Month: September 2021

Roadhouse Blues News – ALBUM RELEASES

It is officially fall and there are a whole lotta great roadhouse blues albums hitting the market in the coming days and months!

Out Now

Samantha Fish – Faster

She is arguably the most popular female contemporary blues rock artist on the planet…..the lady can rock it!!

Robert Jon & the Wreck – Shine On Me Brother

On tour now in Europe, the Euro fans are in for a fabulous treat from these Southern California based southern rock & blues rockers!

Altered Five Blues Band – Holler If You Hear Me

This album merits album of the year consideration. See my review from last week here on this blog.

Colin Linden – bLOW

Colin is a Canadian that has been based in Nashville for a long time. I listened to the promo copy I received this weekend and the album just enhances his reputation as both an artist and songwriter.

Tony Holiday – Porch Sessions Vol. 2

A literal who’s who of the blues join Tony on this badazz recording!

Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps – Rose-Colored Glasses

What a voice! Teresa is one of the great talents of contemporary blues!

DUE THIS WEEK

Avey Grouws Band – Tell Tale Heart

I received a promo copy of the album today…..can’t wait to give it a spin!

DUE IN OCTOBER

The Doobie Brothers – Liberte

Zac Harmon – Long As I Got My Guitar

Sue Foley – Dallas Man

DUE IN NOVEMBER

Colin James – Open Road

This is the first video released for the forthcoming album.

Joanne Shaw Taylor – The Blues Album

Produced by Joe Bonamassa, this promo single brings Joanne’s awesome R&B voice to the fore!

Dion – Stomping Ground

Dion is in his eighties and still just so damn cool!!

Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues

The new album is supposed to be straight up blues….can’t wait to hear it all!

Eric Clapton – The Lady in the Balcony – Lockdown Sessions

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raise the Roof

They pick up right where they left off with an excellent cover of the Lucinda Williams tune!

Tour Worth Noting

Allman Family Revival (November 27 to December 19)

Duane Allman will be joined by the Allman Betts Band, Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Eric Gales, Jimmy Hall, Robert Randolph and several others to celebrate the songs and memory of his father Gregg. Tour starts in St. Louis and winds across the United States and then ends in San Francisco!

2021 Roadhouse Blues on BMFR 12-2 pm EDT

Got some contemporary 2021 blues for ya! Join us from 12-2 pm EDT today for the Ben Vee Roadhouse blues Nooner on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com.

Here is the intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLE
Andres RootsLink To Elmore
Tedeschi Trucks BandHigh and Mighty
Robert Jon & the WreckEveryday
Altered Five Blues BandFull Moon, Half Crazy
Tommy CastroSomewhere
Georgia RandallIsolation Blues
Curtis SalgadoSlow Down
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom RockersShe’s About a Mover (feat. Alvin Youngblood Hart)
Seth JamesHe Don’t Love You (and He’ll Break Your Heart)
Ally VenablePlayed The Game
Bjorn BergeA Matter Of Time
CatfishSoulbreaker
Brad PalmerRisin’ Moon
Lone Crow RebellionRoll
Eric Starczan, Jennifer Jordan, Ian SiegalWhole Lotta Money
Grant HauaGot Something
The WildRootsMisty Morning in New Orleans
HolebonesCatfish
Teresa James and The Rhythm TrampsI Got A Love I Wanna Hold On To
Mike ZitoIn My Blood
Mindi Abair & The BoneshakersSeven Day Fool
The Immediate FamilyTurn It Up to Ten
The BluesBonesCruisin’ (Censored)
Mark SutherlandThe Good Fight
Atomic 44’sMy ’49
Joe Lewis BandCan I Get With You
JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat PereyraMighty Dangerous Boogie
Kiko And The Blues RefugeesAin’t Gone Yet
Joanna ConnorI Feel So Good

A Baker’s Dozen of Badass Blues – The New Altered Five Blues Band album HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME

The new Altered Five Blues Band album HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME is out today and it is a baker’s dozen of badass blues. One of the stellar groups of the contemporary blues, this five member band out of Milwaukee cranks out 13 infectious tunes with a rhythm that drags you to the dance floor. Led by the barrel chested voice of Jeff Taylor, this musical ensemble, with the help of Grammy award winning producer Tom Hambridge, have created a sure fire 2021 album of the year nominee.

The album comes out of the gate with the title cut, Holler If You Hear Me. Come join the party….let’s ramble and roll…whole lotta shakin’ gonna move your soul….Raise your hands…move your feet…everybody now ….feel the beat. Those lyrics should be on the door mantle of every roadhouse blues joint from Copenhagen to Chicago to Adelaide!

Guilty of a Good Time is another genre defining tune which echoes my sentiments about the roadhouse blues; it’s about hand rolled cigars and a big bar tab among like minded friends! It also features some awesome guitar licks by Jeff Schroedl. If You Go Away (She Might Come Back), All Suit No Soul, and In the Name of No Good are all “pull your Baby to the dance floor” tunes. There are also a couple of belly rubbing tunes in Holding On with One Hand and Leave Before I Let You Down.

If there is one song on the album that kind of brings it all together….the voice of Jeff Taylor….the roadhouse beat….the talent of a tight band with Jeff Schroedl on guitar, Alan Arber on drums, Mark Solveson on bass, and Raymond Tevich on Keyboards, it is Full Moon, Half Crazy! Give it a listen!

The album ends with a heartfelt upbeat tribute to the men and women of the blues that laid the groundwork for all of us that perform, spin, and write about the blues today: Big Shout Out. It includes a literal who’s who of the blues and is a great list of artists for those new to blues to use to become acquainted with in this incredible musical genre.

To say I enjoyed listening to this album while writing this review would be an understatement. It is everything that you could hope for in a roadhouse blues recording; vibrant, upbeat, great musicians, and insightful, witty and thoughtful lyrics. And mark my words…if this recording doesn’t get an album of the year nomination then it is time for me to stop reviewing albums……and that ain’t gonna happen!!!

Altered Five Blues Band – Holler If You Hear Me (2021 Blind Pig Records)

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

Live Roadhouse Blues on BMFR 3-5 pm EDT

The Roadhouse blues is best experienced LIVE which has been a challenge for both performers and music lovers since the pandemic raised its ugly head. Today’s show is chocked full of live performances by some of the best artists of the contemporary blues as well as some classic recordings. Tune in from 3-5 pm EDT on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com!

Here is today’s intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLE
Tedeschi Trucks BandSatie Groove
Tedeschi Trucks BandDon’t Know What It Means
Gov’t MuleMillion Miles From Yesterday
Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page & Steve WinwoodTake Me To The River
Steven Tyler & Joe PerryI’m A King Bee
Luther AllisonSoul Fixin’ Man (Live) (Remastered)
Pat FulgoniThink Twice Before You Go
Bluesman Tom LarsenLean & Mean
Artur MenezesDevil’s Own
Dom Martins SavagesMorning Sun
Markus K.Rollin’ and Tumblin’
Don NixBlack Cat Moan
Mark KnopflerDon’t Forget Your Hat
Eric ClaptonTulsa time
J.J. CaleDon’t Cry Sister
Steve MarrinerTake Me To The City
Walter TroutGoin’ Down To The River (Feat. Robby Krieger)
Rory GallagherAdmit It
Blackberry SmokeGrits Ain’t Groceries
Trevor SewellCalling Me Home (Live)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd BandDown For Love
Tommy CastroLeaving Trunk (Live)
Teresa James & The Rhythm TrampsIn The Pink
Captain Morgan ExpressIn The Middle Of The Night (Live)
Albert CummingsMovin’ On (Live)

Steve Marriner – The Quintessential Roadhouse Bluesman releases HOPE DIES LAST

Steve Marriner is a man after my own heart as he drifts effortlessly from roots music to contemporary blues to blues rock on his new release, HOPE DIES LAST. He is the quintessential roadhouse bluesman from Canada who is balancing a solo career while also being part of the Manx Marriner Manline and a favorite band of mine, MonkeyJunk. Over the years he has performed extensively with Colin James, one of the superstars of the Canadian roadhouse blues, as well as Samantha Martin, Paul Reddick, Delta Sugar, and Lee Holmes.

For the new recording, Steve teamed with Jimmy Bowskill, a renown blues rocker, to produce the album. The result is some roadhouse magic! The first single/video released back in June was How High, a crankin’ blues rocker. A couple of days before the official release of the album on July 2, another video for Long Way Down came out. It is a haunting sad roots tune about addiction that is simply beautiful. The “radio ready” tune Take Me to the City is my personal favorite with a catchy beat, some great guitar licks, and some nasty harpin’. Honey Bee is some badass raw roadhouse blues and Coal MIne highlights Steve’s incredible voice. You Hear My Heart is another song on the album that ya just have to give a listen……the music….the voice….the guitars…and the harmonica…WOW! Another interesting tune on the recording is Petite Danse. It is a perfect “down the bayou” tune from my home state of Louisiana that Steve sings in French. From Montreal to New Orleans, it will have people dancing in the aisles!

Steve is a hard working talent balancing his time between a number of bands. I just hope he can make the time to tour on his own in the coming years and gets a chance to showcase his talents as a songwriter, singer, and musician. He is well on his way to becoming a roadhouse blues superstar and another of the musical treasures of the great nation of Canada.

Steve Marriner – Hope Dies Last (2021 Stony Plain Records)

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