CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Reverend Nathon Volume 1 Volume 1, the debut album from Reverend Nathon swiftly grabbed my attention, and won my admiration with its kick-ass style of southern blues-rock. This twelve-track, all-original recording is loaded with infectious rhythms and doused with Seventies psyche-rock. It’s definitely a fun listen. Hailing from the Lone Star State, Reverend Nathon is comprised of Nathon Dees on guitar and lead vocals, Gary […]
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Blues From Chicago to Paris Stony Plain JUNO Award-winning and Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Famer Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne revisits the bygone era of blues piano trios on Blues From Chicago to Paris. This stripped-down, retro album pays homage to the rollicking piano and bass-slapping legends Memphis Slim and Willie […]
Sugarray Rayford In Too Deep Forty Below The force of nature that is Sugarray Rayford has returned with In Too Deep. The two-time B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and Grammy nominated vocalist, arguably today’s leading soul-blues artist, keeps his successful 2020 formula intact by working again with Forty Below owner Eric Corne, who assembled […]
Paul Oscher Rough Stuff (with Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith) Coolstreme Rough Stuff is a remastered re-issue of multi-instrumentalist Paul Oscher’s 1992 album of the same name. Oscher was a Covid-19 casualty, passing in April of 2021. Readers of these pages are undoubtedly familiar with Oscher, who first joined Muddy Waters’ band as […]
The Love Light Orchestra Leave The Light On Nola Blues Only certain voices are meant to front a big band. Two-time BMA winner and multiple BMA nominee John Nemeth is one of them and he is indeed fronting The Love Light Orchestra (TLLO). The TLLO is a nine-piece horn-driven band led by guitarist Joe Restivo […]
Bob Stroger & The Headcutters That’s My Name Delmark Bassist/vocalist/songwriter, ninety-two-year-old “Sir” Bob Stroger proves that it’s never too late to take center stage. Moving out from his comfortable spot on the back line, where he’s been a sideman on over 30 Delmark releases, That’s My Name marks Stroger’s first album as a leader. And […]
Wyatt Pauley & Jam Tako Burn it to the Filter After releasing their first EP “From Tokyo To Florida” in 2021 Wyatt Pauley and JAM TAKO delight us again with a collaboration and with “Burn it to the Filter” Wyatt Pauley comes out of Florida and is what you can call a multi-talent. Producer, songwriter, […]
Bob Corritore Down Home Blues Revue I’ve really been enjoying the ‘From the Vaults’ albums spearheaded by blues harmonica marvel Bob Corritore. The latest in the series, Down Home Blues Revue, features thirteen tracks of real-deal blues recorded between 1995 and 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The amazing roster of southern blues artists on this album had all played Corritore’s blues club The […]
Bernard Allison Highs and Lows Ruf Perhaps the best insight into Bernard Allison’s blues-rock funky sound is his dad, Luther’s admonition, “don’t let them label you like they labelled me, as Chicago blues.” This is Allison’s fifth studio album with famed producer, Jim Gaines, and his twentieth overall. True to Allison’s wont, this one has […]
Grande Revival Liberty Station Renowned recording artists Craig Erickson, and ‘Dirty’ Dave Osti recently teamed up as Grande Revival to record a hands-down, kick-ass album of guitar-centric blues-rock songs called Liberty Station. Penning five tracks each, Erickson and Osti take turns singing their songs, rocking the sound of dual guitars with Anthony James Tuco on bass, and Cosmo Benz on drums. Having two alpha powerhouse guitarists on each song […]
Scott Ramminger Live at 3rd & Lindsley Nashville Arbor Lane Music Scott Ramminger is a humorous songwriter, vocalist, and tenor saxophonist who was raised in the DC area but shuffles between those stomping grounds and his new home in Nashville in recent years. Live at 3rd & Lindsley Nashville is his sixth record since 2011 […]
Twangtown Paramours Double Down on a Bad Thing Inside Edge This full-band effort from the three-time Kerrville Folk Finalists, The Twangtown Paramours, bears little resemblance to the husband-and-wife team’s two previous duo acoustic efforts. Double Down on a Bad Thing is rife with hooks, brassy R&B, blues, and the Beatlesque pop. The eclectic mix somehow […]
Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip Whole Nutha Thang Ruf Records I’ve been a fan of Finnish, award-winning blues artist/bandleader Micke Bjorklof since reviewing his 2014 release After the Flood. Bjorklof and Blue Strip had recorded four albums prior. One of those being 2007’s Whole ‘Nutha Thang, originally released only in Scandinavia. That album is now remastered and re-released by Ruf Records to help celebrate Micke Bjorklof […]
Lee Oskar Never Forget Dreams We Share Productions You know the name Lee Oskar. Aside from his melodic harmonica tones, don’t expect to hear anything resembling “Slipping Into Darkness” or “The World Is a Ghetto” from his renowned tenure with War, yet this tour de force, Never Forget, is every bit as indelible in a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Scott Ellison Singer-songwriter, guitarist Scott Ellison emerged as a blues-rock powerhouse in his hometown of Tulsa, OK in the late 1970’s. With Eric Clapton’s and Freddie King’s backing bands at the time both hailing from the region, Ellison’s guitar shredding heavy blues style quickly brought him […]
North Mississippi Allstars Set Sail New West The North Mississippi Allstars (NMA), helmed by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, sons of famed musician and producer James Luther Dickinson, have long operated as a small loose collective, with slight changes to the lineup over their 25-year plus history. Highly decorated with four Grammy nominations, Set Sail […]
Katie Henry On My Way Ruf New-Jersey based roots-rocker Katie Henry leveraged her acclaimed 2018 debut High Road into signing with one blues music’s top labels, Ruf, for her second release On My Way. If you heard her debut, you know that Henry plays several instruments, but she slims it down a bit this time, […]
Bernard Allison Highs and Lows Ruf Records Bernard Allison is one of those artists who I totally admire, and I’m absolutely thrilled to hear fresh music from him. Highs & Lows, his latest album is hands-down fantastic. Produced by Grammy Award winner Jim Gaines, this eleven-track blues album is a slice of perfection. The core of Allison’s top-notch band consists of George Moye on bass guitar, Dylan […]
Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky Digging in John’s Backyard Self-released Blues fans should be familiar with harmonist Grant Dermody who released one of 2019’s best blues albums, My Dony, produced by the great roots producer, Dirk Powell. This time out, although Powell just does a superb job mixing the album, this is a duo recording […]
Roy Roberts Covering the Years Growing up in Tennessee, Roy Roberts was exposed to a variety of music, but it was Jimmy Reed’s song “Baby What You Want Me to Do” which inspired him to get his first guitar. Over the years, Roberts has backed acts such as Solomon Burke, Eddie Floyd, “Little” Stevie Wonder, Dee Clark, and Otis Redding. His From the mid-sixties Roberts worked as a session man […]
Robert Connely Farr Ain’t Enough Ain’t Enough was recorded at Hipposonic Studios in Vancouver, BC, and marks Robert Connely Farr’s ninth studio album, and first solo acoustic album. What I love about Farr’s music is that it’s deep, meaningful, and baptized in the blues. Nominated for 2019 Maple Blue Awards for Songwriter of the Year and New Artist of the Year, Farr was mentored by 2021 Grammy […]
Carolyn Wonderland Tempting Fate Texas blues sensation Carolyn Wonderland has certainly been on the fast-track these past few years. After holding a highly-coveted spot as guitarist in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, a position previously held by legends such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor, Wonderland signed to the beloved Alligator Records label. That just does not happen by chance. This kind of positioning only happens with talent, and […]
Sugaray Rayford In Too Deep I was super thrilled to see the new Sugaray Rayford disc In Too Deep when it recently arrived. I was in total awe of his prior album, Somebody Save Me, which earned him a Grammy nomination and two Blues Music Awards. Sugaray’s brand of hot buttered soul makes me feel […]
Willie Jackson All in the Blues Hailing from Savannah, Georgia, Willie Jackson, the son of a reverend, had worked for the railroad until an accident ended that career. It was then he decided to dedicate his time on his music and the Blues. Jackson’s brand-new album All in the Blues, follows up quite nicely to his debut 2017 EP release Willie Jackson […]
Joseph and the Velozians Four years have passed since Veloz’s last release Offerings made it across my desk for review. That was quite an impressive album. His brand-new record Joseph and the Velozians again captures my full attention with his delightful originals and covers. With Veloz laying down the funkiest of rhythms on bass and Funk-wah guitar, keyboardist Jim Alfredson and drummer/percussionist Donny Brown hold down the fort for the […]
Gov’t Mule Heavy Load Blues I’ve been a Gov’t Mule fan since seeing them live at the 1998 HORDE Festival at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. Warren Haynes is such an astonishing performer, and I consider him one of my favorites. Heavy Load Blues, the title of the new Gov’t Mule album, is perfectly matched with the contents inside. For the first time ever, the band has made an […]
Cole Allen The Other Side Minnesota-based music artist Cole Allen first appeared on my radar while I was in the midst of reviewing the album Live My Life by his wife Sena Ehrhardt. Allen was lead guitarist for the band, and that album, which was released on Blind Pig Records made a terrific impression on me. His new six-track release The Other Side is quite impressive as […]
Colin James Open Road Stony Plain One of Canada’s most renowned blues artists, Colin James, has reached a milestone, issuing his 20th album, Open Road. It’s the third in a trilogy of records. It’s the follow-up to 2018’s Juno Award -winning Miles to Go, and 2016’s Blue Highways. Even though the travel motif is in […]
Dionne Bennett Sugar Hip Ya Ya Hunnia Prepare for blast-off. This one comes as an explosive surprise. British Jamaican singer-songwriter, producer, and radio personality Dionne Bennett, who has forged most of her career in Europe, means business. We can thank Little G Weevil for bringing Bennett to our attention as the album was recorded in […]
Various Artists Highway Butterfly – The Songs of Neal Casal (3 CDs, 5 LPs) Royal Potato Family Neal Casal never got his due as a complete artist and certainly as a songwriter until now. Spread across 5 LPs and 3 CDs from a stunning list of artists are 41 of the late Casal’s songs in […]
Dave Specter Six String Soul – 30 Years on Delmark Delmark Guitarist Dave Specter lives up to the enticing album title Six String Soul, with his career-to-date selection of 28 remastered tracks spanning his three decades with Chicago’s Delmark records. It’s so tempting to engage in the kind of wordplay found in the liner notes […]
Sue Foley Pinky’s Blues Stony Plain Canadian-born and longtime Austin TX resident Sue Foley is back with Pinky’s Blues, the follow-up to her acclaimed 2018 The Ice Queen. The title references her signature pink paisley Fender telecaster, “Pinky.” Foley is at the peak of her still growing career as she won “Best Traditional Female (Koko […]
Ben Levin Still Here VizzTone Still Here is the third release for the youthful pianist/songwriter/vocalist Ben Levin, who has already matured well beyond his years. When we last visited him on his 2020 release Carryout or Delivery on these pages, Levin was still in college, having just reached drinking age. And, as we said then, […]
Zac Harmon As Long As I Got My Guitar Catfood Long As I Got My Guitar is the latest from Texas-based blues singer/guitarist Zac Harmon who returns to Bob Trenchard’s Catfood label and again taps producer Jim Gaines, recording at Trenchard’s base studio, the Sonic Ranch, near El Paso. Although Harmon is based in Texas, […]
The Delevantes A Thousand Turns Moon River A Thousand Turns is the third album from Americana band The Delevantes, helmed by New Jersey brothers Bob (the main writer) and Mike (lead guitarist). They are a band that first appeared in the mid-‘90s in the early gestation of Americana but many thought they disappeared as their […]
Avey Grouws Band Tell Tale Heart Navy House The Avey Grouws Band hails from Quad Cities, Iowa, which is not your usual home for a blues-based unit. Yet, they have leveraged the strong impact of their 2020 The Devil May Care by hiring Grammy-winning engineer/producer Casey Wasner, who has worked with Keb’ Mo’,Taj Mahal, and […]
Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps Rose Colored Glasses Vol. 1 Blue Heart Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are a Los Angeles-based band, but James was raised in Houston and has been able to mix Texas style blues with a West Coast jump and swing sound for over five decades now. They have received […]
Hector Anchondo Let Loose Those Chains VizzTone Every so often a wonderful surprise comes along, and this is one of them. Let Loose Those Chains is one of the most finely crafted, song driven blues releases of this year. Hector Anchondo is the 2020 IBC winner in the solo/duo category, and this is his first […]
Colin Linden bLOW Highway 20 We associate Colin Linden with the blues, yet bLow is his first electric blues release of the fourteen he’s made as a solo artist over his four-decade career. Linden, of course, has been equally or even more prominent on the roots scene with his band Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, […]
Jimmie Vaughan The Jimmie Vaughan Story (5 -CD Box Set) The Last Music Company The living legend Jimmie Vaughan has documented most of his recording history through the auspices of Malcolm Mills’ Last Music Company across 5-CDS in a deluxe box set that in the vinyl size box also includes: An autographed full-size replica of […]
Elly Wininger The Blues Never End Earwig New York Hall of Fame Inductee (2014) Elly Wininger is socially conscious, highly skilled acoustic guitarist and songwriter based in the Woodstock area. She’s been at her craft for decades now but The Blues Never End is only her fifth album since the end of the ‘90s, the […]
Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans The Music Gets Us Thru Man Hat Tone This is the seventh release for Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans, a throwback sound as indicated by the 1950-ish red pickup truck on the CD cover. The core band includes Vickers on guitar, bottleneck guitar and vocals, bassist Margery Peters, drummer Bill […]
Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers VizzTone These two names, Lindsay Beaver and Brad Stivers, should be familiar to blues fans, especially the former who caught attention with her 2018 Alligator release, Tough as Love. Stivers released his VizzTone release a year earlier. Both played on Beaver’s album and are considered two of the hottest musicians […]
George Gritzbach Full Circle The thing l love about this job, is receiving music that’s completely new to me . A blank canvas so to speak . No preconceived ideas about either the album or the artist. Listening to this album one word comes to mind quality. Each song is crafted with such feeling and passion, even the […]
Dale Webb Take a Little Chance Today I want to introduce you to Dale Webb, singer / songwriter who was born in Wales and raised in Ireland. Dale didn’t have an easy life and started playing guitar after a stroke he suffered as a child when he was just 12 years old. He knew that […]
Seth James Different Hat Tiny Ass Seth James has all the trappings of a West Texas cowboy and looks the part attired in his white Stetson. He is a life-long working rancher. Somehow, though James picked up the same kind of roadhouse blues bug as that mostly retired singer from Ft. Worth, Delbert McClinton. Yes, […]
Gabe Stillman Just Say the Word VizzTone Pennsylvanians are well acquainted with guitarist Gabe Stillman’s energetic, acrobatic, showman-like performances. He leaves no doubt that he can wield an axe gracefully, swaggeringly, and demonstratively depending on the tune. Nonetheless, this debut, Just Say the Word, will surprise even his most ardent fans due to his accomplished […]
Andy Peake Mood Swings Big Little Mood Swings is the debut for singer/songwriter/drummer/percussionist Andy Peake who invites a wide cast of mostly Nashville-based musicians to join him in his eclectic mix of blues and roots tunes. Seven of the eleven are either penned or co-written by Peake with two highly recognizable cover tunes and two […]
Johnny Tucker Featuring Kid Ramos & The Allstars 75 and Alive Blue Heart/ HighJohn There are not that many seventy-plus original bluesmen, certainly few with the pipes of venerable Johnny Tucker who still has plenty left in the tank based on 75 And Alive, recorded on his 75th birthday in October of 2020. For that […]
Los Lobos Native Sons New West Besides their 2019 Christmas album, Llego Navidad, it’s been six years since we heard from the iconic band Los Lobos who return now with Native Sons. They are indeed native sons of Los Angeles, hence the album title and an album that pays homage to L.A.’s musical heritage and […]