Month: October 2018

Ben’s Bin Full of Blues Reviews for Oct 30 2018

 

My thoughts go out to the people of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh as they mourn the senseless and hateful act of violence in their midst. I think I can speak for the blues community when I say that we share your grief and stand next to you arm in arm in the battle against bigotry and hate.

With that stated,   I move on to quick reviews of some albums I have listened to recently.

Eric Bibb – Global Griot (Stony Plain Records, 2018)

Eric Bibb

The term griot (gree-oh) refers to a class of traditional West African musicians and storytellers that carried on the oral traditions of their people.  Eric Bibb certainly merits inclusion given his roots and his artistry on the acoustic and electric guitars and his easy story telling voice.  Reflecting a truly global perspective with recordings for the album done in France, Sweden, Jamaica, Ghana, England, and the United States, this two CD set was an enjoyable listen.

I particularly liked Gathering of the Tribes, All Because, Grateful, Remember Family, and Race & Equality. And the song, Michael…Row Da Boat Ashore, brought back memories of long road trips with my parents and five kids in a Chevy station wagon. My mother would lead us in singing old gospel and traditional tunes. I thank Eric for reawakening memories that bring both sadness and joy; it is the truly the power of music in the fingers and voice of a master!

John Akapo – Paradise Blues (Mensch House Records, 2018)

john akapo

Hawaiian born and Samoan blooded, Big John Akapo is a talented acoustic guitarist with the perfect voice for the style of delta and mellow blues that he plays on his debut recording, Paradise Blues.  I loved his renditions of the blues classics, I Can’t Be Satisfied, and Ramblin’ On My Mind.  I also enjoyed his original songs Little Lani, Don’t Believe Her, and Maui Drive.

John has stated that “I think my music is like a tree rooted in traditional blues but sprinkled with Pacific salt water.”  Here’s to hopin’ that the tree continues to flourish and that we hear much more from him as the years go by!

Anthony Geraci – Why Did You Have To Go (Shining Stone Records 2018)

anthony geraci

Anthony Geraci is a gifted blues pianist  His career spans over 40 years and he is an original member of both Sugar Ray and the Bluetones and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters. His blues pedigree attracted the likes of Ronnie Earl, Sugar Ray Norcia, Monster Mike Welch, Kid Ramos, Dennis Brennan, Jimi Bott, Sugaray Rayford, Willie J. Campbell, and Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson to contribute to his newest recording, Why Did You Have To Go.

The album features 13 all original tunes and showcases the blues, R&B, and even a bit of jazz. Though based in Massachusetts, he spent sometime in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the epicenter of the delta blues, as he wrote songs for the album and the influence shines through on the song, Baptized in the River Yazoo.  My favorite on the album is the title cut, a great soulful R&B tune. I also loved Fly On the Wall, Don’t the Grass Look Greener, and the down the bayou feel of Long Way Home. And if all that wasn’t enough, the song My Last Good Bye is some great deep down grindin’ blues.

Overall, this is an joyous celebration of the blues….a worthy addition to my collection and hopefully yours!

 

 

Ben’s Playlist for Thursday, Oct 25, 2018 on BluesMusicFan Radio

Here’s the intended playlist for today’s show from 3-5 pm EST. Hope you have time to tune in from your computer, tablet, or phone on BluesMusicFan Radio .  Doin’  all I can to bring YOU the best of the contemporary roadhouse blues each and every week!

ARTIST TITLE
Lurupean Dub Stars The Blues Ain’t Never Gonna Die
Delta Moon Nobody’s Fault But Mine
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers Feat. Mike Zito Rock Bottom
Mike Zito I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treat Me)
Sue Foley Fool’s Gold (feat. Billy F Gibbons)
Beth Hart Drive
Trigger Hippy Rise Up Singing
JJ Grey & Mofro Georgia Warhorse
Fiona Boyes What You Put on Me
Lance Lopez Never Came Easy To Me
Travis Bowlin Vicksburg Blues
Boz Scaggs Down In Virginia
John Fogerty Blueboy
Jim Allchin Two Bad Dreams (ft Bobby Rush)
Reloaded Squeeze My Jeeves
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band Poor Until Payday
Sean Chambers Black Eyed Susie
Dry Johnson Long Live Them Blues (Feat. Trudy Lynn & Steve Krase)
Jeff Strahan Hard Headed Woman
Joe Bonamassa Love Is A Gamble
Jim Allchin Enough Is Enough (ft Mike Zito)
Lindsay Beaver Dangerous
Billy F Gibbons Standing Around Crying
Eugene Hideaway Bridges I Can’t Stop Loving You Baby
Kirk Fletcher Two Steps Forward
Gov’t Mule Mule

Layla Zoe – Gemini

layla zoe 1

Great art takes you out of your comfort zone. It often makes you look at life through another lens: Salvador Dali‘s dripping clocks (The Persistence of Memory) or Picasso‘s cubism (Girl Before A Mirror) are two examples.  They distort your perception of what should be and then challenge you to think and perceive in new ways. Layla Zoe’s new album, Gemini, did that for me. I have followed her career for awhile and have found her to be a powerful and sexy Canadian singer of the roadhouse blues; I did not expect the edginess,  depth, and emotion of the lyrics and songs on this album. It has changed my perception of her. She is not just another blues singer with a great voice; she is a crown jewel of the roadhouse blues and worthy of elevation to the same status I give Jeff Healey, her countryman.

As the title cut states she lives two different places …in the pain and the power.  Part of the album is power blues rock, part is great roadhouse tunes, another piece is beautiful  acoustic delta blues, and part is some intensely dark blues portraits of people in pain and crisis. The graphic explicitness of a few of the lyrics will probably offend some (and limit mainstream air play) as she relates through song riveting images of individuals at the crossroads.

layla zoe gemini

I can think of no other contemporary blues or blues rock artist that has put herself on the line and just laid it out there like Layla Zoe has on this album.  Certainly because of her voice, there are the inevitable comparisons to Janis Joplin. But in Layla’s case, I don’t think she is living the darkness in life (as Janis and Amy Winehouse did with their heavy drug use) as much as bringing it to vivid clarity for us.  As she relates in the song, The Deeper They Bury Me, the truth indeed will set you free. And she lays bare on several songs the deep and lonely truth of what the blues is for those in despair: equal parts anger, a need for revenge, and a profound sadness.

There are 20 songs on this double CD and normally I note each of the individual cuts that I liked the most on albums I review.  In this case, no one single will do justice to Layla’s talent or the portraits she conveys in song on this album. Certainly, Are You Still Alive Inside, a beautiful slow tempo blues rocker should get a lot of airplay. But you need to buy the album and experience her music in toto.  Afterwards, I’d love to hear what you think as comments on this web page!

Layla Zoe – Gemini (Self Release 2018)

Doin’ Some Roadhouse with Billy Gibbons on “The Big Bad Blues”

billy gibbons 1

He has been a superstar for decades: an iconic figure complete with sunglasses, beard, hat, and a smoke of one sort or another hangin’ from his lip. Billy Gibbons is the epitome of the Texas roadhouse blues.  On only the second solo album of his illustrious career, The Big Bad Blues,  Billy celebrates his roots.  Big guitar sound, insistent beats, and that rough gravely voice melt together into a robust roadhouse jambalaya of the electric blues and rock..

Hollywood 151 is just pure badass Billy Gibbons crankin’ it out on his Gibson guitar. Missin’ Yo Kissin’ is classic ZZ Top style Boogie. Mo’ Slower Blues, My Baby She Rocks, That’s What She Said, Let the Left Hand Know, and his cover of Rollin’ and Tumblin’ are all stellar Texas Roadhouse tunes. On Second Line, he rolls down the bayou to create some great swamp blues. On Standin’ Around Crying, he takes the blues low and grindin’…tasty tune!  Crankin’ Up is an interesting song with a late fifties feel that I really enjoyed…Buddy Holly came to mind immediately.

Billy Gibbons Big Bad Blues

This is a perfect album to play while drinkin’ beer and grillin’ steaks or boilin’ crawfish with a bunch of friends. The ZZ Top influence is refreshingly familiar and the upbeat sound will have folks swaying, chatting, and havin’ a damn fine time!

Billy F. Gibbons – The Big Bad Blues (Concord 2018)

 

Ben Vee’s Playlist for Oct 4, 2018

Here’s the intended playlist for today’s set at 3 pm EST on Blues Music Fan Radio .

ARTIST TITLE
Johnny & The Headhunters Ace Of Spades
Joe Bonamassa King Bee Shakedown
The Record Company I’m Getting Better (And I’m Feeling It Right Now)
Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones Ghost
Elles Bailey Wildfire
Crystal Shawanda Blue Train / Smokestack Revisited
Billy F Gibbons Missin’ Yo’ Kissin’
Walter Trout Crash And Burn (feat. Joe Louis Walker)
Boz Scaggs Little Miss Night And Day
Van Morrison Roll With The Punches
Frank Bey Give It To Get It
Johnny & The Headhunters Watch And Chain (Hey Gyp)
Markey Blue Ric Latina Project Raised In Muddy Water
Travis Bowlin Slow Cooker Man
Danielle Nicole Save Me ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Coyote Kings Backbone Shaker
Beth Hart Baby Shot Me Down
Damon Fowler Ain’t Gonna Rock with You No More
Dana Fuchs Sad Solution
Casey James Fight You For The Blues
Bubba & The Big Bad Blues I Got The Loving You Need
Creedence Clearwater Revival The Night Time Is The Right Time
Genevieve Chadwick Have A Drink On Me
Geoff Achison I Wish You Were Mine
The Black Tongued Bells Kingbee Jam
Heather Newman Bring The Swing
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio That’s The Way Willy Likes It
The Revivalists All My Friends