The Snakehandlers Blues Band - Rock plus Roll

Self Release

www.thesnakehandlers.com

11 songs; 42:56 minutes; Splendid

Styles: “Blues Fueled Rock and Roll” and Blues

I’m in the mood for some fun. No, I mean a damn good time. I want to see The Snakehandlers Blues Band live, and not in a concert setting where everyone is sitting politely in nice straight rows. I want to hear them in a rowdy, crowded Midwestern venue where you have to rub against people just to get to the bar. It’ll be a friendly people, get drunk, stomp the floor, dance your shoes off, puke out the car’s back window on the way home good time.

Based in Central Indiana, The Snakehandlers Blues Band is a slice of America. Start with their name, “Snakehandlers.” For me, it conjures unbelievable stories of Tennessee fundamentalists. Then check their song titles: “My Cadillac,” “Slip into the Leather,” “Bad Girls,” “Long-Legged Woman,” and “90 Miles an Hour” – Americana, right? Finally, the themes are the essence of many American Blues songs: cars, women, kinky fantasy, misery, plus, on this debut recording, immoral, rich fat-cats getting their come-uppance (Madoff, et al).

With “Rock plus Roll,” one gets eleven original songs from six musicians with a mountain of experience and an undying love and appreciation for Rhythm, Blues, and Rock and Roll. Songwriter and guitarist Frank Dean and drummer Carl Lo Sasso, both formerly of Sindacato, were the main Snakehandlers’ organizers. Dean brought along Floyd Tucker on bass while Lo Sasso recruited Bob Schneider on keyboards. Cadillac Scott Parkhurst was enlisted for harmonica, and Clint Crabb came on board for Duane Allman / Derek Trucks style slide guitar. Vocals are traded between all but Crabb, and song writing is credited to mainly Dean plus Parkhurst, Schneider, and Lo Sasso.

The opening song, “Bad Girls,” immediately introduces the listener to what the Snakehandlers are all about. The music explodes from the full band with honking harp in the lead. Then the lyrics, this Bad Girl “... screamed just like a banshee / And bit like a borrowed mule / She taught me things I never learned / In any kind of school. ... if it weren’t for bad girls / I’d have me no good times.”

Scott Parkhurst provides harmonica and growled, Tom Waits style vocals on “Ain't Stayin' the Night.” The narrator tells an unfaithful lover that her promises to change are falling on deaf ears: “You got your hand on the Bible, swear you've seen the light. I don't know where you're going, but you sure ain't stayin' the night.” Crabb takes a tasty slide guitar solo at the end.

A slow Blues is my favorite track, “Face Down and Fallin.’” From palpalable misery in the singer’s voice to weeping harp to killer slide guitar, this song will put a tear in your beer.

Ready to Rock? Try the ruckus “Daddy's Little Angel” with guest Gary Woodworth on saxophone. “My Cadillac” is so good one wonders if Parkhurst is on commission from GM. With its call-and-response chorus, the song is American as apple pie and baseball.

Colorado Blues Society - Boulder, CO

On Feb 13, 2011 please join CBS for an afternoon of Blues and Heart Awareness at Jazz at Jacks in the Denver Pavillions (500 16th Street Suite 320 Denver, Colorado 303-433-1000) . National recording Blues star, Deanna Bogart is headlining the event. Deanna, the 'Girl in the Band', is a multi talented award-winning pianist, writer, songstress and saxophone player, who has performed with the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Revue in addition to fronting her own outstanding band. Joining Deanna on the marquee are three extremely talented Colorado Blues bands: Papa Juke, the Delta Sonics, and Eef & She Grooves.

In addition to a fabulous Blues lineup, the afternoon will present valuable information on cardiovascular disease and strokes. There will be an AHA informational booths and Heart Check America will provide free heart scans to emphasize the importance of heart health awareness and early detection. There will also be silent auctions and raffles with some pretty amazing prizes.

The funds raised will be presented to AHA and will go towards public health education, early detection, research and community service. Tickets are $20. www.coblues.com

The Grafton Blues Association - Grafton, WI

The Grafton Blues Association & the Cedarburg Cultural Center will present Tinsley Ellis on Thursday March 24 at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Doors open at 6pm show starts at 7pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Tickets are $14 in advance for GBA and CCC members, $15 in advance for non-members and $17 at the door for everyone. For more info visit - www.graftonblues.org

Mississippi Valley Blues Society - Davenport, IA

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society will celebrate Black History Month by bringing Chicago blues guitarist, singer, educator, and actor Doktu Rhute Muuzic to the Quad-Cities February 7-11 for the third of four residencies of the 2010/2011 Blues in the Schools Artists in Residence series. Doktu Rhute will conduct workshops at ten area schools and three free, open-to-the-public performances. He will present a program of music and song that incorporates blues history with the world today. The free, open-to-the-public performances are: Tuesday Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.—Borders in Davenport, Wednesday Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. —Mojo’s in the River Music Experience, 2nd and Main in Davenport and Thursday Feb. 10 at 3 p.m.—Bettendorf Public Library. www.mvbs.org

The Great Northern Blues Society - Wausau, WI

The Great Northern Blues Society in Wausau, WI will be hosting their annual fundraising event “Blues Café’”, on Saturday 3/26/11 at the Rothschild Pavilion. (Near Wausau, WI)

Performing will be Jumpship Blues Band, 12 Year Old Tallan Noble Latz, Red White & Blues Band, Young British Blues Diva Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Atlanta Based Blues Guitar Flamethrower Tinsley Ellis. The Fun Starts at 1:00PM. $13 in advance, $18 at the door. Bulk ticket rates also available. For more info see www.gnbs.org

Blues Blowtorch Society - Bloomington, IL

The Blues Blowtorch society present Blues Blast Music Award winners Mississippi Heat for their monthly 1st Friday Blues event at The Castle Theatre at 209 East Washington Street in Bloomington, Illinois on February 4th, 2011. The show starts at 7:00pm. Admission is $10 for the general public and only $6 for BBS members. BBS members MUST present their membership card to receive the discount.

For more information call 309-820-0352 or visit www.bluesblowtorch.org.

West Virginia Blues Society - Charleston, WV

The West Virginia Blues Society presents the Charlie West Blues Fest May 20 & 21, 2011 in Haddad Riverfront Park, Charleston, WV Here is the lineup: Friday May 20 - Sit Down Baby, Izzy & Chris, Mojo Theory, Lil Bryan & The Travelers, Davina & the Vagabonds and Joe Louis Walker. Sat. May 21- IBC Band Winner, Slim Fatz, Trampled Under Foot, Sean Carney, Kristine Jackson, Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King and Ana Popovich.  The Charlie West Blues Fest is produced by the West Virginia Blues Society, Inc. www.wvbluessociety.org and www.charliewestbluesfest.com

River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL

The River City Blues Society presents Blues shows during the winter season. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are: February 9th - Gina Sicilia www.rivercityblues.com

The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society - Marietta, Ohio

The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society will host the 19th Annual River City Ohio Blues Competition on February 18 & 19, 2011, at the historic Lafayette Hotel in Marietta. Blues Bands and Solo/Duo blues acts will compete for cash prizes and BJFMS sponsorship to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN, in early 2012.

For more information contact Steve Wells at 304-295-4323 or email bluesphotog@gmail.com or visit www.bjfm.org.

Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL

The Illinois Central Blues Club 25th Anniversary Celebration is Saturday, March 5, 2010, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2200 S. Meadowbrook, Springfield, IL from 7:30 pm to 12:00 am.
Kicking off the celebration at 7:30pm will be local favorites The Mojo Cats. The featured artist will be the living blues legend Magic Slim and the Teardrops. Magic Slim will take the stage at 9:00pm.

This event serves as a fund raiser for the ICBC’s “Blues in the Schools” programs which bring live blues music and oral history of the blues to children and adults in the community. The admission fee is $8.00 for members and $10 for non-members. For more info contact Mark Edmiston at 217-679-0721 or visit www.icbluesclub.org

Blind Willy - Willing to Crawl

Spec Records

www.blindwilly.com

5 tracks

“Willing to Crawl” is one hot and interesting little 5 track EP! Memphis Producer Doug Jones does the vocals, guitars, and harmonica on the CD and co-wrote all the tracks. Other folk who helped write the songs were Chris Anderson (The Outlaws), Joanna Cotten, Tommy Polk, and Daryl Burgess. Johnny Neel is featured on keys; he has worked with the Allman Brothers. James Cook on bass, Derek Mixon on bass, Chris West on sax, Adam Jones on trombone, and backup vocals are by Cotten and Cook.

Two of the tracks have some big-time notoriety. The title track "Willing to Crawl" has been featured in HBO vampire series "True Blood" while "Sweat" was used in "The Dukes of Hazard: The Beginnings" on the big screen. ”Crawl” is a big sounding guitar anthem sort of song, with a wailing six string and forthright vocals by Jones. Neel’s work on keys is an echoing and solid presence in the background and round out this track nicely. “Sweat” takes a different turn, funking it up a bit with the sax and horn and Jones calling to his woman on “how he just wants to make you sweat”. The keyboard sound is more forward and punctuates the beat well.

The CD opens with “Living the Blues” with Jones showing us his ace harp work. The song is perhaps a CCR like piece, with nice little bounce to the beat. Backing vocals are strong, and the solos are tight. Jones’ vocals are understated and a little reserved; he’s not trying to blow you away but he definitely makes a statement when he has to. This track was also featured in the last Blues Revue CD Sampler. On “My Little Feelgood” Dan Cohen adds his guitar to the mix. The track opens with interesting mixed conversational sounds overlaying the bouncing musical intro. The horn and especially the trombone are intertwined in this in a cool manner, but Jones harp solo is perhaps the highlight. Very much in a New Orleans style, this one’s another winner. “Leave the Light On” is the slow number on the CD, with Jones taking the tempo down and selling it well. Neel’s keys are my favorite part of this piece along with Jones’ laid back guitar work.

I was really impressed with this CD and hope that Jones and the band produce a complete CD. Their sound is exceptional, the songs are solid and the production sounds clean. This is an outstanding effort!!

Frankie Lee’s Blues Mission - Sleepin’ Dog

Self Release

http://bluesmission.homestead.com/

Time-53:42

Georgia native Frankie Lee Robinson and his Blues Mission inject their blues with a refreshing dose of jazz, R&B and gospel that takes the listener on an upbeat ride. His more than pleasant voice and guitar skills bring Robert Cray to mind, but with more jazz leanings. Frankie switches from jazzy chording to single-string blues runs all within a solo, moving the music along seamlessly, and if I dare say, with a “peppy” and swinging rhythm section. The occasional keyboards of Martin Kearnes accentuate the upbeat vibe. Seven band originals, including three instrumentals, fit nicely alongside four cover tunes given the Blues Mission treatment. The guitar playing is at times familiar and driving without going the “hey look at me” rout.

Enough personal nuances are added to the sound to catch your ear playing after playing. Drummer Alfonso Largo and bass player Kermit J. Maxwell are there at every turn. The soothing vocals lend themselves to the groove-infused music, well showcased on the lead-in track “I’m So Lonely Since You’re Gone”. “Lyin’ Thinkin” is infused with a mellow Robert Cray groove replete with jazzy chording as it comments on life’s hardships. Shuffle drumming propels the title track, along with the harmonica shadings of Vince Alexander. Organ-fueled R&B lilts along hand-in-hand as jazzy guitar flourishes float through the original parable played out in “I Need Me Some You”.

Cover songs here are given new life, as best witnessed in a reworking of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Who Been Talkin’”, reinvented as a mellow rumba. B.B. King’s “Woke Up This Morning” begins life with a syncopated mambo groove and soon shifts into a romping swing workout. Robinson’s playing reveals T-Bone Walker’s influence in his jazzy style. “Five Long Years” and “When A Guitar Plays The Blues” are given pretty straight but mellower readings.

Three original instrumentals shine light on the band’s groove-skills. “Soul Shuffle” sounds like Booker T & The M.G.’s “taking us to church” in a land were gospel-meets-the blues. T-Bone’s ghost once more appears in the jazzy romp of “Blues For C.K.”. An upright bass starts us strolling down “McDaniel Street” and “Bone” once again rears his head alongside the jazz piano stylings.

For anyone harboring the notion that blues music is “downer music”, take a tip and give this toe-tapper of a record a spin and come out a believer. Frankie Lee and crew put enough of themselves in their music to give it a life of its own. Fans of goodtime vibes, Robert Cray and T-Bone Walker will derive hours of listening enjoyment from this offering.

Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce - Tales from Lenny’s Diner

Swing Cat Bounce (Canada)

11 tracks - Total time: 42:06

www.swingcatbounce.com

British Columbia’s Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce give in Tales from Lenny’s Diner a CD that is elegant, suave and sophisticated as it felicitously romps through jump blues/boogie, city blues, jazz, B.B. King-style bluesy swing, and comes to a delightful denouement with two tracks of contemporary soul and funk styling. Sabrina Weeks has a beautiful voice that is both masterful in technique as well as effectively emotive over a considerable range of feelings, from soft love to breathless passion, from gentleness to anger and assertive determination—all the time kept by Weeks under complete artistic control. She is a fine chanteuse indeed. In her band, Stray Cat Bounce, she is joined by four musicians who each possess thirty years’ solid experience in pop genres, whose expertise fully matches and complements hers. Lead guitarist Mike Hilliard is highly versatile and fluidly proficient both in support and on solos, completely at home in city blues, B.B. King-style blues, lacy jazz, and hard-rockin’ funk, ably assisted by the rhythm section of Bill White, rhythm guitar; Ken Sells, bass; and Ed Hilliard, drums. Additional music support’s provided by judicious use of the horn section of Jerry Cook on saxophones and Vince Mai on trumpet; Linda Kidder, background vocal chorus; Dave Webb on both accompanying and solo piano and organ; and Ken Burke and Jack Lavin, percussion. The East Barnaby Senior Men’s Choir provides choral support and call-and-response on the last two tracks.

Ten of the 11 tracks are co-written by Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard, and possess strongly original and expressive lyrics that are exploratory both in themes and in metaphor/imagery. While the usual themes of romance are touched on fairly conventionally in some of the songs, others explore newer, more uncharted territory. “Bad Boys,” track 5, is a city blues that tells of the relationship of a loveable boob who irritates his woman, then makes it right, as summed up by the refrain, “That’s how bad boys keep your heart.” “Detour,” track 6, is a city blues about a much different kind of bad man, and is the tale of a determined woman finally leaving a physically abusive relationship; while funk-rock “Independent Woman,” track 11, is a feminist manifesto of a woman who was once under a man’s thumb, but won’t allow that with her current man. “Wrath of Mom,” track 9, tells of another side of domestic life, that of the Mommy who’s at the breaking point with her children, and draws amply on Star Wars imagery to emphasize both her frustration and her regaining control, with these driven home musically by a fast, churning, insistent, blues-rock arrangement.

The sole cover, Etta James’s “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” track 3, while adhering to the basic gospel-inflected call-and-response of the original, does so against an understated musical backdrop provided by the horns and rhythm section, with Jerry Cook punctuating with baritone sax notes and Linda Kidder providing vivid choral response. Tracks 4 and 8, “Thinkin’ of You’ and “All That Love,” respectively, are contemporary jazz ballads about—what else?—strong romantic love; while “Ain’t My Time to Sing the Blues,” track 7, is a B.B. King-style blues swing ably led by the horn section, with felicitous, excellently-phrased being-on-Cloud-Nine lyrics that the King of the Blues himself would be proud to sing. Track 2, “Fingers in My Pocket,” is a city blues of rueful regret built around having and lacking money whose musical foundation is the “High Heel Sneakers” riff. “Spend a Little Time,” track 10, is a contemporary soul number of making time for loving despite other commitments, while the opening track, “Boogie Downtown,” is horn-driven jump blues with guitar and piano solos about being the house band for a fun but poorly-attended gig. Mike Hilliard appears on guitar solos throughout, Dave Webb having a piano solo on “Wrath of Mom” and an organ solo on “Ain’t My Time to Sing the Blues.” Jerry Cook provides a tenor sax solo on “Spend a Little Time,” as well as tenor and baritone sax accents elsewhere, and joins with Vince Mai’s trumpet to create the horn section riffs. All this making Tales from Lenny’s Diner another fine showcase for Canadian blues, this time from the far western end”