Bman's Blues Report

Texas Country Blues Preacher KM Williams was to perform at the Rhythm Room this Friday. He is unable to make the trip due to a medical emergency. KM became disoriented at his gig on Friday night, and thankfully his wonderful wife Yollie was with him and recognized his unusual behavior. She immediately took him to a Dallas area hospital where he underwent emergency surgery early Saturday morning. The surgery was successful in correcting the issue. His wife Yollie has conveyed that she appreciates everyone's prayers and kind words. If you would like to send a card or a note, it would be much appreciated. Please send it to: KM Williams c/o Blue Lisa PO Box 721384 Dallas, TX 75372 Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers. He hopes to do a make-up performance at the Rhythm Room later this year. So The Dave Riley / Bob Corritore Juke Joint Blues Band will be covering the full night and will perform down home blues in KM's honor.

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sonny & Brownie's Last Train , by Guy Davis &  Fabrizio Poggi . This is a full helping of traditional style acoustic blues featuring Guy Davis on vocal and guitar and Fabrizio Poggi on harmonica. Opening with the Davis penned title track, Sonny & Brownie's Last Train , Davis sets a snappy guitar rhythm, singing and accompanying himself on guitar. On Robert Pete Williams' Louise Louise , Guy slips into Williams' shoes and sings one of my favorite tracks on the release, with underlying harp and guitar. Very nice. On Sonny Terry classic, Hooray Hooray These Women Is Killing Me , Davis really captures the spirit of Sonny with his enthusiasm and Poggi's soulful harp.  On Big Joe Williams' Baby Please Don't Go Back To New Orleans , Davis really digs in for a super guitar intro and Davis and Poggi's work are tops.  On Elizabeth Cotten's Freight Train , Davis and Poggi stay with th...

John Warren Geils Jr., the founding guitarist behind the ’70s and ’80s rock powerhouse J. Geils Band, died at his longtime home in Massachusetts on Tuesday. He was 71. Donald Palma Jr., the chief of police in Groton, Mass., confirmed Geils’ death on Tuesday night, saying in a press release that an early investigation suggested Geils died of “natural causes” and that “foul play is not suspected at this time.” Geils founded his eponymous band in 1967, when he attended the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. The band -- with singer Peter Wolf -- was known for its deft, bluesy guitar work. After touring with the Byrds and the Allman Brothers, the band achieved its breakout success in the ’70s and early ’80s with the release of hit singles like “Must of Got Lost,” “Give It to Me” and “Love Stinks.” “We were a rock, blues, R&B, rootsy band until we developed our own sound," Wolf told The Times in 1994. "[I]t's always cool to rediscover the masters li...

Trudy Lynn and Steve Krase Set Euro Tour Dates in May and June HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music artists Trudy Lynn and Steve Krase announce a series of European dates that will take the blues singer and harmonica player to Germany, France, Spain and Norway on a two-week tour during May and June. Lynn and Krase will perform at a combination of outdoor festivals, concert halls and showcase venues that will give blues fans a chance to hear the two artists up close and personal. They’ll be  performing songs from Lynn’s current CD, I’ll Sing the Blues for You , which helped garner her a Blues Music Award nomination for Best Traditional Blues Female Performer (aka the Koko Taylor Award) as well as  Krase’s new album, Should’ve Seen It Coming , which is set for release on April 21. Both artists make special guest appearances on each other’s new albums. "I’m looking forward to bringing my new music to all my fans over there,” exclaims Trudy Lynn about the upcoming show...

Monster Mike Welch & Mike Ledbetter "Right Place, Right Time" With Special Guest: Laura Chavez With over 25 years under his belt, Boston-based blues guitarist Monster Mike Welch is handily considered a seasoned veteran of the international blues scene at just a mere 37 years old. Adorned with the nickname “Monster Mike” by actor/comedian Dan Aykroyd at the tender age of 13, Welch has since carved out a successful living as a hig...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Desire , from Lauren Mitchell and it's a fine blend of rock, blues and soul. Opening with I Don't Need Nobody , a light R&B number, Lauren Mitchell is backed by Jim Pugh on keys, Reggie mcBride on bass, Tony braunagel on drums with Darrell Leonard on trumpet, Joe Sublett on sax and Johnny Lee Schell, Josh Sklair and Jose Ramirez on guitar. Pop track with a jazz edge, Soul Music allows Mitchell to show off her vocal skills with Maxanne Lewis, Kudisan Kai, Leslie Smith and Mellodye Perry on smooth backing vocals. Title track, Desire , has a warm country soul feel with deep rich vocals. Steve Fister is featured on slide guitar giving the track a crisp edge. McBride lays down a real nice bass line on Jump Into My Fire with a cool R&B style. Bluesy guitar riffs and sassy vocals give this track real traction. With a basic gospel structure, Good To Me As I Am To You , is an excellent track. Pugh's piano wo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Never Trust The Living , from Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys and it's really good! Opening with early blues style rocker, Snake Doctor , Johnny Mastro is really digging in the wood pile and coming up with a great sound. On vocal and harp, Mastro sounds like the early British bands with hooded vocals and pace and Smoke isn't called Smoke for nothing. His guitar is on fire with an extremely fat slide guitar sound. Excellent! Whiskey has a super Texas style lope and Mastro's vocals and harp are spot on. With a driving guitar rhythm backed by Dean Zucchero on bass and Rob Lee on drums, this is a great sound. Smoke really has his sound dialed in on the intro on Judgement Day , a lumbering blues rocker. On the clean channel he again breaks loos with a frenzy giving this track even more kick and Mastro's harp work adds a strong blues flavor. Monkey Man  has strong Chicago roots but again with incredibly f...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Times Have Changed , by Ronnie Baker Brooks and it's terrific! Opening with Joe Tex number, Show Me , Ronnie Baker Brooks (on vocal and guitar) is kicking ass and taking names right out of the chute featuring Steve Cropper on guitar, Steve Jordan on drums, Willie Weeks on bass, Felix Cavaliere on Hammond, Ben Cauley on trumpet, Lonniie McMillan on tenor sax and Jack Hale Sr on trombone. Big Head Todd sits in on Doing Too Much , a cool blue rocker with Leroy Hodges on bass, Charles Hodges on Hammond and Turner on piano. Recently passed and sorely missed, Lonine Brooks, sits in on Twine Time , a cool, sixties style surf rocker. Rapper, Al Kapone  sits in on traditional blues style track, Times Have Changed , with Weeks setting a great bass line and Brooks' solid vocals and guitar riffs. The addition of Jessie Munson and Wen-Yih Yu on violin, Beth Luscome and Jennifer Puckett on viola, and Mark Wallace and Jonatha...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Middle of the Road from Eric Gales and it may be my favorite yet! Opening with revival style track, Good Time , Eric Gales is really upbeat with Aaron Haggerty on drums, Dylon Wiggins on B3 and LoDonna Gales on backing vocals. Bringing down the heat with reggae rhythmed blues number, Change In Me with a super bass line under fiery lead guitar riffs. Very cool. Carry Yourself is a nicely stylized radio blues track with a solid melody, cool vocals and crisp lead guitar. With it's jazzy bottom, Boogie Man bops along with soulful blues guitar riffs giving the track an almost Johnny Guitar feel. Very cool! Been So Long again has a bit of a reggae beat but with scorching guitar riffs and super bass lines under Gales always solid vocals. Very nice.  Help Yourself  follows a cool acoustic blues format but building into electric guitar riffs. Gales' tone both on rhythm and lead are super and his riffs are hot ...