Best Side Records artist: O.S.L.U. - Chasing The Kings - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chasing The Kings by O.S.L.U. (really Andy Lewis and Sean Osgood) and it's nicely done. Opening with original composition, Albert named for Albert Ammons and the appreciation of the Albert Hall. A cool piano boogie by Lewis and the release is underway. Shuffle track, JJ Cale's River Boat Song is up next featuring Lewis on guitar and vocal. Clean, dexterous and simple. Very nice. On Janis Joplin's One Good Man, Jade Thunder is featured on lead. She certainly captures the spirit of Joplin and Lewis shows his blues chops on guitar. My favorite track on the release is Engagement Blues, featuring Lewis on vocal and guitar. A simple blues ballad with piano and guitar backing and some real nice guitar soloing, very nice. Jane's Song, sung by Su Kirby-Clarke. Her vocals are brilliant against the sledge like percussion of a work song. Charm Offensive is a multilayered contemporary assemblage with Lewis playing off what sounds to me like a Winwood guitar theme but with tributes to BB and Clapton jamming, all over a drum loop. Interesting. Wrapping the release is a simple pop track, Happy New Year featuring Lewis on lead vocal over piano and electric keys. A solid wrapper for a different release. 

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Orleans Records artist: Carlo Ditta - Hungry For Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hungry for Love, by Carlo Ditta and it's cool. Opening with title track, Hungry For Love, with it's a loose, Lou Reed meets Jr Kimbrough style, this work has a haunting quality. Ditta's vocals are aloof yet emotional and his backers (self on guitar, Anthony Donado on drums, David Hyde on bass, Rick Stelma on keys and Jerry Jumonville on sax) create an essential sound. I think that La Muchacha Chacha is my favorite track with Eric Burdon like vocals, a Latin beat and solid sax work by Jumonville and Andrew Bernard. Pass The Hatchet is an interesting addition with James Brown underpinnings but without all the polish and sophistication. Ditta manages the performance and Johnny Peninno's fat sax work really gives it a welcome lofi feel. Very cool. Traditional track, Just Came To Get My Baby allows Ditta to slide into a fairly comfortable groove with straight up lead vocals and nice backing vocals by Trea Swindell. Closing the release is uptempo version of House Of The Rising Sun. Ditta's vocals are particularly vibrant and Peninno's sax work smooth and reinforcing over Stelma's keys. This is an interesting release and not at all typical of what I hear. Cool. 

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Severn Records artists: The Texas Horns - Get Here Quick - New Relese Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Get Here Quick, by The Texas Horns and it's smokin'! Opening with Guitar Town, a real Texas style blues, cooked up with  Anson Funderburgh and Johnny Moeller on guitars and Gary Forsyth on lead vocals. Kaz Kazanoff on tenor, John Mills on bari and Al Gomez on trumpet and this track is hot. With a bit of New Orleans flavor, Instrumental, Feelin' No Pain is all horns to the floor with excellent piano work by Red Young, bass by Russell Jackson and Tommy Taylor on drums. Mills lays out and excellent sax solo and Moeller shows why he is regarded as one of the top bluesmen in Texas today. Title track, Better Get Here Quick is another instrumental with rich tandem sax lead and excellent guitar accents by Moeller. Gomez steps up with some crisp lead work of his own and Youngs takes a nice few bars of his own. Very cool. An excellent New Orleans style instrumental, 2018, has a super march style snare lead by John Bryant with Chris Maresh on bass and again featuring excellent work by Moeller and Connolly. Gomez's trumpet is bright and punchy. Very nice. Curtis Salgado is up front on lead vocals on Sundown Talkin'. His vocals are always soulful and stellar and this track is no exception, being clearly the radio track on the release. The horns flex their muscle through out and excellent accents by Moeller give the track a great presence. Instrumental, Funky Ape really gives Kaz, Al and John a chance to play and they push you back in your seat. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Truckload of Trouble, a springy, instrumental with a solid horn melody and with a cool muted trumpet interlude by Gomez, and a sweet sax lead by Kaz as well. Ronnie Earl is featured on lead guitar adding a bluesy component to an otherwise driving horn composition. This is a real cool outing for the Texas Horns. Enjoy! 

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LEEROY STAGGER ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF HIS NEW ALBUM, "STRANGE PATH," ON SEPTEMBER 13th

LEEROY STAGGER ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF HIS NEW 

ALBUM, STRANGE PATH, ON SEPTEMBER 13th

VIDEO FOR 1ST SINGLE, “STRANGE ATTRACTOR,” PREMIERES TODAY

WATCH/SHARE “STRANGE ATTRACTOR” HERE

To say that Canadian musician Leeroy Stagger’s life journey has followed a strange path would be a bit of an understatement. 17 years as a singer-songwriter and 10 years sober, with two kids, a home in Lethbridge, Alberta, and a world-class recording studio to go with it, he’s far removed from the hard-living twenty-something who started on this musical path.



On September 13th, Leeroy Stagger invites us to be a part of his journey with the release of his new album and book, Strange Path, through True North Records. And today marks the release of the video for the glam-rock blissed out first single, “Strange Attractor.” Directed by Brock Davis Mitchell, the video draws inspiration from films like The Favorite and Marie Antoinette, and weaves an experimental narrative with shocking bursts of color. Watch video here. 



The name Strange Path applies as much to Leeroy’s unexpected route from the British Columbia punk scene to southern-Alberta singer songwriter as it does to the album’s own evolution. Following from 2017’s Love Versus, itself a creative re-emergence after a years-long fog of anxiety and depression, Strange Path is the end result of a triple-album’s worth of scrapped demos, and a spirit-reviving retreat inwards. It’s also Stagger’s most ambitious and philosophical creation yet, a veritable self-help book pulled from a lifetime of struggling towards the light and brimming with the hard-won joy at the heart of his recent renaissance. It’s an album full of sharp hooks and sharper insight, and the first single “Strange Attractor”’ rides that line right to the end. 



“Nothing is permanent when you really stop and think,” says Leeroy. “The home we live in, the car we drive, the children we raise, the art we make and the skin that we’re in. It’s not forever, it’s barely real, and that’s ok to me because I’ve been shown the truth of it all. In seeing that it’s not that big of a deal, this has shown me how beautiful it all is. It’s precious, impermanent and beautiful. “Strange Attractor”’ is about the unseen nature of impermanence and the sacredness of the life we live.”



In making Strange Path, Leeroy surrounded himself with some of the best players in the business, including drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Elliot Smith, Los Lobos), longtime collaborator Tyson Maiko, Paul Rigby (Neko Case, Garth Hudson, Jakob Dylan), Ryland Moranz and Michael Ayotte. The album was mixed by five time Grammy winner Ryan Freeland (Ray LaMontagne, Bonnie Raitt, Rodney Crowell) and Brad Barr of The Barr Brothers shared producer’s chair with Leeroy on four of the eleven tracks. 



When it comes out on September 13th, Strange Path will be the 2nd album that Leeroy Stagger has released in 2019. Released on May 17th, Me and the Mountain is a companion piece to Strange Path, an Americana-influenced counterpart to Strange Path’s contemporary sound. Written during a 3-week singer-songwriter residency at the Banff Centre, Me and the Mountain is the album that Leeroy chose not to abandon. 



Leeroy Stagger and his musicians will tour to support Strange Path throughout North America and Internationally; see below for the full tour schedule. Strange Path will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes and other digital retailers and streaming services on September 13th. For more information, please visit: leeroystagger.com



LEEROY STAGGER | UPCOMING TOUR DATES

July 12 - Calgary, AB - King Eddy (Stampede Show)

July 19 - Fort MacLeod, AB - South Country Fair

Aug 3-5 - Canmore, AB - Canmore Folk Festival

Aug 29 - Mount Stewart, PEI - Trailside Cafe

Aug 30 - Halifax, NS - Halifax Urban Folk Festival

Aug 31 - Montreal, QC - Petit Campus

Sept 1 - Wentworth-Nord, QC - Rickks Room

Sept 5 - Marlboro, NY - The Falcon

Sept 6 - New York, NY - TBC

Sept 7 - Rhinebeck, NY - House Concert

Sept 9 - Woodstock, NY - TBC

Sept 10 - Syracuse, NY - House Concert

Sept 11 - Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop

Sept 12 - Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe

Sept 13 - Ottawa, ON - The Rainbow

Sept 14 - Lethbridge, AB - Lethbridge College

Oct 11 - Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s

Oct 12 - Los Angeles, CA - TBC

Oct 15 - San Francisco, CA - Hotel Utah

Oct 16 - Sacramento, CA - Feist Wines

Oct 17 - Portland, OR - White Eagle Saloon

Oct 18 - Vancouver, BC - The Fox Theatre

Oct 19 - Victoria, BC - TBC

Oct 21 - Parksville, BC - Bayside Resort

LEEROY STAGGER - STRANGE PATH 

RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 13th, 2019 (True North Records)

01.  Mother

02.  Deeper Well

03.  Breaking News 

04.  Strange Attractor

05.  Nobody Alive Gets Out Of Here

06.  Jesus And Buddha

07.  These Things

08.  Hey Hey! (For Gord)

09. Leonard Cohen is Dead

10.  Get Ourselves To Love

11.  The Light

Holly Hyatt - Wild Heart - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wild Heart, from Holly Hyatt and it's a solid R&B release. Opening with Wild Heart, a smooth hi stepper with a great melody and inviting lead vocal by Hyatt. Backed by Brandon Smith on keys, Clinton Swanson on horns, Jon Burden on guitars, Billy Mendoza on backing vocals and Steve Wilson on drums, this is a super opener. Laying down a funky groove on bass, Hyatt not only writes all of her own material but sings lead (and backing vocals) on most of her tracks. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soul track, Gravity with it's excellent bass line and lush vocals by Hyatt. This track stands head and shoulders above the balance of the release for me but it just hits a sweet spot. Excellent. Rainbows has a more contemporary pop feel with a strong melody and acoustic guitar and key backing over a less prominent bass line. Wrapping the release is With You Now, another more straight forward radio track a memorable melody and flowing electric piano and backing vocals carrying Hyatt's strong lead vocals. This is really a super release with rich vocal lead throughout. 

  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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Al Lerman - Northern Bayou - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Northern Bayou, from Al Lerman and it has a great feel. Opening with Down To The River, a cool swampy track with solid vocals, harmonica and guitar work by Lerman, backed by Alec Fraser on bass, Chuck Keeping on drums and real nice piano by Lance Anderson. My favorite track on the release is country flavored, Dirty Little Secret, with just the right pace. Lerman's vocals are perfect, his harp work inspired, and another great display on piano by Anderson gives it a great boost as well. Shuffle track, Delta Stomp is another great toe tapper with Lerman on lead harmonica, tight rhythm by Fraser, Keeping and Anderson as well as real nice guitar work by Morgan Davis. Very cool. Classic traditional folk/blues track, Deep Ellum Blues is a great choice for this band with it's tight instrumental mix. Wrapping the release is cool Latin flavored pop tune, Hand-Me-Down Hate. This is the definite radio track for the release is it's smooth melody, memorable turnaround and lead vocal/harp by Lerman. 

  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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Out Of The Past Music artists: Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer - History Rhymes - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, History Rhymes, from Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer and it a cool acoustic blues feast. Opening with There'll Be Some Changes Made. an early jazz (blues) style with excellent finger picking by Howell who also sings, with Wenheimer on bass. Very cool. On Blind Lemon Jefferson's Shuckin' Sugar, Howell lays down a basic boogie guitar line with Weinheimer and sets it afloat. Jack Of Diamonds, a traditional folk tune has a really great feel and with the addition of David Dodson on mandolin is a terrific song a features some of Howell's best vocals on the release.  Another terrific track and a known fiddle tune, Frosty Morn, has terrific instrumental traction with Howell, Weinheimenr, and Dodson. Excellent. The richness of Don Sumner's archtop shines through on I Got A Right To Sing The Blues, as he plays a nice guitar duet with Howell, backed by Weinheimer on bass. Howell's vocals are solid and the track very smooth. Wrapping the release is Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a cool old Bukka White track with an old style blues feel and subtle mandolin fill by Dodson. This is a real nice contemporary cover of some classic old tunes. Very nice. 

  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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NEW SAVOY BROWN ALBUM 'CITY NIGHT' RELEASED ON JUNE 7th - New US Tour Dates Announced

NEW ALBUM ‘CITY NIGHT’ RELEASED ON JUNE 7th

New US Tour Dates Announced

Over 50 years of rocking the blues – Savoy Brown, with leader Kim Simmonds at the helm, return with 'City Night' – their 40^th album – released on June 7^th via Quarto Valley Records. After a recent European tour, Savoy Brown will hit the road in the US for a number of shows in August.

On the back of a number one Billboard blues hit in 2017, expectations are high for this new band offering. The album features Kim Simmonds on vocals and searing lead guitar, and he is complemented with the most consistent line-up in the band’s history, going strong for more than 10 years now with Pat DeSalvo on Bass and Garnet Grimm on Drums.

'City Night' is comprised of 12 high energy blues rock songs to surely please the worldwide fan base. "Walking on Hot Stones," “Payback Time," and "Don't Hang Me Out to Dry" will catch the attention of radio DJs looking for the fresh new sound Savoy Brown brings to roots music.

Savoy Brown was formed by guitarist Kim Simmonds in 1965 in London, England. Simmonds has been the group’s guiding hand from the first singles released in 1966 through the band’s newest effort, their fortieth album, released in 2019.



Energetic blues has been the calling card of the band from the beginning. “Blues rock” became the catch-all phrase in the late 1960s to describe the band’s music along with that of contemporaries such as Cream, Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix. In fact, in the 2013 drama film, Jimi Hendrix: All Is by My Side, a Savoy Brown song co-written by Simmonds was included in the soundtrack.



Many of the band’s singles and albums have appeared on the Billboard charts. Through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, songs such as I’m Tired, Train to Nowhere, Tell Mama and Lay Back in the Arms of Someone became Hot 100 entries. Two of the band’s albums in the 1970s, Looking In and Hellbound Train, appeared on the Billboard Top Forty charts. This pattern continues today, culminating with Witchy Feelin', the band’s 2017 album, reaching #1 on the Billboard Blues chart.



Along the way, Savoy Brown has toured continuously, making it one of the longest running blues/rock bands in existence. Through the years, the band has headlined concerts at many prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Fillmore East, the Fillmore West and Royal Albert Hall in London. The band, having established national status in the 1970s, provided other groups opportunity. Kiss opened the bill on a Savoy Brown national tour, as did ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers and many, many more acts.



Former members, having cut their teeth under Simmonds’ leadership, have gone on to complete their careers with other bands. Among others, these include singer Dave Walker with Fleetwood Mac, Andy Pyle with the Kinks and Paul Raymond with UFO. Previous band members including Lonesome Dave Peverett, Roger Earl and Tony Stevens, went on to become founding members of the multi-platinum act Foghat.



A resident of the USA since 1980, bandleader Simmonds has received many accolades himself. These include placement on the front cover of Guitar Player magazine, enshrinement on the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame and acceptance in many regional “Halls of Fame” in the USA and Canada.



Said Simmonds, “I have always opted for a non-mainstream, yet complimentary, music route … one that would allow me personal and artistic freedom. In the end, it seems I’ve had the best of both worlds.”





Savoy Brown helped spawn the 1968 UK blues boom and later opened the eyes of many 1970s American teenagers to their own home territory blues artists. More than 50 years on, they still remain a progressive Blues rock force.



The three-piece line-up includes Kim Simmonds on guitar and vocals, Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums. This trio has established itself as the longest-running consistent line-up in the band’s history, now going strong for more than 10 years. Their legacy continues with the 2019 release of City Night on the California label, Quarto Valley Records.



Savoy Brown and Kim Simmonds have a body of work that is matched by only a small portion of musical artists. As they continue to tour the world, young and old find inspiration in their timeless music, classic style and ageless performances.

TRACKLISTING – ‘CITY NIGHT’

1.      Walking On Hot Stones (4:32)

2.      Don’t Hang Me Out To Dry (4:20)

3.      Payback Time (4:53)

4.      Red Light Mama (4:15)

5.      Conjure Rhythm (4:52)

6.      Neighbourhood Blues (5:11)

7.      Selfish World (5:21)

8.      Wearing Thin (4:03)

9.      City Night (6:13)

10.  Hang In Touch (3:38)

11.  Superstitious Woman (4:21)

12.  Ain’t Gonna Worry (4:55)

U.S. Tour Dates

8/24                       Iron Horse Music Hall                                                    Northampton, MA

8/25                       Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Casino                          Uncasville, CT

8/26                       City Winery                                                                        Boston, MA

8/29                       The Coach House                                                             San Juan Capistrano, CA

8/30                       Ramona Mainstage                                                         Ramona, CA (San Diego Market)

8/31                       Fantasy Springs Resort Casino                   Indio, CA (Palm Springs Market)

9/1                         Bowlful of Blues Festival                                             Newton, IA (Des Moines market)

Stony Plain Records artist: Ear Worms - Duke Robillard Band - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ear Worms, from Duke Robillard Band it's quite good. Opening with rock n' roller, Don't Bother Trying To Steal Her Love, Dave Howard is up front on vocal with Bruce Bears on piano, Mark Teuxeira on drums and Marty Ballou on bass. Robillard shows his stuff with do real nice low octave tones and country twanging riffs. Chris Cote has lead vocal on Living With The Animals, a smooth bluesy ballad with stinging guitar riffs by Robillard. Beautiful phrasing and tone give this track an extra boost. Traditional pop tune, Careless Love gets some spice with an up bound swing beat and done totally instrumental with solid lead by Robillard and cool Hammond work by Bears. Very nice. Klem Kilmen is on lead vocal on Chuck Berry's Dear Dad, a fiery rocker with slick bluesy bends and tight riffs by Robillard and a cool piano solo by Bears. Allen Toussaint's funky, Yes We Can has some real nice edgy telecaster riffs, wah wah, almost sounding like the late great Roy Buchanan. This may be my favorite track on the release with just a low key bottom rumble and Bears on vocal. Very nice. Teixeira leads the way on the Neville Brothers' Yellow Moon. With it's swaying New Orleans sound, reverby guitar tones and boppy organ, this is another top track. Wrapping the release is classic R&B hit, You Belong To Me with nicely stylized, clean, round lead on guitar rather than vocal. Resting nicely in the warmth of Bears' organ work, and with a rich solo of his own, this is a solid closer for a real nice release.


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Auburn - Game Of Faith - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Game of Faith, from Auburn and it's quite interesting. Opening with Game of Faith, a cool jazzy pop track with really strong vocals by Liz Lenten and clean, stylized guitar work by Thomm Jutz really make this one of my favorites on the release. Backed by Mark Fain on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and Britt Savage on backing vocals, a real nice opener. Lightly salted funky track, I Don't Love Him has a great feel and just the right amount of lead guitar. A purposeful melody and lush chords make this track an outstanding radio prospect. I really like the delicate balance between Lenten's almost fragile vocal  and the saturated tone of the electric guitar on It's Not Love. Very interesting contrast. Another track that keeps me listening is Spoke In The Wheel and Lenten's almost Toya Wilson like vocal delivery, against the glistening chords of Jutz. Wrapping the release is sensitive ballad, His Arms and Lenten's vocals balanced lightly on the acoustic guitar work of Jutz. I wouldn't say this is a traditional blues release by any means, but it is a really interesting release.

Thanks

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Jason Robert - The Death of Stone Stanley - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Death of Stone Stanley, from Jason Robert and it's strong and upbeat but also deep and brooding. Opening with Someday, a southern style blues track with solid vocals by Robert who also plays steel resonator and drums, and includes bass work by Scott Longnecker. Mr. Bell is an interesting track constructed like a round and having not only strong emotion and to me a sound of the sea plus the inclusion of some pretty cool electric guitar work. One of my favorite tracks on the release is traditional Irish folk tune, Moonshiner, with a great melody, and featuring Jim McComas on guitar and harmonica. Traditional blues track, You Gotta Move features cool dual lead vocals and warm slide work giving it a fresh feel. Another of my favorites is Sat Around featuring Robert accompanying his own vocals on acoustic guitar only. Very nice. With a bit of raw contemporary feel, Never Gonna Die has a solid, stripped down blues bottom and features guitar soloing that is just different enough to be really cool. Another nice contemporary track, Hereafter, is my other favorite track on the release with nicely constructed melody, vocal and guitar lines. With woven lines of vocal, guitar and harmony, definitely a keeper. Wrapping the release is drone toned, Woke Up This Morning with monotoned guitar rhythm, basic slide and soulful vocals. Solid 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”

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Kelly's Lot - Can't Take My Soul - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Can't Take My Soul, from Kelly's Lot, and it's a cool mix of blues, rock, country and folk. Opening with Boogie rocker, All I Ever Want Is the Blues, Kelly, backed by Perry Robertson on guitar, Matt McFadden on bass, and Mike Sauer on drums set a rocking example. Funky, All Hope Ain't Lost, is a cool track with essential vocals and a great bass line by McFadden and the addition of Bobby Orgel on keys. Primarily acoustic sounding, Safe and Warm has a county/folk feel with a terrific melody and ambiance really showcasing Kelly's voice. Very nice. On Rise Up, Kelly duets with Jean-Francois Thomas with Rob Zucca on lead guitar. A real nice track with a bluesy feel and some clean, articulate guitar soloing. Another bluesy track, Broke Myself, has a shuffle approach with dominant bass bottom, more driven vocals by Kelly and features Frank Hinojosa on harmonica. Kelly steps up with a simple pop tune on Little Bit Of This, the certain front runner for radio airplay with it's strong melody and vocals. Wrapping the release is Mon Ami, an interesting pop track with strong vocals and a French twist. With Jean Paul Monshe' on accordion this track is a real 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”

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Lucas Haneman Express - Catch The Westbound - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Catch The Westbound, by Lucas Haneman Express and it has strong commercial potential. Opening with Lay It To The Line, Lucas Haneman Express shows a country rock opener with solid vocals and guitar lead by Haneman, drums by Jeff Asselin, backing vocals by Megan Laurence and Martin Newman on bass. Megan has the lead on soulful ballad, Wicked Ride, with a great melody, solid guitar work by Haneman and overall strong radio appeal. Blues rocker, Devil's In My Grave, has a great rock beat and well blended vocals. Again, solid radio appeal a well written music. My favorite track on the release is blues rocker, Night Takes The Chances (For GD). It's slighty funky bottom and, tight guitar work and particularly cool lead vocals push this one to the top. Wrapping the release is cool, Piedmont style blues track, To Be Brave, with nicely articulated acoustic guitar picking and some of Haneman's best vocals on the release. With added percussion backing and backing vocals, this is a super closer for a real nice 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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Grooveyard Records artists: Head Honchos - Bring It On Home - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bring It On Home, by Head Honchos and it's electrified. Opening with Not For Me, Head Honchos with it's dual lead guitar combo of Rocco Calipari Sr. (also on lead vocal) and Rocco Calipari Jr., Roberto Agusto on bass and Scott Schultz on drums hits like a cannonball. Featuring Steve Ball on organ, this opening track is rockin. Work is another high energy track with really crisp drumming by Schultz and hot slide work by Calipari and a hot bass solo by Agusto. Very cool. Funky, Next To You, has a really nice bass line and hot slide tones. Vocal harmonies and overall music composition makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Swampy, Fire On The Bayou has a great southern funky party feel. CC Copeland really funks up the bass line and snappy percussion gives it a cool feel under smoking hot guitar riffs. That Driving Beat has more of a contemporary feel with a wall of horns featuring Joe Brown on sax and Mitch Coldman on trumpet. Copeland steps out again with a nice bass solo and Calipari flashes his hot hand as well with a rabid solo of his own. Don Nix's Going Down has been a favorite of mine since Jeff Beck ripped it back in the early 70's. Borrowing the template, Honchos really get things moving and Calipari lays into it with plenty of steam. His vocals are solid and with a driving bottom and Ball's keys, this track sails. Wrapping the release is Soul Free, a solid track melding all of the sounds that are the head Honchos. With it's lightly funky rhythm, harmonies and rich style, a cool closer. 

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Ross Osteen Band - Williwaw - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Williwaw, by Ross Osteen Band, and it's quite good. Opening with Muddy Waters' Mannish Boy, Osteen who handles guitar and lead vocal doesn't hold back. He howls out the lyrics like they had never been sung and his slide guitar riffs are fat. Backing Osteen id Patrick Gaynor on crisp drums and the thumping thunder of Jim Vint on bass. very cool. Show Her is a lumbering blues number with solid vocals and dynamic spacing to allow planet of room for Osteen's guitar work. Very nice. In John Lee Hooker style, Little Rooster is a great boogie with a stripped down feel. Vint's bass drives the train, Gaynor's snare work accents the rhythm and Osteen taunts himself vocal and guitar response. Very cool. Nighttime is a great jam over a Bo Diddley beat spurred on by Gaynor. Osteen's slide work is relentless. Wrapping the release is an interesting composition called Jellyfish Jam. It has a solid bottom from Vint and Gaynor over which Osteen lays down a rally interesting guitar composition... not bluesy...but really cool with effects. Cool closer. 

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Harpdog Brown - For Love & Money - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For Love & Money, from Harpdog Brown and it's a 40's & 50's New Orleans flavored trip. Opening with swinging, No Eyes For Me with a hard driving bass line by Jeremy Holmes and stiff drum sticking by Robert Vail  Grant under the rowdy vocals of Brown and a full horn section featuring William Joseph Abbott on alto sax, Skye Lambourne on trombone and Jerry Cook on Bari and tenor sax. The Comeback has a cool, low slung feel with rich Hammond work by Dave Webb and a nice sax solo by Cook. Boogie track, Reefer Lovin' Woman opens with a great muted trombone intro by Lambourne over a boogie piano riff by Webb. Brown really digs in on vocals getting the band ramped up and with a lot of finesse, Abbott hits nice clarinet solo followed by another great trombone solo by Lambourne. Harpdog whips out his harp and lets it wail topping off this great boogie. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful New Orleans style track, A New Day Is Dawning, with an excellent clarinet solo by Abbott and a grate overall New Orleans blues feel. Brandon Issak's I'll Make It Up To You has a great swing. This track may be the best highlight for Harpdog's vocals and again, Abbott's clarinet work is stellar. Wrapping the release is ballad, Sasha's Lullaby, highlighting Harpdog on vocal and lush horn work on the refrain. A real nice alto sax solo by Abbott and a crisp piano solo by Webb flesh out this strong closer. 

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Ellis Mano Band - Here And Now - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Here and Now, from Ellis Mano Band and it's got swagger. Opening with blues rocker, Whiskey, Edis Mano on guitar, Severin Graf on bass and Nico Looser set a powerful bottom complimented by Kico Babic on Hammond setting a strong foundation for the strong vocals of Chris Ellis and backing vocals by Samina Afra and Sarah Huber. Very cool. Changing things  up, title track, Here and Now has a distinct R&B feel and Ellis lays it out there. Acoustically based, Goodbye My Love, is really a nice pop track with clean guitar soloing by Mano. My favorite track on the release is A Lifetime, with soulful vocals by Ellis and an explosive bluesy solo by Mano. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Jennine with it's New Orleans feel. With a distinct party feel, Dave Blaser adding slick trumpet and Ellis, Graf Looser, Mano and Weibel on backing vocals, a really nice closer. 

  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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Peter Poirier - Empty Arms - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Empty Arms, from Peter Poirier, and it's a solid does of R&B/blues. Opening with BB King's cool shuffle, Bad Luck, vocalist/lead guitar player takes the lead backed by a strong troupe of players including Brad Hallen (bass), Mark Teixeira (drums), Matt McCabe (piano) and Mark Earley (saxes). Sleepy John Estes' Someday Baby maintains much of it's original character  with maybe a little Muddy influence. Playing it fairly straight, Poirier's vocals are clean and his guitar lead tight. BB King's, I Wonder Why, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a great swing. Earley lays in a real nice sax solo and Poirier's vocals and guitar work are really solid. With a Latin beat, BB Kings' And Like That is compact like BB wrote it with tight, essential guitar soloing and nice sax by Earley. Willie Dixon's I Cry For You has a super Chicago strut and Poirier's vocals are terrific. On Freddie King's,You Know That You Love Me, Poirier's guitar riffs are fluid and the piano work of McCabe's piano work is excellent. Wrapping the release is Freddie King's Heads Up with it's surf beat. Poirier works it hard against the tom tom work of Teixeira for a cool closing instrumental. 

  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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