Landslide Records - 40th Anniversary - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release from Landslide Records, 40th Anniversary, a two disc compilation celebrating their 40th anniversary and a full house of great artists. Opening with Tinsley Ellis and the Heartfixers and Drivin' Woman. Ellis is a great choice to open this retrospective with his fiery guitar attack and tight rock shuffle beat. Strong opener. The Bluesbusters' track, If The Phone Don't Ring, is up next led by Little feat guitar and vocalist Paul Barrere in collaberation with Dregs keyboardist Lavitz and associated Feat personalities. This is a great track and solid addition to this release. Damon Fowler contributes Make The Best Of Your Time. Fowler was a great addition to Landslides lineup with his rugged vocal, strong rhythm and terrific slide work, I always look forward to his releases. Sean Costello was a unique talent and spectacular blues player. His contribution here is Motor Head Baby with it's slow swagger and Costello's relentless lead guitar work. If you don't know Sean, go find it now! Nappy Brown joins Ellis and the Heartfixers on Hard Luck Blues. Here you get the double whammy with Browns excellent vocals and Ellis' tasty guitar riffs, backed by strong horn work. Dave Bartholomew has a great jam on Jazz Fest in New Orleans with that funky New Orleans sound. David Earle Johnson (drums) brings a really hot Jazz Fusion sound. Partnered with John Abercrombie on guitar, Dan Wall on organ, Gary Cambell on sax these guys really fly on Route Two. Excellent! Derek Trucks Band continues in the jazz mind set with Mr. PC showcasing Trucks' world renown guitar improvisation. Mike Mattison best known for his work with Derek Trucks Band, showcases his soulful vocal work on Midnight In Harlem and it's R&B feel. Really nice. Steam Donkeys really put on the heat on Little Honky Tonks, a strong, Country and Western track with real grit. If you like this kind of music, and I do, you'll love this! Scrapomatic lays down a really hot track, Night Trains, Distant Whistles, with Mike Mattison on vocal, Paul Olsen on guitar and vocal, Dave Yoke on guitar, Ted Pecchio on bass and Tyler Greenwell on drums. Hot funky drumming, a great bass line, well blended vocals and strong lead guitar, great! Sax man Paul McCandless brings The Great Lawn, a new jazz piece featuring Steve Rodby on bass, Davidd Samuels on vibes, Ross traut on guitar and Linda Naimas on claps for an interesting instrumental diversion. Wrapping the release is Col. Bruce Hampton & The Late Bronze Age on Walking With Zambi, a driving country rocker. This is a great mix of music and a lot of hot talent on 2 cds. If you know all of the bands. it's a great mix tape and if you don't it's a great intro. 

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Landslide Records artist: Damon Fowler - Alafia Moon - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (March 26, 2021), Alafia Moon, from Damon Fowler and it is a healthy dose of blues rock with a plenty of slide. Opening with Live It Alone, a cool, swampy, rocker, Fowler on slide and vocal leads the way with Chuck Riley on bass, Justin Headley on drums, T.C. Carr wailing on harmonica, Mike Kach on keys, Betty Fox on backing vocals, this is a great opener. Title track, Alafia Moon is a strong, country blues ballad with a great melody and warm backing vocals. Kach's organ work gives it a rich, almost spiritual feel and backing vocals add almost a contemporary Pink Floyd feel. I really like this track with it's rich core. Light, finger picked, The Guitar, is a really cool track with just a dash of Tex-Mex. Fowler really sounds comfortable in this story telling track and it's unassuming freshness. Hip To Your Trip is a modern funky blues, built around a framework of Broonzy's Key To The Highway. With a great bass line, hot slide and funky drums, the only thing I don't like about it is over to quickly. Nice! Another favorite on the release is Taxman, a slow blues with some of Fowler's best vocals on the release and really sweet slide work to boot! Fowler plays some really tasty lead over slide on this track giving it a deep blues feel. Excellent! Funky rocker, Wanda, is guaranteed to get you dancing in your seat if not on your feet. This is a hot track and could be the radio track for the release. Wrapping the release is hot shuffle < Kicked His Ass Out with hot, Gatemouth Brown like picking, rolling into full slide work under super backing vocals. Excellent closer.  

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Gracie Curran - Come Undone - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Undone, from Gracie Curran and it's meaty. Opening with title track, Come Undone, Gracie Curran is back with her newest release and a lot of soul. This is old school styling with Damon Fowler on guitar, Matt Walker on guitar and bass, Justin Headley on drums, Pat Harrington on drums, Victor Wainwright on keys, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax really delivers the goods. Curran's vocal phrasing and style, with a touch of reggae is just right for an excellent opener! High energy swing track, Stay Up!, shows Curran is not only happy digging in deep but very light on her feet. Fowler's fleet fingered guitar work is nicely backed by Jeremy Powell on keys and New Orleans style horn work by Woolverton and Earley give this track extra zip. On shuffle track, Sweet Sativa, Fowler pulls out the slide giving the track a down home feel and playing off backing vocals, Curran has this track right where she wants it. Very nice. If Mama Ain't Happy is a snappy piano boogie with a great bass line by Walker and featuring Wainwright on piano and great vocals by Curran. Excellent! Wrapping the release is easy paced country blues rocker, Chasing Sunset with understated slide work and Curran's powerful vocal right up front. This track has a strong melody with subdued but tight instrumental backing. Very nice closer for a solid release. 

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Wild Heart Records artist: Charlie Wooton Project - Blue Basso - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 23, 2019), Blue Basso, from Charlie Wooton Project and it's really good. Opening with funky rocker, Jaceaux, Wooton sets a terrific bass line with Keiko Komaki heating up the keys, Doug Winbish on bass and Jermal Watson on drums. Excellent opener. Rolling into a cool radio style R&B number, Arsene Delay has lead vocal on Reflections. Her vocals are sweet and float on the tune with glistening key work and jazzy guitar riffs by Daniel Groover. Come On Come Over has a great funky bottom, and instrumental style vocals, an aggressive bass line and a snappy drum line. One Night is a bluesy ballad with my favorite vocals by Delay. Anders Osborne sits in with a real nice guitar solo giving the track a bit more sting. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Fulton Alley with really funky bass and guitar lines. This track, which really crosses over into fusion really humps. Excellent! Guitar wiz Sonny Lanreth steps up on Tell Me A Story and his wicked slide. Delay's vocals are deep and rich and with it's Latin framework, really cuts a nice swath. On Front Porch, an country style acoustic blues, Landreth is back and this time on resonator, paired with Wooton and Groover trading riffs. Very nice. Wrapping the release is the Rolling Stones, Miss You, with a hot New Orleans style drum line and really funky bass work from Wooton. Eric McFadden sets a melodic guitar lead trading off with Delay on vocal. As the track winds up it also winds out with a flurry of guitar riffs and that steady thumping bass line by Wooton. Very nice closer for a very cool release. 

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Whiskey Bayou Records artist: Damon Fowler - The Whiskey Bayou Sessions - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Whiskey Bayou Sessions, from Damon Fowler and it's quite good. Opening with a modern take on James Brown style, It Came Out Of Nowhere, with it's cool back beat, Fowler's solid vocals, nicely stylized guitar soloing and backing by Todd Edmunds on bass, Justin Headley on drums, and Tab Benoit on rhythm guitar. Excellent opener. Fairweather Friend has some real funky juju on it with a really nice bottom and a guitar lead that really sits in the pocket. Johnny Nash's Hold Me Tight gets a real cool upbeat shuffle rhythm and a new life. This is a cool interpretation by Fowler with country flavored picking giving the track just that right amount of spice. Little Walter's Up The Line has a really strong drive and with just the right touch of guitar is set to get you moving in your seat if not on your feet. So you're itching for some of that famous Fowler slide work...wait no longer. Ain't Gonna Rock With You No More is a straight blues rocker with mean intention slide work by Fowler. Very nice. On traditional track, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Fowler crosses into both religious and country genres and with nicely expressive lap steel work. Very cool. Another track with a nice funk and a taste of The Dead is Running Out Of Time with rhythmic vocals and lap steel guitar. Wrapping the release is easy shuffle, Florida Baby with some long range sliding. With it's quiet, subdued pace and wailing slide sound, it's an ideal closer for a really nice release.

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Fatmouth Records artist: Joshua Jacobson - Good Little Thing - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Little Thing, by Joshua Jacobson and it's got a laid back bluesy feel. Opening with Baby's Mama Really Don't Care, Jacobson on guitar and vocal sets the pace with cool rag style piano by Chris Flowers. Matt Walker on bass and Aaron Fowler on percussion round out the band. With a cool saunter, Codependent Kate, has a nice feel with Mookie Brill on harp, Clark Stern on piano and Pedro Arevelo on bass. Stern's piano work on Long Lonesome Day really stand out nicely and Jacobson's vocals are solid and spot on. Long time Allman Brothers lead guitar player, Dickey Betts, sits in on electric guitar on Pistol Packin' Papa adding his signature style. Damon Fowler steps up on acoustic slide guitar on Bipolar Mama and with Aaron Fowler's clever percussion work makes it one of my favorites on the release. Curley Weaver's Ticket Agent is a great track played by the book with the addition of Allan Jolley on banjo. Very cool. Willie Cobbs' You Don't Love Me is another standout track with Brill on harp, Fowler on slide and Aaron Fowler on percussion. Best original on the release, Mind Blowin' Blues has the melody, solid vocals, Jacobson on slide with definite Allman influence and terrific percussion by Fowler. Swing tune, Baby It Must Be Love by Blind Willie McTell displays Jacobson nicest vocals and gives Stern another solo opportunity and he shines.  Wrapping the release is traditional track, Cross The River Jordan with Jacobson on vocal and slide. I really like his slide style and with his pure vocals makes this a super track to wrap this release. 

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Billy The Kid & The Regulators - I Can't Change - New release review

I just received the newest release, I Can't Change from Billy The Kid & The Regulators and it's quite good! Coming out of the gate with title track, I Can't Change, Billy and the Regulators hit the funky groove with Reggie Watkins on trombone, Rick Matt on sax and JD Chasin on trumpet. Billy Evanochko, Jon Vallecorsa and James Dougherty on guitar and vocals lead the way and Yolanda Barber's complimentary backing vocals are excellent! Arnold Stagger on bass and Brian Edwards on drums really anchor the bottom and stylized guitar soloing tops this super opener! On Ain't Gotta Prove Nothing, Billy leads the way vocally and with voracious guitar work. Another track with a serious funky feel driven by Stagger, this track moves! Radio styled, R&B ballad, What Are We Fighting For has a catchy melody and warm horn work, nicely complimented by Dougherty's singing slide work. R&B styling on Story of the Blues suits this band well. This is a tight track with a clean jazzy guitar solo and nice key work from Ublai Bey. Twelve bar number, Who, opens with a nice Freddie King style guitar intro and rumbles with a southern blues rock feel. Featuring Jason Ricci on harp and Evanochko on Elmore James style riffs over Bey's key work, this track is a nice blues rocker. That Darn Cat has a funky jazz feel and a cool slinky beat. Choice harp riffs from Ricci and warm vocal injections from Barber are a perfect compliment to the lead almost rap like lead vocal. Dougherty lays down some real nice Little Feat like slide work on Edwards' funky rhythm giving this track a cool vibe. Slow blues number, Slender Man Blues, features prime lead vocal work from Billy and clean piano work from Bey. Billy steps up with some of the hottest guitar riffs on the session pushed ever higher by Watkins, Matt and Chasin. Barber's warm backing on this track is effective in a totally different way showing her absolute versatility. Very cool! On Jimmy Reed's Can't Stand To See You Go, the band maintains the standard JR feel. Ricci nicely adds with his harp work and it's vocal harmonies with Billy's solid leads that sets this track apart. Saturday Night is a high energy rocker along the lines of Radar Love. Never venturing far from the blues format, it's the driving bass line of Stagger that kicks this track and the super harp work of Ricci, the organ work of Bey and the sweet vocal blending of Barber, Evanochko, Vallecorsa, Dougherty, Edwards and Bey that make it sing. A guitar guitar shootout featuring Damon Fowler and Sean Carney is a nice treat on this track as well. Wrapping the release is Robert Johnson's Me And The Devil Blues. With a much more stripped down approach of vocal, guitar and harp on this track, it makes for a very nice closer or a real nice release!

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Vote for the Blues Blast Music Awards!

BLUES FANS: VOTE FOR THE BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARDS! Voting for the 2014 Blues Blast Music Awards is now open to anyone who is a Blues Blast magazine subscriber. Subscriptions are FREE and an automatic part of the voting process on the website. Blind Pig artists and recordings are well represented on the ballot: "REMEMBERING LITTLE WALTER" Traditional Blues Album Unequaled live tribute to the harmonica icon from five of the finest harp players on the current blues scene - Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia, and James Harman.  The album was named winner of two major 2014 Blues Music Awards - "Best Traditional Album" "Album of the Year." It also received a 2014 Grammy nomination for "Best Blues Album." BILLY BRANCH   Song of the Year - "Going To See Miss Gerri One More Time" “Going To See Miss Gerri One More Time” is a moving song about a lost chapter in the cultural history of Chicago’s black population, the story of Gerri Oliver, long-time proprietor of the Palm Tavern in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, an area rich with African-American history that’s been called the ‘Harlem of the Midwest’  Much of that history unfolded in the legendary nightspot that Gerri presided over from 1956 until the city shut it down in 2001. In its heyday, the Palm Tavern was the hot spot for celebrities such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis, Jr., Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Quincy Jones, and Dinah Washington.  It was, in short, as the Chicago Tribune put it, “a landmark in Chicago history and American musical culture.” The song, written by Billy Branch, is the centerpiece of Blues Shock, the first studio CD from the three-time Grammy nominee with his band in fifteen years.  Living Blues said the composition is “nothing less than the story of the Great Migration itself, exemplified in the life trajectory of one remarkable woman…by any objective standard, both an eloquent piece of storytelling and an appropriate tribute.” Branch calls it simply “the best song I’ve ever written.” To watch a concept video of the song, please click HERE. DAMON FOWLER Sean Costello Rising Star Award Song of the Year - "Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me" Damon Fowler has emerged as on the foremost practitioners of American roots music.  No Depression said, "A blend of sacred steel, backwater blues and howling, greasy swamp rock, Fowler's music is a primal, atavistic sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  Hittin' the Note magazine called him "one soul-oozin', rock 'n' rollin', swamp stalkin' blue monster of a talent." "Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me" is a track from his latest release, Sounds of Home, which was produced by swamp blues master Tab Benoit. To watch a live performance of this song, please click HERE. SHAWN HOLT AND THE TEARDROPS New Artist Debut Album - "Daddy Told Me" Shawn Holt is the son of the late legendary blues master, Magic Slim.  Fronting his old man's band, Shawn carries on Slim's unique sound and legacy with his debut recording, Daddy Told Me.  The album quickly rose to the #1 slot on the Living Blues radio chart and has been critically acclaimed.  Vintage Guitar said it is "hard to beat this strong debut."    The album won the prestigious 2014 Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist Debut."  The high energy, hard-driving sound of the Teardrops is still alive and well with Shawn.  The Chicago Blues Guide said that Shawn has "proved conclusively he has what it takes to maintain the family legacy." To vote for the Blues Blast Music Awards, please click HERE.

"Spark" Your Enthusiasm - new Damon Fowler video!

NEW VIDEO FROM DAMON FOWLER - "SPARK" Blind Pig Records has released another live video from roots guitar guru Damon Fowler - "Spark," a track from Damon's latest release, Sounds of Home. In its CD review Living Blues magazine called the song "a rocking Nashville boot-knocker, recalling the swagger of the Georgia Satellites with vintage twang spilling out the sides." To watch the video, please click HERE. USA Today said the album, produced by Gulf Coast-based guitarist Tab Benoit, "nails the region's bluesy, easy-rocking, gospel-tinged sound." Blues Music Magazine added, "Fowler simply has never played better, showing off a notable control while continually stirring in new elements of Americana, R&B, and grease-popping soul." For more info on Damon and the CD, please click HERE.  For downloads of this and other songs from the album, please visit iTunes HERE. Damon Fowler Band Upcoming Dates: July 11 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club July 12 Marietta, GA Darwin's July 13 Montgomery, AL Capital Oyster Bar July 25 Tampa, FL Skipper's July 26 Boca Raton, FL Funky Biscuit Aug. 9 Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Festival Aug. 23 Bean Blossom, IN Bean Blossom Blues Fest Sept. 4 Maryville, TN Brackin's Bar Sept. 5 Durham, NC Papa Mojo's Roadhouse Sept. 6 Virginia Beach, VA 17th Park Street Sept. 13 Lakeland, FL The Music Ranch Sept. 27 Bedford, VA Bedford Centerfest Oct. 12 Ft. Fisher, NC Pleasure Island Blues Festival

For more information visit www.blindpigrecords.com.

Roots guitar guru performs at Relix office in NYC!

NEW DAMON FOWLER VIDEO - "TROUBLE" Stripped-down Performance At Relix's NYC Office Last winter when Damon Fowler and his band stopped by the New York City office of roots music magazine Relix for an interview, they also regaled the publication's staff with an acoustic performance of "Trouble," a track from their lastest Blind Pig release entitled Sounds of Home.  Damon co-wrote the original composition with album producer Tab Benoit and Ed Wright.   Relix just released the video, posting in on their website and featuring it in their weekly newsletter.  Accompanied by Chuck Riley on bass and James "Country" McKnight on percussion, Damon movingly demonstrates the musical qualities the magazine praised in its album review: "On Sounds of Home, he showcases his tasty lead work and subtle, soulful singing."  To watch the video, please click HERE. For more info on the CD, please click HERE.

"Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me" - new roots guitar guru video

NEW VIDEO FROM DAMON FOWLER - "OLD FOOLS, BAR STOOLS, AND ME" Blind Pig Records has just released a video of the Damon Fowler Band performing a live version of “Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me,” a track from their highly-acclaimed new release, Sounds of Home. Typical is this quote from Blues Music Magazine, "Fowler simply has never played better, showing off a notable control while continually stirring in new elements of Americana, R&B, and grease-popping soul." And here are some quotes about the song: “Fueled by a reverberating, quaking dirge, ‘Old Fools, Bar Stools, And Me’ tells of a liquored-up loser aware of consequences and regret but unable to avoid either.  This is a common blues theme struck in an uncommon, chilling way.”  - Hittin’ the Note “This one is a slower song with some shimmering guitar but it is the combination of Damon’s wistful vocal and the title chorus that gives it that country feel.”  - Blues Blast “Leans on a decidedly Merle Haggard-inspired lyrical imagery while chasing a Doyle Bramhall-style confidence.”   - Living Blues To watch the video, please click HERE. For more info, or to purchase the CD, please click HERE.  For digital downloads of Sounds of Home, please visit iTunes HERE.

Roots Guitar Guru on "Mountain Stage" radio show

Photo: Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage DAMON FOWLER ON NPR'S "MOUNTAIN STAGE" Roots Guitar Guru's Performance To Be Broadcast Friday A performance by Damon Fowler and his band will be broadcast on National Public Radio's "Mountain Stage" program this Friday, April 25th.  Their live performance was recorded in February in Charleston, West Virginia, where the band played four songs from their new album, Sounds of Home, to a standing ovation. The radio show will be heard on over 130 stations around the country.   For a complete list of stations and broadcast times, please click HERE. The following week their set will be available for streaming at Mountain Stage's website and via mobile devices through the free NPR Music app. To watch the Damon Fowler Band performing the title track of the new CD in their home state of Florida, please click HERE.

New roots guitar guru video!

NEW DAMON FOWLER VIDEO "SOUNDS OF HOME" LIVE PERFORMANCE photo: Bob Hakins Blind Pig Records has released a video of the Damon Fowler Band performing "Sounds of Home," the title track from their newly-released album.   The CD, which debuted at or near the top of roots sales and airplay charts, has been gathering widespread acclaim: "Where the swamp meets the cotton field; there lies the music of Damon Fowler. Sounds of Home signifies Damon Fowler's progression into the ranks of the Americana elite." - Living Blues "The covers are well-chosen, but Fowler's originals and nimble guitar work are the reasons to visit."- USA Today "A blend of sacred steel, backwater blues and howling, greasy swamp rock, Fowler's music is a primal, atavistic sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up."  - No Depression To watch the video, please click HERE. For more info, or to purchase "Sounds of Home" CD, please click HERE. For digital downloads, please visit iTunes by clicking HERE.

Damon Fowler CD Tops Chart!

DAMON FOWLER'S "SOUNDS OF HOME" TOPS CHART! Sounds of Home, the latest CD from roots guitar guru Damon Fowler, is #1 this week on the Roots Music Report's Blues Chart!  The album debuted on the Billboard Blues chart shortly after its release and now it's the most played album on blues radio in the country.  It's also been getting critical acclaim, as evidenced by these quotes: The covers are well-chosen, but Fowler's originals and nimble guitar work are the reasons to visit." - USA Today "A blend of sacred steel, backwater blues and howling, greasy swamp rock, Fowler's music is a primal, atavistic sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. This one will pin your ears back and track swamp fonk all over the place." - No Depression "Where the swamp meets the cotton field; Sounds of Home signifies Damon Fowler's progression into the ranks of the Americana elite." - Living Blues

Damon Fowler CD debuts on Billboard chart!

"SOUNDS OF HOME" DEBUTS ON BILLBOARD CHART!  New Damon Fowler Release Critically Acclaimed      "Sounds of Home" the new Blind Pig release from roots guitar guru Damon Fowler, debuted this week at #12 on the Billboard blues chart! Damon chose swamp blues master Tab Benoit to produce the album at Tab's rural Louisiana home studio, and their collaboration has resulted in Damon's strongest effort to date.  Damon has spent much of the last year touring with the critically-acclaimed group Southern Hospitality, whose Easy Livin' Blind Pig release was also produced by Tab. Americana publication No Depression said of Sounds of Home, "A blend of sacred steel, backwater blues and howling, greasy swamp rock, Fowler's music is a primal, atavistic sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  Fowler is that rare artist whose studio recordings pack as much of a wallop as his live shows. This one will pin your ears back and track swamp fonk all over the place." USA Today said, "Fowler nails the region's bluesy, easy-rocking, gospel-tinged sound. The covers are well-chosen, but Fowler's orginals and nimble guitar work are the reasons to visit." Last week Damon and his band played a live set to a standing ovation on the national radio "Mountain Stage" program that will be broadcast at the end of April.  This week he'll be stopping by the New York City offices of Relix magazine for an video interview and feature. The group is just beginning a national tour in

Blind Pig Artist: Damon Fowler - Sounds Of Home - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (January 21, 2014) Sounds Of Home, from Damon Fowler and it's really super. Opening with a swamp funky blues, Thought I Had It All, with fat but fleet slide riffs Fowler shows beef on the strings  and Chuck Riley reinforces the meat on bass. James McKnight is tight on drums and Fowler is off to a great start with a cool melody and strong vocals. Nice! Title track, Sounds Of Home, is a blues rocker with a fairly sterile vocal lead but a kick butt guitar riff in contrast. Interesting. Trouble has a R&B/jazz feel to it. Laid back and snappy, Fowler does it easy with short bursts of guitar riffs. Quite cool. Spark is a country rocker with a catchy melody. Authentic telecountry riffs float the track and Eagles like vocal harmonies make it a solid radio number. Old Fools, Bar Stools and Me just smells like an old dive bar... I mean I can smell the tube amp that Fowler is driving to tube distortion (Think Hot Blue and Righteous). This is certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release with just a bit of country laid into the blues. Super tasty slide work and trem effects make this ultra cool. Excellent! Fast stepper Where I Belong has the country train beat (McKnight is the Conductor) and Fowler is loose on lap steel is what sounds like an open tuning. Very cool. Grit My Teeth, another track with a country base and blues riffs shows just how closely related the two are. Strong slide work on this track is a real calling card and Fowler isn't holding back. A surprise appearance by Elvis Costello track (and one of my personal favorite ballads) Alison, is nicely executed. A very sumptuous slide solo near the end of the track adds a dimension that Costello hadn't making it more than a cover track. Johnny Winter track TV Mama gets a blues rock feel like Leslie West's Crossroader. I really like the feel of this track and and the back beat and solid bass line by Riley. Fowler again lays into the slide and delivers the goods. Do It For the Love has a real authentic country feel and "western" tuning on lap steel gives it a warm sound. With a contemporary country rock flavor (Tuesday's Gone) and sophisticated blending of the two this is a really nice track. Wrapping the release is I Shall Not Be Moved done rag style. Light guitar finger picking and percussion along with traditional style vocals make this a perfect track to close the :Sounds Of home". This is really an unusual release and one that will certainly get quite a bit of attention.

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Roots guitar guru Damon Fowler finishes new CD with Tab Benoit

DAMON FOWLER COMPLETES NEW RECORDING "SOUNDS OF HOME" PRODUCED BY TAB BENOIT Roots guitar guru Damon Fowler has just finished recording his third solo project for Blind Pig Records, after spending much of the past year touring with the band Southern Hospitality.  Entitled Sounds of Home, the album is scheduled for a late January 2014 release.  It was produced by award-winning swamp blues master Tab Benoit at his Whiskey Bayou Studio in rural Houma, Louisiana.      Damon decided to join forces again with Benoit, who produced the critically acclaimed Southern Hospitality album at the same location.   That CD, Easy Livin', was just named the winner of the 2013 Blues Blast Music Award for "Best New Artist Debut."  On Sounds of Home, Tab sings background vocals on several tracks and contributes pedal steel and acoustic guitar on others, while Big Chief Monk Boudreaux is a special guest on the title track. Damon found working with Tab a "great experience."  They play lap steel and pedal steel guitar respectively, and they share a love and affinity for the marvelous mixture of down home sounds prevalent on the Gulf Coast.   "We speak the same language," as Damon put it.   Their collaboration has resulted in Damon's strongest effort to date. Reflecting the laid back atmosphere of the setting and surrounding area, Damon felt very comfortable in the studio and "the creative process was cool," according to Damon.   Tab and Damon worked out the material together.  "We have the same tastes in songs so it was easy to communicate," said Fowler.  He also enjoyed the fact that they came into the studio with just "skeletons" of songs rather than fully finished pieces.   "We just wanted to see where the spirit of the moment took us," says Fowler. "The older I get, the more I would like to bring positivity into it, so I tried to write more positive songs for this record, and you can feel it in the spirit of the record.  I'm really proud of it."  Damon says the title of the album sums up the spirit and approach of the project. While his music is deeply rooted in the blues, it's also strongly tinged with country, rock, and roots music. Growing up in Florida, Damon was exposed to, and influenced by, the variety of roots music styles popular in the Gulf Coast - country, swamp blues, rock, old-timey, sacred steel, soul, and Latin. Guitar Player called Fowler, a master of slide guitar, lap steel, and dobro,  "one of the swampiest guitar pickers to emerge from the humid Southeast since Lightnin' Slim and Tony Joe White," while Hittin' the Note magazine said,  "Damon Fowler has become one soul-oozin', rock 'n' rollin', swamp stalkin' blue monster of a talent."   Sounds of Home takes the listener on a tour through the rich traditions of American roots music, presented by one of its foremost practitioners.

Blind Pig Records artist: Southern Hospitality - Easy Livin' - New Release Review

I just received the new release, Easy Livin' by Southern Hospitality and it's quite enjoyable. This band features three well known blues artists, Damon Fowler, JP Soars and Vistor Wainwright as well as bassist Chuck Riley and drummer Chris Peet. This release has a number of flavors of music due to the diverse but related styles of each artist. Opening with Southern Livin', a funky little easy going pop blues, the band sets a baseline for music to come. This is a well written track with some of the commercial blood of Wet Willie or Little Feat, with a soul twist, but with life of it's own. Long Way Home, a Soars penned track has a bit more rock to it and features a short instrumental break featuring each of the players giving a taste of what is to come. Kind Lies & Whiskey is a really cool Fowler penned swing almost country blues. I really like this track with it's laid back attack. Wainwright plays a nice piano solo on this track. On another Soars penned track, Mile After Mile, the men lay down a track that really sounds like it's off of a Bob Wills or Asleep At The Wheel release and it is really quite cool. Fowler plays some lap steel that actually approaches Hawaiian style which is interesting as well. Wainwright's Certified Lover is a really hot soul style track. The vocals alone on this track are enough to carry the release but with musicians like these, you know there are instrumental features. Wainwright plays a a very warm supportive organ and hot piano parts and Fowler and Soars each play hot guitar riffs. Excellent track! On Willie Bobo's Fried Neck Bones and Home Fries, the track opens with Spanish style lead work which leads into a Latin flavored instrumental showcase featuring quite a bit of guitar over light percussion. This is another really sweet track! Wainwright's Shoestring Budget is a jump style blues track and really gets the place hopping. Wainwright plays boogie on the piano leaving the floor open for some really tasty guitar work by both players. This is another track not to be missed. Fowler penned Don't Feel Like Going There Today has a reggae beat but a real bluesy sound. This may be my favorite track on the release. It has just the right touch of blues, rhythm and guitar with super vocals. Come Back Home, written by Soars is a rock and roller and Wainwright gets the JLL pounding going to drive the track. Fowler takes a distinctive steel guitar solo and then opens the floor for Wainwright and Soars to rip away. Hot dawg! Another Fowler penned track, Powered For The Mountain, has a strong rock/blues basis with a swampy spiritual overtone. This is another really nice track with rippin' guitar work. This would be the powerhouse Led Zeppelin style track off of the release.... and I mean powerhouse! A Martino Laying Jr. track, Don't Boogie Woogie could easily be out of Joe Cockers early 70's repertoire. This is a cool track with a lot rockin' jamming between Wainwright, Soars and Fowler. Closing the release is Fowler's Sky Is What I Breathe, a ballad having the qualities of the best of the pre alt country writers. Very nice. (Think "Wild Horses")

 This is an unusually good release and one that everyone should checkout. There is literally something for everyone.

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Blind Pig Signs Southern Hospitality!

BLIND PIG SIGNS SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY The South has long been known for its hospitality and down home music.   Recently the region has seen the emergence of a musical group of young musicians who are masters of their craft and embody the soul and spirit of Dixie. Or as Blues Revue said, "There's a new entity in the blues world, a diverse, powerful group with enormous potential." The Band creating all the buzz, called Southern Hospitality, is comprised of lap steel guitar master Damon Fowler, guitarist extraordinaire JP Soars, and keyboard wizard Victor Wainwright. Blind Pig Records is proud to announce the signing of Southern Hospitality, which is about to record what promises to be one of the most exciting CDs in 2013.   The album will be produced by Tab Benoit, winner of three Blues Music Awards this year, including the prestigious "B.B. King Entertainer of the Year."  Said Tab, "I'm looking forward to working with Southern Hospitality because Damon, Victor, and JP are the future of roots music."   Recording is set to begin during Thanksgiving week at the Whiskey Bayou Studio in Houma, Louisiana. The three artists are musician's musicians, each bringing a unique style and fresh translation of the great Southern soul, blues, and rock music that came before them. Together, their mutual chemistry, high energy and skill sets create a cohesive vision, with echoes of Muscle Shoals and Macon, that organically flows together into an entirely original and dynamic form of Americana, Southern soul roots music with a modern sensibility. Damon Fowler is a master of the six string, slide guitar, lap steel and Dobro who's been compared to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar has a hint of the late Duane Allman.  JP Soars and his band won the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge in 2009 and he won the Albert King award as the best guitarist in the competition.  A singer/songwriter and guitarist best known for his distinctive gypsy-swing jazz playing with plenty of rock potency, he was nominated this year for a Blues Music Award as the best "Contemporary Blues Male Artist."  Memphis-based Victor Wainwright is known for his high-octane boogie piano, big soul sounds, powerhouse blues, and roots rock 'n' roll. Victor was nominated this year for the "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player" Blues Music Award. The Band originated when Fowler, Soars and Wainwright, who were performing with their respective bands at a festival in Florida in July of 2011, decided on an impromptu jam together at a post festival party.  After witnessing the performance, the South Florida Blues Society approached the trio about playing for the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Pre-Cruise Party. Fowler had already been thinking about doing a project with other musicians and contacted his pal JP Soars.  Like Fowler, Soars lives in Florida and traces his family roots back to Arkansas. "I thought it was great idea as soon as Damon called," Soars said from his home in Boca Raton. "I had jammed with him a few times on stage and was totally excited because there was a natural chemistry that seems to happen whenever we play together." The two guitar-slingers with the singular singing voices immediately decided they wanted pianist-frontman Wainwright to round out their aggregation.  Soars added, "I had played with Wainwright before, as well, and he has a lot of soul, and we just feed off each other." Dubbing themselves Southern Hospitality, the three musicians added bassist Chuck Riley from Fowler's band and Soars' drummer Chris Peet to the lineup and made their official debut opening for Buddy Guy in August 2011 at the Heritage Music Blues Fest in Wheeling, West Virginia. Each frontman sang a couple tunes and the Band jammed them to a thunderous conclusion.   Fowler said, "It was cool to have two guitars and piano, it really added to the overall texture."  By the time the performance ended the crowd exploded with cheers and applause." "We were all ecstatic about the reaction," Soars said. "I knew it would be good but not that good. The response was overwhelming. Walking around, people kept coming up and telling us how great it was. It felt good." "It was a super magical experience and excellent response right from the first number," Wainwright said. "That was something I've only experienced a few times after many years of playing. The reaction was amazing." BluesWax said of the show, "Southern Hospitality, which after a single gig has significant players in the blues world taking notice.  Fowler, Wainwright and Soars share much love for the songs of the South. The hot jazz and funk of New Orleans, classic country, gospel, soul, and blues that became rock 'n' roll in Memphis and went global by way of a trucker named Elvis." Since then Southern Hospitality has performed at a handful of select dates and been rehearsing for the recording sessions.  Fowler hopes to do something like the Traveling Wilburys, where each member brings his owns songs to the table, and then everybody works on them together. "We are representing the South," he said of the project. "We wanted to put together a package of where we're from that represents the music we grew up listening to and that we're making our own today." Publicity: Debra Regur   pigpress@blindpigrecords.com   415-550-6484 Radio: Peter Robinson   radio@blindpigrecords.com   773-772-0043 Booking: Piedmont Talent  info@piedmonttalent.com   704-399-2210

As The Years Go Passing By - Branson Welsh with Damon Fowler

The Sunday Night Blues Jam at Ringside Cafe hosted by Branson Welsh guitar, vocals, R.j.Howson guitar, Devin Neel drums, and Marc Petrulis Bass.
Branson was born in Virginia and now lives and plays in Florida. He learned from all the local guys in St Pete's like Red Lasner, Craig Vantillbury,Damon Fowler,Sean Chambers,Jimmy Grizwold Sarasot Slim and then all the greats ALL OF THEM!! The turnning point was when Lucky Peterson took him around the world as his guitar tech and he let him play with him almost every night. He will have a new cd soon. Watch for a review on that one!!.
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