Ryan Lee Crosby Winter Hill Blues It was two years ago I first heard Ryan Lee Crosby play at the virtual Juke Joint Fest in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The annual event was thrown for a spin in 2020 due to Covid 19, so organizers cleverly decided to take the festival online in a virtual sense with free live Facebook streams, and […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Anthony Geraci Pianist, Hammond organist and composer Anthony Geraci was born in New Haven, Conn. in 1954. His interest in playing piano began at age four when he told his parents “I want a piano!” Kind of an odd request when most kids want a new […]
Dionna Greenleaf I Ain’t Playing’ Little Village Readers of these page likely realize that blues vocalist/shouter Diunna Greenleaf is one of the best belting it out today, but she sadly remains criminally under the radar. We’d be remiss not to mention that Greenleaf has already won three Blues Music Awards and countless nominations, but yet […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Geminii Dragon! Brian Reynolds War Crimes Europe Hole In My Pocket Foreigner Dirty White Boy Whitesnake Crying In The Rain Near Dusk The Way it Goes Flickertail Small Town BBC Murder Mysteries Five Grand Stereo Dancing Mary Black Cat Biscuit The […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kenny Neal If you want to experience the “Real Deal”, take time out to find Kenny Neal. One of the strongest modern proponents of Baton Rouge swamp blues, Kenny Neal is a second-generation southern Louisiana bluesman who is cognizant of the region’s venerable blues tradition and […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with GeminiiDragon On this week’s Turn it. Up interview we have discovered an artist with so much potential it’s scary. When I first heard the sound of Geminii Dragon she just blew my mind !! So join us on tonight’s Turn It Up interview and hear how […]
Big Jack Johnson Stripped Down in Memphis M.C. Big Jack Johnson, guitarist/songwriter/vocalist was one of the few bluesmen from Clarksdale, MS who stayed home. He never migrated north like Muddy Waters, Ike Turner, and John Lee Hooker. Stripped Down in Memphis is a posthumous release of acoustic blues, pairing the legendary bluesman with harmonica master […]
Diunna Greenleaf I Ain’t Playin’ Little Village I Ain’t Playin’, the latest release from Texas blues artist Diunna Greenleaf is a must-hear. This three-time Blues Music Award winner, dishes out thirteen wonderful tracks, incorporating blues, soul, funk, and southern gospel. Her amazing vocals are backed by a stellar lineup of musicians which include producer Kid Andersen on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, and Derrick […]
Nick Daniels and The Groove Krewe Run to Daylight Sound Business Services On Ivan Neville’s “Dumpstaphunk: Where Do We Go from Here” Nick Daniels III plays bass and is one of three featured vocalists. In the Groove Krewe Daniels steps upfront. The songs are written by Dale Murray and guitarists Rex Pierce and Nelson Blanchard. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with John McNamara of The McNaMarr Project “McNaMarr Project “The Sound Of Soulful Blues” 2018 Blues Performer Of The Year (Solo/Duo)Multi-award winning blues artists John McNamara and Andrea Marr have both carved a niche for themselves on the international blues scene with many years and accolades to […]
Christina Vane Make Myself Me Again Red Parlor Make Myself Me Again is the follow-up for resonator-playing, foot-stomping Cristina Vane who made her auspicious debut in 2021 with Nowhere Sounds Lovely. While blues was an essential focus of the debut, Vane revealed her affection for mountain music, folk music, and even western waltzes. Having moved […]
Dave Weld Nightwalk Delmark Records Dave Weld was born in Chicago in 1952 and his interest in the Stones, Clapton and Mayall started changing in high school when he heard Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, and B.B. King. After high school Weld moved to New Mexico and studied jazz and met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Vaneese Thomas Fight the Good Fight, Vaneese Thomas’ new album on Blue Heart Records, represents the culmination of an amazingly diverse career for the youngest member of Memphis’ first family of soul. Its bracing blend of Memphis-style R&B, Americana, and other roots genres sets the album well […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Alvin Youngblood Hart Lachy Doley Gimme Some Lovin’ Alastair Green Living Today Dom Martin 12 Gague Left Lane Cruiser Juice To Get Loose Glen Frey Smugglers Blues AC/DC Sin City Rainbow Long Live Rock n’ Roll Rory Gallagher Shin Kicker Gary Moore […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Alvin Youngblood Hart The cosmic American love child of Howlin Wolf and Link Wray… Known as a “musician’s musician,” Alvin Youngblood Hart’s praises have been sung by everyone from Bob Dylan to guitar gods Gary Moore & Mick Taylor. Mr. Hart was born in Oakland […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Lew Jetton Lew Jetton learned The Blues the old fashioned way, in the cotton fields, while growing up in the 60s and 70s between Trenton and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Along the way, he had two of the best mentors one could have: In the 80s, the legendary […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Michael Rubin At 15, I worked as a camp counselor. My boss, Eric Guthertz, had a harp he let me borrow. Instead of looking at it for a minute, I went to a corner and jammed for a half an hour. 6 months later I was […]
Vaneese Thomas Fight the Good Fight Blue Heart Records There was a definite magic in the air when Vaneese Thomas recorded Fight the Good Fight at the famed Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, a place once home to Hi Records and the Hi Rhythm Section. The album represents all which I love about Memphis music: the soulful melodies, the funky intoxicating rhythms, the horns, […]
Jarkka Rissanen Tonal Box feat. Kalle Fält Bones Humu Records Having reviewed Finnish guitarist Jarkka Rissanen’s 2021 album Cargo last year, I was quite anxious to hear his latest release Bones with his band Tonal Box featuring Kalle Fält. Like his previous album, this one is comprised entirely of instrumentals divinely steeped in jazz fusion leaning into funk and blues. Tonal Box is comprised of Rissanen on guitars, lap […]
Charlie Musselwhite Mississippi Son Alligator Records Charlie Musselwhite’s last Alligator recording “100 Years of Blues” was recorded with Elvin Bishop and the album resulted in Blues Music Awards for both Album of The Year and Traditional Blues Album. Musselwhite has also been the winner of the Traditional Blues Male Artist and he continues to display […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #141 and his Guest Matti Alfonzetti The Cold Stares Mojo Hand Marcus King Hard Working Man Def Leppard Take What You Want The Nighthawks You Seem Distant Crashdiet Powerline David Newbould Power Up SAHG Heksedans The Chase Live To Die The Jam Town […]
Brad Absher and the Superials Tulsa Tea Horton Records Brad Absher was one of several guitarists who played on Annika Chambers debut album released in 2014. Later that same year Absher released his own debut album combining original songs with selected covers including William Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water Until Your Well Runs Dry” […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with David Lumsden At age six after watching the TV show “Peter Gunn,” David hounded his father to take him to the record store to buy the Henry Mancini soundtrack album providing his first introduction to cool blues/jazz styles. David’s love of blues and blues/rock music started […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Miss Bix LESLIE BIXLER aka MISS BIX aka LESLIE LETVEN has been writing, recording and performing since her early twenties. Her first international record MAKE IT RIGHT was released on Syndrome Records under her maiden name Leslie Letven and did very well in the smooth jazz category, reaching 12 on […]
Delbert McClinton Outdated Emotion Hot Shot Records “Outdated Emotion” is Delbert McClinton’s 30th album. It’s difficult to know where to begin when reviewing such a prolific artist. McClinton combines elements of jazz, rock and blues into his own homemade stew. In 2013 Delbert reunited with Glen Clark. The pair had recorded “Delbert and Glen” in […]
The Hogtown Allstars Hog Wild “The Hog Town Allstars” debut album is appropriately named “Hog Wild”. It consists of some truly dynamic and experienced players. Collectively they have earned more than 20 Maple Blues Awards, five JUNO awards, two Lifetime Achievement Awards and countless other blues and jazz awards. The band features former DownChild Blues […]
Gina Sicilia Unchange VizzTone Superb vocalists have little trouble crossing genres. Gina Sicilia established her career as blues singer, flirted with Americana having moved to Nashville, and is now trying her hand at gospel as she returns to where she started, on the VizzTone label. This is anything but a casual experiment however, as Sicilia […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Eliza Neals Standing before one of America’s truest art forms with an unconditional passion to give the Blues everything she’s got. Eliza Neals, a Detroit born blues-rock star on the rise, honors the gut-wrenching, soul splitting intent the American roots of contemporary blues represents with inspired songwriting, […]
Making a Scene Celebrates 8 Years of Publication! It was on May 1st 2014 Making a Scene Officially came online with a very simple philosophy; Provide coverage for the indie music community and bring the best information to this community on what is happening in the music industry. We have strived to be the #1 […]
Anthony Geraci Blues Called My Name Blue Heart Records The first time I ever heard Anthony Geraci was on his previous recording “Take It from Me” where he was paired playing piano with Sugar Ray Norcia who was on harmonica and vocals. At the time Geraci also fronted his own band and the previous year […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Jeff Massey of The Steepwater Band Bernie Marsden Black Cat Moan Walter Trout Ghosts Frankford Fitler Heartstruck Motive Black Lift Me Up Daedric Dawnbreaker Dead City Ruins Preacher Anvil Take A Lesson Crossing I’s Dotting T’s You The Steepwater Band Shift The […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Jeff Massey of The Steepwater Band You should already know these songs. If the old saying about talent equaling success were true, then The Steepwater Band would already be a household name, rubbing shoulders with Aerosmith, Bad Company and other like-minded travelers in our collective […]
Trudy Lynn Golden Girl This is Trudy Lynn’s eighteen recording. Lynn often writes about domineering men and prostitution. Women like the “TV Mama” “the one with the big wide screen”. This all-original new recording features Kevin Mckendree keyboards, Yates McKendree guitar, Terry Wilson bass and background vocals, Teresa James background vocals, and Brennen Temple drums. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Reverend Freakchild of BananaFish Bananafish was a Boston based Rock & Roll Jam band in the 1990’s. Fronted by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Fordham Murdy (known now as Reverend Freakchild). The band also consisted of Dan Simone on keyboards, and Ben Chen and then Ry Cavanaugh […]
Justin Golden Hard Times and a Woman Self-released with help from Virginia Folklife Program Welcome a new artist to the blues and Americana fold with this debut, Hard Times and a Woman, by Richmond-based singer/guitarist Justin Golden. Golden takes a “big umbrella” approach to the blues. Yes, you’ll hear some of the Piedmont style, but […]
The Love Light Orchestra Leave the Light on Both the older and the newer recordings are produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The first album includes John Nemeth singing as he covers Bobby “Blue” Bland on the 1961 hits “Turn On Your Love Light”, and again on the 1966 hit “Poverty”. Nemeth also covers songs from Little […]
Jo Harrop The Heart Wants Lateralize British jazz vocalist and songwriter Jo Harrop brings her second album, The Heart Wants, stateside. One immediately senses her intimate, smoky, bluesy voice as the album opens with “The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants,” to the accompaniment of a first-rate lineup that boasts bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Andy […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #139 with his Guest Dean Owens The Hollywood Stars When Will The Lights Go On Again Chloe Trujillo & Rav Medic The Heaviest Sound Is Silence Thunder Across The Nation Van Morrison Pretending Datura 4 Open The Line Muddy Mangolias Down By The […]
Tommy Castro A Bluesman Comes to Town Alligator Records This new album is produced by Tom Hambridge who also co-writes and plays drums. He is widely known as the drummer/producer Buddy Guy where he plays the same roles. Hambridge is also co-writer along with Castro and his regular writing partner. A Bluesman Comes to Town […]
GeminiiDragon Fighting Fire with Fire The bluesy hard-edged grooves and hearty power-filled vocals stand front-and-center on Fighting Fire With Fire, the latest release from Louisiana recording artist Jessica Harper aka GeminiiDragon. Undoubtedly, that’s the winning combination which immediately drew my attention to this record. This all-original album hosts eight splendid tracks co-written with producer/guitarist Christian Simeon. With Harper behind the mic, and Simeon on guitar, the rest […]
Jessey Jackson Gypsy Willow When an artist creates new songs and puts them together to form an album it’s a really special occasion. So when listening to Gypsy Willow I’m reminded how art and life experience are really one and the same. It takes a unique and special talent to combine lyrics that are meaningful and connect […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Interviews Mark Wenner of The Nighthawks! 50th Anniversary of the Nighthawks! The Nighthawks was an idea in Mark Wenner’s brain long before he was able to implement it. The musical product of pre-1958 radio in Washington, D.C., he did not know there were rules against mixing blues, R&B, honky-tonk country, […]
Michelle Malone 1977 SBS Previous efforts from singer-songwriter/guitarist Michelle Malone have been searing, no-holds barred blasters, as gutsy blues as any contemporary blues artist has delivered. 1977 is a whole different side of Malone though. This is acoustic driven Americana that mixes nuance with nostalgia, autobiographical tales and introspection. Her character studies are particularly interesting. […]
Making a Scene Presents an Interview with J-Rad Cooley Young Salt Lake City-based musician J-Rad Cooley is a singer/songwriter, piano player and harmonica player, a unique storyteller with a distinct sense of blues, melody and groove. His soulful songs show his diverse influences from Lightnin’ Hopkins to Ray Charles to The Band, some with a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Dana Fuchs BROOKLYN, NY — Dana Fuchs is proud to announce the release of eighth album, Borrowed Time on April 29th. It’s her fourth release for German indie Ruf Records. With her feet planted on both sides of the blues-rock divide, Dana Fuchs is one […]
Eliza Neals Badder to the Bone E-H Records Eliza Neals is an artist who consistently delivers album after album of solidly-written, exquisitely performed blues-rock. Badder to the Bone marks my fourth album from Neals which I have made a point to review, and the title is very much on the mark. She is a total badass in the music world, and […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his guest Helen Turner of Born Healers Thundermother Watch Out Robert Jon & The Wreck Waiting For Your Man Banty Holler Hit This Cord Dom Martin Here Comes The River AC/DC Ride On Toronto Is Broken Circle Pink Floyd Featuring Andriy from Boombox Hey […]
HOME PAGE MAKING A SCENE Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Helen Turner of The Born Healer Born Healer released their new album in March 2022. Herbs, Roots, Barks, Etc. is the first album from Helen Turner, Iain Black and Marek Funkas since 2016’s ‘Til The Dawn, and the first featuring Steve Weaver on drums. Ten essential songs – […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pierre Lacocque of Mississippi Heat Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago Blues Band. Their motto is “Traditional Blues With A Unique Sound” as they present fresh yet vintage-based musical ideas. MISSISSIPPI HEAT’s name is a reflection of Pierre’s […]
The Nighthawks Established 1972 VizzTone There are not many bands that can mark a 50th anniversary but Washington D.C.’s legendary Nighthawks, have been carrying the flame for blues and roots music since 1972. The only two blues festivals where this writer had a major production role were the Brass Monkey Blues Festivals of 1983 and […]
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