Blue Heart Records release: Blind Raccoon and NOLA BLUE Collection Vol. 4 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blind Raccoon and NOLA Blue Collection Vol. 4, and it's a solid mix of blues and rock tracks. Opening with blues rocker, Sorry, Mark Cameron shows solid vocals, slide guitar and harmonica carrying a radio worthy melody. Funky blues rocker, Devil in the Dark is a cool entry by Michele D' Amour & The Love Dealers. With strong organ support and cool guitar and sax solos,  this track has a laid back feel. Trudy Lynn covers a Bluesbusters' track, If Your Phone Don't Ring and with just the right strut, and blues attitude, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wily Bo Walker's I Want To Know has a real nice R&B feel with interwoven bass, guitar and keyboard backing under Walker's infectious lead and backing vocals. Very nice. Super shuffle, Back Door Woman Blues by the Waydown Wailers sets a nice pace with strong vocals and a cool piano/guitar exchange. David Gogo sets up a simple guitar shuffle on Never Gonna Change. His vocals are clean and his slide playing clean and tight. Slow blues vocals on Firebreather by Skylar Rogers stand tall on side one backed by crisp guitar soloing over a potent bottom. Straight up blues track, Hard Times Coming by David Rotundo Band features really nice vocal, slide and harmonica delivered straight. Very nice. Throwing a curveball is Dick Van Dyke, yes, 95 year old Dick Van Dyke singing Is You Or Is You Ain't My Baby. He really does a nice job, backed by a fully big band and a tight rhythm section. Very cool. Piano boogie, Party In The Room Next Door - Live In Calgary is a strong entry by David Vest with potent piano and guitar solos over a beefy walking bass line. Johnny Tucker shows his guitar sting on Do The Rufus, a funky blues with attitude. Backed by punchy horns, Tucker's vocals are great. Idaho Bound is a strong, Southern Rock style jam with all of the characteristics of the Allmans. Driving rhythm and bass, dual lead guitars, and tight drums make this entry by The Mary Jo Curry Band another standout. Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps perform Takes On To Know One with great vocals, punchy horns, heavy bass and Anson Funderburgh on guitar. Wrapping the release is  acoustic guitar driven, This Old Road, a nice ballad by Trevor B. Power. With nicely blended vocal mix and acoustic guitars, a solid closer for this 4th Collection Volume. 

  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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Jon Spear Band - B-Side Of My Life - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B-Side Of My Life, by Jon Spear Band and it's a solid rocker with pop tunes and Blues roots. Opening with funky, Big Talk with it's juicy bass line by Andy Burdetsky, the opener features Jon Spear on guitar, Dara James with beefy lead vocal and rhythm guitar and John Stubblefield on drums. Excellent! Title track, B-Side Of My Life is a cool rock n roller with Spear on lead vocal and guitar, James on harmonica and some really flashy piano work by Skip Haga. Neville Brothers' Yellow Moon is framed by a strong bass line by Burdetsky and tom toms by Stubblefield with really nice vocal and guitar lead by James. Very nice. Blues ballad, Darker Side features soulful vocal lead and guitar soloing by James, with a firm bass foundation making it one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is swing track, Time For The Blues, with shared lead vocal by Spear and James and a cool walking bass line by Burdetsky. This is a cool release with a lot of flavor. 

  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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Jon Spear Band - Hot Sauce - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hot Sauce, by Jon Spear Band and I quite like it. Opening with Bottom of the Bottle, Jon Spear Band gets into a really nice groove somewhat like Come and Go Blues but with more texture, cooler guitar riffs and better vocals for my taste. With Dara James on guitar, harp and vocal, Jon Spear on guitar and vocal Andy Burdetsky on bass and vocal John Stubblefield on drums and vocals, this is a super opener. Geographical Cure has a more pop styling, clever rhythm and warm vocal harmonies making it an ideal radio track. Title track, Hot Sauce is a spicy track with smoking sax work from Ron Holloway trading on guitar riffs and and great vocals. One of the top tracks on the release. With it's R&B/Blues feel (Help Me/Green Onions) this track is really smoking hot and in your face. The vocals are strong, the percussion is tight and the guitar riffs tasty. With a uptempo, jazzy feel, Hit The Quarter really gets you moving with driving bass lines and grooving guitar riffs. Very cool. Bluesy ballad, Wintertime seems a parallel to classic, Summertime. This is a real nice track with soulful vocals and really nice guitar lead. Super. Wrapping the release is Natchez Burning, a really nice spiritual like or work track. This is a really cool closer with acapella vocals, stomps, claps, dobro and atmosphere. This track blows up into a heavy lumbering track with searing electric guitar lead. Excellent closer! 

  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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3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Features Best Lineup Yet!

             

THE 3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH: LIVE BLUES, GREAT FOOD, SWING DANCE COMPETITION, BEST LINEUP YET

Saturday, September 3, 2pm-10pm Robbins Ballpark, Clarksville, VA  

                                                

                                                   (Rain or Shine)

    

    (Clarksville, VA) - Announcing the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash, Saturday, September 30, from 2pm-10pm (rain or shine), on the Lake at Robbins Ballpark, 104 Woodland Drive in Clarksville, VA. Tickets $25.00 (Early-Bird Special till August 31 - purchase here), $30.00 General Admission (September 1-September 29), $35.00 at the gate/day of the Festival. Limited number of $75.00 VIP Tickets available (includes admission plus two complimentary drinks, premiere seating under Stage Side Tent, and access to the catered Hospitality Tent for a 'Meet-And-Greet' with the performers. Also a Swing Dance Competition on the Lake, food for sale by top area restaurants and food trucks, plus an Arts and Crafts Vendors Village.

   "We've arranged for some of the finest performers in the Blues to entertain and amaze." says Woolly, Founder/Promoter of the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash and creator of the famed Woolly's Big Blues jam. Emcee is Confessing The Blues radio show Host, Cleve Baker.  Rain or shine - in the event of bad weather, the Festival will be moved to an indoor location. Info: (919) 451-4356 or visit us on-line at http://www.bbibb.org/.

   "This Year's Entertainment Lineup Is Our Best Yet!" - Woolly

Four-time Blues Music Awards nominee, Hammond B-3 organist extraordinaire, Bruce Katz, headlines the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Saturday, September 30.

Jon Spear Band, nominated for "Best Live Blues Recording" in 2016 by Blues Blast Magazine,  are a popular national touring act fronted by talented guitarist, Jon Spear (second from right).

The pride of Plano, Texas, guitarist extraordinaire Anson Funderburgh has also been called "the nicest man in the Blues" by Blues Festival Guide. Funderburgh is joined onstage by Stern and Cotton at the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Blues Bash.

North Carolina-based trio James-Pace and Preslar, fronted by guitarist-vocalist T.A. James (pictured), are a popular band on the Blues Festival circuit.

Parker & Gray bring their soulful blues to Big Buggs Island Blues Bash.

They're joined onstage by Ken Farmer from the PBS television series

Antiques Roadshow, himself a American-Roots vocalist-guitarist.

3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH ON YOU TUBE:

Jon Spear Band - Live Music Is Better - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Live Music Is Better from Jon Spear Band and it's a rocker. Opening with Devil's Highway the band shows it's spunk with Dara James on lead guitar and vocals, Jon Spear on rhythm guitar, bass by Andy Burdetsky and drums by John Stubblefield. Michael McDonald and Robben Ford's, Nothing To Nobody has a real nice R&B feel with James' vocals hitting spot on. Special guest Adrian Duke on B3 adds a nice touch and guitar solos by James and Spear are slick. Shake Your Boogie is a great track with a cool walking bass line under the track and harp by James. Spear takes the lead on vocal and guitar and spikes it. Special guest Haywood Giles lays down a hot sax solo and Duke jams the piano. Hot! Before The Bullets Fly has a cool Albert King rhythm and James' vocals are cool. Spears and James share lead guitar duty on this one giving it a cool kick. Classic funk track, Sissy Strut is up next and the guys do get down. James and Spear each take healthy guitar solos, Giles really gets the sax working, Duke works the B3 over and Burdetsky drives the bass hard. Very nice! James opens, Have You Ever Loved A Woman with a sweet guitar intro over lush chords by Spear. His vocals are silky and smooth and Burdetsky's bass is rock solid. Clocking in at over 8 minutes the guys really work this one over. Very nice! Laid back ballad, Old Soul features James' vocals nicely and Giles blows a real nice sax solo over hot rhythm by Stubblefield. An almost Eric Clapton like guitar solo by James takes the track to it's peak and then back for an solid ending. Delbert McClinton's country rocker, Blues About You Baby comes out swinging with Spear on lead vocal and guitar. I like it's raw edge and rough and tumble feel. With Speak pickin and James sliding this track may be my favorite on the release. I Love My Skin has a great New Orleans feel. With real nice sax work by Giles and lead vocals and super piano by Duke, this track is way cool! With a humble country approach, Paid In Full is a cool ballad with solid vocals and melodic guitar soloing. Very nice! With a bit of rock and a bit of R&B, Beginner at the Blues has warm guitar riffs and real nice vocals by James over tight rhythm guitar and solid bass work, all tied together by Stubblefield making for a cool radio track. Wrapping the release is shuffle track Live Music Is Better. A walking bass line by Burdetsky, cool piano by Duke and tight drums by Stubblefield sets a cool stage for James and Spear to sing and jam. A cool conclusion for a solid live 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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News and Updates from the Jon Spear Band

Dear Friends, Fans and Family – We have a number of enjoyable events planned for the summer,  and we're looking forward to seeing you at one of the fine venues listed below.  We're especially excited to be the opening act for Delbert McClinton this coming Friday July 17, at Charlottesville's venerable Jefferson Theater.  We've followed Delbert for years and we own a small mountain of his CDs – so it's an honor and privilege for us to be on the same billing with a performer of his caliber and reputation.  There are still tickets available so if you want to save a few $$$ by purchasing your tickets at the advance price, please click here. For our friends in the DC/MD/NOVA area, we have a great EARLY gig scheduled at JV's in Falls Church for Sunday, July 26 from 4-7:30 pm – so you can enjoy our music, have time for dinner, and still get home early!  Bandmembers Jon Spear and Andy Burdetsky both used to live in the DC area and they really enjoy seeing their old friends when we're back in town. 2015 is shaping up as a great year.  Our "Old Soul" CD has just started its 5th month on the Roots Radio Report "Top 50" Chart and has also been getting regular airtime on SiriusXM Bluesville satellite radio.  Come to any of our gigs and we'll have CDs available for sale and even autograph them if you want.  We've had some great reviews and, on top of that, we're appearing at events alongside the likes of Debbie Davies, Delbert McClinton, the Iguanas, the Chris Duarte Group, and Memphis Gold.  So what could make us happier?  – seeing YOU at one of these great upcoming events.

Friday July 17 with Delbert McClinton Delbert McClinton is a legend among Texas roots music aficionados. He's been entertaining appreciative audiences for over 40 years with his formidable harmonica playing, brilliant song-writing and and super-talented backup band.  The Jon Spear Band is going to get the Jefferson Theater in a rocking good mood for Delbert's appearance on July 17 and we're looking forward to seeing you there! Queen City Brewing Company Friday July 24 – 7:30-10:30 pm  834 Springhill Rd, Staunton, VA 24401 JV's Restaurant Sunday, July 26 – 4:00 to 7:30 pm 6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church VA Charlottesville Fridays After Five Friday, August 14 at 5:30 pm nTelos Wireless Pavilion   Starr Hill Brewery Sunday August 23 – 2:30 to 5 pm 5391 Three Notched Rd, Crozet, VA Chili Blues n' Brews Saturday, Sept. 19 – 2:30 pm Chris Duarte Group, Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos, Memphis Gold, Fatty Lumpkin & the Love Hogs, and the Jon Spear Band @ Lumos Plaza, Waynesboro, VA Our "Old Soul" CD has just entered its fifth month on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Blues Album "Top 50" Chart.  Meanwhile, across the pond, "Old Soul" was listed at #17 in the Top 50 list compiled monthly by the UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association in March of this year.  To date, our CD has been heard on over 60 stations on every continent except Antarctica, and we've signed up fans as far away as Japan, South Africa and Australia.  If you'd like to purchase your own copy of the CD and see what all the excitement is about, please visit CD Baby, Amazon.com, or iTunes.  www.jonspearband.com