Bman's Blues Report

Acclaimed folk trio The Wailin' Jennys announce the release of "Fifteen" Listen to their version of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" today at Billboard Fifteen , their first new album in six years, will be out on October 27 Select Live Dates Announced   September 12, 2017:  One of today’s most respected folk groups, The Wailin’ Jennys are releasing their first new recording in six years, Fifteen. This long-awaited follow-up to Bright Morning Stars finds the trio bringing their passion and stellar musicianship to a carefully curated collection of some of their favorite songs, including tracks by Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Billboard  is premiering the trio's delicately beautiful version of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers, " long an audience favorite, and features an interview with Wailin' Jenny Nicky Mehta.  For members Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse, Fifteen cele...

THE SHERLOCKS ANNOUNCE U.S. & CANADA TOUR FOR 2017/2018 "Many attempts have been made to bury Indie Rock - but The Sherlocks are proof of it's enduring appeal...Assured and always on the front foot, with driving guitar riffs and melodic lyrical hooks, they charge   The Sherlocks have announced a U.S. & Canadian tour for 2017 and 2018, including dates in Montreal, New York & Los Angeles. Their debut album Live For The Moment was released Friday, August 18 to fantastic critical reviews and entered the UK charts at Number 6, an outstanding achievement for a debut album. To coincide with their album celebrations, The Sherlocks performed an energetic set the same weekend at Leeds & Reading festivals to thousands of fans. Sheffield four-piece The Sherlocks were relentlessly touring the UK ahead of the release of their debut album and dates have included joining both Kings Of Leon & Richard Ashcroft as main support on their arena tours as well as nume...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Daylight , from Webster Avenue and it's cool and diverse. Opening with Pop rocker, This Angry World , David Webster blends cool southern rock style slide guitar riffs with Becker and Fagen style writing with Tony Mercadante on bass and Andrew Caturano on drums to create a smooth opener. On bluesy, Sing me A Sad Line , Webster shows his soulful side with super vocals and tight guitar riffs, backed by Jamie Finegan on trumpet and Joe Meo on tenor sax. Very nice. Nicely blended vocal harmonies are the trick on Midnight Sun , another track with serious notes of Becker and Fagen. Title track, Daylight has a shuffle rhythm with nice vocal harmonies and really nice guitar lead, backed by thee horn work of Meo and Finegan. Funky jazz/rocker, Ain't That A Shame is my favorite track on the release with it's cool bass/drum groove, rhythmic vocals, deep sax riff and tight trumpet vamp. Webster lays in a nicely phrased...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 29, 2017), Jetlagger , by Bette Smith and I really like it. Opening with original track, I Will Feed You , a dynamic "Macy Gray" styled ballad with a really strong melody, Smith lays out what I think it a sure fire radio track. With Jimbo Mathus on guitar and keys, Bronson Tew on drums, Matt Patton on bass, Scott Goolsby on guitar, Jamison Hollister on violin, Marc Franklin & Kirk Smothers on horns, and Susan Marshall on backing vocals, the music is thick. Excellent! R&B track, Flying Sweet Angel of Joy has rich gospel like backing vocals giving this track a super richness. Jimbo Mathus' Dirty Hustlin' gets a super funk treatment and it really is strong. This track is perfect for Smith and deep backing vocals, paired with the bass/drum work and a clever guitar solo by Mathus makes it one of my favorites as well. Another Mathus penned track, Moaning Bench , has strong R&B drive w...

Blues Been Good to Me Declares James Armstrong on New Catfood Records CD, Coming October 20 EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces an October 20 release date for Blues Been Good to Me , the new CD from James Armstrong, which he produced with Blues Music Award-winner Johnny Rawls. This is his third album for Catfood, following Blues at the Border (2011) and Guitar Angels (2014). Recorded primarily at Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis, as well as at associate producer Jim Gaines’ Bessie Blue Studio in Tennessee, Blues Been Good to Me showcases the vocals and guitar of James Armstrong, backed by a hand-picked group of musicians who have played with him on numerous live shows, which made for a very comfortable fit. The band includes Matt Murdick - keyboards, vocals (who has worked with Buddy Guy, John Primer, Little Melton, and Johnny Johnson); Johnny McGhee - rhythm guitar (one of the founding members of LTD and has worked/recorded with Marvin Gaye, Natalie Cole and...

Lloyd Spiegel 'This Time Tomorrow' Tour - New Dates Announced Lloyd Spiegel 'This Time Tomorrow' Tour - New Dates Announced Australian Blues master and acoustic guitarist extraordinaire Lloyd Spiegel is two months into the tour to launch his new album ‘This Time Tomorrow’ and the ‘sold out’ signs have been hanging on many venue doors thus far. Aft...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Palestine Blues from Lew Jetton & 61 South and it quite good. Opening with country fused blues track, Will I Go To Hell , Lew jetton establishes firm footing on lead vocal and guitar joined by Erik Eicholtz on drums, Otis Walker on bass and J.D. Wilkes on harp. Super. Oh My My reaches more into the blues rocker arena with a powerful bottom and grinding bass and guitar rhythm. Jetton lays out simple yet powerful riffs making the track feel rock solid. R&B track, For The Pain , is in the Otis Redding giving Jetton a firm stage to show off his soulful vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Mexico with it's Keith Richards like guitar riff. A super rocker. Slow blues ballad, Drinking Again, has sweet jazz chords and again nice vocals by Jetton, backed up by a tight lead guitar solo over warm chords. Very nice. A stinging guitar solo by Jetton on what is a remarkably understated track really sets ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In My Shadow , by Johnny Oskam and it's powerful. Opening with heavy blues rocker, Badlands , Oskam shows what a real power rocker should sound like with the heft of Led Zep and Black Sabbath...old style. Katin Burns on drums really adds a great John Bonham feel with heavy meaningful drums and Marc Encebo on bass and Kyle Schafer on keys really add the guts to Oskam's vocal and guitar explosion. Excellent! Another great rocker, Deep In My Bones , has a solid driving beat and a super guitar vamp. Oskam manages the lead like an experienced pro bending and grinding every toneful note. Encebo gives it the gas on bass and Schafer has a Jon Lord feel on B3. Very cool. Harmonic vocals are the trick on Turn The Key with Schafer Emelio Tello and Oskam blending nicely on this Bad Company almost Crosby Nash feel. Another heavy footed, blues rocker, Devil's Comin' has strong traces of Hendrix (Voodoo Chile) but wi...

A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood coming to DVD on September 8th A live concert tribute to the "godfather of the electric guitar" Les Paul,  featuring the world's best guitarists. With a legendary career as a hit-making musician, solid-body electric guitar trailblazer, and an inventor of unprecedented recording techniques, he has impacted and influenced the many facets of the music industry like none other. Filmed live at what was then the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006, A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood gives viewers a front row seat for an unforgettable night of powerhouse performances, as some of music's biggest names come together to honor the ultimate icon. The night is headlined by show-stopping numbers from an all-star slate of Paul disciples, that includes Slash and Edgar Winter teaming up o...

Sax Legend BIG JAY MCNEELY Blows His Brains Out On This Live CD/DVD Recorded in 1989 At The World Famous Palomino Club! Los Angeles, CA - Hot on the heels of his blockbuster comeback album, Blowin’ Down The House - Big Jay’s Latest & Greatest , R&B vocalist and the King Of Honking Sax, Big Jay McNeely, announces this incredible concert recording from 1989 to be released in a multi-media package September 15. Honkin’ & Jivin’ At The Palomino features a killer concert performance put together as part of Ronnie Mack’s well-loved Barn Dance, an musical showcase that drew everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. The set pulls from multiple decades of soul, pop, rock & R&B, here given a bit of the country swing and twang by the amazing Barn Dance band that includes Ronnie Mack himself! The video footage proves that Big Jay’s showmanship never diminished as he entreats and cajoles the audience to dance, sing and shout along with him th...