David Clayton-Thomas
The former Blood, Sweat & Tears singer is in fine voice on this live 2005 retrospective of his notable successes with the jazz-rock group and solo. Well-known musical memorabilia, such as his version of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child," and the BS&T originals "And When I Die," "Spinning Wheel," and "(You've Made Me) So Very Happy," make this set an entertaining jaunt down memory lane, while a sensitive reading of Holiday's "God Bless the Child" puts the bombast of "Lucretia MacEvil" into perspective.
Tracklist:
01. And When I Die 04:41
02. Self-Centred Woman 08:49
03. Go Down Gamblin' 03:35
04. Me & Amaretto 04:57
05. Lucretia MacEvil 07:45
06. Wild Women & Po' Boys 05:23
07. God Bless The Child 08:04
08. Gimme That Wine 06:15
09. Don't Explain 05:49
10. Spinning Wheel 03:32
11. (You've Made Me) So Very Happy - Variations On A Theme 07:44
12. You're The One 06:35
The 40 Acre Mule
The saxophone was right there at the beginning of rock and roll, from Bill Haley & His Comets to The Coasters to Junior Walker, and while it’s still seen out in the rock and roll wild, I’m always a little surprised when I hear a sax in a rock context. It could be the juxtaposition of the natural, unprocessed sound of saxophone going head-to-head against the electronically-enhanced sound of the electric guitar. Or it could be because many artists use the sax as a treat that only comes out for a solo. Whatever my issues are, the Dallas-based The 40 Acre Mule reminded me that the saxophone can rock with the fury of a guitar and amp.
And the 40 Acre Mule rock hard. From the album’s first moments to its final ones, the band just relentlessly oozes rock and roll energy. And it’s very much a group effort. The rhythm section of Robert Anderson (drums) and Tim Cooper (bass) are tight, pushing each song along with the relentlessness of the ticks of a clock. Chad Stockslager’s organ and piano cheer every song along. But the bulk of the energy comes from J. Isaiah Evans, the band’s singer/guitarist, lead guitarist John Pedigo, and baritone saxophonist Chris Evetts. Those three, in different ways, take impressive songs, all written by Evans, and make them exciting.
Let’s start with Evans’ voice. It’s more rock than blues, but it’s also capable of finding a soulful timbre. His best vocal is “Somethin’ Next to Nothin’,” which charmingly kicks off Side B of the album (a nice nod to the older generations who are the only ones buying music anymore). Evetts and Pedigo each work their own parts of the song, the rhythm section holding things down with a simple beat. Sax fades into guitar which fades back into sax, Evans bobbing and weaving between it all, a modern Frogger. But Evans doesn’t just make it to the other side of the road. His impassioned vocals push back, like a rock singer, but with much less angst and much more emotion.
“Shake Hands with the Devil” is pop rock, with Evetts and Pedigo working together on a huge hook. The song’s beat is practically danceable and Evans’ vocal delivers a sense of both fun and danger. Pedigo and Evetts trade solos as the band recedes, briefly, into the background. But the solos never take away from the momentum of the track, which says a lot about the musical gifts of both musicians.
And so the album goes, one song flowing perfectly into another. There’s not a misstep on the album. Even a song like “Hat in Hand,” which is essentially a 90s power ballad, is something special. Most bands performing it would sound like a Temple of the Dog cover band, but in the hands of The 40 Acre Mule, it’s exceptional, with hauntingly dark organ, tremolo-saturated guitar that sounds like it’s being played in slow motion, and Evans raw, honest vocals. This is a special band making exceptional music. Good Night and Good Luck is required listening.
Tracklist:
01. You Better Run 04:02
02.16 Days 03:20
03.Shake Hands with the Devil 03:27
04.Make up Your Mind 02:53
05.Be with Me 02:35
06.Somethin' Next to Nothin' 03:41
07.I'll Be Around 04:15
08.Hat in Hand 03:56
09.Bathroom Walls 03:52
10. Josephine 03:08
The Eric Lindberg Trio
Singer, multi-instrumentalist, & composer Eric Lindberg has several albums of original music, deftly blending blues, funk, Americana, & more. Eric was touring guitarist & Music Director for Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix), and performs regularly.
Credits:
Eric Lindberg - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Brad Myrick - Guitar
Gabriel Jarret - Drums
Tracklist:
01. No Stranger to a Pawnshop 03:07
02. Rich Enough 06:20
03. The Signs 03:38
04. Is It You? 03:17
05. Punkinseed 05:43
06. No U-Turns 04:09
07. Lady Luck 06:32
08. What to Do? 06:01
09. Biscuits and Butter 03:55
10. Made to Be Admired 05:24
Michael Packer
What can you say about Michael Packer? Honeyboy Edward’s sideman, Blues Hall of Fame inductee, a New Yorker with a Chicago blues feel and the work ethic of a wandering Delta guitar slinger. Clean and sober after a long stint on the streets, playing low down dirty blues wherever they'll have him. No set list, each night different from the last, special guests invited to sit in and bring all they got, because that's what Packer does every time he's on the stage - he's bringing all he's got. This special night at the Turning Point is no different.
Tracklist:
01. Rhythm & Roll 02:40
02. Come on Honey 03:29
03. Jailhouse Now 02:37
04. My Turn to Cry 04:02
05. One of These Days 03:44
06. I'm Goin' New York 02:58
07. Chicago Downtown Town 03:20
08. Christmas on the Bowery 05:07
09. Power of the Bullfrog 02:05
Kerry Joe Allen
Kerry Joe Allen makes a mix of Spiritual, Contemporary Gospel and Blues.
Credits:
Kerry Joe Allen - Guitar, Vocals
Robert Jimmerson - Keyboards, Piano
Philip Lassiter - Horn
Justin Lyons - Guitar
Benjamin Parker - Bass
King Robinson Jr. - Drums
Michael Robinson - Organ
Oscar Williams - Piano
Terrance Thomas - Tenor (Vocal)
Shelly Thompson - Soprano (Vocal)
Andrea Wallace Soprano (Vocal)
Chelsea West - Alto (Vocals)
Eric Birdine - Tenor (Vocal)
Bathsheba Cary - Alto (Vocals)
Ryan Cary - Tenor (Vocal)
Esther Collins - Soprano (Vocal)
Rita Johnson - Soprano (Vocal)
Tiffany Martin Soprano (Vocal)
Derrick Morrison - Tenor (Vocal)
Janice Oden - Alto (Vocals)
Deonis "Pumah" Cook - Alto (Vocals)
Duane Coleman - Tenor (Vocal)
Victor Evans - Tenor (Vocal)
Perisean Hall - Soprano (Vocal)
Donya Jenkins - Alto (Vocals)
Dariyan Yancey-Mackey - Tenor (Vocal)
Revoydia Richardson - Alto (Vocals)
Shabre Roberson - Soprano (Vocal)
Tracklist:
01. Gonna Lay Down My Burdens 05:13
02. Gonna Lay Down My Burdens (Reprise) 02:53
03. Pressing Towards The Higher Life 05:12
04. Preach The Word Intro (Granny Someone's Bullying Me) 04:08
05. Preach The Word 05:11
06. Chosen To Serve 05:18
07. Will You Be Ready 05:33
08. Hold To God's Unchanging Hand (Feat. Tyrone Scott) 06:00
09. I Will Make The Darkness Light Overture 02:45
10. I Will Make The Darkness Light (Feat. Oscar Williams) 04:44
11. Gonna Lay Down My Burdens (Radio Edit) 04:13
Hey Gringo
Striking a balance between punchy and relaxed grooves is something Hey Gringo do extraordinarily well. Daryl Roberts’ bluesy combo is a bunch of old campaigners including the indefatigable Nicky Bomba, the distinctive bass of Paul Gadsby and Ross Hannaford. Hey Gringo have the chops to forge their own identity, and "Only Thing I Need", the standout track, maintains a powerful, throbbing pulse, with Bomba’s sharp trap work creating beautiful space for Hannaford to color in some economical guitar lines, while David Williamson’s sax adds dramatically warm textures. Combine the influences of the dynamic 70's rock n roll era, with modern day blues rock.
Tracklist:
01. Face Myself 03:14
02. Soul 03:13
03. Treat Me Mean 02:33
04. Go Your Own Way 03:19
05. End of The Road 03:08
06. Only Thing I Need 02:39
07. I Was There 04:31
08. Don't You Love Me 03:00
09. Let It All Hang Out 04:09
Backsliders
It’s easy to mock anything purporting to be the blues that doesn’t – accurately – reach back to embrace tradition or doesn’t – adequately – reveal its own voice. That’s no issue for Sydney-siders, Backsliders. Here, with the band’s 13th album, you have the kick-ass Midnight Oil rhythm section – one of the many very good things about that band – and you have bottleneck guitarist Dom Turner. His version of the blues manages to interpolate Australian bush band philosophy and feel and with the twin harmonica attack of Ian Collard and Brod Smith you have this cutting pub-rock attack too.
A distinctly Australian voice is on offer here but these are certainly blues songs – hints of New Orleans and a bit of a Cajun stomp here, some rattle-your-dags drum fills and duel-riffing/rivalling harmonicas kick off the opening Dark Side of Newtown. From there it’s to the purposeful swagger of Kill The Emotion, a little lurching Bad Seeds vibe.
This is the blues as knocked up over a tinny out in the garden shed, a bit of backyard cricket might have interrupted the recording of 99 Years and One Dark Day or Sixties Girl. Paul Kelly could have written Prayer Flags.
Turner gets to play up his beach-bronzed version of Ry Cooder on a version of I’ll Fly Away, before the sultry slide and glide of House on the Corner.
There are just enough nods to the blues as guiding genre/force (Hard Times Killing Floor Blues) and plenty of campfire frivolity too (Phone Cap Blues).
Dark Side is an intriguing mix of pub-rock with grit, of Aussie-vernacular blues – with just the right amount of soul. It works. It really works!
Tracklist:
01. Dark Side Of Newtown 03:56
02. Kill The Emotion 03:20
03. Prayer Flags 04:52
04. 99 Years And One Dark Day 02:38
05. Sixties Girl 03:34
06. I'll Fly Away 01:56
07. House On The Corner 03:35
08. Hard Times Killing Floor Blues 04:27
09. Light On Tonight 03:20
10. Shocking Fact 04:20
11. Phone Cap Blues 02:54
12. Little Church In Shiloh 03:40
13. Emmett Till 04:06
14. Flannelette Border 03:39
The Pounders
The only album by the American group, which is based on guitarist and vocalist Mike Swain and bassist Bob McKinney. In 1991, Mike was a member of The Breakbone Blues Band for about 5 years. In March of that year, he began working with Bob, the bass player and breakbone fan. Inviting drummer John Kliner, they began performing as The Regulators, but when they learned of another band of the same name, they began performing as The Pounders. They shared the scene with Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Anson Funderburg & The Rockets, Gov't Mule, Bob Margolin. In 1995 the album "Rockin 'The Blues" was released. The drummer later left the group. The Pounders periodically gives acoustic concerts.
Tracklist:
01. Booze Blues 04:22
02. Boogie With You 03:19
03. Hard Headed Woman 04:09
04. She Turns Me On 03:01
05. Flower Blues 03:19
06. Black Eyed Peas 03:38
07. Women Blues 04:19
08. Shakin' That Thang 03:03
09. Live Wire 03:35
10. Busted 04:08
11. Goin' Back To Texas 03:51
Skeeter Brandon
From 1966 to 1991, Brandon played in various bands across the United States. He joined Highway 61 in 1991, and recorded four albums in that ensemble until their break-up in 2001. In 1994 he formed the Prime Rib Blues Band. Popular Skeeter Brandon songs include "Strollie Bun", "That's What Lovin You Has Done To Me", "Soap Opera Blues", and "The Last Goodby". Brandon's lifetime in music reflected the influence of the African-American songster tradition.
Credits:
Chris Grant - Bass
Danny Dixon - Drums
Armand Lenchek Guitar, - Vocals
Calvin "Skeeter" Brandon - Vocals, Keyboards
Tracklist:
01 Aw Sucks, Baby 02:34
02 Sparks 04:32
03 Soap Opera Blues 07:27
04 Bad Thing 04:16
05 The Last Goodbye 03:48
06 Strollie Blues 02:34
07 You're Jinglin', Baby 03:24
08 Please, Please 04:20
09 When The Axe Comes Down 04:35
10 Just Another Day 04:37
11 That's What Lovin' You Has Done To Me 03:14
12 Rockin' With The Blues 04:14
13 Bug Out 03:15
Lee Holmes
Venice at Night is a roots album, of original songs, about people, places, politics and problems.
Credits:
Lee Holmes - Bass, Vocals
John Kieselhorst - Guitar
Randy Jacob - Drums
Tracklist:
01. I Miss the Cats 03:39
02. Ah, The Sun 03:48
03. Make My Day 03:29
04. Best Unsaid 04:08
05. Piece of Cake 03:39
06. Venice at Night 04:06
07. Dirty Filty Air 03:40
08. One Toe 04:02
09. Waiting for Amos 02:53
10. Bad News 04:03
11. Sesekinika 03:53
12. K.L.(Kirkland Lake) 03:31
Connie Lush
Connie Lush is widely recognised as one of the finest blues singers that the United Kingdom has ever produced. That indisputable fact was acknowledged when she was voted Best UK Female Vocalist by readers of Blues In Britain for 5 separate years, earning a richly deserved place in the Gallery of the Greats. She is also increasingly recognised on the continent, particularly in France, where she was honoured in the French Blues Trophies awards as European Singer of the Year for 2002. There are no separate awards for male & female singers in the European category, so Connie defeated all challengers. It is less appreciated that Connie’s musical talents go beyond singing. She is a highly accomplished songwriter, confirmed by many excellent self-penned songs that form the content of her live & recorded repertoire. She has also written TV themes and featured as a DJ on Jazz FM. Connie’s Awards include: Five times Best Female Blues Vocalist by readers of UK Blue Print Magazine (now in the Gallery of Greats). Twice voted Best Vocal Blues Artist by the French Blues Society : “Trophees France Blues Chanteur de L‘annee “. Liverpool Women in Business, “Woman of the Year Performing Arts 2010”.
Credits:
Terry Harris - Bass
Carl Woodward - Drums
John Lewis - Guitar
Paul Need - Keyboards
Connie Lush - Vocals
Tracklist:
01. Blues Is My Business 03:50
02. Love Me Like A man 08:17
03. It Hurts Me Too 03:52
04. 24hr Blues 04:27
05. Send Me No Flowers 04:02
06. Nobody's Fault But Mine 03:07
07. Feeling Good 10:19
08. Higher Ground 05:07
09. Autumn Leaves 04:32
Madtown Mannish Boys
The Madtown Mannish Boys are a Madison-based Blues band who are steeped in Chicago-style Blues, including artists like Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Otis Spann, Paul Butterfield, and Little Walter. They perform with raw exuberance and driving rhythms that make you want to boogie. Some of their tunes are harmonica-driven, played with gritty fervor and intense energy. Others are soulful ballads, heavily influenced by the likes of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. This mix of styles and genres makes for an entertaining and dynamic show that you won’t want to miss.
Andy Smith has a powerful and soulful voice, reminiscent of some of the greats from Blues and R&B. Paul Schwoerer wields his harmonica with a chip on his shoulder and his vocals are gripping and yet smooth. Jesse “Honey Boy” Steinberg injects melodic flurries of guitar riffs into the lively grooves laid down by Tim Payne (bass) and Nate Morenek (drums). Adam Pryor (keys) is one of the most sought-after Blues keyboardists in the Midwest, with endorsements from Hammond, Korg, Rev33, and Stay Stands. The Boys are frequently joined by Jason Schultz (trombone), Jim Feuling (saxophone), and Dan Resnick (saxophone).
Tracklist:
01. Old Dog 03:19
02. My Babe 03:50
03. Love Her with a Feeling 06:46
04. You Can't Hide 04:38
05. Crosscut Saw 04:48
06. Me and My Woman 04:43
07. Sorry Sorry 04:54
08. Get out of My Life Woman 04:03
09. Don't Misunderstand Me 02:56
10. Blues Don't Care 03:28
11. Cut You Loose 03:57
