CLICK ON TITLE BELOW TO GO TO PURCHASE!!!!
CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!
I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Montserrat, from Ivor S.K. and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Montserrat, Ivor picks up where he left off on EP Delta Pines. A cool boogie, features Ivor backing his own vocals on guitar, bass and drums. Showing a tight sense of rhythm and stylistic guitar chops this is a very nice opener. Ain't No Cross is a contemporary ballad with a strong root in the blues. Ivor's vocals are solid and his melodic style is super. I Been Had is a cool island rhythm track which a solid guitar refrain. Snappy percussion and haunting guitar soloing makes this a really cool track. It's raining is a super sultry ballad with an intoxicating melody and nicely appointed guitar work. With a funky rhythm contrasted against minimal instrumentation, Take Me Back To New Orleans has a great feel. Indianola is a cool, modern, acoustic instrumental blues showing precision execution on guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is shuffle track, Good Mawnin' Judge. Ivor's voice is different but very likable and his ability to tell a story while dazzling you with his solid guitar work sets a high bar in contemporary blues interpretation.
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
'BADASS BLUES' STRAIGHT OUT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS: LOVELACE
BROTHERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE, GET READY TO TOUR THE U.S.
(Houston, TX) - Straight out of Southeast
Texas, home of ZZ Top, the late, great Johnny Winter, and Janis Joplin, The Lovelace Brothershave released a
smokin' new single, "Leaving,"
(purchase the single at CD Baby, here) and are
readying a U.S. tour for the Summer of 2017, Billy Lovelace, the group's
guitarist-vocalist and principal songwriter, has announced.
The Lovelace Brothers, who made their mark in
Houston's underground blues scene, are truly one of Houston's Best-Kept
Secrets. The Lovelace Brothers are fronted by Texas Blues
guitarist Billy Lovelace Jr., with other band members being brother
(drummer) Paul Lovelace and (bassist) Sean Lewis. They own a heavy
Texas Blues sound "Selling Your Soul at the Railroad Tracks...the
Dark Blues...Dirty and Heavy," asserts Lovelace. They're once again
primed and ready to "electrify you with their talent, music, and
live shows and brand of music called "Texas Electric
Blues."
About...The
Lovelace Brothers
In the mid 1970’s, a young 10-year old named
Billy Lovelace started his career and love of music with, in his words.
“A Beat Up Norman Electric”. Playing the guitar was a natural gift and
talent for Billy, one that started him on the path to creating his own
sound and gift of performance. Under the training of historically great
artists and the direction of Tower of Power’s Saxophonist Dick
Wilkie, and Audio Engineering from Les Williams. He soon moved to
Los Angeles, working in the music industry at recording studios while
also performing with many popular bands, honing his craft and growing his
name.
"We are from a somewhat of a music-involved
family," explains Billy Lovelace Jr. "On my father’s side, my
grandfather owned in the 1950s – 70s KOGT in Orange, Texas where his
father (Bill Lovelace Sr.) was a disc jockey. My uncle owned a blues
bar in Austin called Mamma’s Money, which I was told, The Fabulous
Thunderbirds played at, among others. I also had a few uncles that were
musicians. On mamma’s side there were some gospel & bluegrass groups.
If I wasn’t in the music business, I would probably have been a chef or
in the fishing and boating business. But that’s another story."
In December of 1996, Billy was shot by an unknown
assailant. Upon moving back to Houston in 1987, Billy teamed with brother
Paul in Houston-based bands, Symon Bar Sinister and Think Tank, the
latter band achieving some big-time prominence in Houston, with Music
News writing, "Think Tank is a Texas blues-rock band in the style of
Stevie Ray Vaughan-meets-Jimi Hendrix. In fact, they played a couple of
tunes by both artists that would've made old Jimi and Stevie proud."
From there, Think Tank morphed into what is today the Lovelace Brothers
with fellow Houstonians, brother Paul Lovelace on drums and Sean Lewis on
bass.
Now, it's the start of a whole new beginning for The
Lovelace Br others. "We just released “Leaving” an original, and
“Come On” by New Orleans blues great Earl King. The next songs to be
released will be another original, & “Going Down” by Freddie King.
And then, the sky's the limit!"
"Texas is a major influence. We’re
from Southeast Texas. I was born in Louisiana but raised as a child in
Orange TX. which borders Louisiana, so being raised on the border,
Louisiana is a dominate influence as well."
Billy Lovelace Jr., in an interview with INDIE PULSE MUSIC
The Lovelace Brothers are on Amazon Music, Spotify, Google
Play Music
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Apocalipstick, from the Harpoonist & The Axe Murder and it's a fine mix of cool music. Opening with pop rocker, Get Ready, Shawn Hall on vocal and harmonica teams up again with Matthew Rogers on guitar, bass and synth to create their latest endeavor. Fool Forever , has a hook almost sounding like the R&B Stones stuff. This track with it's vocal blending and guitar forward sound has strong commercial potential. I'm Back has a really nice tremolo guitar intro leading into a synthesized zone before breaking into a solid melody. These guys have really matured from their last release with intricately woven instrumentals giving the track significant appeal to a more sophisticated audience. With John Raham on drums and Geoff Hilhorst on organ, this track is hot. Very nice. A country/gospel influenced track, Pretty Please is high energy with traces to early rock n roll and latter influences of Cheap Trick and Meatloaf. Treat Me Kind is a really nice acoustic ballad featuring Hall on vocal and harp, Rogers on guitar and Dawn Pemberton, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks, Ben Rogers, Kari Wendell McClelland, Erik Nielsen and Ricardo Khayatte on backing vocal. Father's Son has a playful, reggae/blues feel with super vocals and cool harp adornment. Fragile is a really nice closer for this adventurous release. With an unusual time signature, cool backing vocals, environmental synth work and intricate drum work, it's almost like listening to a Pink Floyd/Mars Volta offspring. This is a very creative and entertaining wrap up to a very cool 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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
COUNTRY SOUL PIONEER
ARTHUR ALEXANDER’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM RETURNS IN EXPANDED EDITION FROM OMNIVORE RECORDINGS
1972 release is reissued with six bonus tracks, plus
liner notes from Barry Hansen (Dr. Demento and
former Warner Bros. staff writer)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — When
the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie,
Dusty Springfield, George Jones & Johnny Paycheck, Bob Dylan,
the Bee Gees and
countless other artists cover your songs, you must be on to
something.
Arthur Alexander was
a songwriter and song stylist whose first records in the early
1960s — such as “Anna (Go to Him)” and “You Better Move On” — were
some of the earliest hits recorded at Rick Hall’s
Fame Studios
and to feature the famed Muscle
Shoals Rhythm Section. After a
short break at the end of the decade, Alexander released the second
of only three albums that he made in his lifetime — a self-titled
“comeback” album in 1972.
On July 28,
2017, Omnivore
Recordings will
reissue Arthur Alexander,
expanded with six bonus tracks — two previously unissued.
With new liner notes by Barry
Hansen (better
known to most as Dr. Demento),
the package also features the piece he wrote for the album’s
original issue. Arthur Alexander’s
12 tracks were produced by Muscle Shoals bassist Tommy
Gogbill, and
include a version of “Burning Love” — covered by Elvis
Presley shortly
after the album’s release. Alexander’s two Warner Bros. follow-up
singles are also here, as well as a pair of tracks from the
original sessions, unearthed and unheard until now.
As
Hansen wrote in the original notes, “Arthur is especially proud of
the variety and versatility of his work on this album. All of it is
strong medicine, and should be a fine antidote for a lot of bad
scenes.”
He
adds in the current notes, “[The Omnivore volume] honors the soulful wonderment that
Arthur brought forth from his difficult time on earth.”
Arthur
Alexander, inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, is a music
legend. Arthur Alexander is a legendary recording.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Swamp Rock Country Blues, by TG Swampbusters and it's loose and cool. Opening with Honky Tonk Song, TG Swampbusters sets the pace with an interesting mix of old style country, JJ Cale and RL Burnside. TG on guitar, vocal and harp leads the way with Patch on drums and Swampy Jo Klienfelttr on bass. One Hundred Proof Blues has a great driving rhythm with throaty rhythm guitar and cool Keith like guitar riffs under solid vocals. Another track with a solid JJ Cale feel, Pitching A Tent has a great lower octave rumble, flamboyant but loose rock n roll guitar riffs and radio forward vocals. Very cool. Twist My Rubber Arm has the lofi of modern blues rockers like Black Keys and White Stripes rolled in country grass. Cranberry Corners is a driving 2 stepper with fat, mid range blues tones and sonic harp work making tyhis one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is She Gave Me The Blues, a very strong acoustic ballad. TG flies solo on this one accompanying his soulful vocals with straightforward acoustic guitar rhythms. This is a nicely written track and a strong closer for a release that is really enjoyable.
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backwoods Glance, by Blind Lemon Pledge and Friends. Pledge is back with an easy folk/country release featuring Tom Cline on dobro, Jimi Edwards on keys, Peter Grenell on bass, Cal Keoola on fiddle, Marisa Malvino on vocal and John Pearson on cajon, djembe and percussion. Opening with easy pop country track, Polly Come Out, Keaoola and Cline add essential components to the vocal blending of Pledge and Malvino. The Hills Of West Virginia is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an 1800's country sound. Very cool! Lynchburg Town is a solid track with a nice melody and super dobro work by Cline. I particularly like Fayetteville with a great melody...reminds me of classic Ray Davies. Ma Belle Cherie is a coo Cajun track featuring classic fiddle work from Keoola and the best vocal work from Pledge and Malvino. Wrapping the release is Give My Poor Heart Ease, a somber ballad with strong vocals and nicely blended guitar, dobro and fiddle work. Very nice closer for this straight up rural 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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Gregg Allman, one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band, has died. He was 69.
The southern rocker's passing was announced on his official website, adding that Allman "passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia" on Saturday.
Allman's death comes after rumors circulated last month that he had entered hospice care. A rep for the rocker told ABC News that the rumors were not true.
Still, Allman had been suffering from ill health in recent years, dealing with a respiratory infection, a hernia, a liver transplant and an irregular heartbeat.
Back in March, he canceled all his 2017 tour dates to support his upcoming album "Southern Blood" due to his health.
Michael Lehman, a close friend of Allman's, said in a statement posted to his website: "I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a brilliant pioneer in music. He was a kind and gentle soul with the best laugh I ever heard."
"His love for his family and bandmates was passionate as was the love he had for his extraordinary fans. Gregg was an incredible partner and an even better friend. We will all miss him," the statement concluded.
Allman is survived by his wife Shannon Allman along with their four children and three grandchildren.
According to his website, "The family will release a statement soon, but for now ask for privacy during this very difficult time."
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos and it's a hot fusion of rock and biting blues. Opening with 20 Days, a tight rocker featuring Anthony Rosano on lead vocal and stinging fat slide guitar, Jeremy "JB" Bustillos on vocal and harp, Paul Warren on bass and Scott Smith on drums. Shuffle, Give Me Strength has a cool groove with Warren romping the bass, harp attack by JB and a slick guitar solo from Rosano. You Don't Know Me is a mover and Rosano's guitar tome is warm and meaty. With a great beat and stinging guitar riffs, this track is super. Boogie track, Wicked Grin is hot with unbridled guitar riffs and a cool sax solo from JB. Excellent! Funky, Shakin' In The Veins, features really cool slide work by Anders Osborne and with a definite southern flair, cool harp work by JB pushing the track even further. Bound To You is a solid ballad with a scorching guitar intro. I particularly like the melody on this track and Rosano's vocals are the best on the release. Veracious guitar work throughout the track make this my definite favorite. Wrapping the release is Proud of My Sins, an acoustic blues with Rosano on lead vocal and mandolin. Vocal harmonies and harp work by JB make this an excellent closer for a cool 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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Can't Do That, by Mick Kolassa & Mark Telesca and it's quite entertaining. The concept, to take classic Beatles compositions and remake them in a new style as a group is cool... I mean possibly the greatest pop band of all time. Opening with I'll Cry Instead, the arrangement has a casual New Orleans strut and features a muted trumpet by Marc Franklin. With a creative blues bottom, early Beatles track, I Feel Fine takes on new air with suspenseful bass lines and bluesy harmonica work by Eric Hughes. One of my favorite tracks on the release is the sorrowful rework of Fixing A Hole. Telesca's vocals and stylistic acoustic guitar lead really hits. Very nice. Just the flatting of key notes in Lady Madonna transforms it from a springy pop tune into a New Orleans flavored track with soulful fiddle work by Tommy Borroughs and snappy drumming by James Cunningham. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a vibrant bluegrass rendition of She Came In Through The Bathroom Window with really cool mandolin lead by Tommy Boroughs. Excellent closer for a cool 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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Delta Wires Sets
June 30 Release Date for New CD, Born In Oakland, on Mudslide Records
San Francisco
Bay Area Blues Band Delivers the Goods on 7th Album of High Energy
Harmonica/Horn-Infused Music
OAKLAND,
CA - Seminal San Francisco Bay Area blues band, Delta Wires, announces a June
30 release date for their new CD, Born in Oakland, on Mudslide
Records. The album, recorded and mixed at Brickwall Sound in Concord,
California, showcases 10 originals and unique covers of a wide assortment of
blues styles.
Delta
Wires will celebrate the release of Born in Oakland with two special
“Album Debut” performances on Friday, June 30, at San Francisco’s Biscuits
& Blues (voted America’s #1 blues club by the Blues Foundation), with shows
at 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm. For more info, visit http://www.biscuitsandblues.com/. On June 23,
Delta Wires will also play the kick-off to the Fountain Blues Festival at San
Pedro Square Market Place in downtown San Jose at 7:00 pm.
Delta
Wires is a powerful harmonica and horns seven-piece band dedicated to
modern blues, while paying tribute to the blues origins of the Mississippi
Delta. Their name was derived from
the image of a band with modern, electric instrumentation, playing a style of
music born in the Mississippi Delta. What began as a college project and
anthology of blues music from the Mississippi Delta to the South Side of
Chicago, inevitably evolved into a band which has become known for its
originality, versatility and crisp, tight, exciting, sound. Delta Wires
is comprised of Ernie Pinata (harmonica, lead vocals), Tom Gerrits (bass,
background vocals), Richard Healy (guitar), Tony Huszar (drums, congas,
tambourine), Gerry Jonutz (tenor, alto, baritone saxes), David Bowman
(trombone) and John Christensen (trumpet).
A
living history of the San Francisco West Coast blues, Delta Wires was truly
born in Oakland over 30 years ago. The band started as band leader Ernie
Pinata's college project demonstrating the evolution of the blues from the
cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta, to Chicago and ultimately, to the West
Coast. The small band Ernie put together to play examples of this evolution
grew into the high-powered seven-piece band that now calls itself Delta Wires. The band started by playing clubs in Oakland such as
Esther's Orbit Room and The Continental Club. Around this same time, legendary
bluesman Lowell Fulson sat-in with Delta Wires at the New Orleans House in
Berkeley and Ernie Pinata sat-in with the Freddie King Band at Mandrake’s in
Berkeley. These were followed by a performance with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells
at Keystone Berkeley. The Delta Wires then began to open shows for these blues
greats, and continued to grow as musicians and as a band.
Born
in Oakland,
their seventh album, demonstrates a further maturation of the group’s West
Coast blues style, influenced by the ups and downs of city life - and of life,
itself. It’s a sound that is truly original and un-typical of what fans might
expect from a “blues band.” Both high-energy and moody, with intricate horn arrangements
and harmonies, Delta Wires is justifiably proud of what it has accomplished,
which includes being voted best band by the East Bay Express and Oakland
Magazine, and being inducted into the California Blues Hall of Fame.
They
have performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival, Russian River Blues
Festival and Monterey Bay Blues Festival, among others, and were 2008
International Blues Challenge finalists in Memphis, Tennessee. Delta Wires has
toured or played with many noted artists, including Van Morrison, John Lee
Hooker and Buddy Guy. In 2017, they were invited to perform at the prestigious
Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy.
Additional Delta Wires Shows
Saturday,
July 1, 2017
Armando’s - 8:00pm - 10:00pm, 707 Marina Vista - Martinez, CA
July 7 - 16, 2017
Umbria Jazz Festival - Perugia, Italy
Friday, August 4, 2017
Oakland Museum of California - Friday Nights @ OMCA - 7:00pm - 9:00pm –
Oakland, CA
Friday, August 12,
2017
Point Richmond Music Series - 5:30pm - 6:30pm - Richmond, CA
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Chouinard Vineyards Music Series - 4:30pm - 8:30pm - Under the trees -
Castro Valley, CA
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2017 Capitola Twilight Concerts - 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Esplanade Park,
Capitola, CA
Saturday, Sept 9
“Album Release Party” – The Uptown
Nightclub - 8:30pm - Oakland, CA 94612
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sanctified, from Low Society and it's solid. Opening with John Prine's Angel From Montgomery, vocalist Mandy Lemons takes front and center, filling the room with her powerful voice. Backed by Sturgis Nikides on guitars, Jacky Verstraeten on bass, Bart De Bruecker on drums and Rick Steff on keys this is a great opener. On Raccoon Song, an interesting mix of blues and punk (think Pixies) Lemons works the crowd and Nikides lays in some real cool slide work. Bluesy, The Freeze, has the atmospheric qualities of Pink Floyd and the blues feel of Savoy Brown with tasty guitar riffs. Very nice. Nina is a real interesting rock ballad with tastes of CSN, Grace Slick and Joe Walsh with Will Danger on drums. Interesting composition using acoustic guitar, slide and nicely blended vocals. All out rocker, Drowning Blues, has a great driving bass line, nice slide guitar work and cool swagger giving it a great chance for cross radio play. New Orleans style, Here Comes The Flood has a great drum line by De Bruecker and sassy vocals by Lemons. Nikides slide work adds real spice to an already spicy track and nice keyboard and accordion work by Steff give the track the icing. Wrapping the release is classic soul track, I'd Rather Go Blind. Lemons digs deep for her emotional delivery and the warm organ work by Steff grounds the track even more. A very nice closer for a solid 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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feelin' Freaky, by John Nemeth and it quite cool. Opening with pop tune, Under the Gun, John Nemeth is joined by Danny Banks on drums, Matthew Wilson on bass and Johnny Rhodes on guitar. S.T.O.N.E.D. is a really cool track with a earthy, thick bass line and Nemeth on vocal and harp. Very cool. Title track, Feelin' Freaky, is a high steppin' R&B track showcasing Nemeth's vocal and harmonica work over a snappy beat. Rainy Day is a strong, soul track and a really nice vocal track. Nemeth's vocals on this track push him high in the line of modern soul singers, nicely backed by Marc Franklin on trumpet, Art Edmaiston on sax, J Kirkscey, B Luscombe, J Munson and P Tsai on strings and Charles Hodges on organ. Very nice. Funky, You Really Do Want That Woman, had a cool R&B feel and the bass lines couples with the horn punctuation really hits the groove. Gave Up On You is a cool bluesy track with super horns, with some of the best characteristics of Robert Cray and Al Green. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release with super vocals, melody and feel with a super groove and a nice guitar solo. Excellent. Wrapping the release is Long Black Cadillac, a solid soulful ballad with strong vocals. Nemeth has put together a really nice release with strong, soulful vocals.
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
ANNOUNCING THE 15TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL:
TWO BIG
DAYS OF BLUES ROYALTY IN BEAUTIFUL WINTER PARK, CO
Enjoy Fabulous Thunderbirds, Anders Osborne, C.J. Chenier
& the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Carolyn Wonderland, Alvin Youngblood
Hart, And More, All In A Beautiful Mountain Setting!
~ Presented With Pride By The Grand County Blues Society,
In Memory of Blues From The Top Founder, John Catt ~
Saturday, June 24 (11am to 6pm); Sunday, June 25 (10:30am to
6pm)
(Winter Park, CO) - Announcing the 15th Annual Blues From The Top Festival, two big days
of blues royalty in a beautiful mountain setting, located at Hideaway
Park, 78820 US Highway 40, taking place Saturday,
June 24 and Sunday, June 25. Gates open
10am, with music from 11am to 6pm (Saturday) and 10:30am to 6pm (Sunday).
Currently, General Admission tickets are $30. (one day), $50. (2 days);
prices will increase. V.I.P. Experience: $100.00 per day per person,
$185. for two days. V.I.P. Seating features Stage Right starting at the
Front Row; Daily Buffet; Private Bar with two Complimentary Drinks each
day; free water and soft drinks; Shade Tents with tables and chairs; and
Private Restrooms. Kids 12 and under, free (when accompanied by an
adult). Tickets on sale now at www.bluesfromthetop.org.
For additional BFFT Festival information visit www.bluesfromthetop.org.
Blues From The Top is presented with pride by the Grand County Blues Society, in memory of Blues from
The Top Founder, John Catt.
The two-day lineup is packed! Appearing on Saturday,
June 24: The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson; Little Hurricane;
C.J. Chenier & the Red-Hot Louisiana Band; Jimmy Vivino and The Kate
Moss 3; Austin Young Band. Sunday, June 25 features performances by
Anders Osborne, Carolyn Wonderland, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Analog Son,
Danny Franchi, and Mountain Gospel featuring Ali Grayson.
~About
Some of the Headliners at 15th Annual Blues From The Top ~
For over thirty years, The
Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the
quintessential American band. The group’s distinctive and powerful sound,
influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a
unique musical hybrid via such barn-burners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It
Up”. Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads
the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation. “We started as a
straight blues band”, vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. “We now
incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We’re an American
music band and we’re much higher energy than we were before.” In addition
to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Jay Moeller on
drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on
bass.
A musical force equipped with the soulful vocals of
Janis and the guitar slinging skills of Stevie Ray, Carolyn Wonderland reaches into
the depths of the Texas blues tradition with the wit of a poet. She hits
the stage with unmatched presence, a true legend in her time.
"Carolyn Wonderland's live shows are just outright phenomenal. Top
notch, five-stars, off the meter - whatever the clinch., Carolyn and her
band meet it...Her voice can be as beautiful as an angel and as powerful
as a Class 5 hurricane all within the drop of a hat...One thing's for
certain, some forces - even those barely five feet tall - cannot be
contained" (ROCKZILLAWORLD).
Between the potency of his richly-detailed
songwriting, his intensely emotional, soulful vocals and his piercing,
expert guitar work, New Orleans' Anders Osborne is a true musical treasure. He is among the most original
and visionary musicians writing and performing today. Guitar Player calls
him "the poet laureate of Louisiana's fertile roots music
scene." New Orlean's Gambit Weekly has honored Osborne as
Entertainer of the Year. Osborne's songs have been covered by artists as
diverse as Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang, Trombone Shorty and
Aaron Neville, to name a few. His songs have appeared in multiple feature
films. A powerful live performer, Osborne has won over fans through
non-stop touring as well as a heralded collaboration with the North Mississippi
All-Stars and Southern Soul Assembly.
Clayton Joseph Chenier, who fronts C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, was born September 28, 1957 - the son of the great
King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. C.J.'s father was the first Creole
musician to win a Grammy Award. C.J. spent his childhood in the tough
tenement housing projects of Port Arthur, Texas. His earliest musical
influences were an eclectic mix of funk, soul, jazz and Motown, and his
first musical instruments were piano, tenor saxophone and flute. It
wasn't until his 21st birthday, after winning a scholarship and studying
music at Texas Southern University, that C.J. first performed with his
famous father and the legendary Red Hot Louisiana band.
