Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review Heavy Days , the latest release from Katy Guillen & The Girls and I really like it. Opening with Driving To Wake Up , Katy Guillen & The Girls let you know right up front that they mean business. Guillen on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Claire Adams on bass and vocal and Stephanie Williams on drums producing an authoritative rock sound with edge. Guillen's vocals may be similar to Chrissie Hynde with healthy attitude but with more clarity and blending with the vocals of Adams, a new fresh sound. A stripped down 3 piece sound is all you need and these ladies show that big time. Guillen is also no wall flower when it comes to guitar attitude laying it out there pretty nicely. Heavy Days has an essential blues rock sound and raw energy but with just the right amount of melodic backing harmony to pull you in. These girls are putting on the heat and Williams kicks ass on drums... and that adds real weight as they swing from sweet vo...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, In Any Town , from The Lucky Losers and it's a cool blend of pop, country and blues. Opening with So High , a blend of country funk and pop, Vocalists Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz harmonize over the rhythmic work of Marvin Greene on guitar, Chris Burns on keys, Tim Wagar on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Kid Andersen rips a cool lead guitar solo to close track one with Berkowitz on harp. Cool. It Ain't Enough features Lemons on lead vocal and it's a slinky, swampy soul track. Possibly my favorite track on the release, it has warm backing vocals and Andersen lays down some real nice Rhodes lines. Excellent! On classic track Jackson , made popular by Johnny Cash, finds Cathy and Phil exchanging lead vocals making it a solid radio player with a nice harp solo by Phil. Another Lemons penned number, Don't Let 'Em See Ya Cry , is a solid blues ballad with sensual horn work from Michael Peloquin on tenor and ba...

I just received the newest release, Bloodline , from Kenny Neal and it has strong blues and R&B roots. Opening with country blues influenced, Ain't Gon Let The Blues Die with it's Elvin Bishop/country flavored gospel flavor. This track is off and running with Kenny Neal on slide guitar and lead vocals, Tom Hambridge on drums, Tommy Macdonald on bass and Syreeta, Tyrell, Jazzy, Brine', Kaydence Bates, Tahj Mosby and Darien Neal as well as the McCrary sisters. Title track, Bloodline , has a deep groove with a funky bottom and Kenny on lead vocal and harp. Cool loping Plain Old Common Sense is one of my favorite tracks on the release with great guitar work, supeer vocal phrasing, nice piano lines and strong horn backing from Quentin Ware on trumpet, Billy Huber on trombone, Tyler Summers on sax and Dana Robbins on sax. Very cool. On Willie Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away , skillful piano work and crafty vocals give this track the weight of a serious R&B/c...

I just received the newest release, I'm Gonna Tell You Somethin' That I Know , by David Honeyboy Edwards and it's terrific! Opening with Howlin' Wolf's Ride With Me Tonight , Honeyboy is accompanied by Jeff Dale and Michael Frank. Honeyboy, a young 95 years old at the time, plays solid lead LP jr. as he sings. If you haven't had the pleasure to see and hear Honeyboy, he is the real deal ... in my mind, one of the few, first generation pure delta blues men alive during our current generation. Singing blues like few men in modern times, Honeyboy keeps his own time. On That's Alright , Honeyboy shows real spark and enjoyment playing his trade in a private and up-close environment. Robert Jr. Lockwoodhas a more's Little Boy Blue and Jimmy Rogers' You're The One and really cool blues jams and Honeyboy's vocals are emotional and raw. Edwards cover of Oden's Goin' Down Slow is more uptempo but no less sensitive. His guitar riffs are ...

I just received the newest release, Zalo's Blues from Gonzalo Bergara and it's terrific! Opening with instrumental, Drawback , a quick paced shuffle, you'd swear you were listening to Gatemouth Brown featuring Gonzalo on Guitar, Mariano D'Andrea on bass and Maximiliano on drums. These guys are hot and flaming! On rock and roller, Drinking , Chuck berry Style, Gonzalo steps up to the mic and shows his appreciation of fine rock. This stuff is pure and fun ... dig the riffs! This release doesn't have any weak spots and this is one of my favorites on the release. Singing My Song puts me in mind of a song, Made Into A Movie, from one of the best (sleeper) ZZ Top albums, XXX. If you don't have it....get it! This is a dramatic ballad with smoking hot emotional blues guitar soloing. Excellent! Opening with Jimmy Reed himself, You Don't Have To Go is augmented by the band and Gonzalo's vocals are sticky and the pace is amazing. This is the blues...yes! Exce...

I just received the newest release, South Louisiana Blues , from Smoky Greenwell and it's solid. Opening with Animal Angels , a modern blues based rocker, features Smoky Greenwell on harp and lead vocals, Jack Kolb on guitar, David Hyde on bass, Joe Krown on B3 and Doug Belote on drums. With slippery slide work by Kolb and harp work by Greenwell, a cool opener. Canned Heat's Let's Work Together , maintains the community feel with Greenwell on lead vocal and harp adding Johnny Neel on piano and Lynn Drury and Dana Abbott on backing vocals. Boogie Twist is a hot smoker with Greenwell on harp and sax, Kolb throwing down on guitar, Neel on B3 and a super driving bottom by Belote and Hyde. Very cool. Lonesome Lonely Blues has a more moderate pace featuring nice piano work from Krown, warm sax work from Greenwell and clean guitar soloing by Kolb. Shuffle track, You Can't Take It With You , has a real nice Chicago groove and traditional blue style harp. Nice. Pick It Up ...

Heralded Austin Musician Johnny Nicholas Brings a Breath of Fresh Air with New Blues/Roots CD Coming September 2 AUSTIN, TX – Acclaimed roots musician Johnny Nicholas has announced a September 2 release date for his new CD, Fresh Air , which showcases his multiple talents on various guitars and soulful vocals for an album surely to be one of the best musical revelations of the year. Watch the Johnny Nicholas video that includes musical excerpts from the Fresh Air album: Fresh Air was produced by Bruce Hughes and recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Scrappy Jud Newcomb (guitars, mandolin, mandocello), John Chipman (drums, percussion, vocals) and Bruce Hughes (bass, vocals, percussion), plus a guest list that includes Cindy Cashdollar (lap steel and additional guitars), the new CD creates a satisfying statement of true American roots music at its finest and most authentic. “ Fresh Air is a collection of ...

SoCal's Coolest New Blues-Rock Band! PERFORMING LOCALLY AT: Sunday, Aug. 14, 4 pm - COACH HOUSE, San Juan Capistrano "Diana Rein and the Papermoon Gypsys brought a rollicking show to the Blue Beet. Diana's bluesy voice and Kenny 'Big Daddy' Williams' blistering lead guitar on their version of Jimi Hendrix' classic "Stone Free"  showed why they're one of the hottest new groups on the scene today. Rein's guitar propels the music with a rocking sound, the interplay of her guitar carrying both rhythm and some excellent solo work. All told, Diana Rein and the Papermoon Gypsys provide a hard driving blues sound that's hard to beat"                         ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Swingin' In The Swamp , from The Kat Kings and it does swing! Opening with hot potato, When I Say Jump , Kevin McQuade has this band hopping with his super lead vocals and tight lead guitar work, backed by Teddy Leonard on guitar and vocal, Chuck Keeping on drums and vocal, John Dymond on bass and Wayne Dagenais on keys. Great start. Up beat emphasis and walking bass work on Poppin At Party Time really sets it out with cool piano work from Degenais and McQuade plays bold guitar strokes. Nice. On B Flat Kat , a cool boogie woogie, the band keeps the groove rolling without a hitch cranking out intensity. On easy loper, I Work For You , the band takes a little break and Dagenais breaks out the organ giving the track nice balance. Hot rocker, Juke Joint Jimmy , has a great beat, solid piano and some hellacious hot guitar riffs. Excellent! Two stepper, Before I Found Him , has a JJ Cale feel with a rocky bluesy country p...