VizzTone artist: Nick Schnebelen - What Key Is Trouble In? - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Key Is Trouble In?, from Nick Schnebelen and he on top of his game. Opening with blues rocker, Ten Years After, Fifty Years Later, my man Alvin Lee is called to mind with it's driving power and effortless rocking. Nick Schnebelen on lead vocal and guitar really understands this style and doesn't copy Lee but has his energy with his own riffs and melodies. A great rocking blues. On title track, What Key Is Trouble In?, Nick really hits the R&B groove along the lines of Wilson Pickett, with excellent Albert King like guitar riffs. This is an excellent track with plenty of room to move. Backed by Cliff Moore on bass, Adam Hagerman on drums, Red Young on keys and Aaron Mayfield on organ, this is a tight band. Shuffle track, Pain Aside, has a real nice feel and showcases Nicks vocals nicely. With Moore's tight bass line and inventive blues attacks from Nick, this is a really cool track. Driving boogie, Jonny Cheat, will defy you to sit still without bobbing your head or squirming. This is BFG hot and one of my favorites on the release. I really like the swamp funky feeling of Throw Poor Me Out with the rat a tat drumming by Hagerman, and Jackie Lydon style vocals by Nice. His percussive guitar lead really hits this track perfectly. Wrapping the release is People Worry About Me, another track with that honest TYA sound> Nick's vocals are strong over a thick wall of sound. His guitar riffs are outrageous, almost like screams in pain, giving this track a terrific intensity that I love. 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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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. 

  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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Watermelon Slim - Church of the Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Church of the Blues, from Watermelon Slim and it's great! From the time Slim opens on St. Peter's Ledger, this release is hot. Leading on slide and vocal and backed by John Allouise on bass, Brian Wells on drums and Bob Margolin on guitar, this is a super opener. On Muddy Waters' Gypsy Woman, Slim really takes the harp for a trip with hair curling squeals and vibrant Waters style slide work. Excellent!  Funky, New Orleans flavored Post Modern Blues has a great rhythm with Nick Schnebelen on slide, Matt Blagg on trumpet, Kevin Webb on trombone and Chris Hicks on sax. Very cool. Joe Louis Walker lends a soulful hand on electric guitar with gripping punch on Mni Wiconi . The Water Song with a light funk, R&B style horn backing and solid vocals. Really nice. One of my favorite on the release is That Ole 1-4-5 with it's traditional styling, strong vocals and with Ike Lamb and Slim sharing the excellent guitar lead. Mississippi Fred McDowell's 61 Highway Blues is another favorite with a real hill country style. This track really has a great groove. Wrapping the release is Too Much Alcohol with a strong taste of Johnny Winter. Slim's guitar style is different but the vibrancy is there. With Albert Castiglia on guitar and Slim leading the way, this is an excellent track. This is a really great set of tracks making one of the most enjoyable releases that I have listened to in a while. 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”

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Heather Newman - Burn Me Alive - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Burn Me Alive, from Heather Newman, and it's a cool blend of cool tracks. Opening with country flavored, Willie James, vocalist/bassist Heather Newman shows rich contemporary vocal styling, backed by Keith Ladd on guitar, Ryan Ladd on keys and Cole Dillingham on drums and guitars. shuffle track, Howling For Love again shows the richness of Newman's voice complimented by some cool guitar riffs by Ladd.  Latin influenced, Burn Me Alive is one of my favorites on the release with snappy drums, tight guitar riffs and sassy vocals. With it's slinky belly, How Many Times? really has a solid bottom and a super melody. Blended vocals and stinging guitar soloing make this another of my favorites on the release. Newman's own bass line sets the pace on Dirty Blues and Michael Lefever's sax work throws fuel on an already smoky fire. Stepping up with a R&B bottom, Share Your Love has a real cool feel. Newman's vocals are even more amped up and Ladd pushes the fever up with some real nice organ work. Wrapping the release is I'm Through With You and it's snappy beat. Newman really commands the floor and Dillingham's drumming is tight and precise. Ladd adds in some really flavorful guitar lines making this a real nice closer for a solid 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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VizzTone Label Group artist: Nick Schnebelen - Live In Kansas City - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Kansas City from Nick Schnebelen and it's electrifying! Opening with Fool, a super blues rocker, founding member of Trampled Under Foot, Nick Schnebelen affirms that he is a first rate vocalist and his riffs are fresh and crisp. Joined by Cliff Moore on bass and Adam Hagerman on drums, this band conjures visions of Edgar Winter's White Trash with it's raw, gritty temperament. Excellent opener. On Muddy Waters' Herbert Harper's Free Press News, Schnebelen cranks it up a few notches but maintains that New Orleans kind of funk with strong drive by Moore on bass. His guitar work is loose and free flowing with excellent phrasing and Hagerman lays out a cool drum solo as well. Very nice. You Call That Love has a really nice thumping bass line, solid vocals and extended guitar lead. What else could you ask from a contemporary blues track...really! Smoking slide work by Schnebelen and a Bo Diddley beat by Hagerman on Bad Woman Blues  gives it great teeth. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Johnny Winter's Mean Town Blues. This is a great track and Schnebelen really works the Winter slide style with the fluidity of a world class player. On boogie track, Jonny Cheat, the band really gets a JLH/ZZT groove. Schnebelen rides high with power riffs giving the crowd at Knuckleheads Saloon a real show. Wrapping the release is Conformity Blues, a really nice jazz instrumental bringing to mind Duane Allman's jams with the early Allmans. This track has a rock bottom bass/drum line and Schnebelen really takes the guitar to the wood shed giving it an exceptional workout. This is a terrific closer to a realty strong 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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