Gulf Coast Records artist: Odds Lane - Lost & Found - New releae review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lost & Found, from Odds Lane and it's mixes rock, pop and blues for a catchy set. Opening with Don't Give It Away, a solid rocker with a great bass line by lead vocalist, Doug Byrkit, and spanking drum beat by Brian Zielie with solid guitar work by Mike Zito. Lost and Found is a super radio track with just a sprinkle of country flavor. Byrkit and Zielie have a real flair for radio style melodies and this may be the best one on the release, topped with a straight but cool guitar solo. Moth To A Flame is set over a James Brown style boogaloo beat. This will keep your feet tapping and Zito's slide guitar work hits solid on target. Very nice. A solid blues rocker, Blood On The Van, has a great thumping bass line, underscored guitar lead by Brykit along with smooth vocal blending with Zeilie and nicely executed slide work by Zito. Latin influenced, Little Too Late, has a bright, almost jazzy feel with balanced instrumentals, smooth vocals and a really nicely phrased guitar solo. Wrapping the release is White Castle Blues, so strong a closer that it should be a tv theme song. With it's perfectly balanced melody and vocals, and searing slide work by Zito, a solid closer. 

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Fuel Junkie - All Out - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All Out, from Fuel Junkie and I really like it. Opening with title track rocker, All Out, with horns blazing. Featuring Mark LcClerc on lead vocal and tenor sax, Philippe Brochu-Pelletier on tenor sax, Patrice Luneau on bari sax, Antoine Loiselle on guitar, jean-Francois Charest on bass and Philippe Fleury on drums and adding Lex French on trumpet, Andy King on trumpet, Jean-Nicolas Trottier on trombone and Olivier Lizotte on bass trombone this leaves a powerful vapor trail. High Stress, Low Money has a strong new Orleans feel with tight march style drumming by Fleury and interwoven tenor sax lead by Leclerc and Brochu-Pelletier over the solid bottom of Luneau on bari for a great follow-up. With a low down funky beat Can You Dig It? is a cool bluesy jam with great lead by Charest on bass and Loiselle on slide guitar. Excellent! Slow blues, Bad Luck, showcases the soulful vocals of Leclerc and allows plenty of room for sax and guitar solos. Very nice. Get Out On The Road is a power R&B style track with strong bari sax reinforcement by Luneau and trumpets by French and King. Luneau and Leclerc's sax solos are hot making this one of my release favorites. My favorite track on the release is closer, Push Me Away with it's heavy bass laden bottom and soaring guitar work by Charest. It has it's smooth parts, but this is Fuel Junkie wide open. Excellent closer for a strong release. 

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Out Of The Past Music artist: Doug Duffey and BADD - Play The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Play The Blues, by Doug Duffey and BADD and it's straight up with a twist. Opening with shuffle track, The Things That We Used To Do, Doug Duffey takes the basic original blues premise and bends it. With basic piano, bass and drum accompaniment, holds a solid shuffle beat under solid vocal but then in walks Dan Sumner on lead guitar and plays outside of the routine shuffle beat. Pretty cool matrix with cool backing vocals. On Evil, a mod funky blues track, soulful vocals command the spotlight but you can hardly miss the introduction of rhythm guitar riffs that fall more into the pop/punk genre. A fat bluesy guitar solo by Sumner and it's contagious beat makes this one of my favorites on the release. Blues based rocker, Drink It On Down, is another of my favorites with  distinct Keith Richards dirty rock feel. A springy, piano rocker, You Got That Somethin', has a most commercial feel with it's simple bluesy melody and nicely blended vocals. Wrapping the release is A Memory Left To Lose, a soulful ballad that leaves you wanting more. Duffey's vocal and a particularly nice guitar solo by Sumner gives this release a solid sendoff. 

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Mark Crissinger - Believe In Love - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Believe In Love, by Mark Crissinger and it's full of surprises. Opening with Believe In Love, with it's romping bottom, courtesy of Jay Stevens on bass and Bill Hicks on drums, Mark Crissinger has the front on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Darcy Phillips on keys and Pierre Komen on sax. Boogie track, I Hear You're Talking, really gives Phillips the floor to work his magic and Crissinger country style vocal and guitar riffs solidify the sound. Another track with a two step feel is La Hoochie Coo with twangy guitar riffs and smooth harmonica by Marty Howe. Heartache and Trouble has a strong melody and with soothing vocals and melodic harmonica line, a definite radio track. My favorite track on the release is Hard No, with it's cool rhythm and catchy tune. Solid guitar work, drum foot work and warm backing gives it that extra punch.  Wrapping the release is country rocker, Hornby with it's springy pace and tight rhythms. Crissinger's vocal lead is cool and his guitar riffs hot, Komen lays nicely on the sax, Howe on harmonica work and another nice piano solo by Phillips gives it the right juice.  

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Lotus Eater Records artist: Troy Gonyea - Click Click Spark - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Click Click Spark from Troy Gonyea and it's hot. Opening with rocker, (Do The) Curl Up And Die, Troy Gonyea who handles lead vocal, guitar and harmonica is setting this live audience up for a real treat. Backed by Brooks Milgate on piano, Marty Ballou on bass and Marty Richards on drums, this is a great opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Magic Sam's That's Why I'm Crying with it's dramatic soulful bluesy lead work. Gonyea's vocals are smoking, with Milgate on B3 and his guitar playing is excellent with strong lead phrasing and glistening fanned chords. On Willie Dixon's Bring It On Home, it's Gonyea's vocal/harmonica pairing that does the ticket. Holding tight to the classic styling, Milgate's piano adds texture. Tell Heaven is a terrific track that makes you sweat. A low, gritty blues, it digs in deep with John Lee Hooker like grip and Gonyea's wailing vocal and contemporary raw blues styling fans the flames. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Duster Bennett's Jumping At Shadows. Gonyea's vocals are spot on and the tension is thick. His Clapton influenced but clearly inspired guitar soloing is clean and fresh and the overall blend is excellent. Wrapping the  release is Magic Sam's I Feel So Good, with it's guitar vamp and Gonyea coaxing the crowd to boogie. This is a great closer for a really strong live release. 

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Little Village Foundation artist: The Mike Duke Project - ...Took A While - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Took A While, from The Mike Duke Project and it's a soulful southern style release packed with musical elite. Opening with Little Miss Ponytail, a certain radio track, Mike Duke on lead vocal and piano leads the way with Bill Stewart on drums, Phil Yeager on bass, Ronnie Brown on guitar and Rick Kurtz on guitar. Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do features Duke with Jimmy Hall and the vocals are not only warm and solid but this is really a strong track. Let Me Be Your Fool Tonight is a real cool track with the addition of Lloyd Meadows, Angela Strehi  and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocal and featuring super accordion work by Bruce Gordon. I'm Not Sad Tonight sounds like it could be pulled right out of Van Morrison's songbook with distinct vocal phrasing and poise and the addition on Jim Pugh on B3. Very nice. Gospel flavored Torn & Scarred is Duke, accompanying his vocal lead on piano with  Andersen on bass. Short but very nice. I Can't Let You Go is a bluesy ballad with all the right notes. Certain radio compositional style and Elvin Bishop's trademark slide work makes this track a release favorite. Another soulful ballad, Coming 'Round Again is certainly one of my favorites on the release with some of Duke's best writing and vocals. Backed by Bill Connell on drums, Paul Hornsby on bass, Ray Honea on guitar Don Finney on sax, Larry Finney on trumpet and Roger Dennison on trombone, this track has real traction. Wrapping the release is Nicasio, a short piano track with Duke showing his stylistic chops. This is really a rich release on one to hear.

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Vizztone Label Group artist: Chris "Bad News" Barnes - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live, from Chris "Bad News" Barnes it's  a full blown boogie rocker. Opening with Back In A Cadillac, Barnes leads with his vocal power, joined by Gary Hoey on lead guitar, Steve Guyger onharp and backed by Sandy MacDonald on piano, AJ Pappas on bass, Matt Scurfield on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Gracie Curran on backing vocal. Little Walter's Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights gets a faster rockier pace and a strong harmonica solo by Guyger, nice sax solo by Earley, wicked guitar work by Hoey and full trumpet work by Woolverton give the track real oomph. Gravelly vocals by Barnes on a lumbering version of Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man is real nice with a humping bass line by Pappas and greasy solos by both Hoey and Guyger give the track a real grind. With it's Bo Diddley beat, It's Tight Like That, has Curran echoing Barnes lead vocals and wicked slide by Hoey sounds great over the tight horn accent. A Latin beat on Keep Your Mind On It, gives Hoey a great opportunity to show off his Spanish guitar techniques and cues up real nice Cuban style piano playing by MacDonald. Wrapping the release is Steve Cropper's R&B track, Raise Your Hand, with a healthy does of horns. Solid closer.

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Ghost Town Blues Band - Shine - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shine, from Ghost Town Blues Band and it's a funky, bluesy, rock mix. Opening with rocker, Running Out Of Time, Matt Isbell on lead vocal and slide guitar sets up a radio ready track, backed by Taylor Orr on guitar and vocal, Kevin Houston on sax and vocal, Suavo Jones on trombone, trumpet and vocal, Matt Kramer on bass and vocal, Andrew Mc Neill on drums and vocals and Cedric Taylor on B3, piano and vocal. Title track, Shine, is a horn saturated soul flavored rocker with excellent drum accent and super guitar riffs.  My favorite track on the release is slinky, soul track, Lyin' To Yourself  with Isbell's strongest vocals on the release, warm B3 reinforcement and solid horn work by Jones. I particularly like Isbell's guitar lead on this track giving it a southern sparkle. Another of my favorites is High Again with it's straight forward melody, funky rhythm and "Allman signature twin lead" guitar work. With a soul strut, My Father's Son, has a real nice feel. Taylor's B3 creates a nice tension and Jones' horn work is spot on. Soulful ballad, Carry Me Home is another strong radio style track with a really nice melody and powerful vocal and guitar lead by Isbell. A bluesy B3 solo by Taylor and tight accent work by McNeill and Jones make this another of the top tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is soft spoken, Hey There Lucinda with it's poppy melody, warm vocal blending and slide guitar riffs by Isbell, giving it a polished finish. 

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Woodward Avenue Records artist: Jacqui Brown - Love Love Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Love Love, from Jacqui Brown and it's packed with country style pop tracks and bluesy ballads. Opening with Bend, a two stepper, Jacqui on lead vocal is backed by Paul Brown on lead guitar, Tony Braunagel on drums, Bob Glaub on bass, Lew Laing on drums and Brother Paul Brown on keys. Title track, Love, Love, Love is a smooth radio ballad featuring nicely blended vocals between Jacqui and Paul. Paul sets in a Bluesy country flavored solo on guitar giving the track just a little more spice. Shuffle track, Flow Like A River has some of the most soulful vocals on the release with nice key work by brother Paul and Paul digs in nicely with a solid guitar solo. Wrapping the release is Somebody's Child, a real nice ballad featuring Jacqui on lead vocal with only the minimum of backing, primarily piano under the lead. This is a solid closer for this release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Billy Price - Dog Eat Dog - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Eat Dog, from Billy Price and it's old school R&B. Opening with Funky rocker, Working On Your Chain Gang, Price, who has one of the smoothest voices on the circuit leads the way with strong support from Alex Pettersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, John Halblieb on trumpet, Jack Sanford on sax, Kid Andersen on guitar and organ, and Walter, James and Dwayne Morgan on backing vocals. Very cool. Smooth pop jazz track, Lose My Number sounds like it's right off of a Steely Dan record with it's strong melody and supple vocals over a organ lead backing melody. Eric Spaulding adds a real nice sax solo on this one giving it a real kick. With a smooth dance groove, title track, Dog Eat Dog is really in the groove with great lead vocals by Price, tight backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Alabama Mike, cool congas by Vicki Randell, the super sax work of Spaulding and great harmonica by Rick Estrin. Dark soul track, My Love Will Never Die, is one of my favorites on the release with screaming vocals, and ripping guitar work by Kid Andersen. Excellent! Another favorite is funky, New Orleans flavored, All Night Long Café. Price really rides high on the rhythm on this track with Jon Otis on congas and percussion, and power horn work by Spaulding, Sanford and Halblieb and a funky bluesy guitar solo by Mike Zito. Really cool. Wrapping the release is radio style track, You Gotta Go with heavy tom tom driven rhythm and glistening key work by Pugh. Andersen's guitar attack is direct and essential as always and Price's vocals are as solid as when I saw him in Pittsburgh with Roy Buchanan a lot of years ago. Price's best album in years. 

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Myles Goodwyn - Friends of the Blues 2- New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Friends of the Blues 2, by Myles Goodwyn and it's easy going. Opening with shuffle track, Hip Hip a shuffle track with Kenny Blues Boss Wayne on piano and Blair Mackay on drums, Goodwyn on lead vocal and ripping some tight guitar riffs. Bobby Womack's, All Over Now, gets an interesting rework with John Main on piano, Shrimp Daddy on harmonica and John Canpbelljohn on slide. Very cool. More traditional blues track, Fish Tank Blues, has cool guitar pick and slide technique over a slightly funky rhythm under Goodwyn's vocals. Campbelljohn is back on slide on Daddy Needs New Shoes, a quick paced shuffle with a snappy beat and backing vocals by Reeny Smith and Lisa Macdougall. Up next is I Saw Someone That Wasn't There (And It Was You), a blues rocker with some of the best vocals on the release and likely the best radio track on the release. With it's solid melody, call and response guitar riffs by David Gogo and nice piano lead. Wrapping the release is cowboy style track, Even Singing Cowboys get The Blues with a two step rhythm and yodeling. Jack De Keyzer on guitar and slide by Campbelljohn add a little spice to this closer.

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Northern Social - Northern Social - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the debut self titled release from Northern Social and I really like it. Like earlier work by Wickens and the Grand Nationals this new release has a lot of edge and genuine blues feel. Opening with Waiting, a strong rugged blues rocker, Dylan Wickens, who handles lead vocal, guitar and bass, paired with Mike Rajna on drums and percussion created a sound that is much bigger than two guys. Solid rhythms, vocals and power guitar makes this a great opener. Am I Wrong has a straightforward rock beat with vibrant rhythm guitar with Wicken's vocals carrying the melody. King Of Hearts has a lumbering blues feel with a heavy accent on the 2 and 4 and a fat fat guitar rhythm. Wicken's lead guitar work is tasty and raw where Rajna's drum work is tight and focused. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Dead Neighbor Blues with an easy acoustic country blues feel. Particularly effective is the simplicity of foot drum and tambourine by Rajna under Wicken's traditional acoustic slide work and solid blues vocals. Strong closer. 

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Wentus Blues Band with Duke Robillard - Too Much Mustard - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Much Mustard, from Wentus Blues Band with Duke Robillard, and I really like it. Opening with revival style track, Stayed At The Party, these guys are raising the roof. With Robban Hagnas on Bass, Niko Riippa on guitar, Duke Robillard on guitar, Pekka Grohn on piano and Hammond, Daniel Hjerppe on drums and Juho Kinaret on vocal and percussion this track is pumped. Robert Johnson's Judgement Day is up next with a cool modern twist. It maintains the rudimentary feel and Kinaret's vocals are strong, but the interwoven guitars by Robillard and Riippa and Grohn's piano, with harp over the band is terrific. One of my favorite tracks on the release is She's a Killer Hot Blonde, a great boogie with cocky blues guitar style. Excellent! Slower paced, Right In Your Arms, is a super blues ballad and a nice showcase for Kinaret on vocal and with excellent blues guitar solo phrasing by Riippa. High powered boogie and title track, Too Much Mustard, had a great feel and is super platform for Robillard and Riippa on guitar. Shuffle track, You Got My Love, has a great bottom by Hagnas and the rolling piano lines by Grohn give Riippa plenty of room to shine. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Passionate Kiss with a more radio direct approach. I really like the drum work by Hjerppe on this track strongly featured with a cool piano lead by Grohn under Kinaret's vocal lead. Solid closer. 

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Bushmaster - Dancing In The Belly Of The Beast - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dancing In The Belly Of The Beast, from Bushmaster and it's an interesting blues rocker. Opening with Profile, a straight up shuffle featuring Gary Brown on lead vocal and guitar, Justin Kimball on bass, Justin Pinkney on drums, Tim McDonald on keys, Tracy Nelson and Vickie Carrico on backing vocals this track has a solid vocal bass line and full gospel like backing vocals. Stirring in a bit of funk on Ajax And Hot Wax, brown doesn't sound like Wolfman or JGW but you can hear the influence.  A real nice floating guitar solo by Brown in this track reinforces the overall coolness of the track. Slow blues number, Nowhere To Stand, has a smooth bass driven bottom with distorted guitar lead under contemporary lyrics and a strong organ line. Miss Sexy Fine is a funky rocker with a flavor of Jimi. Fan style rhythm guitar playing and solid lead guitar playing by Brown is spicy.  One of my favorites on the release is Elevator, a cool blues rocker along the lines of Sitting on top of the World. With it's strutting rhythm, slid guitar by Daniel Weston Cohen and solid timing on vocals, this track just has a great feel. Another track that gets me going is funky, Pressure Cooker with a mad funky beat and rhythmic lead vocals. Brown lets the dog off the leash on guitar with some freewheeling guitar that soars...really! Wrapping the release is an easy stated country style folk tune, Thing Back Home, with Tim Jones on acoustic guitar and Brown on lead vocal and a short finger picked guitar solo. With its simple but catchy melody, it's a solid closer for an enjoyable release. 

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Man Hat Tone artist: Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans - Twice As Nice - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Twice As Nice, from Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans and it's it's freewheeling blues. Opening with Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues, Vickers on guitar and lead vocal leads the Vestapolitans in a traditional shuffle. With Bill Rankin on bass, Jim Davis on tenor sax, Dave Keyes on piano, VD King on bari sax and Dean Shot on guitar, a solid opener. On Jimmy Reed's Close Together, Margey Peters joins on backing vocal and bass. Her touch gives the track an additional dimension and a raspy sax solo Davis adds a nice spice. Coast to Coast is a cool rocker with hot solos by Vickers, Keyes, and Davis. Very cool. Vickers turns over the mic to Peters for Twice As Nice, deferring his work to bottleneck guitar and with wailing nice clarinet by Davis. Memphis Jug Band's Stealin' Stealin' is my favorite track on the release with Mikey Junior on vocal and harmonica with Peters (who also plays bass) and Vickers on guitar, Rankin on drums, Davis on sax and King on bari sax. Mikey Junior, Davis and Vickers take real nice solos on Look A There Look A There, a super swing rocker with great tempo. Very nice. Wrapping the release is another Peters original, Brooklyn Evenings. With it's rimshot timing and featuring Charlie Burnham on violin, it has an old style blues feel and with Vickers shifting over to bass, Dave Gross' guitar work adds a nice sparkle to the closer. 

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Severn Records artist: Tad Robinson - Real Street - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Street, from Tad Robinson and it's jam packed with R&B soul music. Opening with Changes, a real nice "Al Green" flavored track, Tad Robinson shows what much of the world already knows... he's a great singer with poise and style. Backed by Charles Hodges on Hammond, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Restivo on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Mark Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a great opener. Bluesy ballad, Search Your Heart is really strong and Robinson's exceptionally smooth vocals, backed by Devin Thompson on vocals and the warm Hammond work of Hodges and with a crisp guitar solo by Restivo make this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Another really bluesy track, Love In The Neighborhood has a great R&B style but checks off the blues box nicely with soulful vocals and harmonica by Robinson and solid guitar lead by Restivo. My favorite track on the release is soulful, Wishing Well Blues with ultra soulful vocals by Robinson and just the right weave of instrumentation over Anker's funky keyboard work and JG Watson/WW Washington style guitar playing. Excellent! Wrapping the release is slinky, Long Way Home with a real nice bass line by Leroy. Robinson has an unbelievable sense for soul music and the sound that this unit puts together is lush and inviting. Highly recommended. 

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Miss Bix & The Blues Fix - We Don't Own The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, We Don't Own The Blues, Miss Bix & The Blues Fix and it's slinky cool. Opening with Follow Me Down, a blues based rocker, Miss Bix (Leslie Bixler) has a casual singing style over an equally cool, swampy rhythm. With Ralph carter on bass and guitar, JT Thomas on B3, Brian Calway on harmonica and Gary Mallaber on drums, this is a memorable opener. Another swampy track in the vein of Tony Joe White, If You're Doing What I'm Thinking, has a real funky rhythm with Franck Goldwasser laying down some real nice lead guitar and RJ Mischo on harmonica. Low slung Voodoo Man digs down in the blues with solid vocals,  a droning bass line by Carter and Goldwasser's lead guitar playing is tops. Straight up rocker, You're A Child is built over a Jimi Hendrix kind of framework but filled out nicely with lush vocals by Bix and Chad Smith's drumming is tops. Wrapping the release is ballad, All The Time, featuring Bix solid vocals over a sparse backing by Carter. This is a interesting release with solid bones. 

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