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2010 Blues Blast Magazine
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Hey
Blues Fans,
The
Essex
Inn in Chicago at 800 South Michigan Avenue is
the official hotel for the 2010 Blues Blast Music
Awards. The hotel is located one block from
Buddy Guy's Legends where confirmed artists
Candye Kane
Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Marquise
Knox,
Shaun Murphy Band,
Mississippi Heat,
Dave Riley &
Bob Corritore,
Zora Young, Quintus
McCormick, Cash
Box Kings and Jackie
Scott & The Housewreckers will be appearing for
this great event.
Fans coming to Chicago for the event
can get a 20% discount off of normal rates by
telling them you are there for the Blues Blast
awards. Call them at (312) 939-2800 and mention the
awards to get this discount on stays during October
27th to 29th for the awards show.
For tickets and complete information
on the 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards on October 28th
at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago
CLICK HERE. For info on the best seats,
CLICK HERE
Blues Wanderings
We made it
out to the Blue Monday show put on by the Illinois
Central Blues Club this week to catch a set by 2009
International Blues Challenge winner
J.P.
Soars and The Red Hots.
They have a
new CD coming out soon. Based on what we heard at
this show you want to look for it!
In This Issue
Marilyn
Stringer reviews the 2010 Blues By The Bay
Festival in Eureka, CA. We have six new CD
reviews this week! James "Skyy Dobro" Walker reviews
a new CD by Robin Rogers. Belinda Foster reviews a
new CD by Brad Vickers & The Vestapolitans. Mark
Thompson reviews a new CD from JJ Grey & Mofro. John
Mitchell reviews a new CD by Grady Champion.
Steve Jones reviews a new CD from
Guthrie Kennard.
Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony reviews a new
CD by Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters.
All this and MORE! SCROLL DOWN!!! |
Featured Blues
Review 1 of 6
Robin
Rogers - Back in the Fire
Blind Pig Records
http://www.robinrogers.com
11 tracks; 47:28 minutes; Library Quality
Styles: Varieties of Contemporary Blues
If you do not have any Robin Rogers’s CDs in your
home library, get this one immediately. And, if you
have all of her releases, then you’ll definitely
want this one, too. Pardon me for gushing like a
school-girl, but this CD is fantastic. It starts out
strong and just gets better from there!
How do “you” rate and judge an album? One valid
method is: how many listens did it take until one
liked it? My top rated CDs are the ones I enjoyed
and related to with just one listen.
Loved-it-upon-my-first-listen makes Robin Rogers’s
fourth album (second on Blind Pig) my pick for a
guaranteed winner and best value for the dollar. One
other measure cemented “Back in the Fire’s” top
position: my wife also immediately liked it upon
first listen as we were on a road trip – and she is
fussy! Her comment, “This CD could be Album of the
Year.”
Guitarist, singer, and harmonica maven Robin Rogers
is an accomplished veteran of the music scene. Her
life story (found in her bio on her website) reads
like an unbelievable, exploitative Blues novel. If
you read it as a novel, you might criticize it for
being unrealistically over the top. Musically, the
past fifteen years have seen her strongest writing
and creating with musical partner and husband,
guitarist Tony Rogers, in North Carolina.
Well planned variety reigns across the eleven songs
on the CD consisting of eight Robin/Tony originals
and three covers. Robin’s wonderful vocals are
purely Robin but sometimes reminiscent of Reba
Russell and other times Ana Popovic. With Jim Brock,
a cohort over the past ten years, producing and
adding drums and percussion, the overall
instrumentation, and especially the meld, is superb.
Robin’s harp work is just killer - the most she has
ever recorded, and Tony’s guitar work is perfectly
in the mix whether playing lead or rhythm. He is not
the main focus as this is not a guitar hero album.
Mark Stallings on piano and organ is the butter on
the rhythm bread laid down by Kerry Brooks on bass
and Brock’s drumming. Horns are found on some tracks
courtesy of Tim Gordon’s arrangements and saxophones
and Jon Thornton on trumpet. The Rocking,
inspirational final track, “What We Are Worth,”
features a thirty voice backup choir directed by
David Tang and some of Tony’s most harmonic slide
guitar.
Little Willie John’s “(I) Need Your Love So Bad,”
written with his brother Mertis, features a tasty,
single note picked solo courtesy of Bob Margolin.
“Ocean of Tears,” popularized by Big Maybelle, is
radio ready with its Latin beat and Robin singing
like she is going down for the third time.
“Don’t Walk Away Run,” written by Chuck Glass, opens
with beautiful harmonica-over-organ belying the
lyrics to come about necessarily leaving an abusive,
alcoholic partner. The presentation’s relevancy is
perfectly punctuated by Tony’s anguished mid-song
guitar solo.
For a song catchy as the flu, check “Hittin’ on
Nothin.’” Robin belts out, “All I get is talk, talk,
talk! Hit the road Jack - walk, walk, walk. You
ain’t hittin’ on nothin’ unless you got something
for me. ...You promised me a mink coat for my
birthday, and I ain’t seen mink, rat, or rabbit –
make your exit, babe!”
Thank you Robin, Tony, and Jim; this CD will thrill
every time it comes off my library shelf!
Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker
is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies,
and longtime Blues Blast Magazine contributor. His
weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be
heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and
at
www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL.
To See James “Skyy Dobro” Walker's
CD rating system,
CLICK HERE
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
Blues Blast Discount Advertising
Special
Blues Blast Magazine is offering a Fall Ad special.
This is our lowest pricing of the year and offers an
affordable & effective way to get the Blues word
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Blues Blast Magazine is a great way to promote the
Blues. More than 17,000 Blues fans read our magazine
each week. They are located in all 50 states and in
more than 80 countries. We also get more than
1,000,000 (That's ONE MILLION) hits and more than
25,000 visitors a month on our website. Normal 2010
Advertising rates are $45 a week for Blues Blast
magazine ads and website ads are $70 per month.
BUT, for a limited time, you can advertise your
Blues event or CD in six issues of Blues Blast
Magazine and on our website for a month and a half
for less that the cost of a small ad in your local
newspaper. To get the special rate of $180 simply
reserve your ad space by October 15th, 2010. Ads
can be booked to run anytime between September 15,
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So for only $180 your ad can be seen more than
135,000 times by Blues fans who want to know about
Blues events and music! Reserve your space today!
Space is limited and will be sold on a first come
first served basis. Ads must be reserved and paid
for before October 15, 2010. To get more information
email
info@thebluesblast.com or call 309 267-4425
today! |
Blues Society News
Send your Blues Society's BIG
news or Press Release to:
You can submit a maximum of 175 words or less in a
Text or MS Word document format.
The Decatur Blues Society - Decatur, IL
The Decatur Blues Society is holding their 1st
annual "Blues Challenge" October 16th at the Bourbon
Barrel in Decatur, Illinois. The winner of the band
& the solo/duo divisions will receive a slot in the
2011 International Blues Competition in Memphis next
February. In addition $1,000 travel money will be
awarded the band winner, & $500 to the solo/duo
winner. Information & entry forms are available at
www.decaturblues.org Entry deadline is
September 25th.
The Wichita Blues Society - Wichita, KS
The Wichita Blues Society presents the Fall Blues
Crawl Sunday, Sept. 26 at 5p.m. in Wichita Old Town.
Cost: $5 - get your wristbands at each of the venues
and at the WBS tent in the Old Town Plaza. Who's
Playing? Loft 150* - Nobody's Business, Heroes* -
Berry Harris, Brickyard - Fabulous Fleshtones, Morts
- JukeRoots, Larkspur* – Cleveland Blue (challenge
winner), Rock Island Live – Josh Vowell & The Rumble
(challenge winner), America's Pub - 360 Degrees and
at Club Indigo - Made from Scratch. There will be an
after party at 8 p.m. with Samantha Fish Blues Band
from K.C. at America's Pub for more information
visit
www.wichitablues.org
Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL
BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St,
Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm
$3 cover. September 20 - Rich Febec Blues Band,
September 27 - Eric Guitar Davis, October 4 - Big
Jeff Chapman, October 11 - Too Slim & the
Taildraggers, October 18 - Reverend Raven & the
Chain Smoking Altar Boys, October 25 - Perry Weber &
the Devilles.
http://icbluesclub.org/
The West Virginia Blues Society - Huntington,
W.V.
The 4th Annual Appalachian Blues Competition is
Oct.2, 2010 at Tomahawks Smokehouse & Saloon
Sponsored by the West Virginia Blues Society.
Winners in Band, Solo/Duo and Youth Division will
move on to the International Blues Challenge In
Memphis, Tn. Feb 2011. Entry fee is: $ 50. Cash
Prizes will be, 1 St. Place $ 500 Band Winner, 2 nd.
Place $200 Band, Solo/Duo Winner $ 200 and $ 100
Youth Division. Rules and App. at
www.wvbluessociety.org or call, 304-389-1439.
Deadline is Sept. 15, 2010.
The Friends Of The Blues - Watseka, IL
2010 Friends of the Blues shows - September 21,
Shawn Pittman, 7 pm , Kankakee Valley Boat Club,
October 12, Too Slim & Taildraggers, 7 pm , Kankakee
Valley Boat Club, October 26, Perry Weber & DeVilles,
7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club. For
more info see:
http://www.wazfest.com/JW.html
Mississippi Valley Blues Society - Davenport, IA
MVBS Presents Shawn Pittman Wednesday September 22 -
The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents the
Texas blues of Shawn Pittman on Wednesday September
22 at The Muddy Waters, 1708 State Street,
Bettendorf. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. Admission
is $7, $5 for MVBS members. For more info, visit our
website at
www.mvbs.org |
Featured Blues
Review 2 of 6
Brad
Vickers & His Vestapolitans - ‘Stuck With the
Blues’
ManHatTone 1060
www.myspace.com/vestapolitans
www.cdbaby.com/vestapolitans
14 tracks; 59 minutes 4 seconds
Styles: Down Home Blues, Rag-Time, Skiffle,
Hokum, jump-blues with electric & acoustic guitar,
upright bass, fiddle, clarinet, tenor & baritone
sax, piano and percussion
Players: Brad Vickers, electric guitar/vocals;
Margey Peters, electric bass/fiddle/vocals; Arne
Englund, piano/electric guitar; Jim Davis, tenor
sax/clarinet; Matt Cowan, baritone sax; Bill Rankin,
drums; Dave Gross, upright bass; V.D. King, acoustic
guitar/maracas/vocals; Bobby Radcliff, electric
guitar.
Those ethnomusicologists Vestapolitans (say it fast
three times) have done it again, with their 2nd
release ‘Stuck With the Blues’. And by the way,
since so many have asked what is a ‘Vestapolitan’,
I’ll give it a shot—I’m assuming it’s a clever name
for the band of players who embrace old-timey open D
tuning and music. I’m sure you can send a FaceBook
or Myspace message or an email to find out; they’d
love to hear from you!
Much
like their 1st release ‘Le Hot Blues’, this
second release serves up an even bigger dollop of
Blues, Ragtime, Skiffle, Swing, Early Americana
Rock-and-Roll and original music that reflects the
classics we all love and like to see covered
including the stylings of the likes of Tampa Red,
Jimmy Reed, Big Bill Broonzy, Jelly Roll Morton,
Chuck Berry and beyond. And this time, they use a
larger band and broader musical palette.
Additionally two of the songs feature special guest,
friend and guitarist—Bobby Radcliff (influenced by
“Magic Sam” Maghett in the 60’s).
To refresh your memory, Brad Vickers—the leader of
this troupe--has played, toured and recorded with a
long list of great American blues and roots artists
from whom he draws inspiration for his own songs—as
evidenced by his original first track, ‘Stuck With
the Blues’. Get ready—band mates Jim Davis and Matt
Cowan come out blazin’ the tenor and baritone sax
with a rock & roll intro alongside Brad’s electric
guitar. Arne Englund shows us how it’s done on rock
& roll piano and Margey does her thing with harmonic
vocals and electric bass.
Move on into Mississippi territory with Track 2 ‘I’m
Betting on You’. This time Jim delights us with
playful clarinet shout outs as Brad and Margey do
that vocal thing they do while the rhythm of the
group beats along like a well-oiled jalopy.
Keep that Mississippi feel with some hill country
droning in Track 3’s ‘Cold Fish’ and add the
enjoyment of Margey on fiddle and Dave Gross on
upright bass this time. By the way, this is one of
the tracks Bobby Radcliff adds his electric guitar
rifts. Love love love the horn solos of tenor and
baritone sax! Howlin Wolf would have loved an invite
to sit in on this Brad Vickers original!
Chuck Berry inspired Track 5 ‘What About Me’ will
have you up and twisting your money maker to classic
early rock & roll; enjoy the fancy ivory finger-work
of Arne Englund, wow, Arne! And Jim gives us more
tenor sax when he jumps into the jam. Keeping the
beat is Bill Rankin, laying down the pocket on all
the tracks.
Next, get ready for some upbeat Memphis string, jug
and brass band inspiration with Brad and Margey’s
‘Vestapol Rag’ instrumental on Track 7. Then slide
on into some Jelly Roll Morton with Margey’s lead
vocal rendition of ‘Winding Boy’. Pick up the beat
with Brad’s favorite Chuck Berry song ‘Jaguar and
the Thunderbird’. The band knows how to get you
moving with their house-band jam on this one.
Brad’s original Track 10 ‘I Want To Tell You Right
Now’ reminds me of ‘I found my thrill on Blueberry
Hill’ followed by the same early blues-rock time
period sound in Track 11’s ‘Coming and Going’ while
Bobby Radcliff adds another layer of fancy electric
guitar rifts to Brad’s. Of course, on every track
you can just count on my horn section, piano and
pocket men!
Margey gets her vagabond on with her original ‘Hobo
Jungle’ on Track 12. She can write, sing and scratch
out a mean fiddle diddy. With her original ‘They
Gave Us the Blues’, she pays homage to some of the
old masters and legends, using a radio-commentator
voice over in between lyrics as if she was reading
from the personal journals of Scrapper Blackwell,
Memphis Minnie (‘Won’t You Be My Chauffer’) and
Tampa Red.
And end the CD with Jimmy Reed’s ‘I’m A Love You’, a
jumped up version with all the players in the house,
including V.D. King and Dave Gross.
What I like about this group is they are the real
deal blues-early-rock-and-roll torch carriers,
vowing to keep American’s Modern Music and history
alive and strong every time they go into the studio.
You can always, 100% of the time, count on strong
jam interludes, blazing horns, a showcasing of every
individual and their instrument (no one will go
‘unnoticed’ because they all are equally talented)
and a consistent danceable, boogie-woogie,
foot-tapping, thigh slapping cacophony on every
track. This is their gift to you, and to the world.
Thank you Brad Vickers & your Vestapolitans. Keep up
the good work!
Reviewer Belinda Foster is a Web-TV Host for
www.greenvillehd.com, a Columnist and
Contributing Writer for Greenville SC Magazine
“Industry Mag” and former manager of Mac Arnold &
Plate Full O’Blues. She is a devoted promoter and
support of live blues root music and history, making
frequent trips to Clarksdale MS and the Delta
Region. Her column “The Upstate Blues Report can be
found on line at
www.mega-scene.com.
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
Featured Review 3
of 6
JJ
Grey & Mofro - Georgia Warhorse
Alligator Records
www.jjgrey.com
11 tracks/53:02
With their first release nine years ago, Mofro
introduced their unique sound to the world. It was a
heady blend of funkiness nurtured in the Florida
swamps combined with blues and southern rock
influences. The band’s earthy approach attracted
attention worldwide, seemingly keeping the band on a
perpetual tour. When they changed labels in 2006
from Fog City Records to Alligator, JJ Grey’s name
was highlighted to reflect his stature as the band’s
driving force and principal songwriter.
His long-time collaborator, guitarist Daryl Hance,
continued to be an integral part of Mofro on the
first two Alligator releases but his name is missing
from the credits for the latest recording, leaving
Grey as the lone original member. Dan Prothero, head
of Fog City Records, continues his streak as the
band’s only producer. In the liner notes, Grey sings
the praises of engineer Jim Devito and his
Restrophonics Studio, the only facility that Grey
has recorded in. And the results speak for
themselves as both men are definitely attuned to
sound that Grey is trying to capture.
Listen to the rhythmic pulse and taut guitar riff on
“The Hottest Spot in Hell”. Chris von Sneidern on
percussion sets a relentless pace behind Grey, who
dials back the vocal intensity due to surging force
generated by the band. The closing track follows,
with Grey unleashing his magnificent voice on
“Lullaby” with guest Derek Trucks adding a tortured
slide guitar part to the proceedings. The title
track is another highlight, with a sound like the
Lowell George-era Little Feat. It refers to the
nickname for a tough grasshopper that has qualities
Grey sees in himself. “All” features an excited
vocal by Grey and magnificent drumming from Anthony
Cole.
Grey’s acoustic guitar is featured on the
arrangement for “Hide & Seek” along with his
patented soulful singing. Cushioned by a horn
section on “The Sweetest Thing”, famed reggae artist
Toots Hibbert joins Grey, setting up a vocal
exchange that ends in a draw as each singer turns in
a colorful performance. “King Hummingbird” tackles
the quest of a man seeking redemption. The track
steadily grows in power until Grey cries out in
agony, seeking forgiveness. “Slow, Hot & Sweaty” is
an apt title for a piece that could easily fill any
dance floor in the country with its grinding rhythm.
The track also brings to light maybe the only
weakness of the project. Grey occasionally falls
victim to using a certain snippet of lyrics
repeatedly in a song, which detracts from the solid
musical foundation on every cut.
Grey handles all of the vocal and remaining guitar
parts in addition to playing piano, synthesizer,
clavinet, talkbox and harmonica. Additional band
members include Andrew rube on bass and lap steel
guitar, Anthony Farrell on keyboards, Art Edmaistron
on tenor saxophone, Dennis Marion on trumpet and
Adam Scone, who brightens several tracks with his
Hammond B3 organ. Together they energize Grey’s
deeply personal compositions that take an unwavering
glimpse of the world with all of its joy and pain,
emotions that are expressed in Grey’s fervent
singing. If you haven’t checked out any of the
previous releases, make sure you give Georgia
Warhorse a thorough listen so that you will no
longer be deprived of the many savory moments served
up by JJ Grey & Mofro.
Reviewer
Mark Thompson is president of the
Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
Featured Blues
Review 4 of 6
Grady
Champion – Back In Mississippi - Live At The
930 Blues Café
Earwig Records
14 tracks, 71.20 minutes.
www.gradychampion.com
www.myspace/.com/gradychampion
Grady Champion won the IBC in 2010 and as a
consequence has since appeared at the Chicago Blues
Festival and will be on the Pacific LRBC in October.
This CD was recorded live on the very memorable date
of 07/07/07 and has since been sold at gigs. Earwig
Records picked up the distribution of the CD
following Grady’s IBC win, making the CD available
far more widely.
As you would expect from a live disc, the atmosphere
of the live experience is there and Grady has given
us a value for money CD here. The material covers
his own material from earlier releases on Shanachie
as well as a dip into the catalogues of the greats
of the Blues. Grady wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 14
tracks, the remainder coming from Howling Wolf, BB
King, Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon and Curtis Jones (the
final credit is for the Intro spoken by guitarist
Eddie Cotton).
The band is a five piece, with Grady’s son Marquise
on bass, Frank White on drums, Calvin Wilson on
keys, Eddie Cotton on guitar and Grady on lead
vocals and harp. Everyone covers backing vocals and
there is a short rap on one track by the splendidly
named Jacktown Swiff! On one track there is a
substitute drummer, Xavres Good.
After the intro Grady sets off into Willie Dixon’s
“I’m Ready” and we are immediately in Muddy Waters
territory. Grady’s harp and Eddie Cotton’s guitar
take us back to Chicago in the 60s, immediately
followed by a medley of Jimmy Reed’s classics “Baby
What Do You Want Me To Do/Bright Lights, Big City”.
Grady has a strong voice with just a touch of
‘growl’ and the versions of these classic tunes are
well done.
There is then a run of three self composed tunes.
“You Got Some Explaining To Do” and “Policeman
Blues” are co-writes with Dennis Walker who used to
write with and produce Robert Cray and did the same
for Grady’s first Shanachie release, “Payin’ For My
Sins”. “You Got Some Explaining To Do” moves along
really well with a hook chorus of the title and a
nice guitar solo. “Policeman Blues” recounts an
incident when Grady was pulled over by the cops and
handled rather roughly. Lovely piano and understated
guitar underpin the vocal and we are definitely in
soul territory here until the short rap vocal
appears but does not overstay its welcome. Between
those two songs is “1-800 Blu Love”, a funky little
number with solid harp and guitar breaks in the
middle.
Extended versions of Wolf’s “Spoonful” and Curtis
Jones’ “Lonesome Bedroom Blues” follow, both done
well. Again, Grady’s voice is ideally suited to a
song like “Spoonful” which we all know so well. The
song is taken at a slightly brisker pace than in
many versions and the bouncy beat on the chorus sets
up the solos well (harp and guitar). “Lonesome
Bedroom Blues” is a slow blues and a feature for
Eddie Cotton’s plaintive guitar, backed by piano and
organ. The introductory section is as good an
example of the slow blues as you will find and we
should remember John Mayall saying that the true
test of any guitarist is when he is asked to play a
slow blues.
From here to the end of the album it’s all original
material apart from a version of BB King’s “Why I
Sing The Blues” which is sympathetically done in a
funky upbeat style with solos for everyone. The
originals start with “Love And Memories”, a ballad
rather than a slow blues, telling the story of
Grady’s late Mother, with fine harmony vocals and an
emotive guitar solo adding to the real sense of loss
in the lyrics. Oddly the tune is faded out at the
end of the guitar solo, so there may have been a
technical problem.
“Wine And Women” is a cautionary tale of the
pitfalls that a young man may fall into and the
recommendation is not to mix them! “Brother,
Brother” is a highlight, with a strong organ
background and vocal. Not really blues, but very
effective, with a strong guitar solo more in a rock
vein than elsewhere on the CD. I liked this one a
lot!
“I’m Yours” is another ballad and another one that
is edited short during the guitar solo. We then
close with “Blues On Christmas” which makes a rather
strange ending to the CD as it was clearly not
seasonal for July! It’s a straight blues tune based
on the traditional motifs of Christmas trees, etc,
complete with a touch of “Jingle Bells” at the end.
Overall this is a good CD with many highlights. It
should get Grady wider attention through the wider
distribution and I am sure that we will see him on
lots of festival bills in the future.
Reviewer John Mitchell is a blues
enthusiast based in the UK. He is looking forward to
attending the Blues Blast Awards in Chicago in
October.
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
Sean
Costello Memorial Fund's Second Annual Benefit
Concert
A Blues And
Roots Festival
Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Tabernacle's Cotton Club
152 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA
Performances by Burnt Bacon,
Candye Kane, Coy Bowles and the Fellowship, Jon
Justice, Seth Walker, and Sonia Leigh
A limited number of advance
tickets are available at
http://www.seancostellofund.org. Tickets are
also on sale at
http://www.livenation.com (search Sean
Costello) and at the Tabernacle Box Office. Advance
ticket purchases will include a special DVD of Sean.
Ticket cost is $30.00 (plus applicable service fees)
in advance and $35 (plus applicable service fees) at
the door. Sponsorship information is available at
http://www.seancostellofund.org/sponsors.html
The Sean Costello Memorial Fund
for Bipolar Research is uniquely focused on the
needs of musicians with bipolar disorder. The Fund
supports and conducts research on bipolar disorder
and creativity while promoting awareness, providing
education, and serving as a resource for these
musicians and their support systems in order to
foster acceptance, functioning and health.
For volunteer opportunities,
silent auction donations, and more information,
please visit
http://www.seancostellofund.org |
Featured Blues
Review 5 of 6
Guthrie
Kennard - Matchbox
Rango Records
http://www.guthriekennard.com/
10 tracks
I’ve listened to this CD many times now and every
time I come away with a new and different
impression. At first it seemed to be a nice short
set of songs with Dylan-esque gravelly vocals. I
wasn’t at impressed at first as I am now. Vocally,
it is a crackle-filled approach to singing, with
drawn out nasal sounds and a little distortion
thrown in. That’s only where part of the charm of
this comes from; Kennard’s singing adds a little
backwoods authentic sound to the songs.
What really sounds cool and made this album for me
is the blend of acoustic, baritone and electric
guitar work by Kennard with some slide, electric,
acoustic, resonator guitars and mandolin
interspersed throughout by four other artists.
Couple this web of six string harmony with Kennard’s
angst filled lyrics, and you have an interesting
little CD with acoustic and electric guitar blended
together well and vocals by Kennard and backed
occasionally by a few more of his friends .
Who is Guthrie Kennard? He’s a Texas based
singer-songwriter who was originally from Richmond,
VA and transitioned to Texas between 1968 and 1971,
when he made Texas his permanent new home. From his
website bio: “He recorded with Smokin’ Joe and
Doyle Bramhall, Sr, on Bird Records. Opening for
artists including Robin Trower, John Mayall, Taj
Mahal, Leon Russell and Donovan He toured Europe
with Grammy winner Marc Benno, and co-wrote
“Laverne” on Benno’s album “Snake Charmer.” While in
Europe Guthrie played some great venues like the
Womad Festival, The Colne Festival, Nuits de Blues,
the International Music Festival in Turkey and most
recently the Cork Jazz & Blues Festival in Cork
Ireland. After a career of collaboration with some
great musicians, Guthrie finally broke out on his
own as a singer / songwriter to tell his own story
on his first CD “Ranch Road 12” produced by
legendary Texas troubadour Ray Wylie Hubbard. Now
with his newest projects “Unmade Beds” released
October 2009 and “Matchbox” to be released in early
2010 Guthrie continues to brand his own unique style
of music.”
Kennard delivers a sound that is a blend of Piedmont
and Texas hill country with lyrics filled with
life’s struggles, hopes and despair. Songs like
“Another Day, Another Dollar”, “Streets of Juarez”
and “Bristol” evoke pictures of lives without hope,
a dark and somewhat grim but realistic commentary on
life in Kennard’s eyes. The melodies are simplistic
yet haunting, and when you blend Kennard and the
sounds of the other musicians the songs begin to
grip you and tear at your soul.
The 10 tracks here depict an experience of life in
Texas, a world where happiness is fleeting and every
small moment of joy should be savored for it may be
the last. As I said, these tracks grew and grew on
me. Filled with darker themes and grit, but still a
very interesting listen!
Reviewer
Steve Jones is secretary of the
Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
Featured Festival
Review
Blues by the Bay - Eureka, CA
Labor Day Weekend -2010
What a great way to end the summer
with a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, through
the redwoods, and land in Eureka, CA. The festival
hosts one stage with a lineup that was “monster”. I
use that word because it just kept getting better
with every set and half way through the second day,
I couldn’t think of any other word to describe this
festival. And the drummers that day were beyond
monster.
Saturday started out foggy but
broke out into great sunshine. The protected bay
next to the festival was full of boats enjoying the
music and the crowd was the largest they had seen –
double from previous years. Everyone was waiting for
a good time and got what they came for. The first
set was a local singer/songwriter – The Anna
Hamilton Trio – and was just a really pleasant way
to start the day. Anna was full of great stories and
songs and stayed at the festival the whole weekend
and jammed Saturday night at the Casino.
Next up was Otis Taylor, with his
daughter Cassie on bass and Larry Thompson on drums.
Otis loves to interact with the crowd encouraging
everyone to come closer and eventually he traveled
through the festival with his harmonica. He is
always a treat and Cassie singing the blues with her
dad is pretty heart-warming.
I was really looking forward to
seeing the Ty Curtis Band again. I saw them in
Portland and was so impressed with them. They came
in 2nd at the 2009 IBC’s and that win was well
deserved. Ty rips on the guitar while Hank Shreve
matches his finesse on the harmonica and keyboards.
Willie Barber was on bass and Dave “Super D” Brown
was keeping it lively on the drums. They got the
festival in full gear.
Crank it up a notch - if possible.
Wake up the neighborhood! Shane Dwight is the guy
for that! His combination of Rockin’ Blues,
Americana, Alternative County, and pure Rock N Roll,
all combined into his original songs, can always get
everyone fired up. And I think he blew the fog away.
His band members – Kit Bergman on drums and Kevin
Stewart on bass – keep up with him with their own
style. Shane is always fun to watch (and shoot – if
I can up with him!).
Ok, so as much as the lineup was
killer already, I always will travel far and wide to
see Curtis Salgado and have since I first heard him
in the early 90’s. And when he has Lloyd Jones and
The Big Band with him, I am in Blues Heaven. Curtis
can sing and play the harmonica like nobody on this
planet. I turn to mush and want to capture every
note in photos. Lloyd Jones has so much fun playing
guitar, and is so good, that you just want more.
Dave Mills (trumpet & master arranger) & Gary Harris
(sax), Dave Fleschner (keyboards), Russ Kleiner
(drums), and good buddy Tracy Arrington (bass) all
complete the “perfect blues band”. How come their
set went so fast?
Finishing out the day, but adding
to the great fun, was the Commander Cody Band (aka
George Frayne). Playing around on the keyboards,
Commander Cody just takes you back to the fun years
with songs like Hot Rod Lincoln and gets the crowd
singing and smiling and remembering those Happy
Days. His band included Ron Marone (guitar), Tim
Eschliman (Bass), Dave Zirbman (steel), and
long-time band member Steve Barbuto (drums). We got
to spend the evening with George and Steve and Tracy
A. at the Blue Lake Casino after the festival, host
to many of the bands and the Saturday night jam with
the Red Mystics. It is a great place for jamming,
gambling, socializing, and a good night’s rest
before the festival the next day.
Sunday started early (9:15) but
the sun was up and the first band was not going to
allow any snoozers in the crowd. Considered the best
dance band in the Eureka area, Dr. Squid was the
right medicine for the Sunday morning opener. If the
crowd wasn’t lined up along the sides dancing it was
because they were waiting in the coffee line. Dr.
Squid (not sure which one was the Doc) consists of
Eldin Green (sax), Bob Martinez (drums), Jim Dale
(bass), Rick Nelson (keys), and Bridget Devaney
(vocals).
Following their late night jam at
the Casino, the Red Mystics didn’t seem to notice
that it was still before noon. Although they sounded
great the night before, they seemed to improve on
the big stage. The festival grounds were the perfect
size to hear the music from anywhere on the grounds.
Nicole Falzone (drummer and lead vocals) has a
beautiful, joyful voice. JP Durand (lead guitar) had
so many styles on the guitar – from sultry Latin to
deep, soulful, blues. Liza Carbe played a mean bass
and Drake Shining pulled off a new one – he played
his Apple computer. Seriously, he hooked up the
Apple and could cover anything on the keyboards
through his computer. I was fascinated and had a
long chat with about it. “It’s pretty easy to pack
in the suitcase. Why not?” I really enjoyed the
mystical Red Mystics and would love to hear them
again.
Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers
were up next and seemed to be in high spirits. I
have never seen Rod having such a good time. He was
giggling and laughing through the set and it was
just fun. The band and crowd picked up on it and it
was one of the best sets I have seen them play. And
Rod is great for working his way through the crowd.
Honey was fantastic on the keyboards, Henry Carjaval
wailed on his guitar, up on his toes and playing
with all his might, and David Kida started the run
of the monster drummers. And it was so great to have
Gary Harris, from Curtis’ band on Saturday, come and
play the sax with Rod.
The next band, and a new treat for
a lot of us left coasters, was Teresa James and the
Rhythm Tramps. Teresa is pure southern sweetheart. I
just saw a quote on Amazon. “Teresa James sings like
a healthier Janis Joplin and a whiter Aretha
Franklin and plays piano like Dr. John’s little
sister”. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Love
her band! It included Jerry Peters on two saxes (at
the same time), Mike Menrell (bass), Tommy Kay
(guitar), and monster drummer, number two, Herman
Mathews.
Kick it up a notch. Again. Walter
Trout. He lands on stage and never stops. BBC Radio
One says Walter Trout “the Stratocaster Master is
number six of the Top 20 guitarists of all time” and
BBC Disc Jockey Bob Harris calls him “The World’s
greatest rock guitarist”. I believe them. So while
Walter is blowing away the guitar, Ronnie Smith
(Tommy Castro’s drummer) and I are at the side of
the stage, awestruck, watching Michael Leasure go
monster on the drums. This was the third monster
drummer in a row and Ronnie was the fourth. Each one
topped the next. Walter’s band includes Rick Knapp
on bass and Sammy Avila on the B3. He also brought
up a guest guitar player for a quieter song. What a
set. And by this time the wind had picked up to
about 20 miles an hour and the temps were dropping.
Nobody even noticed.
The Tommy Castro Band brought us
back to reality with the great blues we love to hear
from him. He is the epitome of the crowd favorite
for dancing and grooving and always lives up to the
“Best Blues Band” award he received earlier this
year. Tommy is great for playing out in the crowd,
dancing with Scot Sutherland (bass) and giving his
band all the just due and time for their talents
with great solos. And what was great, this was Tony
Stead’s home town area – pretty cool to have his
family and friends see him perform. Always a great
set from Tommy and the band: Ronnie Smith (drums),
Tony Stead (keys), Scot Sutherland (bass), Tom Poole
(trumpet), Keith Crossan (sax).
After two extended sets from
Walter & Tommy, in anticipation that Kim Wilson
might have difficulties getting to Eureka in time,
it was time for Kim Wilson & The Fabulous
Thunderbirds. The sun was setting, the wind was
blowing, the air was chilly, and the stage and
festival grounds were not set with lights. But,
Fabulous is what Kim and the band brought to Eureka
for the final act. They zipped up the fleeces and
put on a show that really completed a great
festival. They played their hearts out and the crowd
stayed until the last note was played. They are: Kim
Wilson (harmonica/vocals), Johnny Moeller (guitar),
Mike Keller (guitar), Randy Bermudes (bass), and Jay
Moeller (drums) - and they really are Fabulous.
Thanks to all the staff and
volunteers and sponsors for a great festival. It is
definitely a great way to spend Labor Day Weekend.
And thanks to the Blue Lake Casino for their support
and participation in the festival. For more info:
www.bluesbythebay.org
Photos & commentary by
Marilyn Stringer
(go to
MJStringerPhoto.com for an eventual full set of
photos) |
Featured Review 6
of 6
Ronnie
Earl And The Broadcasters - Spread The Love
Stony Plain
www.ronnieearl.com
time-75:14
After wading through countless cd's of well
intentioned "blues musicians", it's sure a welcome
relief to get back to a practitioner of the real
thing. Ronnie Earl and his cohorts couldn't make a
bum recording if they tried. His name on anything is
an endorsement of a quality and heartfelt endeavor.
Here he sticks to strictly instrumentals with the
only outside help being a few substitute bass
players on a handful of tracks. Past efforts have
included guest vocalists and instrumentalists, as
well as a gospel vocal group offering occasionally.
Blues and forays into jazz and ethereal spiritual
instrumental excursions owing to Roy Buchanan, and
to a lesser extent Carlos Santana, are the fare
here. Earl regularly leaves space for Dave Limina to
exhibit his considerable skills B-3 organ and/or
piano skills, all the while ably anchored by Jim
Mouradian and Lorne Entress on bass and drums
respectively. Ronnie is one of the select few
guitarists working today who has an encyclopedic
vocabulary of blues styles at his disposal. His
spirituality transmits from his brain to his fingers
to the strings to the listeners ears down to their
soul. The only thing keeping him from a larger
audience is his more recent reluctance to perform
too far from his New England home. the faithful who
seek out his recorded output are well rewarded time
after time.
After a driving version of Albert Collins'
"Backstroke", the second tune "Blues For Dr. Donna"
is a guitar-bass stroll thru the Delta, often
conquering up Lighting Hopkins, offered as a tribute
to his wife. Kenny Burrell's "Chitlins Con Carne" is
given a pretty straight reading, giving equal time
to Limina's organ. The specter of Roy Buchanan is
invoked on the soaring Buchanan-style blues of
"Miracle" bending and squeezing notes leading into
scattered-note-flurries reaching for the heavens.
Duke Pearson's "Cristo Redentor"(usually associated
with Charlie Musselwhite's harp version) and the
Duane Allman tribute "Skyman" again find Earl
exploring Roy's more spiritual side ala Buchanan's
"The Messiah Will Come Again". "Skyman' is an
exercise in moody string-bending that doesn't
attempt to replicate Duane's style. Drummer Lorne
Entress' "Patience" is a tranquil gospel-inspired
tune. About three-fourth's of the material here
finds Ronnie in various blues styles. "Blues For
Slim" is a slow but tough Chicago blues workout,
while "Tommy's Midnight Blues" builds from a short
Otis Rush intro-into a brief quiet Buddy
Guy-string-squeezing segment into a hard-charging
Chicago blues attack. T-Bone Walker is the
inspiration for the jazzy-blues featured in "Ethan's
Song". "Spann's Groove" is a boogie-woogie piano
workout for Dave Limina. The musical journey is
closed out with an acoustic finger-picked front
porch blues via "Blues For Bill".
As Ronnie Earl continues to build on his guitar
canon we get to reap his spiritual sincerity. Often
while listening, especially to his more spiritual
toned songs, you get that feeling of
unfulfilled-musical-searching that Miles Davis had
in his music. Ronnie may never find that perfect
note, but listening to him try will be something to
bring enjoyment and fulfillment to anyone who opens
their heart to it..
Reviewer Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony
is from the New Jersey Delta. He is the proprietor
of Bluesdog's Doghouse at
http://bluesdog61.multiply.com.
For other reviews and interviews
on our website
CLICK HERE |
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