Busted Flat Records artist: Elliott and the Audio Kings - Long Live The King - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Live The King, from Elliott And The Audio Kings and it's terrific. Lead singer and guitarist, Mike Elliott, joined by Jonny Sauder on drums and Scott Fitzpatrick on bass for an old school raw blues rocker with a lot of guts. Opening with jump rocker Zim Zam Zoom, the guys start on full throttle and never let up. Elliott lay down the hot riffs and Sauder and Fitzpatrick keep it pumping. Super. Rolling in to All Revved Up, a low slung shuffle, these guys are really in the groove. With it's stripped down sound (raw guitar, vocal and rim shots) Shoulder The Weight is a cool Latin fused rocker with grip. Very nice. Pringles and Perrier is a real nasty instrumental with excellent lead guitar melody and just the basics for backing with an infectious Texas style lope. Excellent! With a real Chicago style, Day Drinking has just the right drag with a great guitar vamp and harp by Elliott, solid vocals and tight bass and drums making this another top choice on the release. Rock n' roller, Rich Girl has real drive bringing to mind the likes of Little Richard and Alvin Lee. Elliott has his own guitar style and it suits this music to a t. Very cool. Heart Attack is another track with real fire. Sauder and Fitzpatrick sit nicely in the slot as Elliott rifles away with his rowdy riffs. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Tin Sandwich, a hot jump track featuring Elliott on harp, chased by Sauder and Fitzpatrick. Excellent closer.

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Busted Flat Records artist: Elliott and the Audio Kings - Self Titled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Elliott and the Audio Kings and its a smoker! Opening with What they say about you..., Mike Elliott leads the way on guitar, vocal and harp. Backed by Jonny Sauder on drums and Scott Fitzpatrick on bass and these guy have the place really hopping. Elliott has terrific boogie woogie rock guitar styling and is not bashful to throw down some riffs. Excellent! On One Of A Kind I really groove on Elliott's guitar tone with is warm and fat. With double stop rhythm/lead, this track is super. The recording quality of the track is really clean, allowing the tone of Fitzpatrick's stand up bass to come through. With a rockabilly strut, What Tomorrow Brings, slinks along like an alley cat. Come On Home has a really cool drum beat with a central American rhythm. With creamy guitar rhythm tone and backing vocals by Sauder and Fitzpatrick and fanned guitar riffs, this track gets down. Easier Said Than Done is low slung and the saturation on the guitar amp is great. With a cool boogie rocking feel, this cut cruises. Elliott's harp opens No Need To be Alone and the band is tight. Snappy drums, thumping bass, fat guitar and bluesy harp... oh yeah. Toe tapper, Another Day, Another Dollar has a great feel. With an extended guitar solo and that thumping bass, this track rules. Jealous Kind has a really cool lope, Texas style. The closest thing to SRV that you would find on this release has it's own style but in Stevie's neighborhood. Excellent! Down and dirty, Friday Night, plays it low and slow but digs in for some electrifying guitar riffs. Very nice! With a New Orleans stumble, I Don't Want To Work has a snappy military style drum beat and Bo Diddley guitar. Elliott winds the guitar out on this one and these guys are really rockin! Wrapping the release is I Know with a cool Latin beat. With it's rock edge, this is a terrific track to wrap a really super release.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Busted Flat records artist: The Vaudevillian - Bringing Satan Down - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bringing Down Satan, from The Vaudevillian and it's quite interesting and enjoyable. Opening with blues infused, Broom Shooter, Jitterbug James on vocal and guitar, Piedmont Johnson on vocal and bull fiddle and Norah Spades on vocal, kazoo and washboard this band lays it down. Rag time, James Street Turnaround is a quick paced great animated track with a great beat. Sweet Honey Thighs is bound to be a crowd favorite with it's suggestive nature and cool beat. Johnson's bass lines and random punctuation makes this track sing. Country style blues, Sail Away, with it's authentic period vocals is driven by James' guitar rhythm and Johnson's bass solo is really cool. Dry Bone Shuffle is a fast paced blues number, think Blind Blake, with hot bass riffs. One of my favorite tracks on the release this track cooks. Cool blues track, Goin' To German features some real interesting whistling techniques with a solid guitar rhythm. Grind So Fine is another real nice rag with a super lead and backing vocals. With banter between James and Spades, and cool banjo/guitar work, as well as keyboard work makes this another of the top tracks. Easy stepper, The Duck's Yas Yas Yas has a really nice nice keyboard work and lead kazoo and again, nice bass work by Johnson. Bootlegger's Blues is a real nice Piedmont style number showings James' fluid finger work. I particularly like the vocal blending on the chorus of this track. Wrapping the release is title track, Bringing Satan Down, with it's sultry, kazoo lead intro. Unusual vocal techniques serve to even more date the style of the music. The band really has it rocking on this one with super guitar riffs, bass lines and of course kazoo. This is a really cool release with unusual sounds and nice grooves. Give it a shot. It isn't for everyone...but it is cool.



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Busted Flat Records artist: Ginger St. James - One For The Money - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, One For The Money, from Ginger St. James and it's a hoot! Opening with Pour Me, Ginger makes no bones about it. Shes a serious country singer, old style, and it's great to know there are artists out there making "non pop" country. With a super voice and a whole lotta twang, St. James is backed by SnowHeel Slim on guitar, Greg Brisco on piano and organ, Chris Altmann on pedal steel and banjo, Justine Fischer and Rob Foreman on bass and Andre Teller on drums. Super start. Like a runaway train, Slim and Brisco start off Train Whistle and St. James is high on the rail. Slim throws down some super Chicken Pickin and Altmann follows with a real nice pedal steel solo. This is a lot of fun. On ballad, Honeymoon Stage, St. James continues to show that she has no flaws in her vocal delivery and Altmann caresses the track with warm steel licks. Justine Fischer adds warm backing vocals leading up to a shimmery, reverb laden guitar solo from Slim. Very nice! A real instrumental crap kicker, Slim's Jig features some real fancy picking by Slim matched by Brisco on piano and Altmann on steel. Excellent! With a cool Latin flavor, Somebody Shot Me, adds another dimension to this already wild ride. With excellent rhythm work from Tellier and slick steel work from Altmann St. James tells the story as Slim adds a western flavor. One of my release favorites. Simple and straightforward, Best Of Me And You, keeps St. James high in the spot light and she delivers. Following the prime female country singers of the past, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Loretta Lynn and Brenda Lee, St. James adds her own personal signature to a simple country melody. A hot country rocker, Hair Of The Blackdog, is bound to get you shuffling your feet. With solid JL Lewis like piano style and Slim winding out his guitar this track is on fire! You Were Mine is a real nice track that could have just as easily done by Dolly and Porter. Cool riffs by Slim and Brisco and solid underpinning by Altmann give this track an extra kick. Wrapping the release is Merry Go Round with clear and clean vocals by St. James over nicely articulated guitar work by Slim and Altmann. This is an excellent closer for a surprisingly excellent release. Check it out.

 

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GINGER ST. JAMES ANNOUNCES 'ONE FOR THE MONEY' AND WESTERN CANADIAN TOUR DATES

Hamilton's award-winning rockabilly / roots sweetheart's new album on Busted Flat Records April 29, 2016 STREAM "HAIR OF THE BLACKDOG" ON SOUNDCLOUD HERE With her sultry and powerful voice, sassy and commanding stage presence and a repertoire that blends country, rock and blues, Ginger St. James packs a lot of entertainment into her petite frame.  Following the tradition of country songbirds like Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee and Patsy Cline, St. James writes music from real experience; growing up on the family farm, being broke, having fun, and love gone wrong.   A born entertainer who captivates audiences with her tongue-in-cheek songs that are as entertaining lyrically as they are visually and musically, St. James was the winner of Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2015 Hamilton Music Awards.  She released her first EP Spank, Sparkle & Growl in 2010, followed by the EP Tease in 2012 and released her debut full length album Diesel and Peas in 2014.  Ginger St. James is set to release her second full-length recording One For The Money on April 29, 2016 via Busted Flat Records.  As one critic wrote, “[St. James] is a sassy and dynamic rockabilly singer, songwriter and guitarist, creating a national buzz with some slightly cheeky music and a captivating charisma fuelled by her roaring voice and model beauty." (Nick Krewen, Toronto Star) "We are stoked for this new album and tour. Ican't wait to share it with the rest of Canada and the world!," says St. James. "Look out, folks, we are just getting started!" Country, blues and rock n' roll are her primary weapons, though it's her skilled fretwork, energetic performance, and sultry, expressive voice that commands her audience and keeps them coming back for more. www.gingerstjames.com  /MsGingerStJames   @MsGingerStJames One For The Money Tracklisting RIYL: Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, Wanda Jackson, Etta James, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee 1. Pour Me - 3:12 2. Train Whistle - 2:47 3. Honeymoon Stage - 3:44 4. Slim’s Jig - 1:35 5. Somebody Shot Me - 3:50 6. Best Of Me And You - 3:19 7. Hair Of The Blackdog - 2:09 8. You Were Mine - 1:56 9. Merry Go Round - 2:34 Ginger St. James Western Canadian Tour Dates April 29          Loplops, Sault Ste Marie April 30          Apollo, Thunder Bay May 4             Wee Johnny Irish Pub, Winnipeg May 6             The Root, Lloydminster, AB May 7             Bailey Theatre, Canmore, AB May 8             The Last Chance Saloon, Drumheller, AB May 11-15      Blues on Whyte, Edmonton, AB May 18           The Rum Runner, Coleman, AB May 19           Olive Bistro & Lounge, Jasper, AB May 20           Mikey’s Juke Joint, Calgary, AB May 21           The Coulee Pub & Grill, Vulcan, AB May 25           Truffle Pigs Café, Field, BC May 26           Fratters, Red Deer, AB May 27           General Store, Twin Butte, AB May 28           Owl Acoustic Lounge, Lethbridge, AB May 30           Times Change(d), Winnipeg, MB   Photo by Judi Willrich

Busted Flat Records artist: Cheryl Lescom & The Tucson Choir Boys - 1953 - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, 1953, from Cheryl Lescom & The Tucson Choir Boys. Opening with Dime Store Lover, a slinky pop track, highlights Lescom's vocal styling and sets the mood for the release. Soul Shakin' Romance makes you feel like you're on the set of an Elvis movie with backing vocals by acoustic guitarist, Sameday Ray, bass player Les Graham, and Michael J Torbay. Surrender is a keyboard driven blues rocker featuring Steve O'Connor on keys and a tight vocal group. Dave The Cat leads Just Pressed Send with a rockin acoustic guitar riff. Too Much Time crosses over into modern country style with Dave and Robert Reid setting a nice line of acoustic guitar. This is a contemporary style radio track and should be well received. Hot boogie number, Party Girl, is driven by Graham on bass and O'Connor on piano and Lescom is belting out the blues with cool vocal backing by the Choir Boys. It's Not You, It's Me is another country flavored ballad. A strong acoustic lead solo by Dave is nicely presented. Places I've Been has a familiar note. I don't know why but I think Bonnie Tyler or Meatloaf.... you tell me. Nice Mix Of Crazy feels like a Texas 2 stepper with a touch of Bo Diddley and rock. Another clean guitar solo by Dave adds another dimension. Measure Of A Man is another solid ballad. I particularly like Dave's solo on this track with a unique acoustical clarity. The release is wrapped by Twenty Foot Memory, a song with a touch of gospel and a touch of country. A feel good track with a clever country guitar riff, this is a nice closer for a solid release.

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Busted Flat Records artist: Daddy Long Legs - The Devil's in the Details - New Release review

I just received the newest release (September 17, 2013), The Devil's in the Details, from Daddy Long Legs and it's a non stop rockin' blues bash! Opening with the title track, The Devil's In The Details, Mike Elliott leads the way on a raucous ride with his driving guitar and vocal. Chris Junior Malleck plays smokin harp with great tone. Your Love Is Killing Me is an uptempo "Train" style track with Jeff Wagner keeping things solid on drums and Steve Toms riding the bass as Malleck solo's on harp. On slower soul style blues track, Lonely, Elliott goes deep to the well with super vocals and hot guitar riffs. One of my favorites on the release. Borrowed Time is a retro rock track with blazing tom toms and harp supporting Elliott on vocal. Elliott rips a very stylistic guitar solo bringing to mind Keith Richards doing a take on Chuck Berry. Cool track. On Texas loper, 40 Hour Week, it's not only the great drive and lope, or the super harp track, or the flaming guitar work but the vocals are spot on on this track! Get Drunk and Be Someone is a rock and roll track with great harp, rockabilly guitar riffs and super enthusiasm. This is a track that should easily make huge waves on the airwaves. You Wonder is is a bluesy rock track with shimmery guitar work and fiery harp work. Really quite cool. The One has a cool Latin punk like beat with an overdrive bridge. Elliott again finds great tones on his guitar and has super backing from Malleck on harp. With it's strong back beat rhythm Half Pint is a stand out track with a dynamite harp solo, hot guitar riffs and cool 50's backing vocals. Dug My Own Grave is a simple understated blues track along the lines of Key To The Highway. With evenly balanced guitar, harp and vocal, this is another of the best tracks on the release. This is a really super release which demands attention. If you get a chance, pick up a copy... you can thank me later!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”