There is a steady supply of great 2021 Roadhouse blues albums being issued and I am fortunate that between BMFR and the artists and publicists, many of them are making their way to my in box at ben@benveeblues! Here are some hot singles taken from the recordings that I think are worth your time. (Colored links are to Spotify or Youtube)

Mark Sutherland – Next to Me from the album The Good Fight (Indie Release)

Mark Sutherland hails from Albert, Canada and his first solo album is replete with great guitar playing and some badass early 2000’s garage style blues rock. I got to chat with him a bit recently and he cites the Black Keys as a major influence along with Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd. Mark stated “The Good Fight is as much an album of self-reflection as it is a tip-of-the-cap to the artists who inspire me to pick up a guitar and sing.” I love the stripped down sound and the magic beat of Next To Me and I think you will too!

Popa Chubby – Can I Call You My Friends from the album Tinfoil Hat (Dixiefrog Records)

It is Popa Chubby time again with the release of his first single off the new Tinfoil Hat album, Can I Call You My Friends. It is a bright upbeat song with an infectious rhythm…..I think he has a new hit on his hands! The album features a number of other great tunes including several that take on social issues and politics in Popa’s legendary “in your face” style. There is no doubt where Popa stands on the issues and, right or wrong, I am always proud to call him my friend!

Tomislav Goluban – Express Connection from the album Express Connection (Blue Heart Records)

Tomislav Goluban is a native of my ancestral home of Croatia and a world class bluesman and harmonica player. It is not often than an instrumental makes my Hot Singles list but Express Connection is just a cool upbeat and catchy tune. There is also a video for it featuring fast cars, snowmobiles, jet skis, and dirt bikes……what’s not to like!

Tosha Owens – Half Moon from the album Wrong Side of Right (Indie Release)

When you take on a song by Janis Joplin, you bettah bring your “A” game and this Detroit based artist, Tosha Owens, certainly does. What is delightful about her cover of Half Moon is that while she channels Janis, she doesn’t mimic her as so many artists try to do when they sing her songs. Tosha simply makes the song her own and that is more than good enough!

A J Fullerton – Say You’ll Stay from the album The Forgiver (VizzTone Records)

A J Fullerton hails from the town of Montrose, Colorado on the western slope of the Rockies. He has already won a number of honors from the Colorado Blues Society over the last five years and with the release of The Forgiver on Vizztone Records, he is poised to make a big impression on blues lovers across the world with songs like Say You’ll Stay. AJ is another emerging artist that gives alot of credit to the Black Keys for their influence on his music. Rock and Blues Muse Magazine recently named him one of 75 artists that you have to listen to in 2021….I heartedly agree!!

Ben Vee started out spinning songs on terrestrial radio and at nightclubs back in the 1970’s in his home state of Louisiana. After a career in the construction business, he returned to DJing in 2011. He now hosts two shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and writes about the blues at http://www.benveeblues.com from his home in Connecticut. He also has a 24 hour stream devoted to the Roadhouse Blues… WRHB.

The term “roadhouse blues” refers to modern contemporary blues that are primarily upbeat in nature and incorporate the influence of rock, roots music, soul, and R&B.