The Nighthawks Back Porch Party Eller Soul Records This is the twenty-eighth album from The Nighthawks who formed in 1972. The earliest lineup on record included Mark Wenner, harp; Jimmy Thackery, guitar; Jan Zukowski, bass; and Pete Ragusa, drums. Thackery left in 1987 to form Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers. Drummer Ragusa left the band […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 4/21/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Here it is! The #1 and ORIGINAL INDIE BLUES radio show on the internet! The only show dedicated 100% to the Touring INDIE BLUES artists. You are going to hear the best in NEW BLUES made by artists who “Keeping the Blues Alive” is […]
Greg Nagy Stranded Big O Records Greg Nagy is the former lead guitarist for the blues and soul band “Root Doctor”. Their 2008 recording “Change Our Ways” received a Blues Music Award nomination as Best Soul Blues Album. In 2009 Nagy released the first album under his own name. “Walk That Fine Thin Line” helped […]
The Blues Hawks out of New Jersey are a rocking blues band! They just released an EP, Bad Ass Blues consisting of 5 very solid songs and I was lucky enough to receive a copy to review. The group consists of Frank Sonsini (Guitar), Mike DiFrank (Vocals and Bass Guitar), Dave Brodnick (Drums), and Jacqueline […]
Mark Telesca Heavy Breathing Independent Originally from New York City Mark Telesca studied music at Florida Atlantic University and now lives in West Palm Beach. Telesca held the “bass chair” in many Broadway productions but his real passion is the Blues. Formerly a member of the band “Blues Dragon” Telesca competed in the 2012 International […]
Jackie Payne I Saw The Blues Blue Dot Records Jackie Payne was born in Athens, Ga. in 1946. At the age of seventeen he released his first single “Go Go Train” on the Jetstream label. As a result he toured with the Stax revue which then featured Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Carla Thomas. […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 4/14/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Here it is! The #1 and ORIGINAL INDIE BLUES radio show on the internet! The only show dedicated 100% to the Touring INDIE BLUES artists. You are going to hear the best in NEW BLUES made by artists who “Keeping the Blues Alive” is […]
Slam Allen Feel These Blues American Showplace Music Raised in Alabama, Slam Allen played drums in his families soul band “The Allen Brothers”, led by his father and uncles. Therefore Allen was schooled in the music of Otis Redding, Albert King, B.B. King, James Brown and Wilson Pickett. It wasn’t long before Allen picked up […]
Bobby Messano lives on the road. Music is the one constant in what can be best described as a turbulent life. He’s been playing for decades and even did a stint as Steve Winwood’s guitar player and music director. He is an amazing guitar player and a passionate and powerful vocalist. With every album he […]
Moondog Medicine Show Let It Go Independent This is Moondog Medicine Show’s second cd. Their first cd “Elixir” was released in 2013. The band is fronted by Lana Spence. Spence is one of a dozen Janis Joplin type replacement singers used by Big Brother and The Holding Company from 1987 – 1997 and again between 2008 […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 4/7/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Here it is! The #1 and ORIGINAL INDIE BLUES radio show on the internet! The only show dedicated 100% to the Touring INDIE BLUES artists. You are going to hear the best in NEW BLUES made by artists who “Keeping the Blues Alive” is […]
In In Tune: Charley Patton, Jimmie Rodgers and The Roots of American Music, Ben Wynne has written an important book that supplies a great deal of information about two key figures in American popular music and the blues, country and rock ‘n roll music they fostered. The book is well-researched and for the most part […]
Doug MacLeod Exactly Like This Reference Recordings Doug MacLeod has been nominated for thirteen Blues Music Awards. He finally won in 2014 for both Acoustic Album of the Year, “There’s a Time”; and more importantly as Acoustic Artist of the Year. His song “The Entitled Few”, from that album, also received a 2014 nomination as […]
Jerry Williams “Gone” www.RealGoneMusic.com Jerry Williams (AKA Jerry Lynn Williams) is more known as a songwriter than solo artist. From this recording Delbert McClinton covered and notched a hit with Williams’ “Givin’ It Up for Your Love.” From later Williams’ albums; Eric Clapton covered “Forever Man,” “Pretending” and “Running on Faith,” with millions of copies […]
Ghost Town Blues Band Hard Road to Hoe Independent The Ghost Town Blues Band represented the Memphis Blues Society in both 2013 and 2014 at The International Blues Challenge. A finalist in 2013 they took 2nd place in 2014. It seems that with time this band just gets better and better. This is the bands third […]
Tad Robinson Day into Night Severn Records As a fan of Memphis styled music there are few singers that affect me the way Otis Redding and Al Green did way back in the late sixties and early seventies. One of them is Tad Robinson. Robinson is a blue eyed soul singer. This is his sixth […]
Betty LaVette “Child of the Seventies” www.RealGoneMusic.com It has taken nearly forty years to have Betty LaVette’s “Child of the Seventies” unearthed, but the wait was worth it as this lost gem has aged like a fine bottle of wine. Soon to be seventy years young – the youthful soul diva had several brushes with […]
Barbara Blue Memphis Blue: Sweet, Strong and Tight Big Blue Records Barbara Blue was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. She moved to Memphis in 1997 and has been performing there ever since. She has been named “The Queen of Beale Street” and on Friday May 8, after the ribbon is cut on the brand new […]
Dave Stryker Messin With Mister T Strikezone Records In 1980 guitarist Dave Stryker left Nebraska and moved to New York City. He joined Jack McDuff’s band and toured with him from 1984 to 1985. From 1986 thru 1995 and again from 1998 thru 2000 Stryker toured with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Today bandleader Stryker leads […]
Hyde and Seek Featuring: Earl Thomas, Lady Bianca, Rev. Paul Smith, & Ron Thompson Neil Barnes Music Producer Neil Barnes put together this gospel blues ensemble because he finds this music especially moving. He hand picked the first few participants and the rest of the project just fell into place. All of the band members […]
Bernard Allison Group In The Mix Jazzhaus Records This is a new more lyrical and improved Bernard Allison. Allison’s guitar is further back in the mix on most of the tracks and his vocals the best of his career. He sounds more relaxed and without a need to prove his guitar prowess. This is less […]
Brandon Santini Live & Extended! Vizztone Label Group Brandon Santini grew up in North Carolina but moved to Memphis in 2003. Brandon played all the Beale Street Blues clubs and for seven years fronted the Delta Highway Band who received a 2009 Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist for their debut recording “The […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 3/3/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Here it is! The #1 and ORIGINAL INDIE BLUES radio show on the internet! The only show dedicated 100% to the Touring INDIE BLUES artists. You are going to hear the best in NEW BLUES made by artists who “Keeping the Blues Alive” is […]
Gregor Hilden “In Phase” www.acoustic-music.de From Germany guitarist Gregor Hilden’s all instrumental “In Phase” recording is a joy from beginning to its almost sixty minutes end. Thirteen tracks are included, ten authored by Hilden and three are fairly well-known covers. Setting the tone; Ralph MacDonald’s forever classic “Mr. Magic” (made enormously famous by Grover Washington […]
Brad Hatfield For A Change Independent Coming back from a construction accident is not an easy thing to do. Left partially paralyzed ex-guitarist Brad Hatfield picked up the harp. Hatfield is a soulful singer and is “often compared to the likes of …Bobby Bland and Joe Cocker”. Hatfield’s 2012 debut “Uphill From Anywhere”, received him a […]
Jeff Jensen Morose Elephant Swing Suit Records The Jeff Jensen Band was formed in 2004 and performed at The International Blues Challenge in 2005 and 2007. Their self-titled first album was also released in 2007. In 2011 Jensen moved to Memphis and there found work with harmonica ace Brandon Santini. In 2013 Jensen released his […]
Benny Turner Journey Nola Blue Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie grew up in Gilmer, Texas where they were exposed to country blues and the music of T-Bone Walker. Once the family moved to Chicago’s West Side his brother began to make a name for himself as Freddie King. While Freddie became a guitar […]
Exclusive interview with Jill Kettles by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud In a very short time “Miss Jill PR” has become a major force in the Blues industry by landing, as one of her first clients, the impressive roster of artists on German based Ruf Records. Jill Kettles is not new to the business, her move […]
Last Thursday night, musician JJ Buckland was at a local open mic, soloing on his favorite song, “Stormy Monday,” when he suddenly collapsed.. The club staff and many people in attendance, including his fellow musicians, did all they could. EMTs arrived swiftly and he was transported to the hospital, but unfortunately he died. This is […]
Honey Island Swamp Band Cane Sugar Louisiana Red Hot Records When hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005 many residents found themselves stranded and unable to go home. Such was the case with Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin) and Chris Mule (electric guitar). Also in San Francisco at the time were evacuees Sam Price (bass) and […]
Tony Joe White “The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings” www.RealGoneMusic.com Tony Joe White’s late sixties signing to Monument Records took-off with a series of hits starting with “Polk Salad Annie.” The Real Gone label focuses on his subsequent early seventies output for this double disc compilation of the LP’s he made for Warner Brothers. Three albums […]
Linsey Alexander Come Back Baby Delmark Records Linsey Alexander was born in Holly Springs, Ms. on July 23rd, 1942. Alexander has lived in both Memphis, and in Chicago where he has been part of the North Side’s blues scene for the last two decades. Alexander’s debut recording 2004’s “Someone’s Cookin’ in My Kitchen” included a […]
Chris Spedding Joyland Cleopatra Records Chris Spedding is a British guitarist who has been on the music scene some fifty years. In 1975 he scored big with the hit single “Motorbikin’”. He has worked with The Sex Pistols, Jack Bruce, John Cale, Paul McCartney, Robert Gordon, Roxy Music with Bryan Ferry, and King Mob with […]
Dana Fuchs Songs From The Road Ruf Records Back in April of 2001, the off-broadway production of “Love Janis” opened at The Village Theater. Dana Fuchs was one of several singer/actresses who alternated in the role of Janis Joplin. The performance included many of Joplin’s more familiar songs including “Piece of My Heart”, “Me and […]
Jeff Jensen has just released his 4th studio album, Morose Elephant, and it is a real treat. The project consists of seven original songs and four fantastic covers. My absolute favorite cut is Jensen’s duet with Victor Wainwright, “What’s the Matter With the Mill,” which is a traditional song. It is just bursting with joy […]
Allan Harris Black Bar Jukebox Love Productions Records Allan Harris is a Brooklyn born Harlem based vocalist, guitarist, bandleader and composer. He has ten recordings in his own name. Harris has been compared to Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. He has played Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and the 2012 London Olympics. […]
Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King Fat Man’s Shine Parlor Blind Pig Records This band is one of few that are built around a two guitar attack; however Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King may be opposites in their individual approaches to the guitar. Kubek played rhythm guitar in Freddie King’s band until his death, […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 1/27/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud LIVE from the Midnight Circus the #1 INDIE Blues internet Radio show On the Internet! The ONLY Show 100% Dedicated to the Touring Indie blues artist. You will hear Music being made today by artists that are out there touring! You will hear Music […]
Tinsley Ellis Tough Love Heartfixer Music Tinsley Ellis was born in Atlanta and discovered the guitar at a young age. While listening to The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones, he soon discovered B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King. Ellis’ first band the Alley Cats also included Preston Hubbard who later played […]
Vaneese Thomas Blues For My Father Segue Records Vaneese Thomas is as close to Blues royalty as you can get. Thomas grew up in Memphis the daughter of Rufus Thomas, a rhythm and blues singer, whose career spanned a half century. Rufus Thomas recorded for both Sun Records and Stax Records; his 1963 hit “Walking […]
John Tropea “Gotcha Rhythm Right Here” STP Records www.JohnTropea.com If you are not already familiar with his name, you’ve probably heard John Tropea’s guitar on famous recordings by Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, Paul Simon, Laura Nyro, Van Morrison, Phoebe Snow, Lyle Lovett, James Brown, David Ruffin, Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack, Donny […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 1/13/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud LIVE from the Midnight Circus Podcast! The #1 INDIE BLUES podcast! The only blues podcast that is dedicated 100% to the Touring blues artist, the INDIE BLUES Artist. The The people that are out there making new Blues and bringing the music to you […]
Brad Absher & Swamp Royale Lucky Dog Montrose Records Brad Absher is from Lake Charles, Louisiana but now makes Houston his home. Absher has released five previous albums the most recent being 2010’s “Big Shugga”. He calls his band “Swamp Royale” because he was influenced by the Louisiana music he heard when he was growing […]
An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Janice Johnston about Health Screening at the IBC by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Often musicians do not have access to good medical care and more importantly, to good early detection services to protect them from some of the most common and potentially deadly medical conditions such as High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, […]
Bluz is on the move and alive and well on Long Island. Frank Lombardo For most of my adult life I have been living on this island we call Long Island. Just minutes from New York City, one of the major music entertainment cities in the world. As music fans and artists we have been […]
Rory Block Hard Luck Child: A Tribute to Skip James Stony Plain Records Rory Block’s picture hangs in the entrance to the offices of the Martin Guitar Co. They have a Martin OM-40 Signature Edition guitar named after her. Block is one of our greatest exponents of Country blues guitar. This is her fifth recording in her […]
Tas Cru You Keep The Money Crustee Tees Records Tas Cru now lives in Chaumont, N.Y. His first album “Biscuit” was released in 2006. Cru states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him “by a Quebecois fan”. In 2008 he followed up with “gravi-Tas”. His other recordings are 2009’s “Grizzle n’ Bone”, 2010’s “Jus’ Desserts”, […]
LIVE from the Midnight Circus 1/6/2015 by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud Come on in and listen to the FIRST AND ONLY INDIE BLUES radio show dedicated 100% to the Touring Indie Blues artist. Sit back and discover the great music that is being created TODAY by INDIE B artists that are the road right now. […]
Tommy Talton – Until After Then (Hittin’ the Note Records) Album Review by Scott B. Bomar Six decades in, it’s clear that guitarist and songwriter Tommy Talton is still making music for the sheer joy of it. Until After Then, his fourth album for Hittin’ the Note Records, is a breezy romp through Talton’s wide-ranging […]
Michelle Willson Fortune Cookie Live at Sculler’s Jazz Club EvilGal Music Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson had four great albums on the Bullseye Blues Record label distributed by Rounder Records. In 1994 she released “Evil Gal Blues”. Her “Evil Gal” nickname comes from her appreciation for Dinah Washington and she included songs from Washington and her […]