Shred The Evidence Records artist: The Walk-A-Bout - 20/20 - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 20/20 from The Walk-A-Bout and it's cool and jazzy. Opening with Victory Parade, a solid pop rocker with tight drums by Drew Bertran and nicely harmonized vocals by Darren Sullivan and Dave Christian who also plays electric guitar. Kevin Anderson on acoustic guitar plays a strong part with a good part of the body  of the instrumentation being his guitar work and Keenan Zach on bass. Date Nut Porridge has a real nice New Orleans funk, emphasized by Bertran and Zach and a super vocal melody by Christian and Sullivan who also plays harmonica and warm Hammond work by Mark Rechler. Very nice. Timeless is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a Latin influenced beat and potent rhythmic percussion by Bertran and strong vocal harmonies by Sullivan and Christian. Very nice. Hero, possibly the top radio track on the release has a strong melody and vocals that could be right from a 70's Spirit release. Christian unleashes his electric guitar on this one and creates a nice flurry. This band has a sound and it's good. Trash Talkin' is a power rocker with grinding guitar tones and great drum riffs. Even Zach lays in a little bass solo rounding out a super rocker. Wrapping the release is Taking It West a melodic ballad with strong vocal harmonies. The track actually reminds me of a Joe Walsh composition. The vocals are tight and smooth and the instrumentation is compact and smart. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Ben Hemming - The Devil Beside Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil Beside Me, by Ben Hemming and it's a unusual, yet interesting take on the blues. Opening with Dead Man Blues, a dark, lumbering blues rocker with contemporary influences, Ben Hemming on vocal and guitar shows the colors of metal rock joined by James Hosking on bass and Luigi Rampino on drums. Droning guitar riffs swirl on Inside as a heavy footed Rampino drives this train. Me And The Leper has a lot of movement with a highly active bass line, solid lead vocals and slide guitar with highly effective string  to hand contact on overmiked acoustic guitar. Very cool. One of my favorites on the release is One Eyed King with a driving rock beat and grinding slide guitar work by Hemming. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is The Sea, with a quiet, acoustic guitar backing under Hemming 's vocals. The electric guitar melody is what hooks me on this track with it's haunting sound. Very nice.  The title track, The Devil Beside Me, wraps the track  with a blues basis and dark tones. This is an interesting look at the blues from a different angle. 

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Harvey Dalton Arnold - Stories To Live Up To - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stories To Live Up To, from Harvey Dalton Arnold and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Stay Here With Me, a cool, R&B style rocker with a swampy overtone. Arnold leads on vocal and guitar with Zev Katz on bass, Charley Drayton on drums, Rob Arthur on keys and Zak Alister on rhythm guitar. Strong opener. What's On Your Mind has a rubbery slide guitar vamp and snappy drum rhythm by Drayton and some of Arnold's best vocals on the release. Very cool. Soulful, Poor Boy is a real nice radio track with a great melody, warm keys by Alister, solid guitar work and an intoxicating feel. Rock n roller, Lone Outlaw, has a great rock beat and just the right swagger with driving drum work and smart guitar and piano making it another favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is a new take on Catfish Blues with super top end drum work, raw guitar slide and a great bottom. Super closer for a solid release. 

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Misty Blues - Weed 'Em & Reap - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weed 'Em & Reap by Misty Blues and it's a cool mix of R&B and jazz/blues. Opening with No More To Give, Gina Coleman on lead vocals sings from deep in her soul and accompanying herself on cigar box guitar, with Benny Kohn on keys, Bill Patriquin on trumpet, Aaron Dean on sax, Rob Tatten on drums and Seth Fleishmann, Diego Mongue on bass and Wes Buckley on guitars.  I Ain't No Giving Tree has a great New Orleans flavor with a fat sax solo by Dean and a clean, rhythmic guitar solo by Fleischmann. Blues rumble, Don't Send Me Home has a cool. Willie Dixon kind of feel with Dean's sax anchoring the bottom. A cool key solo by Kohn and a grinding solo by Fleischmann add real texture to Coleman's vocals. Swing My Blues is another track with a cool. New Orleans like rhythm. I think this track showcases Coleman's vocals better than most of the tracks and with solid solos by Fleischmann, Kohn and Dean, this is my favorite track on the release. Bluesy ballad, Hold Me Tight, has a lot of grit and with mellow piano soloing by Kohn contrasting with the dark sound of Coleman's voice is a great pairing. Wrapping the release is Treat Me Like I Want, a R&B track with a great beat and sassy sax work by Dean. A throaty guitar solo by Fleischmann and strong vocals by Coleman make this a super closer. 

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Socan Music artist: Frederico Luiu - Walkin' The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Walkin' The Blues, from Frederico Luiu and it's pretty tasty. Opening with blues shuffle, You Don't Love Me, Luiu, who handles lead vocal and guitar shows pure style on guitar with Simone Scanu on bass, Mauro Cau on drums, Alberto Gurrisi on Hammond, and filled out with a horn section of Anthony Brancati on Tenor sax,  Alison Young on Bari and alto sax and Alexis Baro on trumpet. With it's catchy chorus, a solid radio track. Funky Bee is a strong, horn infused, blues track with a strong funky rhythm by Scanu and Bau and red hot riffs by Luiu. On slow blues, What You've Done To Me, Luiu is featured on lead vocal showing real emotion with heavy bari support by Young and nice backing vocals by Roberta Michele Quilico leading to clean, BB style guitar phrasing by Luiu. Very nice. Driving shuffle track, She's Gone with Matt Schofield sitting in with some really healthy guitar riffs adds real spice to an already spicy mix. With Baro, Young and Brancati hitting, this is a super track. My favorite track on the release is Otto with Luiu playing a fast shuffle over driving bass lines and a strong Hammond contribution by Gurrisi. Excellent! Wrapping the release is instrumental, Like A Woman giving Luiu a real opportunity to show his Chickin' Pickin' guitar riffs. Cool closer for a cool release. 

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Rusty Ends & Hillbilly Hoodoo - The Last of the Boogiemen - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Last of the Boogiemen, by Rusty Ends & the Boogiemen and it's got a cool style all it's own. Blending old style 50's rock, blues, punk, R&B and country these guys come up with a sound that's familiar but different and vibrant. Opening with rockin' Cheap Wine, Rusty Ends on guitar and vocal shows solid style and flair on guitar with Uncle Dave Zimheld on backing vocal and bass, Gene Wickliffe on drums and Gary Falk on tenor sax. Super opener. Pulling riffs from the 80's and Mississippi Hill country sensibility, Ends raps on Hillbilly Hoodoo over a swampy blues like rhythm. Not a rap fan but this track has just the right funk. Slowing down to a soothing blues number with jazz style chords, Ends croons the blues on I Forgot To Say I Love You. Really kicking out the stops, Rockabilly Boogie # 1003 is a simple, Chuck Berry style rocker with plenty of flair. Stiletto Heels and Fishnet Hose is another track with tension created by Ends with only a few simple chords and his unsettling vocal style. With blues overtones and guitar chords played against simple yet interesting guitar soloing, and some of Ends' best vocals,  We Love Our Way Through The Blues is my pick on the release. Wrapping the release is cool shuffle, Sinner's Strut, a cool guitar instrumental along the lines of Freddie King but with less structured riffs and looser concepts. This is a cool release and one to check out. 

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Out of the Past Music artists: Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer - Long Ago - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Ago, from Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer and the title aptly describes the musical journey. Opening with 20's song, Singin' The Blues, Howell on lead vocal and guitar, backed by bassist Jason Weinheimer and with the addition on lush jazz chords and runs by Dan Sumner sets the stage for this easy paced release. Jobim's Dindi has a real nice arrangement with Howell and Sumner playing guitar runs over a Bossa Nova backing. Very nice. Johnny Mercer's ballad, I Thought About You, gets a finger picked overlay by Howell giving it a bit of a country styling but the warm chords of Sumner maintains the jazz richness under Howell's understated vocals. Another jazz standard with  Bossa beat is I'll Remember April and the beauty of the melody is enhanced by the poise of Howell, Weinheimer and Sumner on this instrumental remake. Horace Silver's Song For My Father is another jazz track with a Latin rhythm and Howell's singing of the track pulls your attention more to the lyrics and away from the melody, for me giving it more personal meaning. A very nice track with especially nice guitar work. Wrapping the release is Dave Frishberg's pop track, Z's and the band's lighthearted cover. 

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EllerSoul Records artist: The Nighthawks - Tryin' To Get To You - New Release Review

I Just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tryin' To Get To You, from The Nighthawks and it's energy packed. Opening with Come Love, the Nighthawks have a new lead guitar player, Dan Hovey who also covers lead vocals. With Mark Wenner on lead vocal and harmonica, Mark Stutso on drums and lead vocal and Paul Pisciotta on bass and vocal, these guys can harmonize. I Know Your Wig Is Gone has a real nice shuffle pace with lead vocal by Hovey and giving both Wenner and Hovey a nice opportunity to show their skills. Very nice. Rain Down tears is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it dark easy pace and solid vocals by the crew. The guys vocal blending is strong and Wenner and Hovey each take fluid solos adding to the tension. Very nice. Chairman of the Board is a cool blues rocker with a drone bass line (we all love them) and alternating guitar and harmonica soloing and some of my favorite lead vocals on the release by Stutso . Wrapping the release is The Cheap Stuff, a clever little blues number with cool lyrics by Hovey over acoustic guitar and harmonica with only basic drum and bass. This is a solid release with a little bit of something for everyone. 

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True North Records artist: Crystal Shawanda - Church House Blues - New Release Review`

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Church House Blues, from Crystal Shawanda and it's an interesting mix of pop, R&B and blues. Opening with title track, Church House Blues, Crystal Shawanda is upfront with her powerhouse voice with Louis Winfield on drums, Dave Roe on bass, Dewayne Strobel on guitar, Peter Keyes on keys, Dana Robbins and Miqui Guittierez on sax. Bluesy ballad, Evil Memory has a really nice feel with melodic guitar soloing and strong vocals by Shawanda. Blues rocker, Rather Be Alone has a real nice sway, emphasized by precisely placed guitar accents and warm organ. Hey Love has an early 60's rock rhythm and possibly the strongest track on the release with warm vocal backing by the McCrary Sisters, Angela Hurt, KG Green, and Quisha Wint. Bigger Than The Blues is definitely the radio track on the release with it's strong melody, solid vocal lead and concise guitar solo making it the ideal track. Wrapping the release is country blues flavored, New Orleans Is Sinking with an electric guitar vamp and wailing harmonica by Stephen Hanner under the chant like wailing of Shawanda. This is a cool closer for solid release. 

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Rose Cottage Records artist: Peter Karp - Magnificent Heart - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Magnificent Heart, from Peter Karp and has nicely blends rock, blues and folk throughout the release. Opening with Sitting On The Edge Of The World, Karp on lead vocal and guitar and Kim Wilson on harmonica find a solid balance in contemporary blues with John Ginty on B3, Niles Terrat on bass and Michael Catapano on drums. She Breaks Her Own Heart has a cool, swampy, R&B feel with a cool sax solo by David Kasper and horn work by Jacob Wynne on trumpet. The Grave has a cool, low slung feel with Karp pulling out his slide and Wilson adding some real nice harmonica and Ginty adding real depth on B3. The Cold City Horns really funk up Let It On Out, with a solid bass line by Terrat and nicely woven guitar and horn jamming. Very cool. Going Home is a roots blues style track with ace harmonica work by Jason Ricci, slick resonator slide work by Karp and military style snare drum work by Capano.  Wrapping the release is smooth ballad, Face The Wind, featuring Karp on vocal with Jim Eingher on piano and Ginty on B3. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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OFEH artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Goin' Home - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Goin' Home, by Blind Lemon Pledge and he gets a great Delta sound going. Opening with I Feel Like Going Home, Pledge is on steel string guitar and slide with his wailing vocal with Peter Grenell on bass, delivering the word. Very original sound for a great opener. On Come Back Baby, another solid entry, Pledge shows a solid blend of his artful acoustic guitar work, some even sounding Mali influenced, and vocal strength on another Delta style track. Very nice. JJ Cale's Crazy Mama is a strong contemporary entry with moderate changes from Cale's original. With the jangle of the resonator on his finger picking and the warmth of the slide, this is a nice remake. Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime gets a new look with more of an understated take than I've heard from the many interpretations. There's no grand electric guitar blow out as with most remakes, but Pledge manages the track nicely delivering a solid entry. Lonnie Johnson's It's Too Late To Cry is another stand out track with a firm, T-Bone Walker like framework under his stylized vocals and a more fluid guitar soloing approach giving it a real cool feel. Hard not to love Robert Johnson's Love In Vain with no frills but solid acoustic guitar riffs and vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is spiritual Little Black Train with warm vocal blending and handclaps. A real nice closer for a real cool release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Tyler Morris - Living In The Shadows - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The Shadows, from Tyler Morris, and it's a cool blues rocker. On this, his second release, Morris plays lead guitar and sings with band mates Terry Dry on bass, Matthew Robert Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on B3 and Wurlitzer. Gary Moore's hard driving rocker, Movin' On, sees the band on full tilt with Morris throwing every rock based riff you can think at it. Quick fingered runs, and bends with just a bit of distortion to make it sound dirty gives this track it's sting. Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito guest on vocals on Tony Joe White's Polk Salad Annie. Maintaining that original swamp rock feel this is a cool track with Morris working the slide nicely  over the steady drumming of Johnson. Bluesy ballad, Temptation, is Morris' best showcase of his vocal strength and Stephens' B3 enhances the tension giving Morris a nice platform to play melodic blues runs on guitar. Amanda Fish steps up to the mic on blues rocker, Better Than You adding some real nice R&B style vocal texture. Morris keeps a cool rhythm line and lays in double stop riffs adding just the right pepper to possibly my favorite track on the release. Boogie track, Why Is Love So Blue, has a great bottom end and the grinding guitar riffs of Morris gives it that Texas swagger. Original track, Young Man's Blues has a real nice bass drone with solid vocals by Morris and a strong guitar exchange between Morris and the stellar Ronnie Earl. Taken From Me is another of my favorite tracks on the release with it's lightly funked up rock beat that I associate with Mountain and early Leslie West. With a real nice drum beat by Johnson, straight up vocals and fat guitar accents by Morris, a nicely balanced track. Wrapping the release is a driving boogie, I'm On To You, with a thumping bass line and tight drums giving the track a meaty feel. Morris sets it up nicely and slams it home on this one with just the right amount of slash, making this an excellent closer. 

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Treated and Released Records artist: Reverend Freakchild - The Bodhisattva Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Bodhisattva Blues, from Reverend Freakchild and as always, he puts a cool spin on the blues. Opening with I Can't Be Satisfied, Freakchild puts a funky spin on Waters' stellar hit with loads of acoustic slide and Chris Parker on drums. Excellent! Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster also gets a more low slung treatment with cool slide and vocals by Freakchild. Scott Hackler does a real nice job of rolling the piano on this one and with Malcolm Oliver on bass and Parker on drums, solid shot. John Lennon's Yer Blues has always been one of my favorite rock/blues tracks and Freakchild must share that sentiment with his cover. With Mark Karan on lead guitar, Robin Sylvester on bass, Hugh Pool on harmonica, Melvin Seals on organ and Parker on drums, this track is packing. Rev Gary Davis' Death Don't Have No Mercy gets a more contemporary almost folk rework and Freakchild's voice carries the load nicely. I mean his acoustic slide work is strong and Jay Collins' flute work gives the track an almost Othar Turner fife feel. Very interesting interpretation. Wrapping the release is Freakchild acapella on traditional song, And We Bid You Goodnight. This is a real solid release and one that continues to show Freakchild's love for the blues and capability in delivering it from a fresh perspective. 

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Adam Karch - Everything Can Change - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everything Can Change, from Adam Karch and it's an interesting mix of acoustic and electric fused folk/blues music with solid vocals. Opening with It's Your Song, a contemporary, radio style track with a solid melody and clean acoustic guitar work, Adam Karch shows his stuff on vocal and guitar, backed by Richard Deschenes on bass and Marc-Andre Drouin on drums. JJ Cale's classic, After Midnight gets a substantial rework and I like it. Starting with acoustic slide and fine finger picking, Karch's stylistic vocal phrasing really changes the track and it's as cool as the original. Very nice. Porch Groove (Sunday Morning) is a real relaxing meandering melody on acoustic guitar. Very nice. Another nice cover is Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. Karch has one of those voices that is warm and refreshing and his picking style is clean and concise. Very nice. Wrapping the release is another Porch Groove (Saturday Evening) with a more contemporary finger picked melody. Karch is a talented musician and vocalist who has put together a real nice release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artists: John Primer & Bob Corritore - The Gypsy Woman Told Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, The Gypsy Woman Told Me, by John Primer & Bob Corritore and it's a great dose of contemporary Chicago style blues. Opening with Keep A-Driving, Primer on vocal and guitar really does a nice job of setting the stage with Corritore supporting nicely and with solid piano work by Bob Welch, Kedar Roy on bass and June Core on drums. With a bit of boogie built in, Knockin' On Your Door, with Primer again leading on vocal gives Corritore a nice chance to spread a bit with great harp tones and Primer's guitar work is tight and well phrased. Lil Son Jackson's Gambling Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with quick paced acoustic guitar and fleet fingered lead by Primer and a fatter harp part by Corritore. Primer's own, Little Bitty Woman falls right from the Muddy Waters tree with a bouncy, Chicago blues pace, riding harp and Waters like slide work by Primer. Very cool. Slow blues, Walking The back Street Crying is one Primer and Corritore can both sink their teeth into with super vocal and instrumentals throughout. Sonny Boy's My Imagination gives Corritore a nice time in the spotlight and his harp is A1. Primer's vocals are of course spot on but this track is here for Bob to shine and he really does a nice job. Another favorite is Left Me With A Broken Heart featuring Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Mike Hightower on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Corritore's harp work is particularly expressive and I always like Flynn's guitar styling. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ain't Gonna Be No Cuttin' Loose with a driving shuffle pace and featuring a real nice solo by Corritore. Flynn again works the guitar nicely working with Corritore to a powerful ending. Solid release. 

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Black Hen Music artist: Maya Rae - Can You See Me? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Can You See Me?, from Maya Rae who demonstrates strong vocal skills and a fine hand for melody to match her lyrical skills. Opening with title track, Can You See Me?, Maya Rae who has a clear, pop style voice, with traces of Joni, Fiona and other successful folk style vocalists backed by guitar whiz Steve Dawson, Jamie Dick on drums, Jon Estes on bass, Kai Welch on keys and uke, and backing vocals by Allison Russell and JT Nero. Very nice opener. With just a dash of country styling, The Sun Will Come Out Again is another strong composition with a solid melody, and includes vibes by Charlie McCoy, Kristin Weber on violin, and Larissa Maestro on cello. I really like the delicate vocal treatment and musical contrast by Rae on Picture Frame and the vocal harmony work on Storm Leaf really makes for a nice pair of tracks. Bluesy, Freedom Fighter, is one of my favorites on the release with Welch on Wurlitzer, Dawson on slide and adding Sam Howard on vocal. Moon Girl has one of those paces that just captivates you and the vocal backing by Russell and Nero beautifully compliment Rae's own lush lead. Wrapping the release is Goodnight River, a simple ballad with only the minimal of backing by Dawson, Dick, Howard and Welch. This is a very nice closer for a solid release. 

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Mark Telesca - Higher Vibrations - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Higher Vibrations, from Mark Telesca and it's a cool acoustic showcase. Opening with original track, 99 Years, Telesca demonstrates an articulate and interesting guitar style while accompanying his solid vocals on this bluesy folk track. Cool opener. Another original track, Turn On A Dime, leans more heavily on Telesca's story telling and his ability to create a cool ambiance with his vocals and guitar. Very nice. Fred McDowell's Louise  gets a nice dose of acoustic slide guitar, further enhancing Telesca's rework of this blues classic. I also like his cover of Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen with clean acoustic guitar work, slide and his own contemporary vocal blues styling. With a cool finger picked style, Papa's On The House Top, has a certain brightness that really makes Telesca shine. Al Green's, I'm A Ram, is toned down substantially but maintains the writers forcefulness in it's own way with  understated guitar work and solid vocal phrasing. Wrapping the release is original shuffle (boogie), Something Just Ain't Right with it's driving rhythm and smooth guitar turn arounds. I really like Telesca's delivery on this one making it a cool closer for a fun release. 

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