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.
Peter Karp Alabama Town Rose Cottage Records Peter Karp was born in Leonia and raised in New Jersey and Enterprise, Alabama where his father, a retired military pilot, lived. Karp’s stepmother was an African-American woman who helped raise him. In New Jersey his birth mom would take Karp to concerts. As a teen Karp played […]
Wee Willie Walker & The Greaseland All-Stars Live at The Notodden Blues Festival Little Village Foundation Wee Willie Walker recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. It wasn’t until he was introduced to Rick Estrin that he was re-discovered. Walker’s 2015 album “If Nothing Ever Changes”, co-produced by Estrin and Kid […]
Making A Scene Presents Richard Ludmerer’s TOP 50 INDIE Blues CD’s Reviewed in 2016! These are presented in no particular order because they are all THAT good! We at Making a Scene pride ourselves on our CD reviews. We just don’t give you an insightful opinion, we give you the opportunity to watch the artists we […]
Si Cranstoun Old School Ruf Records When Si Cranstoun refers to “Old School” he is referring to the golden era of rock and R n’ B. His primary influences are Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and Big Joe Turner. Cranstoun was born in Caterham, Surrey, England. Cranstoun’s father Bill promoted Ska and Reggae music and Cranstoun […]
Ilana Katz Katz Movin’ On Regina Royale Records Ilana Katz, fiddle, married Warren Katz therefore she became Ilana Katz Katz. Ilana is also a busker. She plays her fiddle in the Boston subway system collecting donations from who ever enjoys her music. She attended a Billy Boy Arnold concert where she met Ronnie Earl. Earl […]
Rory Block Keepin’ Outta Trouble a tribute to Bukka White Stony Plain Records Rory Block hails from Princeton, NJ but spent a lot of her formative years as part of the Greenwich Village folk music scene. At the age of fourteen she was introduced to the music of the Mississippi Delta. She recorded for Elektra, […]
It’s been more than 25 years since Travis Tritt began his musical career, yet on his 2-disc CD set, Travis Tritt: A Man and His Guitar – Live from The Franklin Theatre, he sounds as fresh and relevant as ever. While staying true to his roots, he shows that he is capable of crossing the line […]
Smoke Wagon Blues Band Cigar Store Independent The Smoke Wagon Blues Band, from Hamilton Ontario, was formed in 1996. Their now out of print debut was 1997’s “Smoke Wagon Blues Number 36”. They followed up in 2001 with the live “Low Down Righteous Blues”. “The One and Only” was issued in 2005 and resulted in […]
MonkeyJunk Time to Roll Stony Plain Records MonkeyJunk, the Ottawa Ontario based trio, is Tony “D” Diteodoro, rhythm and lead guitar; Steve Mariner, lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica and organ; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. The band released its first album “Tiger in Your Tank” in 2009 and won the […]
The McKee Brothers Enjoy It While You Can Independent The accompanying publicity sheet states that “Enjoy It While You Can”…features great performances by a talented roster of players from Los Angeles and Michigan…” I will list them later. But who are these McKee Brothers that they can attract such a talented ensemble when this is […]
In June of this year, Heart played with an orchestra for the first time in a career spanning over 40 years, and they did it with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The 1080 video captures the beauty and majesty of the historic building and also provides plenty of […]
Taj Mahal Labor of Love Acoustic Sounds Taj Mahal was born Henry Saint Claire Fredericks in Harlem on May 17th, 1942. He was raised in a West Indian-American and African-American family. He grew up in Springfield, Ma. and in the early 1960’s studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He graduated and moved […]
Biscuit Miller Wishbone Bluebass Music David Miller was born and raised on Chicago’s south side. He was nicknamed “Biscuit” by his grandma as he wouldn’t get outta’ her kitchen. He learned to play bass from his friend’s older brother. He formed his first band “Clever” with another friend Ivan Wallace. The family moved to Minneapolis […]
By Rhetta Akamatsu Full disclosure: I received this album from Fiona Boyes for review. Fiona Boyes has a new album release, Professin’ The Blues, and on it, she does just that. Produced by the legendary Professor Keith O. Johnson of Reference Records and recorded at Skywalker Sound studios in California ,this is a perfect match of […]
Mike Zito Make Blues Not War Ruf Records Mike Zito worked ten years at a downtown St. Louis guitar shop where an older employee taught him an appreciation for The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and B.B. King. He released “Blue Room” his first independently produced album in 1997. Follow up albums included 1999’s “America’s Most […]
Seattle quartet Gravel Road digs a little deeper into the world of Deep trance-blues and psychedelic jam chunk rock on Capitol Hill Country Blues, their sixth studio album released in December of 2016. The nine new tracks were recorded and mixed by legendary engineer Jack Endino in late 2015 & early 2016. The band’s signature […]
The Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome Interscope Records The Rolling Stones started out as high school classmates listening to the blues. Their early influences were American blues artists Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed. Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts used to sit in with British blues artist Alexis Koerner when he played The Marquee. […]
Northwest super group Rust on The Rails is a collaborative ensemble that began as an acoustic based progressive rock meets world music hybrid that has evolved into a full force commercial rock band, ready to take its place in the upper echelon of Seattle music history with the release of their first full length album […]
Big Head Blues Club Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon Big Records The Big Head Blues Club is a project of Big Head Todd and The Monsters. The Colorado based band was originally formed in 1984. Todd Mark Mohr, guitar; Brian Nevin, drums; and Rob Squires, bass; all met while attending Columbine High School. […]
Mississippi Heat Cab Driving Man Delmark Records Mississippi Heat is one of Chicago’s best working blues bands. The ensemble has talent galore. Their leader Pierre Lacocque is the talented songwriter and harp player who formed the band twenty-four years ago. This is their twelfth recording overall and sixth for Delmark records. Lacocque has written eleven […]
Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch Champagne Velvet (Underworld Records) Jason Elmore describes his band’s new album ‘Champagne Velvet’ as “like a road trip from Dallas to Memphis, TN with a quick stop by the West Coast on the way. “ Hoodoo Witch; The Power trio lead by singer/songwriter/guitarist and Tequila aficionado Jason Elmore entered the […]
Dawn Tyler Watson Jawbreaker Independent Dawn Tyler Watson was born in England but raised in Montreal where she studied Jazz and Theatre at Concordia University. As an actress she was featured in several movies including 2004’s “Jack Paradise (Les Nuits de Montreal)” which translated means the “Nights of Montreal”; and in which she played a […]
Little Boys Blue Tennissippi Vizztone Label Group/Jaxon Records Little Boys Blue is a Tennessee based blues band originally formed in 1993. They may have taken their name from Aleck Miller who used the names Rice Miller and “Little Boy Blue” before renaming himself Sonny Boy Williamson II. Or possibly their name came from the song […]
Tas Cru Simmered and Stewed Vizztone Label Group/ Crustee Tees Records When talking about his last album Tas Cru states “after five albums everything fell into place, the songwriting, the performance, and the production.” That album 2015’s “You Keep The Money” was one of the hottest albums of the year. At the International Blues Challenge […]
Trudy Lynn I’ll Sing The Blues For You Connor Ray Music Trudy Lynn released 2006’s “I’m Still Here” recorded with the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra. As a result she received two 2007 Blues Music Award nominations; one for Soul Blues Album of The Year and one for Soul Blues Female Artist of The Year. In […]
Mary Jo Curry Guitar Angels Records Mary Jo Curry is from Springfield, Illinois. She is from a big family and has seven older brothers all whom are musicians. She plays piano and studied theater and voice while in college. She has been with theatrical touring companies and sang with an 80’s cover band. Five years […]
JW Jones High Temperature Solid Blues Records Molson Golden Ale, Iceberg Vodka and JW Jones; these are among my favorite Canadian exports. Although Jones’ influences include fellow Canadians Ronnie Hawkins and Colin James he has absorbed all the blues, rock, and country music that has come before him. In 2000 Jones released his first album […]
The Jimmys Hot Dish Brown Cow Productions The Jimmys are a seven piece R n’ B and jump blues band from Wisconsin. The band was formed in 2008 by Jimmy Voegeli. By day Voegeli works on his family’s fifth-generation dairy farm with 200 Brown Swiss dairy cows. At night Voegeli is an award winning musician […]
The Rev. Billy C Wirtz truly is divine, as his press release claims, if you are not easily offended and love to laugh! Do not let the title of Rev. fool you into thinking this is a religious record or you are in for a terrible shock. With the help of the legendary Nighthawks, he […]
Mitch Kashmar West Coast Toast Delta Groove Music Mitch Kashmar was born in the beachside community of Santa Barbara, Ca. in 1960. He is a disciple of the California harp scene that includes George “Harmonica” Smith, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, and Kim Wilson. Kashmar has shared the stage with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, […]
Colin James Blue Highways True North Records Colin James Munn was born in Saskatchewan Canada in 1964. As a young man he and his band opened for Steve Ray Vaughan who suggested that he drop his last name. James released his first recording in 1988. He is probably most well known in blues circles for […]
Fiona Boyes Professin’ The Blues Reference Recordings Fiona Boyes is an Australian who has completely absorbed the genre we call acoustic blues. She has been nominated for a Blues Music Award every year between 2007 and 2010; and she was nominated again in 2016 as Traditional Blues Female Artist of The Year. She has been […]
Devon Allman Ride or Die Ruf Records Devon Allman is the son of Gregg but his music is all his own. Allman formed “Honeytribe” in 1999 but the band achieved its greatest success with their sophomore effort 2010’s “Space Age Blues”. That album included guest appearances by Huey Lewis and Ron Holloway. In 2011 Allman […]
Melissa Etheridge Memphis Rock & Soul Stax Records/Concord Music Group Melissa Etheridge is a rock singer-songwriter who has fifteen Grammy Award nominations. She won for Best Rock Vocal Performance in both 1993 and 1995. Like her contemporary Cyndi Lauper she has been inspired by the roots of blues, rock and soul and chose to further […]
Dave Keller Right Back Atcha Tastee Tone Dave Keller was born in Worcester, Ma. He went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct where as a DJ he played, listened to, and studied the blues. Keller graduated in 1989 and made a brief pilgrimage to Chicago but returned to settle in Somerville, Ma. He learned the […]
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Bonafide Jesi-La Records Teresa James is originally from the Houston, Tx. area but has long resided in Los Angeles. In 2000 she released her first recording “Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps: Live”. The following year she released the “Whole Enchilada” and in 2003 “Oh Yeah”. These albums have […]
Jimmy Thackery Spare Keys White River Records Jimmy Thackery was born in Pittsburg, Pa. in 1953. He began his career as a member of “The Nighthawks” and spent fourteen years with them recording 20 albums. In 1987 Thackery left the Nighthawks to form his own band “Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers” and went on to […]
Seth Walker Gotta Get Back The Royal Potato Family Seth Walker hails from the Greenville, North Carolina area but has also lived in Austin, Nashville, New York and New Orleans. At the age of forty-one he has absorbed the blues, country music and Americana of his generation and has already made his mark. His first […]
Listening to the new CD from The Brother Stereo It’s Sunday morning. I am listening to the first Track from the new Brother Stereo CD, “Sweet of the Fall”. The music, my coffee, the rain outside and a quite house in the morning all blends together to make for a level of relaxation I honestly […]
Nancy Wright Playdate! Vizztone/ Direct Hit Records Saxophonist Nancy Wright is a west coast session musician who has spent the better portion of her life adorning the music of others. Currently she plays with The Frank Bey Anthony Paule Band holder of multiple BMA nominations. Wright’s first album was 2009’s “Moanin”, an organ combo project, with Tony […]
Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials The Big Sound of Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Alligator Records Lil’ Ed Williams was born in Chicago in 1955. As a young aspiring guitarist Williams and his half brother bassist Pookie received encouragement from their uncle J.B. Hutto. “J.B. taught me everything I know” says Ed. The […]
The Isley Brothers “Groove with You…Live!” www.RealGoneMusic.com Originally recorded at Bearsville Sound Studio in Woodstock, NY from 1980 – this live set was buried until last year’s Record Store Day (2015) release as a limited edition vinyl LP. Around the same time it was also made available as a digital download titled “Wild in Woodstock,” […]
Catherine Russell Harlem On My Mind Jazz Village Catherine Russell is a jazz singer with a blues heart. Her appreciation for blues can be found in her song selection and passionate intonation. Russell is the daughter of Luis Russell the musical director for Louis Armstrong. Her father passed when she was very young and she […]
Robert Finley Age Don’t Mean A Thing Big Legal Mess Records/Fat Possum Records Robert Finley was born in Bernice Louisiana. At the age of eleven his father gave him money to buy a new pair of shoes and he purchased a guitar instead. He joined the Army at the age of 17 as a helicopter […]
Sugar Ray & The Bluetones Seeing is Believing Severn Records Sugar Ray & The Bluetones have been nominated for numerous Blues Music Awards. In 2016 they were nominated for Band of The Year for the third time; they were previously nominated for this award in both 2012 and 2015. This is the Bluetones seventh record for […]
The Joey Gilmore band Respect The Blues Mosher St. Records In a fifty year career Joey Gilmore has shared the stage with Bobby “Blue” Bland, Etta James, James Brown, Little Milton and Little Johnny Taylor. He was born in Ocala, Florida and released his self-titled first album in 1977. His next recording was 1989’s“So Good […]
Deb Ryder Grit, Grease and Tears The elements needed for a great Blues song, or album are fairly straight forward; a solid rhythm section, hot lead guitar, smooth keys, a punctuating horn section, hot harmonica and scorching, soulful vocals singing about hard times, heartache, and fond memories. Deb Ryder boldly declares it also requires three […]
Lurrie Bell Can’t Shake This Feeling Delmark Records Lurrie Bell was born in Chicago in 1958. As a youngster he was surrounded by Blues music as his father was the renowned harmonica player Carey Bell. The younger Bell first picked up the guitar at the age of six and polished his playing skills with Big […]
“All Things Must Pass” The rise and fall of Tower Records (96 minute DVD) www.MVDb2b.com – MVDvisual The death of Tower Records was a major blow for many of us who grew up purchasing vinyl LP’s, seven inch forty-fives and CD’, laser discs, and DVD’s. This triumphant and reflective DVD “All Things Must Pass,” is […]
Matthew Skoller Blues Immigrant Tongue ‘n Groove Records Harmonica player and vocalist Matthew Skoller was born and raised in New York City. He relocated to Chicago in 1987 and began apprenticing with Jimmy Rogers, Big Daddy Kinsey, Big Time Sarah, and Dietra Farr. Skoller’s first recording was 1996’s “Bone to Pick With You”. He followed […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.