Interviews and Features on Indie Blues Artists
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Teresa James of Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps Her persuasive pipes slathered in honey and soaked in Texas-bred sass, keyboardist Teresa James and her band, the Rhythm Tramps, have long reigned as one of Los Angeles’ leading contemporary blues outfits, even though their uncommonly imaginative […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Brian Mullen of The Cold Stares Authenticity. A word that is frequently used in describing The Cold Stares, and frequently missing from modern music discussions. “We’re not just a blues band, or just a rock band, or anything other than who we are”, front man […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Hector Anchondo For Héctor Anchondo, the third time really became the charmed one. Anchondo entered the 2020 International Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category and came away with the top prize: winning the solo/duo category. He also took home the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Elly Wininger Elly Wininger’s third album “Little Red Wagon” was #8 on the Folk Music DJ Chart for January 2018 and in the top 100 for that year. Her upcoming album, “The Blues Never End” including the award-winning song “Right Kind of Trouble” will be released in September […]
HOME PAGE LINDSAY BEAVER HOME PAGE BRAD STIVERS Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Lindsay Beaver and Brad Stivers Lindsay Beaver When blues-rocking, soul-singing drummer, songwriter and bandleader Lindsay Beaver takes the stage, she makes an immediate and unforgettable impression. Standing front and center at her kit, singing every song from the depths of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Mike ZIto! Mike Zito is one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today and rightfully so, but for him, the thing that counts the most is maintaining his honesty, authenticity and integrity. Those are the qualities that have steered Zito’s career […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jeff Chaz There is a southern gentleman on Bourbon Street. He is soft spoken, with just a bit of a south Louisiana accent, He still opens doors and holds chairs for the ladies. But when Jeff Chaz plugs in his guitar and steps before the microphone, […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Gabe Stillman The Gabe Stillman Band is a three-piece machine that runs at full tilt for every performance. While their sound is unmistakably rooted in the blues, the band draws from the deep well of all American roots music. Since landing in the final 8 of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Michael Katon Part 2! Last week Michael told us about it all started for him, now in part two we hear how eventually the man from Hell Michigan set the world on fire with his red hot blues rock ! Your not gonna want to […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Brad Vickers of Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans Brad Vickers learned on the job playing, touring, and recording with America’s blues and roots masters: Jimmy Rogers, Hubert Sumlin, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Odetta, Sleepy LaBeef, Rosco Gordon, and Pinetop Perkins—with whom Brad had the good fortune to […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Michael Katon! While it’s entirely accurate to describe the music of Detroit legend Michael Katon as ‘blues’, it also fails to do justice to the power, intensity and raw Motor City attitude that Katon commands with every note and chord. Ever since he first started […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Avey and Grouws! Avey Grouws Band met at a blues jam on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, and have since put their Quad Cities sound into the world with the release of their debut album ‘The Devil May Care’ in […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mick Kolassa Mick Kolassa, a lifelong musician and hardcore blues fan who, in addition to being an active blues artist, is also the head of Endless Blues Records and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation. He lives in Memphis […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Rob Strong The legendary Blues/ Soul singer, Rob Strong, may be 73 years old this year but as the title of his forthcoming Biography suggests, Rob is STILL GOING STRONG! Rob is celebrating a remarkable 55 years on the road and has sold out concerts […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Shaw Davis of Shaw Davis and the Black Ties Formed in 2017 and hailing from Pompano Beach, Florida, Shaw Davis & The Black Ties feature an incendiary fusion of Progressive Hard Rock and Roots Rock that embodies the soul found within Blues Rock icons of the […]
HOME PAGE MAKING A SCENE PRESENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH SETH JAMES AT FIRST, SETH JAMES’ STORY READS LIKE PLOT LINES HAVE GOTTEN THEIR WIRES CROSSED OR TRANSLATIONS MUDDLED: COULD A WORKING COWBOY FROM DEEP WEST TEXAS REALLY BE A ROCK-AND-SOUL ROOTS FUNK MASTER, EDUCATED BY THE BLUES? One listen to James’ new album Different Hat […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Gerry McAvoy! Gerry McAvoy (Bass Guitar) played, recorded and toured with Rory for 20 years, from 1971 to 1991.Gerry played on every album Rory ever made. His 2005 book, ‘Riding Shotgun’ follows his career and life with Rory (available from www.ridingshotgun.co.uk). Gerry also played with […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Polly O’Keary of Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method! A century ago, blues was born in the fields of the South, played on porches and in little backwoods bars by kerosene lamp. The times have changed, and it’s a rare blues musician who grew up picking […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Johnny Ray Jones Johnny Ray Jones grew up in the LA blues music scene. Sam “Bluzman” Taylor, Johnny’s voice coach & mentor, traded him lessons for driving Sam to his shows & recording sessions. Percy Mayfield’s widow Tina Mayfield, Johnny’s godmother, booked Johnny Ray his first […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with the Legendary Tito Jackson Born Toriano Adaryll Jackson, Tito has spent his entire life enchanting music lovers with soulful harmonies interwoven with curvaceous rhythms as a member of Motown’s greatest discovery, The Jackson 5, and presently as a multi-faceted solo artist. Tito’s unyielding passion for blues, […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Rodd Bland! From Blues Royalty, the son of Bobby “Blue” Bland and godson of B.B. King, Rodd Bland rose up from the age of 3 learning traditional blues from his father’s drummers, John “Jab O” Starks, Harold “Peanie” Portier, and Rodd’s brother, Tony Coleman, to become […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Stevie J of The Urban Ladder Society Urban Ladder Society is an all star band with the most diverse and unique musical style ever!! this band offers Blues, classic rock, and R&B all with a heavy saturation of metaphoric hip hop lyrics. front man Victa […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Lea McIntosh It’s only natural that pundits attempt to put artists in boxes and define them within a specific scenario. Yet when an individual is as multi-talented as Lea McIntosh, confining them to any one niche becomes a challenging proposition. An exceptional entrepreneur, Lea initially made […]
Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Pierce Kelly! Pierce Kelly drummer with The Gary Moore Band . Pierce was the drummer for Gary in the early seventies. Grinding Stone was the only album to feature Pierce on drums . He’s a lovely man, so humble and full of great stories Another interview you […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Ericson Holt Though his music may be steeped in the blues, it’s the gray areas that fascinate Ericson Holt the most. “There are very few moments in this life that are purely good or bad,” Holt reflects. “There’s always some kind of dichotomy going on, some […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with George Gritzbach The George Gritzbach Band plays inventive takes on classics and a healthy helping of innovative originals offering a great mix of blues, roots, and R&B. The band has appeared at a wide variety of venues and Festivals across North America, including opening for B.B. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Tiffany Pollack! Tiffany Ann Pollack is New Orleans. She’s the beauty that lies deep down within old pain – the letting go and kicking your heels up despite it all that defines the most mysterious American city. She’s been a foster daughter. A teen mom. A […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Chris Daniels Chris Daniels & The Kings (now with Freddi Gowdy) are celebrating their 37th year with live performances over the summer, playing songs from BLUES WITH HORNS – our 15th Kings album and our second with Freddi Gowdy of the Freddi Henchi Band. In December […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Blind Lemon Pledge Throughout his recording and performing career, Blind Lemon Pledge, aka Bay Area bluesman James Byfield, has gained critical recognition for the broad scope of his stylistic skills; and for his ability to capture the essence of American Roots Music in his compositions. From […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Lauren Anderson This soulful rocker, originally from Chicago, has had a passion for singing throughout her entire life. Growing up in a household that was rich in music, her influences were widely varied from artists such as Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, The Pointer Sisters, Eva Cassidy, Etta James, Joss […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Stevee Wellons and Cheryl Rinovato of Soulful Femme! Stevee Wellons V O C A L I S T Vocalist Stephanie Wellons, aka Stevee Wellons, has been performing in the tri-state area for the last 25 years and is known for her high-energy stage presence and performance. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Patty Tuite Patty Tuite is a singer/songwriter who embraces the genre of blues, rock music and beyond. Strong influences in her style come from listening to notable artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Susan Tedeschi. Already having three highly acclaimed releases to […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mike ZIto! Mike Zito is one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today and rightfully so, but for him, the thing that counts the most is maintaining his honesty, authenticity and integrity. Those are the qualities that have steered Zito’s career since […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Eamonn McCormack Eamonn was born in the center of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland and was raised on a North side Suburb. He started out on the acoustic guitar at six years of age. Prompted by the acoustic performance of his school classmate Gerry Leonard (David […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Sean Chambers Florida born Sean Chambers began his career in the Blues back in 1998 when he toured with the legendary Hubert Sumlin as his guitarist and band leader until 2003. During Sean’s tenure with Mr. Sumlin, Britain’s own Guitarist magazine named Chambers as “One of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Gerald McClendon Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois; Gerald has loved music since the tender age of four and would sing along with the music playing on the radio. Gerald has become one of the most versatile artists who proudly gives praise to the Masters of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Adam Schultz Born and raised in New York City, Adam Schultz is a jazz and blues guitarist, fusing the two genres in his own unique style. Growing up in the Big Apple has exposed Adam to some incredible teachers. As an avid participant in his high […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Debbie Bond American Singer, guitar player and songwriter Debbie Bond has been performing for decades in the Alabama backwoods and is now a regular on the Southern US and European club and festival circuit. Influenced by raw juke joint blues and the famed sounds of Muscle […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jennifer Lyn of Jennifer lyn and the Groove Revival On the plains of North Dakota, USA nestled between the tall grass and the open prairie sky sits a recording studio. The sound of overdriven guitars with dueling lead harmonies and classic rock undertones rips through the […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Cathy Grier I traveled from NYC to WI for the Steel Bridge Songfest in June 2016. I fell in love with the Sturgeon Bay scene so much that I moved to Wisconsin. Within the 3 years of arriving, I won Paramount Music Association Blues challenge […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mark Cameron Minnesota based singer, songwriter and guitarist Mark Cameron has been active in live music for over thirty years. Mark began his performing career in the rich folk-rock scene of the early 1970’s and brought this influence into several bands he founded during the 1980’s and […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with EG Kight Nestled in rural Georgia, EG Kight has grown deep roots on her land, where her family has lived for four generations. Kight’s granddaddy was a southern preacher. When Kight was an infant, her mama was offered a Gospel recording contract, but turned it down […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with B. Christopher B. Christopher, like most composers, is not a household name. However, if you own a television, you have probably heard his music. With over 3,000 placements annually, on virtually every channel, it would be difficult not to hear his work. Like most studio musicians, […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jonathon Long The first thing you notice about Jonathon Long’s new record, Parables of a Southern Man, is that his virtuoso guitar playing is not his only strength. Long is a complete musician and entertainer, a great singer and totally original songwriter whose lyrical guitar playing […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Donna Herula Donna Herula is a Chicago-born blues singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist that has a passion for playing traditional Delta and Country Blues, early Chicago Blues, folk, Americana, and roots music. Using electrified resonator guitars, her sound combines her love for the music of the […]
Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Delta Fuse. Now and then a band comes along that gets the pulse racing. Delta Fuse are exactly that, from the first time I heard them play live to a packed house in Ballyshannon at The Rory Gallagher international festival. I knew that what I had witnessed […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Rob Stone Long renowned as a hard-hitting blues harmonica wailer and forceful vocalist, Rob Stone combines tough Chicago blues tradition with a swinging West Coast rhythmic drive. He’s made a series of widely acclaimed albums over the last two decades-plus showcasing his singular approach to the […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Tia Carroll Tia has been performing steadily with her own band for decades in California, and made some successful recordings before (rock, gospel, and blues (with bands in Italy and Brazil.) But this is her first stateside studio recording of strong original blues and soul, and […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kelly Zirbes of Kelly’s Lot Kelly’s Lot was formed in 1994 by Kelly Zirbes, a folk singer/songwriter with a heart for the blues. With 15 CDs and lots of touring in the USA and Europe, the band celebrates 27 years since the first night the band […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Clint Morgan Americana singer/songwriter and Blues Pianist Clint Morgan, a charter member of the International Blues Foundation, has played in Americana meccas such as Memphis, Tennessee; Clarksdale, Mississippi; and Austin, Texas. He is equally at home pounding out a piano boogie tune as he is an […]