THE SHERLOCKS Announce U.S. & Canada Tour Dates!

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 numerous festival dates.

The band, consisting of two sets of brothers, have been steadily building a solid live following and were the first unsigned band since Arctic Monkeys to sell out their local venue the Sheffield Leadmill. With support from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Annie Mac, Mistajam & Huw Stephens, this is a young band following in the great tradition of guitar groups from their area. The Sherlocks have drawn obvious comparisons from their influencers (The Jam, The Clash, Arctic Monkeys) but this is a band with unquenchable ambition intending to create their own unique sound and already captivating new audiences. The Sherlocks have been earning excellent live reviews up & down the country after selling out multiple venues (including Sheffield’s Foundry & Manchester’s Albert Hall) and their fanbase is going from strength to strength with their singles "Will You Be There" & "Was It Really Worth It?" both reaching Number 1 in the Vinyl single charts, a new generation discovering the adrenalizing rush of rock n’ roll.

The official North American tour routing is below.

 

The Sherlocks - North American Tour Dates
11/01 - Baby G's; Toronto, ON
11/03 - Le Ritz; Montreal, QC
11/04 - Sonia's; Cambridge, MA
11/06 - Baby's All Right; Brooklyn, NY
11/08 - Boot & Saddle; Philadelphia, PA
11/09 - DC9; Washington, DC

01/16 - The Echo; Los Angeles, CA
01/17 - Brick & Mortar; San Francisco, CA
01/19 - Bunk Bar; Portland, OR
01/20 - The Vera Project; Seattle, WA

Tickets on sale now!

The Sherlocks are Kiaran Crook (Lead vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Josh Davidson (Vocals/lead Guitar), Andy Davidson (Backing Vocals/Bass Guitar) and Brandon Crook (drums). Live For The Moment was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Gavin Monaghan. It is available now on digital, CD and LP formats. 

The Sherlocks - Live For The Moment

Webster Avenue - Daylight - New Release review

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 guitar solo and with the nicely woven sax, trumpet, bass, drum, rhythm guitar fabric, this track really hits it. Wrapping the release is Just Don't Need The Rain,  a solid radio track with a staggered rhythm pattern and contemporary pop styling. This is a real nice closer for a solid release.

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Big Legal Mess artist: Bette Smith - Jetlagger - New Release Review

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 with punchy horns and powerful vocals. Isaac Hayes, Do Your Thing, has a super darkness with Smith showing the lower vocal range and the bari sax and bass working nicely with the organ and drums give it just the right feel. Wrapping the release is City In The Sky, another solid R&B track with a beefy bass line. Smith's vocals are sure and Mathus' guitar work has a nice looseness further showcasing just how strong Smith is. I really like this release. If you want a rich earful of soulful music...this is it!

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"Blues Been Good to Me" Declares James Armstrong on New Catfood Records CD, Coming October 20

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, George Duke); Andrew Blaze Thomas – drums (who has worked with Billy Branch, Bernard Allison, Anna Popovic and Ronnie Baker Brooks); and Darryl Wright – bass (who has worked with Mavis Staples).

“Whenever I'm working on a new CD, I always like to be extremely prepared,” says James Armstrong about the recording process. “On this project, it didn't turn out that way, which seems like a blessing in hindsight. I was extremely busy when I was writing songs and arranging music for this project. Four months prior to going into record, I played over 70 shows. I had a European Tour in March and did 19 shows in 25 days in different cities, came home for two weeks and worked in the States and then flew to Spain for two weeks playing 12 shows back-to-back in different cities in 14 days.

“When we got into the studio in St. Louis, everyone knew how stressed I was because I didn't feel prepared. Prior to the session, I had sent demos for everyone to hear. Two songs I had to finish writing at the session, ‘Second Time Around’ and ‘Old Man in the Morning,’ but I told myself that I was just going to see what happens. I had asked Johnny Rawls to produce the CD with me, who is a master and a veteran at recording.

“Working with the legendary Jim Gaines as associate producer was a special treat. I recorded all of my guitar and vocals at his studio in Tennessee. Jim really helped me get over some of my fears and limitations from my injury in 1995 which resulted in permanent nerve damage to my left hand. I was able to do things on the guitar I have not been able to do since my injury.”

The 10 tracks on the new disc include a number of originals, as well as exciting covers of songs from Robert Palmer (“Addicted to Love”), and Marvin  Gaye  (“How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You”).

Armstrong explains the genesis of the two cover songs: “Growing up in California as a teenager I wanted to be Jimi Hendrix. I listened and played a lot of rock 'n' roll. Darryl Wright (bass player on the CD) came to me with this song idea to put in to my live show. After doing it for a while, I realized I wanted to record it. I always enjoy changing certain song formats like rock, country, etc. into my style of the blues.

“I've always loved Marvin Gaye's and James Taylor's versions of ‘How Sweet It Is,’ so I decided to speed it up with a swing-shuffle feel. With my country music background, I wanted to add a little country guitar lick in there. Also, I've never heard the song done before with slide guitar.”

Armstrong also reprises a new version of “Sleeping with a Stranger, a song he originally recorded as the title track of his first album for HighTone Records. “I wrote and recorded ‘Sleeping with a Stranger’ for HighTone Records in 1995, and it was the first song I ever had any major success with. I stopped playing it in my live shows for the last ten years but I'm always getting requests to do it. I decided to re-record it. In the early ‘90s I was in a relationship that I was not happy with. One morning, I woke up and there was a poem that she wrote called ‘Sleeping with a Stranger’ on her pillow. I changed a few words, added music and the next thing I knew I had a song.”

James Armstrong will continue touring throughout the summer and fall in support of the new album, and summarizes his feelings about it thusly: “I'm extremely happy with the results of the recording. Blues Been Good to Me is the most exciting recording I've done in years.”

Lloyd Spiegel 'This Time Tomorrow' Tour - New Dates Announced

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. After such an incredible start, Lloyd is delighted to announce new dates in SA, WA, TAS and a handful of other shows on the east coast, including ‘Back by Popular Demand’ performances in Sydney and Melbourne. ‘This Time Tomorrow’ has spent 3 months at #1 of the Australian Blues Radio Airplay chart, peaked at #5 on the ARIA Jazz and Blues Chart, and #1 on the iTunes Blues Chart, and the album was written as Lloyd travelled through Europe, Central and North America and delivers driving rhythms that return Spiegel to his gut bucket blues roots. Shady and colourful characters spread out over continents and decades, through places forgotten and familiar. ‘This Time Tomorrow' is a return in fine form from an artist at the top of his game, and lead track ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ sets the mood of the album right from the get go. Says Spiegel of the new songs, “I’ve never written at home. I find it hard to be creative in my lounge room looking at bills and checking footy scores - and find that the inspiration to write comes from those few quiet hours in a hotel room on tour, the airport transit lounge or the long bus ride. This is where I can reflect and put those experiences into lyrics. I've travelled most of my life so really, they're like letters home." It’s been a while since Spiegel’s last studio album - 2010’s Tangled Brew - but he’s been far from idle in that time. He's toured the world relentlessly, launched his own signature model guitars and has cemented his position as a bona fide festival headliner in Australia, with his recent performance at Bluesfest in Byron Bay the cherry on top. With European and North American tours under his belt, along with recent showcases at Folk Alliance in Kansas City, the ECMAs in Canada and AMW in Sydney, Spiegel has many years on the road ahead of him. ‘This Time Tomorrow’ is available in stores through Only Blues Music. “Australian blues and roots icon Lloyd Spiegel, in his first Bluesfest appearance, holds his own full house in the palm of his hand, just him and his trusty Cole Clark, a full swag of songs, a full tote of stories told with humour and aplomb, the man able to make his guitar do anything at all as he tells tales both tall and true, his own superbly written material marrying with blues standards in a way few others are able to manage. The man is a mountain, he’ll surely be back.” - Rolling Stone Magazine “Spiegel has stamped himself as one of the best songwriters in the country, regardless of genre, of history, of ANYTHING. It’s a powerhouse of brutal honesty.” - Rhythms Magazine “a guitarist almost without peer … Spiegel deconstructs how the blues guitar is supposed to operate, makes sweet love to it, then kicks it out the back door.” - Australian Guitar Magazine www.lloydspiegel.com   Tour Dates Saturday 7th October The Frankston Guitar Festival Beach 162, Frankston, VIC Show 7:00pm Tickets call: 03 9783 7109 Friday 13th October The Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury, WA Doors 8:00pm $15 plus BF presale, $20 door Tickets: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=75232 Saturday 14th October The Fremantle Folk Festival Tickets and info: http://www.fremantlefolkfestival.com.au/ Sunday 15th October Indi Bar, Scarborough, WA Doors 1:30pm $15 plus BF presale / $20 doors Tickets: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=75204 Tuesday 17th October The Perth Blues Club, The Charles Hotel, North Perth, WA $20 Tickets at door Sunday 22nd October Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend, Marysville, VIC Tickets and info: http://www.marysvillejazzandblues.com/ Thursday 26th October Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT $25 + BF presale, $30 door Doors 9:00pm Tickets: http://bit.ly/2wwAGZU BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Friday 27th October The Camelot Lounge, Marrickville, NSW 9:00pm $30 + bf Tickets: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/10322 Saturday 28th October Sounds Delicious, Jervis Bay, NSW $60 dinner and show Doors: 7:00pm Tickets: http://bit.ly/2gDjhtb Sunday 29th October The Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW $25 + BF presale, $30 door Doors: 5:00pm Tickets: http://www.heritagehotel.com.au/ Saturday 4th November Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, VIC Tickets and info: http://wangarattajazz.com/ Saturday 11th November Healesville Music Festival, VIC Tickets and Info: http://www.healesvillemusicfestival.com.au/ BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Friday 17th November The Wonderland Spiegeltent, Docklands, VIC Tickets and Info: http://bit.ly/2ewYzH1 Saturday 18th November The Montrose Cricket Club, Montrose, VIC $25 7:30pm Tickets: http://bit.ly/2gCRGIz Sunday 19th November St Cuthbert's, Menzies Creek, VIC $35 Doors: 1:30pm Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=281041 Friday 24th November The Republic Bar, Hobart, TAS $28.50 9:00pm Tickets: http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/lloyd-spiegel/97024 Friday 1st December The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thebarton, SA $20 + BF presale, $25 door Doors: 8:30pm Tickets: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?Event=75411 Saturday 2nd December The Lower Wilmot Hall, Lower Wilmot, TAS $41 presale Doors: 6:00pm Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au Saturday 2nd December The Hive, Port Lincoln, SA $42.50 Doors: 7:00pm Tickets: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/54968

Coffee Street Records artist: Lew Jetton & 61 South - Palestine Blues - New Release Review

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 Don't Need No Devil apart. Another of my favorite track is Christ Have Mercy with it's heavy ZZ Top like bottom and super vocals/guitar wall. Very cool! Wrapping the release is shuffle track, Bout Time, with it's cool guitar rhythm, Elmore James style riffs and rocking vocals. A super closer for a real 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”

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Johnny Oskam - In My Shadow - New Release Review

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 with a rounder, heavier feel. Certainly not a copy or a thin cover but a cool new track that gets wings like Frank Marino playing Santana's Jingo. Very cool. Solid radio track, I Want You To Stay has smooth melodic characteristics and a good hook. Finely blended vocals from Michael Oskam, Johnny Oskam and Schafer and light instrumentation makes this track a natural. Wrapping the release is Limbo Lane, another vocally focused track with Oskam, Tello and Oskam working together in an almost Rare Bird (obscure notation) feel and Oskam,s guitar soloing is tight. Cool closer for a really strong release.

A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood coming 9/8

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 on the Stevie Wonder staple "Superstition;" Toto axeman Steve Lukather's rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing;" and Joe Perry and Buddy Guy closing the night with a soulful blues set. Other highlights include spirited performances by Joe Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neal Schon, and more. As part of the night's festivities, A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood also features rare commentary taken from several of Paul's final interviews recorded at New York's landmark Iridium Jazz Club, as well as at Paul's home in Mahwah, New Jersey. The special event was held to raise funds and awareness for the South Central charity A Place Called Home, designed to give at-risk youth a safe and secure environment they can thrive in. The program is produced by Icon Television Music, Inc., HD Net (now AXSTV), and In Touch Entertainment and distributed by MVD Entertainment Group. The award-winning production team includes Charles Carlini ("Les Paul's 90th Birthday Concert at Carnegie Hall"), Bob Cutarella ("Les Paul & Friends"), Howard Lipp ("Les Paul 90th Birthday Concert at Gibson Amphitheater"), and Glenn Aveni ("Les Paul Chasing Sound"). Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation stated, "It is without a doubt that Les Paul is the 'Father of Modern Music' and that musicians from every corner of the globe and in every genre of the music industry stand upon his shoulders. He was an inventor, an award-winning musician, an innovator and most importantly a very special man I also had the privilege of calling my friend. The artists and producers who have made this tribute program possible give us every reason to remember that Les Paul was a man who influenced our music industry profoundly. I am thrilled that viewers everywhere will have the chance to witness his greatest through the performances and storytelling of this wonderful program." To pre-order the DVD go HERE. # # # C L I N T   W E I L E R Director of Publicity, Marketing, & Merch Development MVD Entertainment Group 610.665.2012           Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Shop

Sax Legend BIG JAY MCNEELY Blows His Brains Out On This Live CD/DVD Recorded in 1989 At The World Famous Palomino Club!

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 through such barn-burners as “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “All That Wine Is Gone,” “Pretty Girls Everywhere” and Big Jay’s own smash hit single “There Is Something On Your Mind!” The DVD even includes a bonus interview with Big Jay speaking candidly about his long and influential career.

Big Jay McNeely’s incredible career began in the ‘40s and saw him play with several major R&B and blues legends of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s such as Little Richard, B.B. King, Etta James and Junior Wells. He scored his first major hit with the 1949 smash hit instrumental “Deacon’s Hop” and scored again with a R&B vocal ballad “There Is Something On Your Mind” featuring Little Sonny Warner. He pioneered the flamboyant playing style called “honking” and is widely acknowledged as one of the first musical entertainers to make showmanship an important element of the live concert experience. His music continues to be an important signifier for that early era, earning McNeely gigs at major festivals both here and abroad as well as having his music featured in the 2013 Sean Penn film Gangster Squad starring and last year’s biopic Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston.

Catch Big Jay perform at a very special record release party at Cody’s Viva Cantina in Burbank, CA on September 17. For more information, visit: http://windsorlivemusic.com/

Track List:

1. Palomino Hop

2. I Can't Stop Loving You

3. All That Wine Is Gone

4. There Is Something On Your Mind

5. Pretty Girls Everywhere

6. Honky Tonk

7. Young Girl Blues

8. Big Jay Shuffle

Buy the CD: http://flyt.it/BigJayMcNeelyCD

Buy the Vinyl: https://www.amazon.com/Honkin-Jivin-Palomino-MCNEELY-BIG/dp/B073W3M9HD

Buy the digital version: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/honkin-jivin-at-the-palomino-live/id1276263965

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Dry River - Prayin' for the Rain - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Prayin' for the Rain, by Dry River and it's quiet and introspective. Opening with Lift This Stone, singer/guitarist Oliver Althoen performs a real nice contemporary Robert Johnson like track with the assistance of harmonica player, Dave Forrest. Very cool. Lost in the World is a solid blues rocker with tight drum work by Ruben Oridano, solid bass work by Joel Helin and firm vocals by Althoen. With an interesting guitar line and firm footing, the track sounds a bit in the vein of a stripped down early Led Zep. Hildegard is a really strong ballad with Althoen on guitar and vocal, joined by Forrest on harp and Jeremy Hatch on keys. One of my favorites on the release. Rocker, Lovesick Blues has real swagger and just a dash of country. With cool, low key electric guitar rhythm and harp lead, this is another of the standout tracks on the release. Lay Down and Die has super blues ballad bones giving Althoen the opportunity to show his pipes and soulful harp work by Forrest floats throughout the track. Shine Your Light On Me has a strong melody, vocal harmonies with Paula Gabriel. Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, Who Am I, featuring Althoen and Gabriel on vocal harmonies, Althoen on guitar and Hatch on piano. A solid track to close a solid release.

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Jason Buie - Driftin' Heart - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Driftin' Heart, from Jason Buie, and I really like it. Opening with loping blues driver, Fool From The Very Start, Buie shows great feel and tone, backed by John Hunter on drums, George Fenn on bass and Dave Webb on keys. Excellent! On House Party, a cool boogie with a walking bass line, Buie definitely hits a nice groove. His guitar soloing is slick, complimented nicely by a cool piano solo by Webb. Jump track, Westcoast Daddy, is fluid and rocking! R&B track has a fat thumb of New Orleans giving Buie a great opportunity to show his vocal prowess and stinging blues riffs. Very nice. another R&B flavored blues track, Suits Me To A Tee, has a great bottom and clean, articulate guitar runs. Albert King's guitar is channeled big time on 12 O'Clock Check Out. Heavy bends and beautiful phrasing makes this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Jesse Mae Robinson's Cold, Cold Feeling. Buie really lays it open on this one with blistering riffs floating in a lush sea of B3 by Webb. Excellent closer for a really strong 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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Upisland Records artist: Andrew Chapman a.k.a. JoJo - Well, It's About Time - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Well, It's About Time, from Andrew Chapman a.k.a JoJo and it's solid. Opening with Louisiana funky, That's The Kind Of Day I Had Today. JoJo on lead vocals slides right into the slot with Terry Wilson on bass, John Herron on piano and featuring excellent slide work from Stephen Bruton and excellent drum work from Tony Braunagel and fine backing vocals by Teresa James and Shake Russell. Very cool! Solid radio track, Still Got The Message has a cool vocal hook, super guitar soloing by Billy Watts, really nicely woven instrumentation and tight rhythms by Braunagel. The Fit & The Feel has a Harry Nilsson feel with and cool underlying pop feel and James on backing vocals. Another funky rocker is She Don't Mess With My Buzz written by bassist Terry Wilson, with nice slide work by Watts, Jeff Paris on keys and James Christie on drums. Cool rocker, Bag of Bones has a cool boogie pace with Braunagel on drums, Wilson on bass, Watts on lead guitar and James on piano. Wrapping the release is Chapman composed, Butterfly which has the strengths of a well written Lindsay Buckingham or Leon Russell track. Mellow and nicely performed, a suitable 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”

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Steely Dan founder and guitarist, Walter Becker, has passed. My thoughts are with his family.

Walter Becker, the guitarist and bassist for the popular rock band Steely Dan, died Sunday. He was 67.
News of Becker's death was confirmed by a tribute post on his official website, though no cause of death was given.
Becker was forced to bow out of two Steely Dan performances earlier this month after undergoing an unidentified "procedure," according to bandmate Donald Fagen.
Fagen released a heartfelt statement on the passing of his longtime collaborator, praising Becker's skills as a musician and his killer sense of humor.

"Walter Becker was my friend, my writing partner and my bandmate since we met as students at Bard College in 1967," Fagen wrote. "Walter had a very rough childhood — I'll spare you the details. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of a creative mimicry, reading people's hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art."
He added, "I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band."
The Queens-bred Becker and Fagen launched their musical legacy together in the early '70s.

After working as songwriters penning tunes for artists like Barbra Streisand, they formed Steely Dan — named after a strap-on dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch" — and in 1972, released their debut album, "Can't Buy a Thrill."
Throughout the decade, they rose to fame with hits like "Reelin' in the Years," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (though Fegan once said he and Becker weren't very fond of the track) and "Dirty Work," which would go on to become classic rock staples thanks to their jazzy tunes and clever lyrics, often steeped in black humor and irony.
Looking back on the band’s success throughout the ‘70s, Becker said in 1993 that the music Steely Dan churned out over the years ultimately helped set him up for life

“I would say that basically I’m still resting on those laurels quite comfortably,” he said. “It opens doors. When I meet people and players for the first time, they’re already on my side. It’s been just a very good and very positive influence on people I meet and work with.”
Disputes over personal and legal troubles caused the band to part ways in 1981 after seven albums together, but Steely Dan ultimately rejoined forces in 1993 and have spent the last two decades touring.
“In truth, our original bit was put together very quickly, and it got kind of frantic in the first couple of years of touring and making records. I guess we figured we’d be deceased at an early date, so we figured we’d cool it for a few decades,” Fagen told Rolling Stone in 2013 of Steely Dan’s bumpy road.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 after a career spanning nearly four decades, nine Grammy nominations and three wins, all three of which came in 2000 for the album "Two Against Nature."
Becker enjoyed a brief solo career as well, releasing “11 Tracks of Whack” in 1994 during a stint living in Hawaii as an avocado rancher, and his final album, “Circus Money,” in 2008.
During press tours for his debut solo album, Becker explained that he was enjoying his time out of the spotlight and embracing the role of family man.
“The perfect day for me is waking up and having a cup of tea with my kids before I drive them to school, then I go into the studio and try and write some music for three or four hours and give up about noon,” he told Jazziz in 1993.
But he remained a vocal fan of his time spent on-stage with Fagen, which helps explain the band’s longevity and their passion for touring.
“It’s just such a good band and magic stuff happens all the time, and there’s stuff that happens when you’re playing together where you get into a kind of group mind that’s very thrilling,” Becker said in 2008 of touring with Steely Dan. “I’m sure that other people experience the same kind of thing in all sorts of other realms, but for me, it happens when I’m playing with other people.”