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

Bigfoot Records artist: AG Weinberger - Mighty Business - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Mighty Business, from AG Weinberger and it's a screamer! Opening with Muddy Waters' Baby Please Don't Go, AG is setting the stage for a red hot blues rocking concert. Backed by Sorin Petrila on rhythm guitar, Vlad Spatar on bass and Miklos Orban on drums, Weinberger handles lead vocals and guitar like a Johnny Winter. Excellent! Adding a bit of funk to a basic R&B style track, Try To Get Into The Middle Of The Real, is damn funky. I really like Spatar's bass chops and backing vocals drive this into Funkadelic land. This is a terrific groove and has plenty of room for some luscious guitar work. I Can't Get Enough takes the train up the southern rock route with a bit of southern swagger. Slowing it down and getting gritty on Sam Taylor's, Mother Blues, Weinberger shows his extremely soulful and fluid guitar lead. This is an excellent track and one that will sit you back in your chair! Classic funk track, Cissy Strut shows off Orban and Spatar's chops and Weinberger riffs like lightning over the rhythm. Very nice! Robert Parker like, Sweet Little Number, has a catchy R&B feel and gives Weinberger the chance to rifle off some hot riffs. A great rocker, this is a great concert. Another Muddy Waters track, Standin' Around Cryin', has some super Muddy like slide work over a classic arrangement of this great track. This band is tight and really laying it down. Charlie Parker's Billie's Bounce takes the band in a totally different direction with an excellent interpretation of track. Weinberger rips up the guitar lead and Spatar's bass work is super. Even Orban gets to take an extended drum solo on this track. One of my favorite tracks on the release. A third Muddy Waters track, The Blues Had A Baby and They Named It Rock'n Roll, gets a total make over with a heavy funk bass line by Spatar and cool rhythm patterns by Petrila. This track has an infectious grove that will have you moving...on the floor or in your seat. Jimmy Witherspoon's Ain't Nobody's Business opens with a red hot guitar intro setting up one of the best versions on this track you have ever heard. Weinberger's guitar and vocal skills are well displayed on this 9 plus minute track. You heard of grip it and rip it... Weinberger does! Big time! Wrapping the release is Take Me To The Highway, a 9 plus minute driving boogie rocker. This track breaks into an improvisational piece showing just what kind of versatility and chops the band has and they should boast. This is super! A great closer for an excellent 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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Jeff Beck Plays Screaming Slide on an Oil Can Guitar

The guys at Bohemian Guitars just posted this live concert video of Jeff Beck playing one of their oil can guitars. Is there anything Beck can't play? (-----ah....no!) BTW, Beck's very first instrument was a cigar box guitar he built as a child. Here's a close-up shot of Beck and his Bohemian oil can guitar. A certain cigar box guitarist stands beside him.



  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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Patoutville Records artist: Brian Langlinais - Right Hand Road - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Right Hand Road, from Brian Langlinais and it's an easy paced, R&B flavored release. Opening with rocker, You Can't Say I Didn't Love You, Brian Langlinais establishes his ground as lead vocalist backed by James Pennebaker on lead guitar, Steve Conn on keys, Lynn Williams on drums and Ron Eoff on bass with cool backing vocals by Charlene Howard and powerful horn work by Roy Agee on trombone, Steve Hermann on trumpet and Randy Leago on sax. On Wilson Piclett's, Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You, accordion work by Conn, nice piano and organ work by Patterson Barrett and backing vocals by Jonell Mosser set a real interesting pace. Title track, Right Hand Road, has a definite country blues feel with acoustic slide resonator work by D.L. Duncan and mandolin work by Barrett. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release, New Orleans flavored, Louisiana Love, has a really infectious groove pairing Langlinais with Mosser on vocal duet and sax work by Leago coupled with sassy piano work by Barrett and a nice lap steel solo by Pennebaker really makes this track click. William Bell's, Everyday Will be Like A Holiday, really shows Langlinais' vocal strength and the bass work by Eoff is particularly strong, backed by the horn section giving it extra grip. Super. Solid, One Desire, is a straight up soul track with nicely blended guitar, key and vocal backing. Muddy Waters' Don't Go No Further, really gets the blues groove flowing with flowing piano work, a wild piano solo and a cool guitar solo from Pennebaker. Cool track. Boogie rocker, Tucumcari Tonight, gets a real nice drive going with solid vocal work by Langlinais and Howard, driving guitar work by Pennebaker and a rolling piano solo by Conn. Very nice! Another track with a New Orleans under step is It's The Whiskey That Eases The Pain. Conn's organ soloing blending nicely with Barrett's piano work and the snappy drum work by Williams gives this track nice bite. Langlinais' side solo on this track really adds the pepper and his vocals blended with Mosser is super. Wrapping the release is acoustic blues, Our Love Is Slipping Away, with Langlinais and Tony Daigle on acoustic guitar, D.L. Duncan on resonator and Barrett on mandolin. This is a really nice track and an excellent closer to a relaxing 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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The Blues Rebels - Voodoo Land - New Release Review

I just had the chance to review the newest release, Voodoo Land, by The Blues Rebels and it's solid. Opening with shuffle track, Changed My Ways, Dov Hammer takes the lead on vocals and harp, backed by Andy Watts on guitar, Amos Springer on bass, Avi Barak on drums and Martan Ashkenazy on keys. Hammer takes the first solo on harp followed by a sweet solo from Watts. Title track, Voodoo Land has a strong wood block stroke and an overall Hendrix feel. Hammer and Watts both solo again and Ashkanazy's keywork adds the tension. A super track, this band can rock! Well Run Dry is a modern interpretation of a Robert Johnson riff with a contemporary rock feel. On Some Day, a strong radio with a solid melody, Joe Louis Walker adds tasty acoustic guitar and electric solos with cool bongo rhythms by Barak and melodic harp work by Hammer. Very nice. Knee slapper, Everybody Loves My Baby, features Walker on lead vocal with Hammer. Slow blues ballad, Burning Deep, features some of Hammer's best vocals as well as some scorching guitar work by Watts. His shimmering chords also add nicely to the overall successfulness of this track. A cool bass line drives this track under Hammer's lead vocals. Wah Wah effects give the rhythm guitar a cool sound and versatile guitar riffs give this track a standout sound. County pop style ballad, Shadows, features Walker and Ashkenazy on acoustic guitar backing Watts on electric and some of the nicest vocal blending on the release. Another soaring guitar solo by Watts gives this track wind. Funky, Old School, features Springer on bass and Barak on drums. Hammer's vocals are certainly leading the way but with Watts and Hammer on harp, the entire band shines on this one. Instrumental, Blue Dreams, is a really nice composition featuring Watts leading the way on guitar melody joined by Hammer. Very nice. A remix of Well Run Dry wraps the release with Amir Hacchen on keys and electronic percussion joining the band with a much more electronic sound. Using it as a platform for a jam over a dance track, I'd say it's quite successful.




  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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Lost Cause Records artist: Clint Morgan - Scofflaw - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Scofflaw, from Clint Morgan and it's a winding road of interesting passages. With an intro of children singing This Little Light of Mine, this release covers gospel, blues and country styles. Waco almost smells of John Wayne with a heavy bottom by bassist Dave Roe and Jerry Roe on drums and with Clint Morgan on piano and vocal with raggedy nice guitar by Kenny Vaughan. Early rocker, Wild One maintains a lot of it's country flavor but rips with some nice guitar and piano work and Morgan's vocals are perfect. I Got A Gun is an easy country rocker with Jonathan Yudkin on violin with Morgan painting a cool lyrical story. I Don't Know Where To Turn is a cool boogie woogie track with real nice piano work backing Morgan's duet with Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals. Dripping country, Vaughan lays out some real nice guitar work on the bluesy track. Eastham Farm has a lot of Johnny Cash in style balanced by nice harp work by Jim Hoke, additional rich vocals by Greenleaf and just the right touch of horns. Country flavored, D.B. Cooper Blues, is right down the middle pre pop country with solid vocals, piano and guitar work. Very strong. David Allen Coe's, I Love Robbing Banks gets a fresh coat of paint with a really hot sax solo and tight drums. Morgan is very comfortable in singing this kind of music along with his piano, sounds like he was born to do it. A Johnny Cash flavored, Bad Man Blues, has the solid acoustic guitar/bass vamp, tight little snare riffs and even steel guitar riffs giving this track it's classic sound. Love it! Boogie track, Thief In The Night, has the droning bass line and low key vocals setting up nicely for a pretty nice guitar score. Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash penned, Wanted Man has the sounds of a prison cam song with effective drum stomp and backing acoustic slide. Morgan's vocals nicely score on the Johnny cash connection and violin and electric guitar work add nicely to the fabric of the tune. The Face In The Mirror is a nicely introspective track with a subtly blistering guitar solo by Vaughan. Two stepper, A Sackful Of Cash, is high energy with a carnival of sounds but with great piano work, sexy sax and flashy country style guitar riffs. Very cool! Bessie Smith's Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair holds that New Orleans blues sound with the rolling piano, bluesy guitar and wailing clarinet, making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. Old hymn, Softly And Tenderly, Jesus is Calling is a duet with Maria Muldaur, handled with the utmost respect backed by piano, mandolin, guitar and dobro. Very nice. I Done Made It Up In My Mind, a spiritual number written by Muldaur, is nicely performed featuring Muldaur on lead vocals. Morgan's secondary vocals are clean and uplifting and his piano and organ work is top notch. The release is closed with an alternate take of I Got A Gun. Gritty and full of western, this is a n appropriate closer for a really western release...dig the guitar effects! This is a really interesting release and make certain you check the liner notes which is plastered with outlaw photos (one in a wooden box) and notorious characters of all kinds.



  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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Vizztone Label Group artists: Nick Schnebelen Band - Live At Knuckleheads Vol 1. - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Live at Knuckleheads Vol 1  from Nick Schnebelen Band and I really enjoyed it. Opening fleet fingered rocker, I'm Goin', this band is on fire. Nick Schnebelen, founding family member of Trampled Under Foot, has lead vocals and guitars and he's ripping. Joined by Heather Newman on guitar and vocal, Joe Voye on drums and Cliff Moore on bass, this is a great opener! Newman takes the lead on Willie James, with a little more of a country flare, the band is taking this crowd by storm. Schnebelen's riffs are hot and explosive. Cover of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, featuring Newman on lead vocal maintains it's original pop format but with a snarling guitar solo backing Newman's solid vocals. Slow ballad, Desperate Heart, again features Newman on lead vocal and gives Schnebelen a terrific opening to really kick out the stops on his blues riffs. Clocking in at over 5 minutes and with a touch of old San Francisco, this track is a screamer! With a taste of Son House, Break Of Day, takes on a modern day blues rock format. Schnebelen is back on lead vocal and sticks it on his guitar riffs. Tight backing by Voye, Newman and Moore makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Bad Disposition is a modern rocker with blues roots. Elongated guitar riffs and a very strong bass and drum combo give this band some of the best characteristics of Cream. With Muddy Waters like slide work and a stomping pace, Tailgate Swing, featuring Newman on lead vocal has strong underpinning. Willie Dixon's Spoonful has nice interplay vocally between Schnebelen and Newman with super drumming, again putting me in mind of Cream. Very nice. Classic Santo and Johnny track, Sleep Walk, is covered very nicely by Schnebelen on slide. Resurrected by Jeff Beck a number of years ago, this track has become a modern classic and great that it has. Nicely done. Dolly's, Jolene, is up next and Newman covers it nicely with a country inflection in her voice. Schnebelen shows his skills at Knopler style riffs blending nicely with the modern country style. Wrapping the release is driving rocker, New Orleans, by 60's rocker, Eddie Hodges. This track is burning hi octane with Schnebelen on slide and vocal and the band leaving nothing but dust. Great closer to a highly energetic 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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Luca Burgalassi - Shadows and Fragments - New release review

I just had the chance to review the newest release, Shadows and Fragments by Luca Burgalassi and it's actually quite beautiful. Opening with Shadows, a softly sung ballad over acoustic guitar and electric guitars by Luca Burgalassi, strongly precise bass by Giacomo Bertaccini and light percussion by Ettore Fancelli this is a super melodic opener. Dust and Rust has an open country sound with nicely blended vocal harmonies with Burgalassi on dobro, banjo, guitar, mandolin and harmonica as well as lead vocals, Fancelli on drums, Mimo Pellegrini on bass, Stefano Lunardi on violin and Luca Bellofiore on accordion. An excellent track with nice harmonies, this is great stuff. Nicely arpegiated acoustic guitar and solid vocals are the secret to Dark Cherries and Wine with Franco Ceccanti on cello. With an intricate rhythm and tight electric guitar soloing, this is a cool track. Orange Rooms has a warm, adult vocal, jazzy sound with French cafe accordion and violin ambiance and slick acoustic guitar riffs. Highs and Lows is a bouncy pop track with a strong catchy hook. Lord Randal features Wedny Nieper and Burgalassi trading lead vocals over a somewhat classical sound created by Burgalassi on guitar and mandolin, Pellegrini on bass, and Stefano Lumardi on violin. Starless Night Blues is a real cool track with true jazz style blues guitar riffs. Really nicely presented under Burgalassi's vocals and Pellegrini on bass and Fancelli on drums, one of my favorite tracks on the release. Acoustic guitar instrumental, 34 Orange Road, is really nicely written and performed showing clearly Burgalassi's excellence in his art. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Fragments, a quiet ballad with emotive vocals and guitar accompaniment by Burgalassi, backed nicely by Cerranti on cello. A very solid track to conclude a very solid vocal 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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