Songsurfer Records artist: Shawn Kellerman - Kell's Kitchen - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kell's Kitchen, from Shawn Kellerman and it's an aggressive rocker with a lot of bite. Opening with hard driving, SKB, Shawn  Kellerman on lead vocal, and guitar, this track is really humming. With Carlton Campbell on drums, Terry Richardson on bass, Lance Anderson on Wurlitzer, and with the addition of Miku Graham, Saidah Baba Talibah, Emily Fennell and Meghan Parnell on vocal, this track is cranking! Excellent opener. Funky, Show Me What You Got, features Kellerman on lead vocal and playing some pretty tight guitar. Richardson on bass really funks it up and Van Romaine knows how to hold down the drums. Fennell and Parnell on backing vocal are joined by Jon Knight for a real party.  Bad Mamma Jamma is a great mix of funk and rock with Kellerman doing the lyrics and Anderson on B3 and Romaine on drums really kicking it up. Kellerman lays down a real nice guitar solo showing his complete ability to morph from style to style. Very cool. Shuffle, Mac & Cheese has a solid blues foundation with snappy drum work by Romaine and Lance Anderson on keys. Kellerman is wild on vocals and his guitar work is a total frolic. I love Jason Ricci's work and his harmonica work and attitude on You're Gonna Learn From This One really makes this track standout with a perfect interface with Kellerman on vocal and guitar. Wrapping the release is Living Off The Love You Give with a R&B feel. Noah Allard helps on backing vocals and Lucky Peterson adds some signature B3 work. Ray Podhomik on trumpet punches up the track with some hot trumpet and with Andrew Blaze Thomas on drums Kellerman takes it home with some straight up rock riffs. Really cool release. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Willie J. Campbell - Be Cool - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Be Cool, from Willie J. Campbell and it's really strong. Opening with You Better Let Go, Sugar Ray Rayford is upfront on lead vocal, with Willie J. Campbell on bass, Brooks Milgate on keys, Kid Ramos on guitar and Jimi Bott on drums. Ramos lays out a really nice guitar solo on this somewhat funky track, nicely complimented by Condron Hampton on congas. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Can't Stay Away, featuring Janiva Magness on lead vocal and Brian Templeton on backing vocal, as well as Anson Funderburgh showing exceptional finesse on guitar. Also appearing on this track are Mike Morgan and Shawn Pittman on guitars.  Excellent! Templeton has the mic on Drone with it's droning bass line and features the harmonica wizardry of Jason Ricci. There's hardly a track that Ricci contributes to that I don't think that he improves substantially so this is another of my favorites. another Texas style shuffle, Docksidin', lets Funderburgh stretch a bit on guitar and the guy can really play. Milgate on keys as well as Pittman and Morgan on guitars really add as well. Very cool. Shawn Pittman has the spotlight on Devil On My Shoulder with super lead vocals and acoustic guitar and excellent slide work by Morgan. Milgate's piano work on She's a Twister is a standout with Templeton on lead vocals and a flurry of guitar by Ramos. Very nice. The release concludes with two equally iridescent tracks. First up, Use As Needed featuring Templeton on lead vocal and Peter Green's instrumental, Albatross, both which showcase the beautiful guitar work of Ramos and include the piano of Pat McDougall. This really is a terrific release, top to bottom and I highly recommend this release of Willie J. Campbell's work (on bass on each track). Campbell died of ALS on December 19, 2022.

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Joe Krown - Tribute - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tribute, from Joe Krown, and it's a New Orleans soaked release. Opening with Allen Toussaint's, All Of It, renown piano and B3 player player really gets things going, backed by  Mark Brooks on bass, Doug Belote on drums and with some searing guitar riffs by Leo Nocentelli. Powerful opener. Dr. John's Such A Night maintains all of the spirit of the Daytripper's original with Ivan Neville on lead vocal and Kassie Netherland backing, Jack Miele and John Fohl on guitar and of course Krown really  working the piano. On Ode to Mr. Davis, Krown lays back in the slot with cool piano and B3, joined by excellent sax work by Joe Sublett, Belote and Brooks. Very nice. Lightning Hopkins' Feel So Bad, features Wolfman Washington on vocal and guitar. I have always loved his style and his vocal, paired with his own funky guitar riffs makes this my favorite track on the release. wrapping the release is a stirring original, Gumbo Boogie, with Krown really cranking up the heat. With B3 under the bottom and piano on the top, a walking bass line by Brooks and a tight drums line by Belote, this is an excellent closer. 

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Landslide Records artist: Damon Fowler & Friends - Live At The Palladium - New Relase Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Palladium, by Damon Fowler & Friends and it's a smoking release. Opening with It Came Out Of Nowhere, a cool R&B infused blues track, Fowler on lead vocal and guitar is hot and heavy. I like his style and his voice. Joined by Dan Signor on keys, Justin Headley on drums, and Chuck Riley on bass, Fowler sets this one and lays his solo on the end like a pro. This is a fine opener. On Somethings Change, one of hte best Harmonica players on the planet, Jasson Ricci joins Fowler with some excellent riffs and both contributing to a energetic instrumental frenzy. Breaking into a a stretched reggae beat on Don't Feel Like Going There Today, Ricci, Fowler and Signor each have a turn at the wheel. Very nice. My favorite on the release, Tax Man, has a great blues structure ala Jeff Beck's Blues Deluxe. Fowler's vocals are excellent, coaxed along by Ricci who really lays it out there on harmonica. Fowler picks it up with tight low volume riffs but really knows how to work it, coming back with his soulful vocals. OI really like the swampy funk on Fruit Stand Lady. Fowler with Eddie Wright on guitar really sqeeze the juice out of this one. With it's double stop sound, this track is great! Wrapping the release is Sugar Shack with Fowler really laying the slide out there. After a chot solo by Signor, Fowler and Wright trade riffs, Fowler really leaning into the slide for an excellent closer. 

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Short Stack Records artist: Johnny Sansone - Into Your Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Into Your Blues, from Johnny Sansone and it's got great style. Opening with title track, Into Your Blues, Johnny Sansone on harmonica, resonator guitar and lead vocal sets a cool, slinky pace. With Mike Morgan and Johnny Burgin on electric guitar, Jeffrey Bridges on bass, John Milham on drums, Tom Worrell on piano, Chris Spies on B3, Brad Walker on sax, Steve Lands on trumpet and Michael Sinkus on congos, bongos and tambourine, this is a solid opener. On Chicago style blues, Pay For This Song, Sansone gets in the slot with a super low slung lope and guitar riff by Burgin. Sansone blows some of his classic harmonica riffs giving the track a real Chicago feel. Jason Ricci guests on Blowin' Fire, an up tempo blues rocker. With solid vocals by Ricci and his flaming harmonica style, this is a great addition. Little Freddie King is featured on vocal and guitar on Willie's Juke Joint, a simple John Lee Hooker style, primitive boogie. Driving, The Getaway, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Sansone back on lead vocal and harmonica. With it's stripped down feel and harmonica vamp, this is a cool track. Sansone lays into the slide Resonator on New Crossroads, another boogie track with a simple bottom by Milham and Bridges under Sansone on vocal. Single Room has a cool, swampy feel with Sansone on vocal and shimmery guitar work by Burgin and Morgan and great percussion work by Milham and Sinkus. Wrapping the release Southern Dream, is a solid acoustic instrumental with Sansone layered over himself on Resonator, slide resonator and guitar. This is a cool closer for a cool release. 

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Dixiefrog Records artist: Popa Chubby - Emotional Gangster - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Emotional Gangster, from Popa Chubby and it's a cool, aggressive blues rocker. Opening with driving, Tonight I'm Gonna Be The Man, Popa Chubby rips on slide over a rumbling beat. With tandem vocals he sets the pace and charging drums keep the tension. A cool, bluesy melody and blues rooted slide riffs saturate the track. Solid opener.  On Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man, Chubby gives the blues classic his own twist, retaining the bluesy roots but interjecting just a taste or rock. With a droning bass line he never gets to fast but he does take the time to show his chops on Water's original phrasing. Very nice. Harmonica wizard Jason Ricci sits in on Save The Best For Last, a low slung shuffle with a Jimmy Reed feel. Chubby really lays on the beat giving it a pronounced lope and his vocals are prime. Ricci and Chubby trade phrases making this one of my favorites on the release. Elmore James' Dust My Broom fits into this set nicely with all of the slide and Chubby does his riffs with gusto. With that perfect tempo that makes you stomp your heel, Chubby locks, loads and fires... very cool. My choice for the radio track on the release is I'm The Dog with it's pounding boogie rhythm and great hook (I'm The Dog). Break out guitar work really kicks this one through the uprights. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Master IP (a CD only bonus track), a 6 plus minute blues jam that really seems to float. laying out some real nice riffs and soaring lead, a strong closer for a strong release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Big Al and the Heavyweights - Love One Another - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love One Another, from Big Al and the Heavyweights and it's a energetic blues rocker. Opening with title track, Love One Another, is a cool track with roots in canned heat and the Allman Brothers band. With  Wayne Lohr on vocal and keys, Marcel Anton on guitar and vocal, Mark Parsons on bass, Big Al Lauro on drums and featuring Luther Dickinson on guitar and Jason Ricci on harmonica, this is super opener. Wild Tchoupitoulas has a cool bass line and the vocal lead and backing is strong. Lohr's piano solo adds a nice a strong Louisiana spice. Soulful ballad, Guardian Angel has a solid melody and with Anton on lead vocal and lead guitar, really showing how much soul this band can conjure. Very nice. Cool blues rocker, What Can I Say has a real nice feel with a heavy bottom thanks to Big Al and Pasons and with cool harmonica work by Jason Ricci and low fret guitar soloing by Anton, this is one of my favorites on the release. Another strong track on the release is deep blues rocker, Underground with gangly slide work, mic distorted vocals and as simple yet effective bottom as I could imagine. This track could be right out of a juke joint on the Hill Country so it automatically gets my attention. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Zydeco flavored Zydeco Love. With a firm bass line and active percussion by Tom Larson, Anton leads the way on vocals and with the addition of Gina Forsyth on fiddle, this is a fun closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Jason Ricci and Joe Krown - City Country City - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 22, 2021), City Country City, by Jason Ricci and Joe Krown and it's really meaty. Opening with Jazz /Rock/Soul band, WAR, classic and title track, City Country City, Joe Krown plays a B3 soaked intro working into the lush melody played by Jason Ricci and snappy drum work by Doug Belote. Cool jam over a potent theme. Krown's blues shuffle, Down N' Dirty is a great jam based around a strong B3 framework by Krown giving him sufficient space to grow the concept and giving Ricci all of the room he needs to play his own style of harmonica which I think may be the best around right now. Guy is melodic, creative and emotional. Excellent! Ricci's New Orleans blues, Badger The Witness, give Ricci the opportunity to front on vocals and he does a great job. Krown's keyboard work is strong and Belote's drum work really killer. Joe Sample's funky jazz number, My Mama Told Me So, really works well for this trio with Krown and Ricci sharing the melody and with the steady hand of Belote tying it all together. Krown stretches a bit more on this one setting a really nice groove and Belote lets it all hang out there with a real nice drums solo. Very cool. Feel Good Funk is a Ricci original and plays perfectly into his style. With a tight drum beat and a funky underpinning, Ricci sings and blows his ass off. Excellent! Low slung shuffle, Down At The Juke, is an excellent track with old school blues/jazz feel. Ricci's vocals are spot on and Krown shows he knows his way around old school with a good long lead solo on B3. Ricci knows how to swing too with crisp riffs of his own complimenting this fine vocal effort. Stepping back and making a serious run at the blues, Charles Brown's Drifting Blues is up next with a rich intro and vocals by Ricci. Krown sets a warm organ floor for the scene and takes the first solo on B3. Ricci's vocals are particularly effective on this track in that he's almost wailing the blues in compliment with his excellent harp phrasing. Wrapping the release is Bobbie Gentry's pop classic, Ode To Billy Joe. Ricci and Krown transform this well know pop tune into an elongated jam with plenty of pyrotechnics. This is one of my favorite releases of the year. Get one!  

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Blind Pig Records artist: Altered Five Blues Band - Holler If You Hear Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 3, 2021), Holler If You Hear Me, from Altered Five Blues Band, and it's a strong contemporary blues release. Opening with blues rocker and title track, Holler If You Hear Me, Jeff Taylor is authoratative at the mic, backed by Jeff Schroedl on guitar, Mark Solverson on bass, Raymond Tevich on keys and Alan Arber on drums plus some cool harmonica work by Jason Ricci. Great opener. Ricci and Schroedl really hit the road running on If You Go Away (She Might Come Back), and with a modern take on Chicago style blues, Taylor sets a grat pace. With a great blend of instrumentation and a tight drum rhythm by Arber, this track rocks. Slow blues, Holding on With One Hand, is one of my favorites on the release with excellent guitar lead, and powerful vocal from Taylor. The addition of Ricci on this release I think is a master stroke because everything that he plays on gains substantially from his feel. Another solid Chicago style track is Where's My Money in the vein of Muddy Waters. This is a nicelt paced track with strong lead vocal and a healthy dose of Ricci on lead harmonica. All Suit, No Soul is another of my favorites with clever lyrics, a Latin beat, warm keys by Tevich and with a lot of open floor for Schroedl on lead guitar. Very nice. R&B based, Leave Before I Let You Down, is a real nice showcase for Taylor's vocals and Schroedl shows his tasty chops. Solid. Wrapping the release is high energy blues, Big Shout Out, with Taylor, Ricci and Schroedl trading call and response. I really like Ricci's gritty sound contrasted against Schroedl's clean sting. This is a super closer for a very tasty release. 

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Rose Cottage Records artist: Peter Karp - Magnificent Heart - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Magnificent Heart, from Peter Karp and has nicely blends rock, blues and folk throughout the release. Opening with Sitting On The Edge Of The World, Karp on lead vocal and guitar and Kim Wilson on harmonica find a solid balance in contemporary blues with John Ginty on B3, Niles Terrat on bass and Michael Catapano on drums. She Breaks Her Own Heart has a cool, swampy, R&B feel with a cool sax solo by David Kasper and horn work by Jacob Wynne on trumpet. The Grave has a cool, low slung feel with Karp pulling out his slide and Wilson adding some real nice harmonica and Ginty adding real depth on B3. The Cold City Horns really funk up Let It On Out, with a solid bass line by Terrat and nicely woven guitar and horn jamming. Very cool. Going Home is a roots blues style track with ace harmonica work by Jason Ricci, slick resonator slide work by Karp and military style snare drum work by Capano.  Wrapping the release is smooth ballad, Face The Wind, featuring Karp on vocal with Jim Eingher on piano and Ginty on B3. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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Moonshine Society - Sweet Thing - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sweet Thing, from Moonshine Society and it's rich in blues. Opening with title track, Sweet Thing, lead singer, Black Betty uses her heavy, Big Mama styling to throw this track around like a rag doll with support from the likes of Jason Ricci with Joe Poppen on guitar, Wes Lanich on keys, Tod Ellsworth on bass and Rodney Dunton on drums. R&B ballad, Come On Home has great depth with the addition of Ron Holloway on tenor sax, Vince McCool on trumpet, Ken Wenzel on Bari sax and Billy Mayfield on backing vocals. Very nice. Funky, Southern Roads is one of my favorites with a super back beat and Ricci back on harp pushing Betty vocally and the excellent drum and guitar combo of Dunton and Poppen. Use Me On Guilded Splinters takes Bill Withers' classic Use Me, reinforces the funky rock bottom and hits it with a really hard dash of guitar, then rolls it all up in gumbo … Dr John style with I Walk On Guilded Splinters. Very cool jam. Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind is a strong showcase for Betty's vocal lead and features a nice solo by Poppen as well. Wrapping the release is sensitive blues ballad, The One Who Got Away, with well crafted vocals by Betty and cleanly woven guitar lead by Buddy Speir, backed by Eric Scott on bass, Will Rast on keys and Andy Hamburger on drums. Very nice closer for a solid release. 

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VizzTone label Group artist: Nick Schnebelen - Crazy All By Myself - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crazy All By Myself, from Nick Schnebelen, and it's quite good. Opening with blues rocker, Lil' Death, Schnebelen creates a strong bar on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Melodye Perry on vocal, Tony Braunagel on drums, Mike Finningan on keys, Hutch Hutchinson on bass, and Lionel Young and Ada Pasternak on violin. Piano boogie rocker, Ain't Got Time For The Blues is a full on mid west rocker with vocal harmonies and super piano work by Finnigan. Slow shuffle track and title track, Crazy All By Myself has a perfect blues pace highlighting Schnebelen's vocal and guitar work making it one of my favorites on the release. Up tempo. Altar Of Love, has a super driving drum lead by Braunagel and nice slide work by Schnebelen and hot harp work by Jason Ricci give this track real traction. With it's heavy kick and snare work on 2, Bad Disposition With The Blues is a really cool track bundling great vocals, harp (Ricci), bass (Hutch) and slide. Bad Dream is a funky, bass driven track with excellent blues vocal and guitar phrasing by Nick. Excellent!  Blues ballad, I Leaned My Heart On You features a real nice melody and on top of Nicks soulful vocals, a solid melodic (think Gary Moore) guitar duet with Davy Knowles. Wrapping the release is Holding On, a smooth blues shuffle somewhat in the style of B.B. King with smooth phrasing and almost George Benson like chords. Finnigan's warm keyboard fill really adds to the overall texture and Schnebelen's vocals are strong. With nice balance between vocal, jazz and blues guitar styling and organ warmth, this is a really solid closer for a great release. 

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JJ Appleton and Jason Ricci - Beautiful Slop - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent  release, Beautiful Slop, from JJ Appleton and Jason Ricci and it's quite good. Opening with delta style acoustic blues, Don't Take Advantage Of Me, with JJ Appleton on vocal and slide guitar, Jason Ricci on harmonica and vocal and Derek Nievergelt on acoustic bass the band gets the raw efforts of the early blues pioneers down pat. Great opener. With certain tension, Hurt Myself, is a great contemporary blues piece with hoots and hollers by Ricci and tight guitar riffs by Appleton, leading to a real nice harp solo. Certainly my favorite track on the release. Geaux Nuts Kids is a cool, Zydeco style instrumental jam featuring harp and guitar with only vocal punctuation. Very cool. Another of my favorite tracks is Don't Badger The Witness with some of the hottest slide guitar riffs on the release. I like Ricci's rowdy vocal styling and trademark harp work. Wrapping the release is bluesy ballad, Stay, with only the minimal instrumental accompaniment under solid vocals and  melodic harp soloing. I think that this release is really rich with edgy tracks and warm tracks, checking a lot of boxes for blues listeners.

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Ruf Records artist: Mike Zito - Make Blues Not War - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make Blues Not War, from Mike Zito and it's crazy good! Opening with blues rocker, Highway Mama, this track gives you that take no prisoners attitude with a driving beat courtesy of Tom Hambridge who absolutely blows it up on drums and Tommy MacDonald on bass, Mike Zito on lead vocal and guitar, Rob McNelley on guitar and Water Trout on guitar. Trout plays some really hot riffs and Zito absolutely scorches the strings. Excellent opener. Wasted Time is up next with a great lumbering Texas lope, Zito lays down stuff that would make SRV proud, with intensity and feel. Very nice! Redbird is a heavy footed, rocker with strong vocals. Solid bass lines from MacDonald positively drive this bus and it's rolling hard. Talk about intensity, Crazy Legs has it x 10. This track is on fire and running hard with excellent drum work by Hambridge and super guitar tone. Zito really turns on the heat on this one literally setting the thing on fire. Wow! Slowing it way down, title track, Make Blues Not War has the characteristics of delta blues and early electric Muddy Waters. Jason Ricci is down on this track and he and Zito really dig in on this one with harp and slide fanning the flames. Very nice. On The Road has some funk with really sweet organ work from Kevin McKendree and stirring some of the funkiest guitar riffs that I've heard since David Spinozza hit "Right Place Wrong Time". Sure to be an instant favorite on the release is Bad News Is Coming, a slow, low down blues with excellent guitar phrasing and hard luck soulful vocals. Excellent!! Detroit style rocker, One More Train, has a really nice feel with excellent vocals, super slide work from Ricci and great piano work from McKendree making it my pick for radio track that should hit hard. Girl Back Home is a quiet ballad with rich slide work making it a standout on feel alone. Chip Off The Old Block features Mike's son, Zach on guitar over a basic 12 bar setup. Zach shows his stuff which is quite cool and with McKendree on piano and Mike on vocal and guitar, a real solid track. Ballad, Road Dog is another sure radio track with a super melody and strong construction. McKendree's organ, Hambridge's tight drum work and Zito's vocals and somber guitar work, ala BB King give this track excellent grip. Love it! Wrapping the release is Route 90, a Chuck Berry style track featuring an excellent piano solo by McKendree over a great bass line by MacDonald. Zito digs in at the bottom of the fretboard and with his own super vocals and southern style make this track a great closer. I don't think I'm going out on a limb very far saying that this will be one of the top 10 releases I'll hear this year and moving Zito to the top of the list of bands I hope to see this year. Excellent!!




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Old Boy Network artist: JJ Appleton & Jason Ricci - Dirty Memory - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Dirty Memory, from JJ Appleton & Jason Ricci and I really like it! Opening with Leaning Blues, JJ Appleton really nails the Elmore James feel on slide resonator and Jason Ricci is wailing on harp for a terrific acoustic blues feel. Blind Willie Johnson's Nobody's Fault But Mine is up next with an uptempo foot stompin' pace. With a more contemporary feel, Appleton delivers Can't Believe It's This Good. A cordial blend of vocal, tight harp riffs and mellow slide resonator, this track should have strong radio appeal. Nicely constructed pop track, New Man, is a really nice showcase for Ricci on vocal and harp. Jason Solo is an understatement but accurate. Rici takes his harp for a nice ride from train harp to the world of Lee Oskar. Very nice! Just Enough is a rambling blues track with a nice melody and harp and slide guitar in unison. Nicely blended, this is a cool track. The Rolling Stones', Black Limousine, has a great swagger with excellent vocal. Appleton's resonator work is warm and inviting and Ricci's harp work clear and tight. Demon Lover has a real swampy feel with almost drone notes and low key chant like singing and swirling harp work. Very interesting! Gary US Bonds track, It Ain't No Use, has a definite blues feel with a twist of soul. Ricci really does a nice job of bringing the track to new light with crisp harp riffs making this another track that could easily see cross radio airplay. Wrapping the release is Come On Over, Come On By. This is a wonderfully expressive track with soulful vocals and excellent slide resonator accompaniment. Terrific!

 

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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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Heritage Music BluesFest coming soon August 7-9, 2015, Wheeling, West Virginia

Heritage Music Bluesfest 2015 Main Stage Lineup BUY TICKETS HERE FRI 7 ·         11:30am - 1:00pm - Taste of the Blues FREE PREVIEW ·         4:00 pm - GATES OPEN ·         5:00 to 6:00 - Eric Gales ·         6:30 to 7:30 - Nikki Hill ·         8:00 to 9:00 - Albert Cummings ·         9:30 to 11:00 - The Lowrider Band SAT 8 ·         12:00 to 1:00 - Randy McQuay - IBC Solo/Duo Winner ·         1:30 to 2:30 - The Gold Magnolias ·         3:00 to 4:00 - Austin Walkin' Cane ·         4:30 to 5:45 - Mike Zito and the Wheel ·         6:15 to 7:30 - Carolyn Wonderland ·         8:00 to 9:15 - John Nemeth's Memphis Grease Party ·         9:45 to 11:00 - Walter Trout SUN 9 ·         12:30 to 1:20 - Gina Sicilia ·         1:50 to 2:40 - Billy The Kid CD release with special guests TBA ·         3:10 to 4:00 - Jason Ricci ·         4:30 to 5:30 - Samantha Fish ·         6:00 to 7:00 - Coco Montoya ·         7:30 to 8:30 - Victor Wainwright and the Wildroots ·         9:00 to 10:30 - Keb' Mo' BUY TICKETS HERE Schedule subject to change Second Stage with local and regional acts, After Jams and MORE to be ANNOUNCED SOON Keb' Mo' Walter Trout John Nemeth Nikki Hill