originally released in the summer of 1996, Hot was the follow up to the band’s critically acclaimed debut The Inevitable. By this time the group had already established a substantial live following across the country thanks to early support from NPR, college radio and non-commercial stations. Hot wound up selling over 1.3 million copies. 

A newly re-mastered version of the album along with a bonus track: “The Puffer” will return to stores this Friday July 29th 2016 on Hollywood Records. Long out of print on vinyl, Hot will make its glorious return to wax on 180-gram vinyl. 

The Squirrel Nut Zippers recently performed their first set of tour dates since 2009 which included a performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.  The band has now added a fall tour to their upcoming 2016 touring plans including new stops in: Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Nashville, Durham, Greensboro and many others.  Full details below.

“We are humbled and incredibly excited by the initial Zippers shows since the re-launch last month,” band leader Jimbo Mathus commented.  “The experience is not to be missed!  The band includes cutting edge talent from New Orleans, the songs are brought to life in an exciting new way. But most things remain unchanged... An amazing experience for young and old.”

In honor of the 20^th Anniversary of Hot, the bands visionary creator Jimbo Mathus, along with founding member and partner Chris Phillips (Drums), have crafted a brand new stage show including singer Ingrid Lucia of Flying Neutrino’s fame. Several leading musicians from New Orleans have also been enlisted to serve up the bands unique musical flavor which owes its roots to that city.

For the most up to date information on the band visit:

www.snzippers.com

https://twitter.com/snzippers

https://www.facebook.com/SNZippers

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS - 2016 TOUR DATES

7/30     New Orleans, LA          Tipitina’s (Album Release Show)

8/31     San Diego, CA             Belly Up Tavern

9/1       Los Angeles, CA          Teragram Ballroom

9/2       Tuolumne, CA              Strawberry Music Festival

9/3       Sausalito, CA               Sausalito Arts Festival

9/15     Dallas, TX                    Kessler Theater

9/16     Houston, TX                 Miller Outdoor Theatre

9/19     Nashville, TN                City Winery (Two Shows)

9/21     Charleston, SC             Charleston Music Hall

9/22     Atlanta, GA                  City Winery (Two Shows)

9/23     Durham, NC                 Carolina Theatre

10/7     Minneapolis, MN          Dakota Bar & Grill (Two Shows)

10/8     Minneapolis, MN          Dakota Bar & Grill (Two Shows)

10/9     Chicago, IL                    City Winery (Two Shows)

10/11   Detroit, MI                     Magic Bag

10/12   Pittsburgh, PA                The Rex 

10/13   Annapolis, MD              Rams Head On Stage

10/14   Blacksburg, VA             The Lyric 

10/15   Greensboro NC              Carolina Theatre 

10/16   Norfolk, VA                   The Norva 

10/18   Alexandria, VA             The Birchmere

10/21   Memphis, TN                River Arts Fest 

10/23   Black Mountain, NC     LEAF Festival

10/26   Jacksonville, FL            Ritz Theatre

11/11   Cape May, NJ               Exit Zero Jazz Festival

11/12   Elizabeth, NJ                Bergen Performing Arts Center                       

11/13   Pawling, NY                 Daryl’s House

Lee Scratch Perry "Must Be Free" coming September 23rd

Lee Scratch Perry "Must Be Free"  coming September 23rd The dub reggae legend returns to the studio with a wide-ranging narrative  in collaboration with Spacewave On "Must Be Free", the Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and producer doesn't hesitate with his unexpurgated commentary on his spirituality, good and evil, the human condition, and aliens. Featured styles include reggae, dub, dubstep, acid jazz, and electronic music. Special guests include Subatomic Sound System, The Groovematist, and IAmPhloboi. Perry was one of the pioneers in the development of dub music with his early adoption of effects and remixing to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae tracks. He has worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, the Congos, Max Romeo and many others. Perry has over 60 albums to his name, can read minds, once put a curse on the BBC for not playing his records, and was turned into Superman by Haitian zombie drugs. He's the kind of cosmic entity that has inspired everyone from the Beastie Boys, Andrew WK, Animal Collective, to Keith Richards with some of his mystic dub magic. "Must Be Free" Track Listing Psycho Dread Rat Race House of Sin Isabel Jungle Tongue No Evil No Sorrow On Nigeria Strip Off Too Much Is Too Much Therapist Must Be Free House of Sin (Remix) The CD can be ordered now at the MVD Shop or on Amazon. # # #

Guitar Legend Ronnie Earl Is Right at Home on "Maxwell Street," New Stony Plain Records Album Coming September 9

Guitar Legend Ronnie Earl Is Right at Home on Maxwell Street, New Stony Plain Records Album Coming September 9

EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records announces a September 9 release date for Maxwell Street, the new CD from three-time Blues Music Award winner as “Guitarist of the Year,” Ronnie Earl and his band, the Broadcasters.

Maxwell Street is named in honor of the late blues pianist and previous member of the Broadcasters, David Maxwell, and is also a nod to Chicago’s famed Maxwell Street, where blues musicians gathered to play outside for the Sunday market crowds.

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters are: Ronnie Earl – guitar; Lorne Entress – drums; Dave Limina – piano and Hammond B3 organ; Jim Mouradian – bass; and Diane Blue – vocals. Special guest guitarist on the album is Nicholas Tabarias. Maxwell Street was produced by Ronnie Earl and recorded at Wellspring Studios in Acton, Massachusetts, and Wooly Mammoth Studios in Waltham, Mass. Ronnie formed his band, the Broadcasters, in 1988.

“This album is dedicated to my big brother David Maxwell,” says Ronnie Earl. “We were born on the same day ten years apart. His playing was as deep as the ocean, as high as the sky and as bright as a quasar. When he passed, I felt a huge loss as I still do. David was a Broadcaster and he and I made a few records together. It was always a supreme honor to play with him. He played blues as well as jazz with incredible expression from Otis Spann to Cecil Taylor. He knew and loved it all. He became Otis Spann in the later years. Our pianist David Limina wrote a tune (“Elegy for a Bluesman”) that captures the feeling of the album and we all send our love and respect to David’s family and all of our love and gratitude for David Maxwell.”

Maxwell Street showcases 10 tracks, including six originals, plus exciting covers of songs by Otis Rush (one of Ronnie’s main musical mentors), “Double Trouble;” Gladys Knight (“I’ve Got to Use My) Imagination;” Eddy Arnold, “You Don’t Know Me;” and the blues/soul chestnut, “As the Years Go Passing By,” which closes the album.

Ronnie and the band performed a special set at the recent Chicago Blues Festival in honor of Otis Rush. In his review of that concert, DownBeat writer Jeff Johnson singled out Ronnie for praise: “Perhaps the most heartfelt expression came from the guitar of Ronnie Earl. His playing was a study in economy, yet electrifying enough to make the hairs on your neck stand on end on the seminal Rush tune, “Double Trouble.”

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters are also represented with a track on the new Stony Plain special 3-CD set, 40 Years of Stony Plain, which salutes the label’s four decades of the best in roots, rock, folk, country and blues music. To commemorate Stony Plain’s anniversary, Ronnie Earl recorded this short video about their relationship: 

“Ronnie Earl is one of the most sensitive, refined and exquisite guitarists on the international blues scene.” - Living Blues.   

Current Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters Tour Dates

Aug. 14                 Mystic Blues Festival                                                      North Stonington, CT

Aug. 19                 White Mountain Boogie ‘n Blues Festival              Thornton, NH

Sept. 18                Pennsylvania Blues Festival                                         Lake Harmony, PA

Websites: www.ronnieearl.com www.stonyplainrecords.com