Ghost Town Blues Band - Shine - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shine, from Ghost Town Blues Band and it's a funky, bluesy, rock mix. Opening with rocker, Running Out Of Time, Matt Isbell on lead vocal and slide guitar sets up a radio ready track, backed by Taylor Orr on guitar and vocal, Kevin Houston on sax and vocal, Suavo Jones on trombone, trumpet and vocal, Matt Kramer on bass and vocal, Andrew Mc Neill on drums and vocals and Cedric Taylor on B3, piano and vocal. Title track, Shine, is a horn saturated soul flavored rocker with excellent drum accent and super guitar riffs.  My favorite track on the release is slinky, soul track, Lyin' To Yourself  with Isbell's strongest vocals on the release, warm B3 reinforcement and solid horn work by Jones. I particularly like Isbell's guitar lead on this track giving it a southern sparkle. Another of my favorites is High Again with it's straight forward melody, funky rhythm and "Allman signature twin lead" guitar work. With a soul strut, My Father's Son, has a real nice feel. Taylor's B3 creates a nice tension and Jones' horn work is spot on. Soulful ballad, Carry Me Home is another strong radio style track with a really nice melody and powerful vocal and guitar lead by Isbell. A bluesy B3 solo by Taylor and tight accent work by McNeill and Jones make this another of the top tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is soft spoken, Hey There Lucinda with it's poppy melody, warm vocal blending and slide guitar riffs by Isbell, giving it a polished finish. 

  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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Ghost Town Blues Band - Backstage Pass - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent live release, Backstage Pass, from Ghost Town Blues Band and it's a good party. Opening with the Beatles, Come Together, Matt Isbell leads this hill-country take of the British pop classic which is more morphed with the addition of Suavo Jones on trombone and Kevin Houston on sax. With it's driving beat by Preston McEwen on drums, romping bass line compliments Matt Karner, Tim Stanek on keys and Taylor Orr and Isbell on guitars, this track which weaves through Norwegian Wood and Whole Lotta Love is a great opener. new Orleans flavored, Tip Of My Hat has a great feel and Stanek's piano work is tops. A salty sax solo by Houston is up first and I'm always a sucker for trombone work and Jones lays it all out. Givin' It All Away is a funky horn heavy track with solid sax work and Betts like guitar riffs giving the track an Allman like feel. A well developed trombone solo by Jones really sets this track apart. Boogie woogie track, Big Shirley is horn heavy and has super rock 'n' roll guitar riffs, even venturing off into Led Zep's "Rock and Roll" but the spotlight here is on the super piano work of Stanek. Very nice. A new, laid back take on the Allman's Whipping Post is actually quite fresh but does progress into a full blown 15+ minute blues rock jam with B3, rolling bass lines and adventurous guitar jazz/rock leads. Very cool. The Meter's, I Get High, has a terrific groove and the band rides high for almost 10 minutes exploring solo and dual guitar leads and Lou Reed. Smoking! Shuffle track, One More Whiskey is certain to be a crowd favorite with it's bouncy beat and sing along chorus. Wrapping the release is Robert Randolph's I Need More Love giving the entire crew a chance to stretch starting with a dynamic solo by Jones, followed by Houston. Blending a bit of Spencer Davis/Winwood in, Stanek takes the track full swing. Isbell and Orr tear it loose a bit and then Karner steps out on bass, followed by McEwen on drums. Isbell blows harp starting the final onslaught, making this a powerful sliding closer for a super new 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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Ghost Town Blues Band - Hard Road To Hoe - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Hard Road To Hoe from Ghost Town Blues Band and I really like it. Opening with title track, Hard Road To Hoe, lead singer and guitar player sets up the track. With a loose slide vamp on cigar box he is backed by Preston Ewing on drums, Jeremy Powell on piano and Alex Piazza. Unexpected texture added by Suavo Jones on trombone and Richie Hale on tenor sax tips a great opener. Up next is boogie track Big Shirley with all of the fire of Jerry Lee Lewis from Powell on piano. A real rowdy rocker, this track cooks with a nice flash of electric guitar from Isbell to boot! Tip Of My Hat has a Rumba rhythm with Isbell, McEwen and Vicki Loveland on vocal. Super showman Brandon Santini steps up his crankin harp adding a nice bite to this track. Very cool! Santini takes the one leads on vocal on My Doggy, an easy walker with a clever story. Marry Dog Isbell adds an authentic howl to the track and Santini is also in on harp but the horns on this track shine instrumentally. On old time rag track, My Handy Man, the horns get together for a really hot Dixieland blowout. One of my favorite intro's on the release. Hate To See Her Go is a cool R&B/blues track with that clever play on words "I hate to see her go, but I love to see (watch) her walk away". Jones, Hale and Isbell each take hot solo's on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Tied My Worries To A Stone has a cocky strut and Isbell's vocal/guitar interface is terrific on this track tightly reinforced by McEwen. Dead Sea is a gritty ballad with just a touch of country. Although easy on the slide work, this track puts me in minde of one of my old favorites, The Ballad of Curtis Lowe. Very nice! Nothing But Time travels into Gary Moore or Bonamassa territory with a slow screaming blues track. This has got to be the crowd favorite with a classic blues buildup and screaming guitar retort to a gritty but solid vocal melody. Powell on B3 adds a real nice tension to the track as well. Driving blues rocker, Dime In The Well, has vocal and guitar paired in a hard drive with MeEwen and Piazza chasing. Solid! Seventeen is totally different from the balance of the release but I really like it. Sounding like it was written to be a hit but with enough instrumental sophistication and guitar riffs that it attracts my attention with it's overall musical power and sting. Excellent! Road Still Drives The Same has an easy, JJ Cale like approach but with slick clean slide guitar work by Isbell and B3 by Powell. A well written and performed release that is quite interesting to listen to. Check it out!

  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”

 

Tall City Blues Fest Announces 2014 Line-Up

Memphis Train - Ghost Town Blues Band

Ghost Town Blues Band is a 6-piece Memphis-based group with an intimate knowledge of blues and improvisational jams. This energetic band can turn on a dime from hill country stomp to New Orleans-inspired funk. These Beale St. regulars feature the tastefully gritty, Matt Isbell, on guitar/lead vocals, and a funky, rock solid rhythm section made up of Preston McEwen (drums) and Colton Parker (bass). The recent additions of Suavo "Silky Smooth" Jones (trombone), Coleman "The Professor" Garrett (saxophone), and Jeremy "Mr. 88" Powell (keyboards) has risen GTBB's energy level to new heights. 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 favorite band!