King Biscuit Blues Festival

ACCLAIMED BLIND PIG ACTS AT THE KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL Two highly acclaimed blues acts with new releases out on Blind Pig Records - the Zac Harmon Band and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band - will be performing at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, one of the most iconic and longest running blues festivals in the U.S. ZAC HARMON BAND  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8th  4:00pm - 5:10pm Zac is one of the blues’ strongest live performers, thrilling fans everywhere from Memphis to Mumbai.  BluesWax said, “Harmon’s stage show is like a Blues symphony where he segues from one song to the next without a moment’s hesitation, building a head of steam that is orgasmic. His hour on stage went by in an instant.” Jazz Now said, “His show affirmed all the hoopla that surrounds those dubbed as the hottest new act… Soulful vocals, breathtaking showmanship… His flashy guitar style belies the solid sound that he radiated on every tune, admirably backed by a fantastic band.” To watch a video of "Long Live the Blues," a track from Zac's new CD Right Man RIght Now, please click HERE. Blues Symposium on Saturday On Saturday Oct. 10th Zac Harmon will participate in the "Call and Response" Blues Symposium at the Malco Theater.  From 12 noon until 1:00 pm he will discuss the special magic of the Delta that gave rise to America’s music, the blues. Also on the panel are Memphis singer/songwriter Reba Russell, Bubba Sullivan, one of the founders of the King Biscuit Festival, Matt Marshall, editor of American Blues Scene, and moderator Don Wilcock, award-winning blues journalist.  The Blues Symposium is free to the public. ANDY T-NICK NIXON BAND  SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th  5:30pm - 6:40pm The blues has a history of great partnerships and  Andy T and Nick Nixon definitely belong in that select group. Proof positive comes with their new release, Numbers Man, which debuted last month on the Billboard blues chart. The album was produced by noted Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, who will sit in with the band for their festival appearance. Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues.

Blind Pig Records artist: Andy T - Nick Nixon Band - Numbers Man - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Numbers Man, from Andy T - Nick Nixon Band and it's super. Opening with blues driver, Shut The Front Door, Nixon leads the way on solid vocals pushed along nicely by Kaz Kazanov (tenor sax), Al Gomez (trumpet) and John Mills (Bari sax), Larry Van Loon on B3, Jim Klingler on drums and Sam Persons on bass. Anson Funderburgh joins in with a tasty solo trading riffs with Andy for a hot opener. Devil's Wife has a flavor of new Orleans courtesy of piano work by Christian Dozzler and Klingler on drums. van Loons' B3 work complimented by The Horns lays it wide open for a nice solos by Kaz and Nixon. Tall strutting, Deep Blue Sea, is a great track to showcase this bands style with Nixon's vocals and The Horns holding down the bottom. A stylized solo from Andy and B3/piano from van Loon round out the track nicely. Dozzler's lead on accordion gives Tall Drink of Water a real Cajun flavor. Andy stirs the pot with few quick riffs but this track is all Nick. R&B track, Numbers Man, has a great groove. Nixon really catches the wave on this one, punched by The Horns. With super feel, Andy takes the track on full on and lays in some really soulful riffs. van Loon's B3 it hot and throaty and the horns balance the track out nicely. Excellent! Eugene Church R&B track, Pretty Girls Everywhere, is driven by Persons' solid bass line. This track borders on rock with a real swingin' feel and a killer sax solo by Kaz. Don Robey penned, Blue Monday has a really nice slow blues pace giving the band a great chance to stretch out a bit. Not only are Nixon's vocals super but Andy's guitar work on this track is excellent! Dozzler's sensitive piano work cleanly highlights the overall feel of the track, anchored by Klingler and Pearsons. Super! Hightailin' is a really nice instrumental with Andy taking the reins on van Loon's B3 setup. This track is a really nice showcase. Sundown Blues has a really nice lope and features "Mr Kim Wilson" of harp. Wilson, never the wallflower steps up and lays in a really nice harp solo working nicely with Nicks vocal lead. T-Bone Walker's, Tell me What's The Reason is a super track for this band setup. Andy really cooks the groove and with van Loon's feel on B3 and the Texas Horns punching it up, this track is a nice cooker! Funky rocker, Be Somebody Some Day, has a little bit of an Albert King style. Conversely, Andy's guitar solo's are all his own and Mills plays a few real nice bari solos adding real depth. Dozzler is back on accordion on What Went Wrong and with New Orleans flavored drumming by Klingler, the track has a real funky feel. Nixon's solid R&B style vocals and sweet guitar soloing by Andy and Dozzler add nicely to the mix. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Gatemouth Brown's Gate's Salty Blues has a real swagger. Nixon has the bull by the horns vocally and is swinging it at will. Andy has the response on guitar and then takes the lead throwing down a tasty guitar solo leaving you wanting more. Wrapping the release is the excellent, This World We Live In. With heavy feel like Jimmy Oden or Bobby Bland, this track really counts on Nick to deliver and he definitely has it covered. Backed by Denise Fraser on drums, Rick Reed on bass and Steve F'dor on piano Kevin McKendree takes a really nice B3 solo before turning over the lead to Andy for some of his most heartfelt riffs on the release. Nixon returns on this track making it and excellent closer.

   

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New Blind Pig releases out today!

NEW BLIND PIG RELEASES OUT TODAY! Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Blind Pig Records has just released a pair of fine CDs from venerable blues acts: ZAC HARMON   "RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW" Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan. After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium. CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes. Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 29 Dallas, TX Babbs Brothers BBQ Sept. 10 Omaha, NE The 21st Saloon Sept. 11 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends Sept. 12 Grafton, WI Paramount Blues Festival Sept. 19 Denton, TX Denton Blues Festival Oct. 8 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival Oct. 18 Fredericksburg, TX Blankets and Blues Oct. 29 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Oct. 30 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's Oct. 31 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND   "NUMBERS MAN" The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.   Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks. CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes. Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 30 Nashville, TN Hard Rock Sept. 17 Dothan, AL Blues at the Clarion Sept. 18 Marietta, GA Darwin's Sept. 19 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club Sept. 22 Nashville, TN Nashville Music Series Sept. 25 Champaign, IL Blues Blast Music Awards Oct. 10 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival

Blind Pig Announces New Releases!

BLIND PIG ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASES! Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Out August 28th Blind Pig Records has announced an August 28th release date for two CDs from venerable blues acts: ZAC HARMON   "RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW" Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan. After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium. Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 29 Dallas, TX Babbs Brothers BBQ Sept. 10 Omaha, NE The 21st Saloon Sept. 11 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends Sept. 12 Grafton, WI Paramount Blues Festival Sept. 19 Denton, TX Denton Blues Festival Oct. 8 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival Oct. 18 Fredricksburg, TX Blankets and Blues Oct. 29 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Oct. 30 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's Oct. 31 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND   "NUMBERS MAN" The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.   Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks. Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 30 Nashville, TN Hard Rock Sept. 13 Las Vegas, NV Big Blues Bender Sept. 18 Marietta, GA Darwin's Sept. 19 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club Sept. 22 Nashville, TN Nashville Music Series Sept. 25 Champaign, IL Blues Blast Music Awards Oct. 10 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival