Landslide Records A Tribute to Sean Costello - Various Artists - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Landslide Records Tribute to Sean Costello and it's really cool. Opening with Same Old Game, Albert Castiglia puts up a rumbling 2 step and lays down some real nice guitar work for an excellent opener. Steve Marriner brings How In The Devil with it's perfect shuffle beat great vocals and harp work. Title track, Don't Pass Me By has an almost spiritual feel with Victor Wainwright leading the way. This is an excellent blues ballad with great tension and stinging guitar work. Bob Margolin's guitar work on Low Life Blues is really outstanding with super Muddy Waters like slide and riffs. I always love the Mississippi All Stars and their rural approach and their treatment of Father is no different. With fat slide work and excellent vocals over a basic essential drum beat and keys make the track my favorite on the release. Debbie Davies brings shuffle track, Don't Be Reckless With My Heart and does a great job with strong vocals and slick Davies riffs. Wrapping the release is Oliver Wood and Amy Helm on Feel Like I Ain't Got A Home, a great soulful number with raw, freewheeling guitar work. This is a solid tribute release and great music. 

  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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

  “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

16th Annual Blues From The Top Festival, Star-Studded Lineup

16TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL FEATURES STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, 2 DAYS OF BLUES BLISS IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO  Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24 - Music Starts 11am Both Days 2018 Blues Music Awards Winners Southern Avenue (and) Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Nick Moss Band w/ Dennis Gruenling, Vintage Trouble, Plus More

(WINTER PARK, CO) - If it’s Summertime in Colorado, that can only mean one thing for blues lovers in the know: The 16th Annual Blues from The Top Festival is right around the corner!    Taking place Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, Blues From The Top is jam-packed with great artists both days: Saturday, June 23 includes performances by, among others, guitar ace Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band; harp great (and 2018 Blues Music Awards "Traditional Blues Male Artist" and "Blues Song" winner), Rick Estrin And The Nightcats; 2018 BMA "Best Emerging Artist Album" winner, Memphis soul/blues band, Southern Avenue. On June 24, the North Mississippi All-Stars; popular L.A.-based guitar-powered R&B band, Vintage Trouble; and Nick Moss Band with harp virtuoso, Dennis Grueling. Hideaway Park, 78820 US Highway 40. Gates open 10am; music from 11am to 6pm (Saturday) and 11:00am to 6pm (Sunday). Currently, General Admission tickets are $35. (one day), $60. (2 days). V.I.P. Experience: $100.00 per day per person, $185. for two days. V.I.P. Seating features Stage Right starting at the Front Row; Daily Buffet; Private Bar with two Complimentary Drinks each day; free water and soft drinks; Shade Tents with tables and chairs; and Private Restrooms. Kids 12 and under, free (when accompanied by an adult). Tickets/info: www.BluesfromtheTop.org. Presented with pride by the Grand County Blues Society.   Expect some diversity of sounds at this year's Blues From The Top. "Until recently, Blues From The Top primarily has been straight-up blues music," explains Maria Chavez, President of the Blues from The Top Festival, in a recent Blues-E-News interview. "However, we realized that if we want the festival to grow and diversify and to also reach a younger audience, we needed to add more blues “roots” music into the mix – indie blues, blues rock, rock and soul. This includes bands such as Honey Island Swamp Band, North Mississippi All-Stars and Vintage Trouble that help break down what “blues” music is. Blues is the seed, creating roots and watching other musical forms grow from these musical blues roots, " adds Chavez. "We also are very prideful of our program Blue Star Connection which provides musical instruments for children with life threatening illness in over 57 hospitals nationally."                                        www.bluesfromthetop.org facebook.com/bluesfromthetop #BFTT #ElevateYourBlues There's no hotter band on the Festival circuit at the moment than Southern Avenue, who took home "Best Emerging Artist Album" at the 2018 BMA in Memphis earlier this month. They play Blues From the Top Saturday, June 23. L.A.-based musical powerhouse Vintage Trouble channel the vitality of their live show into a fresh and urgent take on guitar-powered rhythm & blues. They stage the stage Sunday, June 24 at Blues From The Top 16. 2018 Blues Music Awards "Traditional Blues Male Artist" and "Blues Song" winner), harp great Rick Estrin And The Nightcats, play BFTT on June 23.

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling To Appear On NPR's Mountain Stage

THE NICK MOSS BAND FEATURING DENNIS GRUENLING

TO APPEAR ON NPR'S MOUNTAIN STAGE
New CD, The High Cost Of Low Living, Debuted At #3 On The Billboard Blues Chart

Nick Moss's muscular, electric energy combines jaw-dropping guitar, gruff, soulful vocals and impassioned songwriting. Gruenling is a contemporary harmonica master...impressive, genuine and fresh-sounding. --Living Blues

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling, whose newly-released Alligator Records debut CD The High Cost Of Low Living entered the Billboard Blues Chart at #3, recently recorded a live performance for NPR's celebrated music show, Mountain Stage. Over 240 NPR member stations around the country will begin airing the program this Friday, March 30. Air times and stations can be found here.

The High Cost Of Low Living is already earning rave reviews, as are the band's must-see live shows. The album is a tour de force of the classic Chicago blues ensemble sound that world class guitarist/vocalist Moss and master harmonicist/vocalist Gruenling know, live and love. AllMusic says, "The album makes the case for the vitality of old-fashioned Chicago electric blues in the 21^st century."

The High Cost Of Low Living is no recycling of old songs. Moss wrote eight memorable new originals and Gruenling wrote two, all deeply rooted in the blues tradition with a touch of old school rock ‘n’ roll. Produced by guitarist Kid Andersen and Moss and recorded at Rancho de Rhythm in Elgin, Illinois, the album is a joyous sonic blast of pure blues power.

With the release of The High Cost Of Low Living, The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling will do what they do best: barnstorm the globe, bringing their muscular, high-energy show to clubs, concert halls, roadhouses and festival stages night after night. It is a show that is not to be missed. Current tour dates can be found here.

According to Moss, “I’m a shy person, but when the band and I get on stage, the music takes over. We can’t hold back and the energy just comes pouring out. We get carried away and the audience gets carried away with us.”

05/17/2013 Rhythm Room: Nick Moss Band with Bob Corritore, Lou Ann Barton and Jimmie Vaughan - Ellis James, guest contributer

An extra full house was the scene recently at the Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ USA when blues legends and veteran road pros Nick Moss and Jimmie Vaughan delivered killer sets of tasty Blues. Chicago based Nick Moss and Michael Ledbetter (guitar and vocals), were joined by Bob Corritore (harmonica and vocals) and drummer Patrick Seals for a full hour of house rocking ‘Chicago style’ tunes. Just two weeks into a seven week Western USA tour this group was jumping. According to road tour manager, Javik Smith (son of Willie “Big-Eyes” Smith) the core band will work the West for five additional weeks, take a short rest and then head out to the Eastern leg of the USA as the summer progresses. Moss showed his decades of experience through the fret board runs, fills, comps and seamless blending with guest harmonica player Bob Corritore and members of his regular band. Great support came from Michael Ledbetter on rhythm guitar and vocals who has been with Moss for the past two years. Classically trained in Opera, Ledbetter calls Elgin, Illinois home. Once again, opportunity comes to those who prepare themselves. Sounding like a page out of Mike Bloomfield’s biography, Nick Moss initially discovered Ledbetter through a recommendation from one of his friends. Gradual collaboration between the men evolved over time. A one-off gig turned into occasional fill-ins which in turn eventually lead to a regular spot on the Moss stage. Kudos to Illinois resident and experienced pro drummer Patrick Seals who set the beats and drove the tempo. Seals’ background includes Jazz Studies and Instrumental Performance at Columbia College, Chicago.

This year, Nick Moss received his 16^th nomination from the Blues Music Association for "Best Blues Rock Album" for Here I Am, which debuted at number 2 on the Relix/Jambands Radio Chart, and at number 6 on the Living Blues Radio Chart! This latest CD is Nick’s ninth release on his own Blue Bella Records label.

The place was primed and pumping by the time that Jimmie Vaughn and his Tilt-a-Whirl band took the stage. Scorching through a 21 song set, of songs mostly from his 2010 release, Plays, Blues, Ballads and Favorites, Vaughan and his band barely stopped to take a breath. The crowd began with respectful reserve leaving breathing room on the dance floor and was on their feet and shoulder to shoulder by the end of the last song. Everyone knows about Vaughan but we should be reminded of what a great group of players make up the Tilt-A-Whirl team. Horn section really stood out as a huge asset. Professional to a tee was the drummer, bassist and rhythm guitarists who performed flawlessly and barely took a bow for their efforts. Good music, like photography, looks easy and natural when done well. These folks blended like prize-winning Barbeque. Founding member of Double Trouble, Lou Ann Barton joined the group for a flurry of songs including Shake A Hand, Scratch, signature duet Wheel of Fortune and Middle of the Night. Jimmie stayed on stage for 6 String Down while the band took a quick break. Motorhead Baby, Middle of the Night (with Barton), White Boots and D/FW closed out the performance. It was striking at how nice, personable and frankly politely approachable Vaughan was as he took time to patiently sign autographs and meet/greet following the 180 minute performance. Strong encouragement to watch for and attend performances by both Moss and/or Vaughan. I for one got more than my dollars’ worth at this show. Thanks again to Bob Corritore, Phoenix Blues Society and the Rhythm Room for an excellent time.

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!

Meet the New Members of the Nick Moss Band (shown with Jimmy Johnson)

Here's your chance to 'meet' the members of Nick Moss' versitile new band, as seen on the January 2012 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and fine venues across the country. (Look for them at festivals and many other dates in the U.S. and overseas this coming summer!) NICK MOSS / Guitar, vocals, harmonica Nick Moss has been in the business for well over 20 years now, first touring with Blues legends like Jimmy Dawkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Jimmy Rogers, among many others. He started out playing bass, but while in The Legendary Blues Band with Smith, switched over to guitar, opening him up to the spot in Rogers' band, where he stayed for almost four years. In 1998 he formed his own band and released his first 'solo' CD, First Offense. He's been on the road and recording ever since. After nine critically-acclaimed CDs, 15 Blues Music Award nominations, three Blues Blast Award wins, and a Second Place win in the Blues Category of the 2011 International Songwriting Competition (for "Georgia Redsnake," off of Privileged), Nick is still discovering where his music will take him. Nick Moss photo: McKinley Photography. Moss' latest release is bursting with personal growth and the kind of honesty fans have come to expect from him. Here I Am is the confident statement from Moss that the new path he forged on Privileged (2010, Nominated for 2011 Blues Music Award for "Best Rock Blues Album") was just the beginning. He gives guitar lovers plenty to sink their teeth into with extended songs and solos but there's more to Here I Am than just great lead playing. Moss and his band again use a foundation of blues, rock, and roots as starting points, but take new and unexpected turns on the all-original program. (Here I Am debuted at #2 on the Relix/Jamband Radio Chart! and #6 on the Living Blues Radio Chart! It also spent several weeks in the Top Ten on the Roots Music Report!) • • • • • • • T H E B A N D • • • • • • • MICHAEL LEDBETTER / Guitar, vocals, percussion A native of Chicago, IL, Michael Ledbetter came up with a rich selection of classic soul, R&B, and Blues on rotation in his home. Singers like Donny Hathaway, B.B. King, and Stevie Wonder set the foundation for his soulful vocal style at a very early age. At 15, he decided to take his voice to a new realm: Opera. He went on to enjoy a strong 8-year career in the Chicago Opera community. Following his exit from classical music, Michael realized that his heart truly lied in his roots, and he dove head-first into the Chicago Blues scene. It was the chance discovery of Ledbetter's voice by Kate Moss while sitting in with Blue Bella Records recording artists The Kilborn Alley Blues Band that lead to his tutelage under Nick and Joe Moss in what Ledbetter calls "REAL Chicago Blues 101." Michael was asked to join Nick Moss' cast of young up-and-comers in May 2011. In his short time with Nick, he has had the pleasure of singing for and backing some of the best in Blues music. Michael looks forward to a very bright future and gives many thanks to his family as well as the Moss family for their love and support. Michael Ledbetter photo: Kate Moss. TRAVIS REED / Piano, organ, vocals By the age of 15, Travis H.A. Reed was performing regularly in the children's choir in Syracuse, NY (where he moved to from Chicago when he was only 2). By 18, after being groomed into the advanced pace of the adult mass choir, Reed had come to be the main church organist. In 2010, Travis heard from his friend Byron Cage (now drummer for the Tommy Castro Band), who also was a regular on the Syracuse Gospel scene, that Nick Moss was looking for an organist to accompany the piano player in the band (who at that time was "Piano Willie" Owsianny). In February of that year, Reed traveled to Chicago, sat in with Nick and the band at a local gig, and the rest, as they say, is history. Travis has been with them ever since. He's toured the world, built a diverse vocabulary of chops, and is now an integral part of Moss' new, expanded sound of blues, blues-rock, and beyond. Reed now handles piano and organ duties, showcasing his versatility and incredible musicianship nightly. Travis Reed photo: McKinley Photography. MATTHEW WILSON / bass Born into a family of musicians, Matthew Wilson had learned to play his first drum beat by age 5. Five years later he received the family heirloom bass and started down the road of musical exploration. His father and uncle, both having backed up just about every blues musician passing through Chicago since the late '70s, placed the young musician in the situations that would demand his abilities from the very beginning. Learning from local luminaries like Stokes, Lee Gates, Madison Slim, Jim Liban and Billy Flynn, a strong foundation in the blues was laid. At 24, Matthew has played with and learned from the likes of Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Guitar Shorty, Curtis Salgado, Jimmy & Syl Johnson, Charlie Musselwhite, Clyde Stubblefield and Hubert Sumlin. Matthew joined with Nick Moss and his band in mid-2011 to round-out an already dynamic and powerful lineup of young musicians. Wilson photo: Chris Monaghan. PATRICK SEALS / Drums, percussion Chicago-area drummer Patrick Seals discovered his love of drums at an early age while still in middle school. By high school Patrick was playing in many local bands of varying styles. At 18 he was accepted into the prestigious Columbia College music program and recieved his degree in Jazz upon graduation. Shortly after leaving Columbia, Patrick found himself a place in the thriving Chicago blues community, playing regular gigs with local bands, and even securing a short stint with international blues recording & touring artist, Byther Smith. Based on his versatile skills, Patrick was recruited in 2010 to fill the drum chair in Nick Moss' new band. So far, in his short tenure in the band, Seals has gained the respect of many of his drumming colleagues in the blues community. Most notably, Tony Braunagle (Robert Cray Band, Phantom Blues Band), who asked Patrick to participate in his drum clinic on the 2012 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. Patrick Seals photo: McKinley Photography.

Like my Facebook Page, Post your video on my Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! Share your favorite posting and get more exposure for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

I Love The Woman - Nick Moss & the Flip Tops

Nick Moss (born 1972, Chicago, Illinois) is an American Chicago and electric blues musician. He has released eight albums to date, all on his own Blue Bella Records label. He has played alongside or with Buddy Scott, Jimmy Dawkins, Jimmy Rogers and The Legendary Blues Band; as well as more latterly fronting his own group, Nick Moss and the Flip Tops. The music journalist Bill Dahl, stated Moss possesses "mastery of the classic Chicago sound."
Moss originally learned to play the bass guitar, and joined Buddy Scott's backing band in his late teens. He played there for two years before moving on to join up with Jimmy Dawkins.[1] By 1993, he had joined The Legendary Blues Band, and played bass on their final album, Money Talks. The band's frontman, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, suggested Moss should switch to lead guitar and he spent over two years there before they split up.

Moss moved on to play as Jimmy Rogers' band guitarist for another three years, before going solo. His debut album First Offence (re-released in 2003) was billed as by Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, and included a guest appearance from the harmonica playing Lynwood Slim. His next two offerings, Got a New Plan (2001) and Count Your Blessings (2003) were both nominated for a W. C. Handy Award, as were the follow-ups Sadie Mae (2005) and Live at Chan's (2006).

Nick Moss and the Flip Tops have recorded two live albums at Chan's, a Rhode Island club. The latter included the harp work of Gerry Hundt. Moss and the Flip Tops played at Memphis in May, and the Ottawa Blues Festival in 2008.[5] The same year Moss produced Magic Slim's album, Midnight Blues.

Moss's eighth album, Privileged, was released on March 16, 2010.

Broke Down Blues - Ronnie Shellist and Gerry Hundt

Gerry Hundt (born May 29, 1977, Appleton, Wisconsin) is an American Chicago blues musician and multi-instrumentalist. His favoured instrument is the mandolin. Hundt released his debut solo album, Since Way Back, in early 2007.
Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Hundt's family relocated to Rockford, Illinois when he was aged three.

He has garnered respect for his work with other musicians such as John-Alex Mason and Nick Moss. This led to his 2007 solo album, Since Way Back,(on Blue Bella Records), which earned him a nomination for the Blues Foundation 2008 Blues Music Award for Best Instrumentalist, Other (mandolin)

Ronnie Shellist has been working on his craft for 14 years now. Harmonica was his first true passion and anything you hear him play is coming straight from the heart.

He has been a certified teacher as long as he has been playing the harmonica. He worked in the field of education with elementary, middle school, and high school students for over 12 years as a classroom teacher. Those years taught Ronnie a great deal about communicating effectively with others and helped him to hone his teaching skills.

Currently, there is nothing more important to him than sharing his knowledge of the harmonica to help others enjoy playing as much as he does. Ronnie truly wants to see everyone succeed with their musical goals and enjoy the experience along the way.

Ronnie has had several amazing opportunities and experiences throughout his musical journey. In 2005, he had the honor of opening for BB King in Colorado Springs, CO and since then has opened for Robert Cray in Boulder, CO. In 2006, he was featured on the Today Show for his harmonica video postings on YouTube. He currently spends his time creating instructional material for Harmonica123, teaching harmonica, and performing live blues in Denver, CO.

Ronnie prefers playing Suzuki harmonicas.