Every week our staff of CD Reviewers bring you the best in Independent CD releases. Making a Scene is considered the number 1 resource for the independent musician and the fans that love them.
Jim Byrnes St. Louis Times Black Hen Music Jim Byrnes is an actor (the Wiseguy and Highlander television series) and a musician. Born in St. Louis he developed a strong appreciation for the blues ever since he first picked up a guitar in 1964. Since relocating to Canada, Byrnes has worked numerous times with Steve […]
Rodney Crowell Tarpaper Sky New West Records This is Rodney Crowell’s fifteenth album and first for New West Records. Crowell will be 64 in August and he is quite possibly the youngest of our Country Music icons. Crowell is a fabulous songwriter and singer who has won both an ASCAP lifetime achievement award and […]
In a review I wrote for an appearance by JP Blues at Darwin’s in late 2013, I said: “It’s a cliche’ to speak of musicians making a guitar “sing” or “wail”, but JP does that, and he makes it make a lot of other sounds you would not think six strings could make. In fact, […]
In 1961, when I was thirteen years old, my mother would tell me to go to bed and unknown to my parents I would place my Emerson 9 volt transistor radio under my pillow and listen to WJRZ’s folk music show. When it was over I tuned in WWVA from Wheeling West Virginia. I read […]
Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson (1917-1988) was an alto saxophone player equally comfortable playing jump blues or jazz. He possessed a distinctive vocal style similar to that of Big Joe Turner. This is his classic 1969 recording again re-issued by Delmark Records. A former bandmate of Illinois Jacquet, Big Bill Broonzy and John Coltrane, he brought skills […]
Albert Castiglia “Solid Ground” Ruf Records Junior Wells asked Albert Castiglia to be his lead guitarist, a position once held by Buddy Guy. For several years Castiglia toured the US and Europe with Wells. Wells died in 1998 Years later when he signed with Bluesleaf Records Castiglia’s career began to take off. Castiglia received a […]
The Charlie Daniels Band “Off The Grid ~ Doin’ It Dylan” www.BlueHatRecords.com I wasn’t certain about this new Charlie Daniels album of all cover songs authored by Bob Dylan? But I can report that I am quite impressed by many aspects of this recording. Mr. Daniels sounds great on vocals and fiddle, and his band […]
Jimbo Mathus, founder of the Squirrel Nut Zippers and member of the North Mississippi Allstars, has strong Southern roots and combines blues, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues to create great Southern rock in Dark Night of the Soul. These 12 original songs combine excellent songwriting with earnest and inspired vocal and musical performances […]
by Rhetta Akamatsu This Legacy Edition marks the 40th anniversary of the original release of Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis . It features the completely remastered original recording. There are also extra tracks that were left off the original because of the space limitations of vinyl records, so you get the complete […]
I recently saw Luther Dickinson touring with Southern Soul Assembly and found his songs and his sense of humor delightful. So I jumped at the chance to review Rock and Roll Blues. Dickinson, best known as a member of the North Mississippi All Stars, performs 10 songs here with a stripped down but highly effective […]
Allman Brothers “Live at Great Woods” DVD (2014 Edition) – Epic Legacy The Allman Brothers reunited in ’89 and were signed to Epic Records where they released five new (studio and live) albums over a span of about six years (1990-1995.) Five years later, Epic also issued “Peakin’ at the Beacon” in 2000. During this […]
Robben Ford “A Day in Nashville” Provogue www.MascotLabelGroup.com “A Day in Nashville” is Ford’s second album for the Provogue record label and follows last year’s solid “Bringing It Back Home.” I enjoyed Ford’s previous album; this one’s better with its spontaneous fireworks and seven of the nine tunes are authored or co-authored by Ford. The […]
The Cazanovas are a very popular group in the burgeoning Atlanta blues scene. With their new CD, Just Gettin’ By, blues fans outside of Georgia and the surrounding states have the opportunity to discover just how excellent this group really is. Local fans have a quality recording to enjoy as well. All of the songs […]
Most people who know Jonny Wickersham, better known as Jonny Two Bags, know him as a member of Social Distortion. Now Jonny Two Bags has his own solo recording and no, it does not sound like Social D. The sound is much more country-rock and Americana and there is much less anger. Two Bags proves […]
Little G Weevil is probably unique among modern blues musicians. There is unlikely to be another one who was born and raised in Hungary and came to America because of his love for the blues. When he first got here he washed dishes on Beale Street for a year and he explains in the liner […]
Timo Arthur and Tamara Nicolai have become The Timo Arthur Trio with the addition of drummer Pete Maier and have released their first CD. The CD was produced by Richard L’Hommedieu at Midnight Circus Productions and he really captured the live sound of the trio. The addition of the drums adds extra depth to Timo’s […]
John Nemeth – “Memphis Grease” – Blue Corn Music John Nemeth is probably one of the fastest rising blues artists in a while. Performing actively since 2002, I won’t be surprised when he’s called an overnight sensation. Nemeth is an amazing harp player but it’s his voice that grabs you. Nemeth is a vocal acrobat. His voice climbs […]
Damon Fowler “Sounds of Home” Blind Pig Records “Sounds of Home” is Damon Fowler’s third cd. A lot has happened since he last released 2011’s “Devil Got His Way” his second on Blind Pig. Fowler joined forces with JP Soars and Rufus Wainwright to form “Southern Hospitality,” a bluesy southern rock band. Their first much acclaimed […]
I developed my appreciation for the wailin’,squakin’ R n’ B type of sax by listening to Roomful of Blues. Their horn section turned me on. My tastes were later re-enforced by Bob Porter’s radio program “Portraits in Blue”. Porter used to highlight this type of sax player. Among them were Greg Piccolo, Doug “Mr. Low” […]
The Hag’s Blues Merle Haggard I Am What I Am Vanguard/Hag Records In 1969 when I first heard “Okie From Muskogee” I was a little put off, but when Merle Haggard followed that with “The Fightin’ Side of Me” I purchased the live album of the same name. I have since remained a big Haggard fan […]
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers “The Devil You Know” Alligator Records Tommy Castro’s last four albums have all been nominated as Blues Album of the Year at the annual Blues Music Awards. Overall he has received twelve Blues Music Award nominations and won six ties; not a bad percentage. Castro’s first Alligator Records release, 2009’s […]
Please note: This reviewer did not received the Blu-ray and therefore cannot review it. I can only give information for it. The Blu-ray, according to the press release, contains “a new 5.1 Surround Sound mix of 461 Ocean Boulevard and original quadrophonic mixes of 461 Ocean Boulevard and There’s One In Every Crowd.” Also, the […]
It’s hard for some of those who remember the ’60s more or less to believe, but John Mayall is 80 years old. Yet he is still touring and recording. So it is appropriate that Eagle Rock Entertainment has released three of his most recent albums in a 3-CD package. These CDs are Stories from 2002, […]
The Bob Lanza Blues Band Til The Pain is Gone Self-produced Bob Lanza learned by apprenticing. Lanza spent four years as bandleader for Floyd Phillips and the Mudflaps where he learned to serve the blues. He has also played with James Cotton and Nashville’s Dave Perkins. The Bob Lanza Blues Band’s […]
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