Check out the video at https://youtu.be/TbwKS2rMz3s if ya get a chance!
Best of the Year
Ben Vee Induction Into the SL DJ Hall of Fame
A special thanks to the SL DJ Hall of Fame for inducting me last night. I started spinning on the Second LIfe grid in 2011 to spread the news about the roadhouse blues and continue to do so today. I appreciate all the listeners I have garnered over the years on SL and the number of enduring friendships that I have made there. Pretty damn badass award….I am honored…..THANK YOU

The Roadhouse Blues 61 – Best Blues Albums of 2021
United States Highway 61 starts in Wyoming, Minnesota and over its 1400 mile length generally follows the mighty Mississippi River to its terminus in New Orleans. It has earned the proud appellation as the “Blues Highway” primarily because of its route through the heart of the Mississippi delta country where the blues was born. It also intersects in Clarksdale Mississippi with Highway 49 at a spot known as the Crossroads that is stamped indelibly on the tale of the blues. In honor of this great highway and all of the blues men and women who have transited lengths of it over their careers , I present my list of the 61 best roadhouse blues albums of 2021.
The year 2021 will not be treated kindly by history. The dark foreboding shadow of the pandemic continued to loom over the months. Strife and division marked our public discourse and even enveloped the blues. But despite it all, thousands of blues artists continued to release new recordings in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South America, and Africa. Through my association with BluesMusicFan Radio and my own contacts in the industry, I received hundreds and hundreds of new releases. I reviewed them and rated each album song by song with additional factors for creativity and “paying the blues dues”. This list is not about an individual song but an album as a creative whole. Needless to say, it takes time to do this. I started culling the list down in mid November. First to 300, then 150, and now the final list. While the list includes 61 releases, it is not strictly a numerical listing. Artists are not in a sports competition with their fellow artists and most I have known over the years will be the first to sing the praises of other groups. With this in mind, I break the lists down by album of the year and then Best Ten albums as a group, Top Twenty, and so on. ANY album on this list is worth your time to listen to. And I hope many of you will AND pay the artists the ultimate compliment by purchasing their work.
The Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Album of the Year 2021 is…..
Colin James – Open Road
Colin James got his big break in the 1980’s when he was drafted as a last minute replacement for a cancelled opening act for Stevie Ray Vaughan. He has been a rocker, blues rocker, and successful Swing music artist over the years and has won dozens of music honors in Canada. For the Open Road recording, he made a conscious decision to emphasize his love of the blues genre and we are all its beneficiaries. It has rockin’ blues songs, traditional blues numbers, and beautiful roots blues tunes. (For an in depth review of the album songs, please see my blog dated November 4, 2021). With echoes of Chuck Berry and Stevie Ray Vaughan in the music combined with Colin’s voice and guitar mastery, I invite you to listen to Leave This House as just one sampling of this incredible recording and my choice as Roadhouse Blues album of the year.
Roadhouse Blues Best Ten Recordings of 2021
This year’s Roadhouse Blues Best Ten recordings include artists from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. One is 22 and has such a bright future, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Another is 82 and still kicking out vibrant and thoughtful jams, Dion. There is a great group out of the UK, J Lee and Hoodoo Skulls, that won my award for Blues Rock album of 2021. There are two artists, the JP Williams Blues Band and the Atomic 44’s that I tried to see during the year but Covid raised its ugly head. Polly O’Keary makes the list based on the power of her voice and all the dues she has paid to the blues over the years. Perennial favorite Tommy Castro also shows up as well as John Popper with Blues Traveler. And one of the defining voices of the contemporary blues, Jeff Taylor, makes the list with the Altered Five Blues Band.
Artist | 2021 Album | Country |
Colin James | Open Road | Canada |
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram | 662 | USA |
Dion | Stomping Ground | USA |
Altered Five Blues Band | Holler If You Hear Me | USA |
J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls | Beggars Soul | UK |
JP Williams Blues Band | JP & Ekat | USA |
Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method | 50 | USA |
Tommy Castro | A Bluesman Came to Town | USA |
Atomic 44’s | Volume One | USA |
Blues Traveler | Traveler’s Blues | USA |
Roadhouse Blues Top Twenty Recordings of 2021
My Top Twenty albums for 2021 included artists from Canada (Sue Foley), Australia (8 Ball Aiken), and the street busker from the UK (Markus K.). Carolyn Wonderland, based in Austin, makes the list with an incredible recording. Established stars Mike Zito, Billy Gibbons, and the Black Keys all contributed significant works to the roadhouse blues this year. An emerging artist that I believe still has his best work in front of him, Eddie 9V, makes the list and is well worth a listen as hint of the future of the blues. And Ricci and Krown put out a recording that should warm the heart of anyone that enjoys harmonica based blues. I also highly recommend the Sean Chambers album which is a tribute to his mentor and famed blues man, Hubert Sumlin.
8 Ball Aiken | Ice Cream Man | Australia |
Carolyn Wonderland | Tempting Fate | USA |
Eddie 9V | Little Black Flies | USA |
Sean Chambers | That’s What I’m Talkin’ About | USA |
Mike Zito | Resurrection | USA |
Ricci and Krown | City Country City | USA |
Billy F. Gibbons | Hardware | USA |
Sue Foley | Pinky’s Blues | Canada |
The Black Keys | Delta Kream | USA |
Markus K. | Live With Looper No. 1 | UK |
Roadhouse Blues Thrillin’ Thirty Recordings of 2021
Band of Friends | Spotlight on the G-Man Vol. 2 | UK/Ireland |
Uncle Watson’s Widow | Hindsight | USA |
Simon Kinney Lewis | King Biscuit | Australia |
Chickenbone Slim | Serve It to Me Hot | USA |
The Dirty Mojo Blues Band | It is What It is | USA |
The Doobie Brothers | Liberte | USA |
Melissa Etheridge | One Way Out | USA |
Dirty Dave Osti | Retro-Sonic Blues Train | Australia |
Eldon Backhouse and the Electric Blues Band | Portrait Gallery | UK |
Steve Marriner | Hope Dies Last | Canada |
The Roadhouse Blues Thrillin’ Thirty recordings list has an international flavor with two artists from Australia (Simon Kinney Lewis & Dirty Dave Osti) as well as two from the UK (Band of Friends & Eldon Backhouse and the Electric Blues Band) and one from Canada (Steve Marriner). If you love Rory Gallagher, then I highly recommend the Band of Friends recording which features bassist Gerry McAvoy and the stellar guitar playing of Davy Knowles. If you enjoy what I term “roots blues”, then Steve Marriner’s latest recording is well worth a listen. Additionally two major music artists, Melissa Etheridge and the Doobie Brothers, both released albums that a perfect representations of what I term the “roadhouse blues”…a mix of contemporary blues, blues rock, and roots blues. And I highly recommend a blues rock group out of North Carolina, Uncle Watson’s Widow, that plays a high energy mix of ZZ Top and Joe Bonamassa related music.
Roadhouse Blues Top 61 Recordings of 2021
The rest of the list of the 61 Best Roadhouse Albums of 2021 includes notable names like Steve Cropper, Jimmy Barnes, Gov’t Mule, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Bernie Marsden as well as established roadhouse blues artists like The Record Company, Davy Knowles, Cactus, Colin Linden, and “up and comers” like Veronica Lewis, The Kokomo Kings, Hendrikse, and Quinn Sullivan. All of them put out quality recordings that I enjoyed listening to!
Steve Cropper | Fire It Up | USA |
Jimmy Barnes | Flesh And Blood | Australia |
Joe Metzka | Another Disaster | USA |
Tom Feldman and Noah Levy | Brothers in Mud | USA |
The Record Company | Play Loud | USA |
Quinn Sullivan | Wide Awake | USA |
The Kokomo Kings | A Drive-By Love Affair | Denmark |
Vintage Trouble | Juke Joint Gems | USA |
Delta Fuse | A Matter of Love and War | UK |
Gov’t Mule | Heavy Load Blues | USA |
AJ Fullerton | The Forgiver | USA |
Davy Knowles | What Happens Next | UK |
Captain Morgan Express | No Weirdos Please | Germany |
Superdownhome | No Balls, No Blues Chips | Italy |
Dave Kalz | Relish | USA |
Joanne Shaw Taylor | The Blues Album | UK |
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band | Dance Songs for Hard Times | USA |
Tommy Z | Plug in and Play | USA |
Hendrikse | A Good Day for the Blues | Netherlands |
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux | Bloodstains and Teardrops | USA |
Dionne Bennett | Sugar Hip Ya Ya | UK |
Cactus | Tightrope | USA |
Bernie Marsden | Kings | UK |
Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps | Rose Colored Glasses | USA |
The Liberators | Waitin’ | Netherlands |
Trainman Blues | Shadows & Shapes | Denmark |
Mike Goudreau Band | The Isolation Blues | Canada |
Colin Linden | Blow | Canada |
Veronica Lewis | You Ain’t Lucky | USA |
Dennis Siggery | Higher Ground | UK |
Early Times & the High Rollers | The Corner | USA |
The Roadhouse Blues 61 Best Blues albums of 2021 is not THE list of lists for 2021. It is based on the types of blues that I enjoy spinning for my audiences and that is a bias that I readily admit to. Other blues writers and organizations (including the BluesMusicFan Radio Top 20) have produced charts that differ, sometimes widely, from mine. However I do believe this list is a representative overview of the state of the blues in 2021 and the forecast is pretty dang good. The blues is not dying…it is not just surviving….it is thriving in terms of the number of great artists that are attracted to the genre. The challenge is to get the mainstream music media to give the blues its proper due and consequentially pump up the sales so that the artists can derive a meaningful income. I am so thankful to the major blues labels like Delmark Records, Ruff Records, Alligator Records, Stony Plain Records, Mascot/Provogue, Gulf Coast Records, KTBA Records, and a whole host of other “indie” labels for encouraging and promoting groups that fit my roadhouse blues format.
And YOU have a part to play also. My part is to listen, select, and spin contemporary blues, blues rock, and roots blues tunes to help get the word out. I do this for no financial renumeration (though I would not begrudge it!). YOUR part, if you love the roadhouse blues, is to pass the word when given the opportunity to friends and family. Particularly to younger audiences that probably have no clue about most, if not all, the artists on this list. AND, once in awhile, when finances permit, you can support your favorite artist(s) on this list by downloading their album. I estimate that I reach about 10,000 people each week through my shows and other social media. That is a pittance compared to the several million people reached by terrestrial radio and media on any given day in a major city in Europe or North America. But if the people I do reach each spent 50 dollars downloading albums (not just listening to streams) this year, that would be an infusion of $500,000 into the blues music market. It is a “drop in the bucket” compared to what artists on the Billboard 200 weekly list of albums generate but it is something. Almost to a person, the blues artists that I have met and conversed with are down to earth people and they definitely haven’t committed their musical lives to the blues seeking fame and fortune. But they do deserve the chance to make a decent living during a period when they can’t perform before live audiences. It starts with you and me…..pass on a link for this list to someone you know….you never know who will be the next convert to the blues. After all, you and I were converted at some point….and I think we are doin’ just fine!
#blues #roadhouse blues
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 personal 24 hour stream devoted to the Roadhouse Blues… WRHB
Roadhouse 2021 Blues Rock Album of the Year – Beggars Soul by J. Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls
The Roadhouse 2021 Blues Rock Album of the Year is by a British group from Surrey, England…. J. Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls. The recording, Beggars Soul, is a vibrant energetic collection of tunes that are brash and edgy. Drawing from the same musical well as Chuck Berry, Larkin Poe, the Black Keys and the Record Company, this 4 piece band cranks out songs that will get ya pumped and wanting to gather once again with friends at a rowdy roadhouse or pub for some good times.
The band is composed of J. Lee (vocals), Harun Kotch (Lead Guitar/ Writer), Wayne Riches (Drums) and Mike Hartnett (Bass). The album was recorded at an old church chapel which gives the songs a cool texture that just enhances the aura of the music. Just give the title cut, Beggars Soul, a listen……you will hear what I mean.
I also just love tunes that capture the magic of the era when Muddy Water’s famously said that the blues had a baby and it was called rock & roll. The song Baby Can’t Sing the Blues is an absolute time capsule of a roadhouse blues tune that perfectly illustrates Muddy’s statement.
Every recording on this album is worth a listen, particularly if you are feeling dreary or depressed and need a musical “pick me up”. So…..go to your favorite music download site….get your own copy of Beggars Soul as your endorsement of the very best badass Roadhouse blues rock of 2021!
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 Best 2021 Live Roadhouse Blues Albums
As you might expect, there were not a lot of Live albums released during 2021 but of the ones that were these are the five best that I got to listen to and spin during my shows…..enjoy!
The Teskey Brothers & Orchestra Victoria – LIve At Hamer Hall
A case can be made that the best current R&B band in the world is from a place in the Yarra valley outside Melbourne Australia. The four brothers write and sing as though they have emerged from a time capsule found in a wall in MoTown with Otis Redding 45s in their hands. Just listen to Rain, So Caught Up, and San Francisco and be teleported back to the golden age of modern music for an evening.

Greg Copeland & Steve ‘Guitar’ Giles – LIve in Aotearoa New Zealand
Greg Copeland & Steve ‘Guitar’ Giles serve as ambassadors for the blues on this recording done in New Zealand. Greg is a smoky voiced singer and master storyteller of the blues who is from Virginia and has been living in Germany for a number of years. Greg and Steve capture the heart of the contemporary acoustic blues on songs like Don’t Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down and Going Home. Greg’s love of the blues comes through in every note and I can’t think of a better person to sing the story of the blues to audiences in New Zealand, Europe, and here in North America.
Pat Fulgoni – Dark Side of the Blues – Live in Prague
Out of the UK, Pat Fulgoni is the Mountain Man of the roadhouse blues with his long hair, full beard, and a blues style and voice perfect for roadhouses from Prague to New Orleans. The recording features covers of blues classics including Rock Me Baby and the jammin’ How Many More Times.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Layla Revisited
Stellar guitar work, a rocking rhythm section, and fantastic vocals mark this one off live concert recorded by the Tedeschi Trucks band as a remembrance of the Derek & the Dominos album that featured Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. Trey Anastasio (Phish) and Doyle Bramhall II also joined the band on the recording. Listening to Susan Tedeschi belt out Nobody Knows You When You Are Down and Out is worth the price of admission.
The Brothers – Madison Square Garden March 10, 2020
Recorded days before the world as we knew it changed radically, the recording was organized by Jaimoe and will probably stand as one of the last live recordings featuring an original member of the Allman Brothers Band (ABB). ABB alumni including Warren Haynes on all vocals, Derek Trucks on guitar, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and percussionist Marc Quinones provide a trip down memory lane with most of the two dozen songs coming from the golden era of ABB from 1969 to 1973.
Honorable Mentions
Mary Stokes Band – Clouds In My Heart (LIve In Dublin)
The Mary Stokes Band is a very tight blues band out of Ireland centered around Mary’s robust vocals, her life partner Brian Palm’s badass harmonica playing, and some mighty fine licks on the guitar by Sarah Michelle. This is live roadhouse blues at its very finest!!! Listen to The Last Time and I’m So Glad and tell me it ain’t so!!! Originally recorded in 1999, the CD was released internationally this November.
Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving Royal Tea Live from the Ryman
My first exposure to Joe Bonamassa was live on PBS and I still enjoy listening to him perform on a stage. As much a rock recording as a blues album, Royal Tea Live From the Ryman features a performance of A New Day Yesterday/Starship Trooper – Wurm that I love.
Legacy Releases of 2021
Stevie Ray Vaughan – The First Broadcast
Muddy Waters – Muddy Waters: The Montreux Years
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 2020 Ben Vee Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of the Year
The Year 2020 was one that we all were glad to see go. Not only were our family, friends, and neighbors ravaged by COVID but our political systems were stressed and our rights to meet and gather were often suspended. And performing artists and musicians took the financial brunt of the frenzied response as outdoor venues, bars, and restraunts closed across the world throwing millions of performers out of work. But musicians are a resilient and creative group. They retreated, like the rest of us, to their homes, their garages, and their basements and began the process of creating new music using novel internet collaborative tools to record and share their music with other band members and recording studios. The product of their work is what I want us to celebrate in this article. It took new thinking, creative use of software, and dogged perseverance to write, record, and release new music during 2020 and EVERY artist and group that did so should be commended for not giving in to the darkness and continuing to bring the joy of music to us all.
During 2020, I played over 7000 songs on my DJ shows and listened to hundreds of albums sent to me by the artists, publicists, and record companies. I received even more as part of the staff of Blues Music Fan Radio. Out of all that music, I have chosen my favorite 66 roadhouse blues songs for 2020 using only two rules; I had to have played the tune during one of my shows in 2020 and I could only select one song per album. The list represents less than 1% of all music that I broadcast during the year and includes both perennial favorites as well as artists you may not have heard of. These are the best of the best and regardless of position on this listing, they are all fabulous tunes in my opinion. I hope you enjoy reviewing the list, listening to the songs, and hopefully, downloading some for your own music collection or as a gift to family and friends.
The Roadhouse Blues Top 66 Songs
61 | The Smoke Wagon Blues Band | The Fat Man | The Ballad Of Albert Johnson |
62 | Misty Blues | Treat Me Like I Want | Weed ‘Em & Reap |
63 | Peter Parcek | Beyond Here Lies Nothing | Mississippi Suitcase |
64 | Nora Jean Wallace | I’m A Blues Woman | Blues Woman |
65 | Lloyd Jones | Turn Me Loose | Tennessee Run |
66 | The Rolling Stones | Living In A Ghost Town | Living In A Ghost Town |
The Roadhouse Blues Top 50 & 60 songs
51 | John Primer and Bob Corritore | Keep A-Driving | The Gypsy Woman Told Me |
52 | Cary Morin | Nobody Gotta Know | Dockside Saints |
53 | Pinkie Rideau | Bring Me Sugar | Bring Me Sugar |
54 | Dudley Taft | The End Of The Blues | Cosmic Radio |
55 | Henrik Freischlader Band | What Have I Done to You | Missing Pieces |
56 | JD3 & The Jondo Trio | Rocks At The Moon | Something Good |
57 | Shaun Murphy | Living In The Palace Of The King | Flame Still Burns |
58 | The Nighthawks | Chairman Of The Board | Tryin’ to Get to You |
59 | Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo Preachers | Some Kind Of Voodoo | Testimony |
60 | New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers | Night Time (feat Jimbo Mathis) | Volume I |
41 | Mary Jo Curry Band | Nothin’ Is Easy | Front Porch |
42 | Kerry Kearney | Voodoo Down the River | Tales From The Psychedelta |
43 | Simon Kinny-Lewis | Black Cat Moan | Another Day In San Jose |
44 | The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood | Counting Down The Days | Blue Sky |
45 | The Lucky Losers | Half a Nothing | Godless Land |
46 | Marcus King | The Well | El Dorado |
47 | Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar | Sacrifice | The Reckless On |
48 | Coco Montoya | Trouble | Coming In Hot |
49 | Robert Cray | Anything You Want | That’s What I Heard |
50 | Dave Fields | Force of Will | Force of Will |
The Roadhouse Blues Top 40 songs
31 | Steve Washington (feat Lucky Peterson) | Blues Don’t Cost a Thing | Just A Matter of Time |
32 | Tammi Savoy & The Chris Casello Combo | As Long As I’m Movin’ | That Rock ‘n’ Roll Rhythm! |
33 | Too Slim and the Taildraggers | Devil’s Hostage | The Remedy |
34 | David Rotundo Band | I Must Be Crazy | So Much Trouble |
35 | Mick Clarke | Ain’t Beggin’ Nobody | Crazy with the Blues |
36 | Casey Hensley | Searching For A Man | Good As Gone |
37 | Tas Cru | Save Me | Drive On |
38 | Sass Jordan | The Key | Rebel Moon Blues |
39 | Mark May | Barbecue And Blues | Deep Dark Demon |
40 | Shemekia Copeland | Walk Until I Ride | Uncivil War |
The Roadhouse Blues Top 30 Songs
21 | Eric Johanson | Down To The Bottom | Below Sea Level |
22 | Tinsley Ellis | Evil Till Sunrise | Ice Cream In Hell |
23 | The Immediate Family | Cruel Twist | Slippin’ and Slidin’ |
24 | Mike Zito | After The Storm | Quarantine Blues |
25 | Savoy Brown | Jaguar Car | Ain’t Done Yet |
26 | Kirsten Thien | Shoulda Been | Two Sides |
27 | Larkin Poe | Every Bird That Flies | Self Made Man |
28 | Eric Steckel | Since I Been Loving You | Grandview Drive |
29 | Sonny Landreth | Somebody Gotta Make A Move | Blacktop Run |
30 | Crystal Shawanda | Evil Memory | Church House Blues |
The Roadhouse House Top 20 Songs
11 | Rae Gordon Band | Get Right With The World | Wrong Kind Of Love |
12 | Fantastic Negrito | Chocolate Samurai | Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? |
13 | Ben Levin | My Back Scratcher | Carryout Or Delivery |
14 | Kat Riggins | The Storm | Cry Out |
15 | Albert Cummings | Red Rooster | Believe |
16 | The War and Treaty | Beautiful (feat. Jason Isbell) | Hearts Town |
17 | Anthony Gomes | Until The End Of Time | Containment Blues |
18 | Popa Chubby | I’m The Beast From The East | It’s A Mighty Hard Road |
19 | The Mary Stokes Band | Comin’ Home | Comin’ Home |
20 | Joanne Shaw Taylor | Human | Reckless Blues |
The Roadhouse Top Ten Tunes for 2020
10. Johnny Iguana – Shake Your Money Maker [Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular] (Delmark Records)
Johnny Iguana’s cover of the Elmore James song from 1961 should get you movin’ in your easy chair as you listen. Johnny’s energetic keyboard playing is superbly matched by the slide guitar work of Lil’ Ed.
9. Layla Zoe – Nowhere Left To Go [Title Cut] (Self Release)
Though not officially released until January 8, 2021, I got a promo copy in December and started spinning it so it makes the list! Layla’s growling delivery is just badass and harkens back to Janis Joplin.
8. Wily Bo Walker/Danny Flam – Ain’t No Man a Good Man [Title Cut] (Mescal Canyon Records)
Blues rock with a hint of Dr. John in his voice, Wily Bo is a fantastic UK artist with a growing following. Wily’s delivery is theatric in nature and I can’t wait for the opportunity to see him and Danny perform live on stage one day…SOON!
7. Alastair Greene – Bayou Mile [The New World Blues] (Whiskey Bayou Records)
A native of Ventura, California, Alastair got to collaborate with the great Tab Benoit from my home state of Louisiana to make this recording and the result is a haunting beautiful song.
6. Thorbjorn Risager and the Black Tornado – Come On In [Title Cut] (Ruf Records)
A Danish powerhouse and one of my favorite European roadhouse blues artists, Thorbjorn has a unique voice and he is backed by an incredible seven piece ensemble that just continue to crank out catchy and upbeat roadhouse blues tunes.
5. Dion – Blues Comin’ On (ft. Joe Bonamassa) [Blues With Friends] (KTBA Records)
An American treasure, Dion is still creating vibrant music at the age of 81! Produced by Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive label, Dion got Joe to sit in on this track!
4. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Rock & Roll [Empty Promises] (Alligator Records)
This song is about a deal with the angels and a family’s devotion to a young artist’s future. It is simply beautiful and Christone’s delivery is authentic and riveting.
3. Joe Bonamassa – Why Does It Take So Long to Say Goodbye [Royal Tea] (J&R Adventures)
Another Joe Bonamassa ballad that meshes rock and blues like only he can. He is known as a world class guitar player, but I love his voice and his songwriting. This one is a roadhouse jewel!
2. Walter Trout – Make It Right [Ordinary Madness] (Provogue Records)
At 69, Walter is creating some of the best music of his storied career. The guitar playing on this tune is vintage Trout. I hope I get to see him perform it live sometime this year or next!
1……. Avey Grouws Band – Rise Up [The Devil May Care] (Self Release)
A self released debut album by a group from Iowa features a song that is my #1 roadhouse tune for 2020! Who would have thought?? I know I didn’t until I heard Jeni Grouw’s voice and Chris Avey’s guitar playing on Rise Up. It is not only a catchy but topical tune. We all need to rise up, in love, and confront the issues of our times head on without hate or rancor. It’s a song and a message we all need to spread around! Oh…and by the way…..the Avey Grouws Band will be appearing in concert in June with…..Walter Trout. My #1 and #2 artists on the same stage…..if you are close…go see them!!!!
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 Ben Vee Roadhouse 40 Best Blues Rock Albums of 2020
I am publishing my annual lists early this year with the hopes that people who follow me will give the gift of music for the holidays to friends and family to financially help a group of creative people that have been particularly hard hit by public gathering restrictions. No single working group other than restaurant workers has been hit as hard during the pandemic as artists and musicians. My heart goes out to them and 2021 can’t get here soon enough!

My criteria for picking the 40 best blues rock albums that I have heard during 2020 are pretty simple: 1) A judgement of the body of work on the recording, not just the fact that it may have a hit single. (Which I address in my annual Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of the Year review.) 2) In the blues community there is a lot of respect given to artists and groups that “have paid their dues” through years of recording and performing which I reflect in my weighting of selections for the list. With that stated…..get your credit cards ready and your favorite music purchase app loaded….and chose a couple or more of these albums to help the blues community survive the 2020 pandemic!!
The Top Forty Blues Rock Albums (Listings 31 through 40)
These ten selections include Australian Simon Kinny-Lewis performing a rousing rendition of “I Just Want to Make Love To You” and getting help from Robben Ford on the song “Dagger Eyes”. American expat Seasick Steve cranks out a message to all of us to give each other a break, come together, stop the hatred, and get back to “Love & Peace”. Hurricane Ruth is a blues rockin’ Mama out of St. Louis that continues to do an awesome job of rockin’ the blues with tunes like “She’s Golden”. Some of you may not know of King King out of the UK where they are a perennial blues rockin’ favorite. Their lead singer, Alan Nimmo, has a voice you just have got to hear!! Give the song “I Will Not Fail” a listen!! Sass Jordan delivers a purely blues rockin’ album that includes a great version of “One Way Out” by the Allman Brothers and covers of blues favorites “Palace of the King” and “Leaving Trunk”. The UK’s Snowy White recorded with Thin Lizzy and Pink Floyd back in the day and has put out a string of awesome blues rock albums over the years. Give a listen to “One More Traveler” and “Commercial Suicide” from his latest recording to understand why I think it is one of the very best albums of 2020.
Top Forty | Simon Kinny-Lewis | Another Day in San Jose | Australia |
Top Forty | Seasick Steve | Love & Peace | UK |
Top Forty | Hurricane Ruth | Good Life | USA |
Top Forty | Dave Fields | Force of Will | USA |
Top Forty | King King | Maverick | UK |
Top Forty | Sass Jordan | Rebel Moon Blues | Canada |
Top Forty | Billy Walton Band | Dark Hour | USA |
Top Forty | Snowy White and the White Flames | Something on Me | UK |
Top Forty | Rae Gordon Band | Wrong Kind of Love | USA |
Top Forty | Robert Jon & The Wreck | Last Light on the Highway | USA |

Top Thirty Blues Rock Albums (selections 21 to 30)
Our next grouping of artists includes Casey James who is a talented Texan with a Hollywood smile, a great voice, and plays a badass guitar. One testament to his talent is that Roadhouse Hall of Famer Delbert McClinton recorded the song “Bulletproof” with him on the new album. The Allman Betts Band featuring the sons of the Allman Brothers Band released their sophomore album this past summer. Give “Pale Horse Rider” and “Savannah’s Dream” a spin to understand why I believe they will be one of the great touring bands of this decade. I love the depth of sound of big bands and the seven piece ensemble that backs Thorbjorn Risager as the Black Tornado are world class. Thorbjorn’s voice has driven a number of listeners to my Blues Music Fan Radio shows to jump on chat and ask me “who is THAT singing?”. Give the title cut and “Last Train” a listen…you will understand why. Another fabulous voice of the blues is Canadian Crystal Shawanda who belts out “Evil Memory” and “Move Me” on the new recording. Dudley Taft has done well enough in the music biz over the years to purchase Peter Frampton’s studio in Ohio and record some stellar albums there. Give the title cut of Croatia’s Be Sharp Band recording and you’ll understand why I am so high on this European group. One of my picks for breakout group of 2020 has to be the Avey Grouws Band out of Iowa. They have been nominated for a Grammy and their future is very bright!
Top Thirty | Casey James | If You Don’t Know By Now | USA |
Top Thirty | The Allman Betts Band | Bless Your Heart | USA |
Top Thirty | Thorbjorn Risager and The Black Tornado | Come On In | Denmark |
Top Thirty | Dudley Taft | Cosmic Radio | USA |
Top Thirty | Alastair Greene | The New World Blues | USA |
Top Thirty | Crystal Shawanda | Church House Blues | Canada |
Top Thirty | Marcus King | Eldorado | USA |
Top Thirty | Avey Grouws Band | The Devil May Care | USA |
Top Thirty | The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood | Blue Sky | USA |
Top Thirty | Be Sharp Band | Ashes | Croatia |

Top Twenty Blues Rock Albums (Selections 11 to 20)
This selection of albums includes new recordings by perennial favorites Joe Bonamassa, Tinsley Ellis, Joe Louis Walker, Sonny Landreth, and Joanne Shaw Taylor. All of them are super stars of the blues in general and blues rock in particular. And any of their albums would make great stocking stuffers for Christmas! The selection also includes some interesting newer artists. Eliza Neals, from Detroit, can dang sure belt out a tune with feeling. Andy Watts hails from Israel and gets contributions from Eliza Neals, Joe Louis Walker, and a gravely voiced singer by the name of Roy Young on the Supergroove recording. Hailing from New York City, you need to give the fierce vocals and gritty realism of Bette Smith’s lyrics a listen on “Fistful of Dollars”, “I’m A Sinner”, and “Don’t Skip Out on Me”. Another New Yorker on the list, from Long Island, is Kerry Kearney. His new album includes some stellar cover tunes (“Lawdy Mama”, “Mean Old Frisco”) as well as several badass originals including “Voodoo Down the River”. And last but nevah least is the new recording from Jeff Fetterman. Give “49/61” and his incredible cover of “All Along The Watchtower” a spin to understand why I love his talent.
Top Twenty | Andy Watts | SuperGroove | Israel |
Top Twenty | Joe Bonamassa | Royal Tea | USA |
Top Twenty | Tinsley Ellis | Ice Cream In Hell | USA |
Top Twenty | Bette Smith | The Good, the Bad and the Bette | USA |
Top Twenty | Joe Louis Walker | Blues Comin’ On | USA |
Top Twenty | Sonny Landreth | Blacktop Run | USA |
Top Twenty | Jeff Fetterman | Southern Son | USA |
Top Twenty | Joanne Shaw Taylor | Reckless Blues | USA |
Top Twenty | Eliza Neals | Black Crow Moan | USA |
Top Twenty | Kerry Kearney | Tales from the Psychedelta | USA |

THE BEN VEE ROADHOUSE TOP TEN BEST BLUES ROCK ALBUMS OF 2020
#10 – Albert Cummings – Believe

Albert Cummings first started recording in the late 1990’s and his stellar guitar playing earned him instant notice. Over the last 20 years, he has released six studio albums prior to this one. Given that he has a day job as a custom home builder, he has not toured as extensively as many of the others on this list. But that hasn’t stopped him from developing a loyal following including one Ben Vee! Give “Call Me Crazy”, “Me and My Guitar”, or his cover of “Hold On” and “My Babe” a spin to get a good feel for his talent.
#9 – Too Slim and the Taildraggers – The Remedy

If ya just want to listen to power trio blues rock to chase the black clouds in your mind away, there is no better remedy than Too Slim and The Taildraggers. Tim “Too Slim” Langford has a distinctive gravely voice and cranks out sonic pyrotechnics that are a meld of Robin Trower and ZZ Top. Give “Devil’s Hostage”, “She Got the Remedy”, and “Reckless” a listen to understand my amazement at the number of people that don’t know who this group is though they have released over TWENTY albums since the mid 1980’s.
#8 – Larkin Poe – Self Made Man
This talented sister duo has taken the world by storm over the last several years and are probably the best selling artists on this year’s list. Their music is highly accessible as evidenced by their crossover appeal to blues, rock, country, and gospel audiences. During the pandemic, I have tuned into several of their live performances on Facebook and it is incredible to watch them just wing their way through their songs while chatting, laughing, and having a generally fine time from a small room. Give a listen to “Every Bird That Flies”, “Holy Ghost Fire”, and “Danger Angel” to understand what all the commotion is about. I can’t imagine you going wrong giving this album as a gift to anyone on your shopping list!
#7 – Savoy Brown – Ain’t Done Yet

The music of Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown helped coin the phrase “blues rock” back in the late 1960’s. Over 50 years later, Kim is still producing amazing songs! The title cut is definitive blues rock, “Jaguar Car” will get ya moving in your computer chair, and “Rocking In Louisiana” is a tribute to the music and people of my home state. Every tune on this recording rocks the blues….enough said.
#6 – Anthony Gomes – Containment Blues

A Canadian blues rocker with a distinctive voice and incredible guitar talents, Anthony Gomes released his first album in the late 1990’s. Over the ensuing years, he has released eight more studio albums and garnered a very loyal following. He has the swagger of a rock star and the persona to match. While he can crank it out with the best of them, he also writes beautiful blues rock ballads like ” Until the End of Time” that is included on the latest release. My bet is if ya love blues rock, you will love “Hell and Half of Georgia”, “Make a Good Man (Wanna Be Bad), and “Tell Somebody”. And kudos to Anthony for having the courage to record “Stop Calling Women Hoes and Bitches”….I’ve had enough of the use of these hateful terms in “pop culture”…how about you?
#5 – Eric Johanson – Below Sea Level
In 2017, Eric Johanson released his debut album BURN IT DOWN on Tab Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou and spent the next two years touring with and opening for Tab. I spun it all the time during my internet radio shows. In early 2019, he made a duet recording with Tiffany Pollack entitled BLUES IN MY BLOOD. I spun it all the time again. Now in 2020, he has released BELOW SEA LEVEL and guess what? I spin it all the time!! Eric, who lives in New Orleans, does a great job of melding the blues with rock in a style that is distinctively his own. On the latest release he expands the limits of the blues with tunes like “Buried Above Ground”, “Down to the Bottom”, and “River of Oblivion”. Ya gotta listen!! Eric is a blues rock star in the making!
#4 – Mike Zito – Quarantine Blues
Some people have the talent and inspiration to make the best of any situation. Mike Zito is one of those people. A gifted singer, songwriter, guitar player, producer, and now record company owner, Mike exudes confidence with a proverbial twinkle in his eye. Another artist that I have watched on Facebook several times during the pandemic (and made my first Venmo contribution to on my phone), Mike is as relaxed playing in his home studio as he is before large audiences. I first got turned on to Mike with the release of Pear River in 2009 and he just keeps gettin’ bettah and bettah. Give “After the Storm”, “Dark Raven”, and “Don’t Let the World Get You Down” for a tiny glimpse of his talent. Oh..and by the way…the title cut is my defining song of the 2020 pandemic.
#3 – Wily Bo Walker/Dennis Flam – Ain’t No Man a Good Man
I’ve been a big Wily Bo Walker fan since I first became aware of him in 2015 and his latest collaboration with Dennis Flam is a jewel of a recording. This British artist channels Dr. John as he weaves music and storytelling into a magical series of songs. The title cut and associated “return” tune “Build My Gallows” are absolutely incredible. So much so that they got stuck in my head for days on end. “Ain’t Hungry No More”, “Fool For You”, “Walking with the Devil”, and “Night of the Hunter” should give you a good feel for his style and talent. Additionally, he does a great cover of “St. James Infirmary Blues” as well as a tune called “Did I Forget” that would fit perfectly during a set at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. If you have friends that enjoy Night Tripper style blues, this album will make a great stocking stuffer for them.
#2 – Dion – Blues With Friends
Dion started out as a teenage rock and roller back in the early 1960’s. Now in his eighties and still a fantastic artist, a literal who’s who of the music world have gotten together to pay homage to this giant of American music on the Blues With Friends recording. Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Sonny Landreth, Paul Simon, Rory Block, Stevie Van Zandt, Samantha Fish, Joe Louis Walker, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, and John Hammond all make contributions. This recording is not only a great blues rock album, it will almost certainly be in contention for the prestigious 2020 Blues album of the year award at next year’s Blue Music Foundation ceremonies in Memphis.
My favorite cuts are “Blues Comin’ On” with Joe Bonamassa, “I Got Nothin'” with Van Morrison and Joe Louis Walker, “Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)” with Stevie Van Zandt, and the contemporary gospel song “Hymn to Him” with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa.
You can’t go wrong giving this album as a Christmas present to anyone you know that loves music. On an interesting side note, this is also the first label release for Joe Bonamassa’s new recording company, Keep The Blues Alive (KTBA)….quite an impressive start!
#1 – Walter Trout – Ordinary Madness
At the age of 69, Walter Trout has released possibly the greatest album of his long and storied career, Ordinary Madness. He started out in the late 1960’s playing bars and juke joints in his home state of New Jersey alongside other bands including one that featured another blossoming talent, Bruce Springsteen. By the time the eighties rolled around, his guitar playing and love of the blues had landed him gigs with John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat and drawn the attention of John Mayall. In 1984, he became another of the legendary guitarists (e.g. Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor) to play in the Bluesbreakers.
In 1989, he started his own band and became an overnight sensation in Europe. He played and released albums there for almost ten years before his United States solo debut in 1998. And during the past decade he has released eight of what I consider to be the finest albums of the blues rock genre including one, Luther’s Blues, that paid homage to the great Luther Allison.
Walter’s blues are often described as hard core, a term that reflects as much how he lived his life as the music he played. Renowned for his live performances, the constant touring lead to bouts with alcoholism that culminated in liver failure in 2014. He was able to receive a life saving transplant that year and returned to performing in 2015 with an album, Battle Scars, that chronicled his desperation and fears while awaiting a suitable matching liver.
Ordinary Madness is an unapologetic blues rock recording with songs that address his observations on life and time (“Final Curtain Call”, “The Sun Is Going Down”, “Ordinary Madness”) and thoughts on love and relationships (“All Out of Tears”, “Heaven in Your Eyes”, “My Foolish Pride”). My favorite three songs on the album are “Up Above My Sky”, “Make It Right”, and the simply incredible “Wanna Dance” which is likely to be my favorite single for 2020 when I publish my Roadhouse 66 list of the best songs of the year.
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All in all, it was an incredible year for fans of the blues rock genre. I hope you enjoyed reviewing the list and PLEASE download one or more of these albums to help the artists that you enjoy listening to.
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.
Best of the Blues 2019 – The Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues 66
The year 2019 was a banner year for the roadhouse blues across the world. From Australia to Copenhagen and along all points in between, both debut artists and well established performers released a stunning number of new recordings. Every month my in box and my mail box were full of some fabulous blues recordings which makes picking the Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues 66 this year much more daunting.
This year’s list includes classic blues, roots oriented blues, R&B, soul, contemporary blues and blues rock artists with songs that span the genre from “almost the blues” tunes to the stellar classic blues sound of Mary Lane. Given that many of us have some extra time on our hands due to the ongoing global pandemic, I hope you enjoy downloading and listening to every one of these songs.
The position of the songs on the list is of little consequence…you might list them in a different order and get no argument from me. Whether it is song #23 by Samantha Fish or number 66 by the Coyote Kings, all of these tunes made my playlists for my roadhouse blues shows at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com, got mentioned on my Ben Vee Facebook page or Twitter account, and/or got written about on this website at http://www.benveeblues.com during 2019. All 66 are representative of the energy and vitality that permeates the modern contemporary blues….by and large they are upbeat…sometimes loud…and truly international.
The Top Ten (in no particular order other than #1)
#1 Mary Lane – Blues Give Me a Feeling (2019 Travelin’ Woman)

Mary Lane, from Chicago, recorded the Roadhouse Blues 66 number one tune of 2019 at the age of 83!! How cool is that! She is one of the last living legendary singers of the blues to have been part of the great migration from the American Deep South to Chicago in the 1940’s. Just a fabulous tune!
Big Daddy Wilson – Crazy World (2019 Deep In My Soul)
An expat from the United States who has lived in Germany for years, Big Daddy aces an sumptuous slow soul ballad.
Altered Five Blues Band – Mischief Man (2019 Ten Thousand Watts)
Led by the deep blues voice of Jeff Taylor, this group out of Wisconsin once again makes one of my top performer annual blues lists.
Keb’ Mo’ – Cold Outside (2019 Oklahoma)
I played this song over and over when it came out on the album this past summer. You can nevah get enough of Keb’ Mo’!
Christone Kingfish Ingram – Fresh Out (2019 Kingfish)

A 20 year old with a debut album that features a cut with Buddy Guy as well as another with Keb’ Mo’. Life is good for this very talented young man.
Jontavious Willis – Low Down Ways (2019 Spectacular Class)
Another young blues artist that attracted the attention of Taj Mahal as well as Keb’ Mo’, Jontavious has stardom written all over him. It will be interesting to see how he evolves as a blues artist as the years roll by.
Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson – Blues In My Blood (2019 Blues In My Blood)
This blues duo hails from my hometown of New Orleans. Tiffany has a haunting voice that is framed by a strong beat and memorable guitar licks by Eric on this song.
Beth Hart – Bad Woman Blues (2019 War In My Mind)

Beth just has a great time with this tune and shows off the chops that have made her a fan favorite amongst blues rockers.
Brandon Santini – Drive You Off My Mind (2019 The Longshot)
This long time resident of Memphis had a great year in 2019. He was my 2019 Roadhouse Bluesman of the Year for both this album and one he did with Tennessee Redemption. A great voice and world class harmonica player; what’s not to like!
Allman Betts Band – Shinin’ (2019 Down to the River)
The sons of the Allman Brothers pick up where their dads left off! Not much else to be said but get yer tickets when they get close by!!
As you look through the rest of the list and hopefully listen to many, if not all, of the tunes, I hope you get an appreciation for what I term as the roadhouse blues. From its roots in the deep American south, the blues has grown and expanded to become a worldwide phenomenon. (And if someone you know states “the blues is dead” just show them this list and ask them how so?!) I am proud to be one of the DJs and influencers helping get the word out about just how great this music is!!!
Artist | Song Title | Album | |
1 | Mary Lane | Blues Give Me A Feeling | Travelin’ Woman |
2 | Big Daddy Wilson | Crazy World | Deep In My Soul |
3 | Altered Five Blues Band | Mischief Man | Ten Thousand Watts |
4 | Keb’ Mo’ | Cold Outside | Oklahoma |
5 | Christone “Kingfish” Ingram | Fresh Out (ft Buddy Guy) | Kingfish |
6 | Jontavious Willis | Low Down Ways | Spectacular Class |
7 | Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson | Blues In My Blood | Blues In My Blood |
8 | Beth Hart | Bad Woman Blues | War in my Mind |
9 | Brandon Santini | Drive You Off My Mind | The Longshot |
10 | The Allman Betts Band | Shinin’ | Down to the River |
11 | Amnesia Blues Band | Fast Johnny Cool | Hailstorm |
12 | HeavyDrunk | If I Love You Hard Enough | Holywater |
13 | Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers | Who’s Gonna Save My Soul | No Good Deed |
14 | Walter Trout | Me My Guitar and the Blues | Survivor Blues |
15 | Coco Montoya | Lights On But Nobody’s Home | Coming In Hot |
16 | Ghost Town Blues Band | Shine | Shine |
17 | Chris O’Leary | 7 Minutes | 7 Minutes |
18 | Tedeschi Trucks Band | They Don’t Shine | Signs |
19 | Van Morrison | Three Chords and the Truth | Three Chords and the Truth |
20 | Terry Hanck | Howlin’ For My Darlin’ | I Still Get Excited |
21 | Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Woman Like You | The Traveler |
22 | Zack Walther Band | Bad Girl | The Westerner |
23 | Samantha Fish | Dirty | Kill or Be Kind |
24 | Giles Robson | Don’t Give Up on the Blues | Don’t Give Up on the Blues |
25 | Lucky Peterson | Pack It Up | 50: Just Warming Up! |
26 | Heather Newman | I’m Coming For You | Rise from the Flames |
27 | Left Lane Cruiser | Smooth Commander | Shake and Bake |
28 | Delbert McClinton | A Fool Like Me | Tall, Dark, and Handsome |
29 | Miss Bix and the Blues Fix | Follow Me Down | We Don’t Own the Blues |
30 | Ash Grunwald | Ain’t My Problem (ft The Teskey Brothers) | Mojo |
31 | The Texas Horns | I’m Doin’ Alright (ft. Carolyn Wonderland) | Get Here Quick |
32 | The Mike Duke Project | I’m Not Sad Tonight | ….Took a Whlle |
33 | Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters | Baby How Long | Beyond the Blue Door |
34 | Travelin’ Blue Kings | Ninety Minutes | Wired Up |
35 | Al Basile | So Called Story Teller | B’s Hothouse |
36 | Ida Bang & the Blue Tears | Shelter Me | Good to Me |
37 | Arsen Shomakhov | Women and Whiskey | Rainy City Blues |
38 | Elles Bailey | Help Somebody | Road I Call Home |
39 | The Teskey Brothers | So Caught Up | Run Home Slow |
40 | Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene | Down Down | City of Love |
41 | Tad Robinson | Real Street | Real Street |
42 | Sugaray Rayford | The Revelator | Somebody Save Me |
43 | Southern Avenue | Whiskey Love | Keep On |
44 | Honey Hounds | Shine On | The Flame |
45 | Zac Harmon | Gypsy Road | Mississippi BarBQ |
46 | Annika Chambers | I Feel the Same (ft Paul DesLauriers) | Kiss My Sass |
47 | Tennessee Redemption | Back To Tennessee | Tennessee Redemption |
48 | Ivy Ford | Start a Fight | Harvesting My Roots |
49 | Wentus Blues Band w/ Duke Robillard | 2:19 | Too Much Mustard |
50 | Rockin’ Johnny & QuiQue Gomez | Everybody Loves My Baby | Dos Hombres Wanted |
51 | Albert Castiglia | Heavy | Masterpiece |
52 | Seth Rosenbloom | Broke And Lonely | Keep On Turning |
53 | Arlen Roth | I Can Fix It (ft Jack Pearson) | Tele Masters |
54 | Eliza Neals | Pawn Shop Blues (Roadhouse) | Sweet Or Mean |
55 | The Kokomo Kings | Heatwave | Fighting Fire with Gasoline |
56 | Robin Trower | Coming Closer to the Day | Coming Closer to the Day |
57 | Blue Moon Marquee | As I Lay Dying | Bare Knuckes & Brawn |
58 | Peter Ward | Train to Key Biscayne | Train to Key Biscayne |
59 | Duke Robillard | Don’t Bother Trying To Steal Her Love | Ear Worms |
60 | Harpdog Brown | Thinkin’ and Drinkin’ | For Love & Money |
61 | Brother Yusef | I’m a Bluesman | Jook Joint Jam |
62 | Manx Mariner Manline | Rattlesnake | Hell Bound for Heaven |
63 | Josh Newcom | Girl Got the Mojo | The Blues Gonna Getcha |
64 | Savoy Brown | Conjure Rhythm | City Night |
65 | Big Wolf Band | Be Free | Be Free |
66 | Coyote Kings | Drive Me | Rocket |
Ben Vee is an internet DJ and writer from New Orleans that now lives in Connecticut with his wife Annette. He started spinning records back in the 1970’s and has been writing about the roadhouse blues since 2011. He does two roadhouse blues shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and he writes about the blues when the urge strikes on http://www.benveeblues.com.
Best of the Blues 2019 – Five Best Roadhouse Blues Debut Albums of the Year
During the course of 2019, I was thrilled at the number of new artists that released debut albums. It bodes well for the future of the roadhouse blues in the next decade. My selections for the five best debut roadhouse blues artists of 2019 are (in alphabetical order) Christone “Kingfinsh” Ingram, Tennessee Redemption, The Allman Betts Band, The Weary Times, and Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Kingfish ( 2019 Alligator Records)

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram hails from the heart of the delta blues in Clarkesdale Mississippi. This rising blues prodigy is only twenty and has already captured the attention of blues lovers with the release of his debut album KINGFISH. Released on the prestigious blues label, Alligator Records, the album shot to the top of the blues charts this past May and has garnered him attention around the blues world.
He started out playing and singing gospel in church and by the time he was fifteen performed at the White House for Michelle Obama as part the Clarksdale Delta Museum Band. In 2017, he was a guest artist on Eric Gales’ Middle of the Road album. Eventually he caught the attention of the living blues legend Buddy Guy, blues maestro Keb’ Mo’, and Grammy award winning artist and producer Tom Hambridge. With the touch of a master, Tom brings out the best in Christone on the debut album.
KINGFISH is a traditional blues album chocked full of great tunes. Fresh Out features the mastery of Buddy Guy, Hard Times is some fine delta acoustic blues, and Listen is a great duet with Keb’ Mo’. Few debut albums feature such a strong cast of world class supporting artists. It is a tribute to Christone’s talent and a beacon pointing to a very bright future.
Tennessee Redemption – Tennessee Redemption (2019 Endless Blues Records)

Brandon Santini, my 2019 Roadhouse Bluesman of the Year, received the award in part for the release of this self titled album TENNESSEE REDEMPTION. After years of honing their craft on Beale Street in Memphis (sometimes together sometimes apart), Brandon (lead vocals, harmonica) teamed with long time friend Jeff Jensen (lead vocals, guitar) and incorporated Timo Arthur (guitar, bass), Bill Ruffino (bass, vocals), and David Green (drums, vocals) to form this solid and tight band.
The album includes eight original songs plus a cover of the Tom Waits tune, Come On Up to the House and a great rendition of Little Walter’s Watch Yourself. Back To Tennessee is a fabulous jam tune steeped in the southern sound that emanated out of Macon Georgia back in the 1970’s and features some great guitar playing by Jeff and Timo. Glad To Be recounts Brandon and Jeff’s time playing on Beale Street and collecting dreams that have been realized with release of this recording. Given my love for the beaches, people, food, and tequila found in the small towns of our southern neighbor, it should be no surprise that I also enjoyed I’m Going To Mexico. See About Me, Souls In the Water, and the funky We Got A Thing Going On are also highly recommended.
Tennessee Redemption is an ideal example of the roadhouse blues with its roots in the blues but also reflecting the influences of gospel, southern rock, classic R&B, and soul. I look forward to seeing how they develop and mature their sound as the years go by.
The Allman Betts Band – Down to the River (2019 BMG Rights Management LLC)

Few groups in recent years have debuted an album to such popular and critical acclaim as THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND. The core of the band is three sons of the Allman Brothers Band (ABB): Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and Barry Oakley Jr.. Additionally Johnny Stachela provides some stellar slide guitar playing along with one of my favorite Hammond B3 organ players, John Ginty. The band also features percussionist R. Scott Bryan and drummer John Lum. And as if that wasn’t enough, former ABB keyboard player Chuck Leavall (currently with The Rolling Stones) and the Hammond B3 player for the Greg Allman Band, Peter Levin, make guest appearances on the recording.
Down to the River was recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama and features nine songs. My favorite on the album is a tune steeped in the legacy of ABB, Shinin’. All Night is a great showcase for Devon’s vocal talent and Melodies Are Memories is reminiscent of The Band and the Grateful Dead at their best and features Duane on vocals. Long Gone is a terrific ballad and the title cut, Down To The River, is some sweet easy classic R&B. Autumn Breeze is a song I can’t wait to see them jam to in concert. And Good Ol’ Days is a beautiful reminder that we need to embrace and live the “good ol’ days” now.
Since the album was released last summer, the Allman Betts Band has been on an ambitious tour of the United States and Europe. It is my understanding that the crowds have been huge and the audience response phenomenal. They are definitely on my bucket list of groups to see in 2020.
The Weary Times – The Weary Times (2019 Way Down Records)

THE WEARY TIMES, a band out of Boise Idaho, first caught my ear this past summer with Why Are You So Lonely. It’s a sad song that captures the feel of early sixties doo wap enhanced by the gravely voice of Ryan Curtis and the sparse and delightful guitar playing of Mike Simon. The tune, Piece of Mind, also grabbed me with the keyboard playing of Mike Swain and is a throwback to the very best that Eric Burdon & the Animals kicked out back in the day. Nick Archibald on bass and Ben Wieland on drums complete this creative quintet of musicians that proudly claim the blues and early rock’n’roll as the basis for their sound.
Nostalgic blues rock is the best way that I can describe The Weary Times debut album overall. Mixing in reverb and fuzz to give several songs an energetic garage band feel just adds icing to the cake. Ain’t Done Drinking and Anymore rock the blues, Best For You is another Eric Burdon & the Animals style tune, I Don’t Know Why and Hard Times are great sixties psychedelia, and Give And Take is a slow insightful song about aging after a hard lived youth.
I listened to literally hundreds of new albums during 2019 and very few were as unique and imaginative as an overall recording as this one. They have captured the essence of the early and mid 1960’s music sound (which was always based on the blues) and reintroduced it, after a fifty year lapse, with contemporary themes. It is music nostalgia for modern times.
After playing small clubs and venues across the Pacific Northwest the past couple of years, the Weary Times have earned the opportunity with this debut recording to expand their fan base and turn the rest of the roadhouse blues world on to their music. I just hope they are ready for the wild ride!!
Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson – Blues In My Blood (2019 NOLA Blue Records)

The best debut album by a duet couple since Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart back in 2011, Blues In My Blood is a solid recording by New Orleans based Tiffany Pollack and Eric Johanson. Tiffany comes to the blues from her roots in jazz music and Eric is an up and coming bluesman who has caught the attention of non other than Tab Benoit!
They combined their writing talents to pen seven of the 11 songs on the recording. My absolute favorite is the title cut, Blues in My Blood. It starts with a gospel inspired delta feel and then builds in intensity with some great guitar work by Eric and a powerful vocal delivery by Tiffany. Another favorite is Diamonds on the Crown with great harmonies and thoughtful social commentary. Eric has a voice similar to another great blues man from Louisiana, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and his guitar style is stellar on the song. Tiffany takes on the Nina Simone classic Do I Move You? and aces it with a sultry jazzy performance. Eric takes the vocal lead on Get Lost With Me, a blues ballad, and again wowed me with his guitar.
I also enjoyed the roots blues tune Memories to Forget as well as a knockout performance by Tiffany of the Joni Mitchell song, River, which I consider a great Christmas time tune. I played it several times during my DJ sets this past season and the response was tremendous!
Musicians that contributed their talents to the recording include Brentt Arcement (drums), Phil Wang (bass), John Gros (keyboards), producer Jack Miele (bass, bass guitar, and percussions), Sean Carey (backing vocals) and a guest appearance by the great Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone as well as the 504 Horns.
My only disappointment is that I have seen no evidence since the release of the album last spring that they have toured to support the recording. Both have returned to their solo careers. Tiffany & Co are playing jazz venues in New Orleans and Eric is touring with Tab Benoit who produced his 2017 highly acclaimed album, Burn It Down. I hear that Tab is playing drums for Eric during his part of the show; I’d pay to see that!!
My hope is that, as Joe and Beth have done, they will get back together from time to time and lay down some more tracks…..they both have blues in their blood!
Ben Vee is an internet DJ and writer from New Orleans that now lives in Connecticut with his wife Annette. He started spinning records back in the 1970’s and has been writing about the roadhouse blues since 2011. He does two roadhouse blues shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and he writes about the blues when the urge strikes on http://www.benveeblues.com.
Best of the Blues 2019 – Soul Blues Albums of the Year
This year’s Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues best soul blues albums feature artists based in Europe, Indianapolis, Houston, Memphis, and Tyler, Texas. They all share a love for a genre that has bested the years and continues to thrive today! Great voices combined with both funky and sensual beats are the hallmark of soul blues and all five of these artists are doin’ a fine job of carrying on the soul blues tradition. The artists are listed in no particular order….I hope you download and enjoy all five! (Links to Spotify for the albums are shown in blue.)
Big Daddy Wilson – Deep in My Soul (2019 Ruff Records)
Born Wilson Blount in Edelston North Carolina, Big Daddy Wilson has been living in Germany since he left the armed forces 25 years ago. He started his recording career in the 1990’s and has over a dozen album releases to his credit. For DEEP IN MY SOUL, he teamed with renown producer Jim Gaines and recorded the album at the soul and R&B Mecca of Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama. Jim’s hallmark as a producer is the search for groove and raw energy. He found them years ago with Huey Lewis & the News, and with Big Daddy Wilson, he once again has the real deal.

My favorite cuts are Voodoo with its sultry beat and Crazy World, a slow soul ballad that showcases Big Daddy’s terrific voice and is easily one of my favorite tunes of the year. During February 2020, he will be touring Switzerland and Germany supporting the new release. Checkout his website at http://www.bigdaddywilson.com and if he gets close to you in Europe, go see him and drop us a line letting us know what you thought.
Annika Chambers – Kiss My Sass (2019 Vizztone)
I first met Annika Chambers at in impromptu appearance at a small club in Houston several years ago. Her personality and voice lit up the stage and I had the chance to talk with her afterwards. She didn’t have a record deal at the time but I encouraged her to keep hustling and payin’ her dues. And that she did.

In 2014, her first album, Making My Mark, was released to critical reviews. And her second, Wild and Free, debuted at number seven on the Billboard Blues Charts and eventually earned her the prestigious Blues Music Award as female soul blues singer of year in May of 2019.
Now with the release of her third album, KISS MY SASS, Annika has solidified her place as one of the stars of the genre. The album was produced by Larry Fulcher, Richard Cagle, and Tony Braunagel. My favorite cut on the album is a cover of a Chris Smither tune I FEEL THE SAME that Bonnie Raitt also recorded. It is a duet with Canadian Paul DesLauriers that is just fantastic. I also really enjoyed Two Bit Texas Town and World of Hurt.
Annika will be out touring in Florida in early February 2020. Visit her website at http://www.annikachambers.com and go see her!!
Southern Avenue – Keep On (2019 Concord Records)
For their sophomore release, this energetic group based out of Memphis continues to build on their southern soul roots with KEEP ON. Led by the powerhouse voice of Tierinii Jackson, the group recorded the twelve song album at the Sam Phillips Studios in Memphis with the help of producer Johnny Black. The result is one of the great albums of 2019.

The guitar playing for the group is handled in dazzling style by Ori Naftaly who hails from Israel and has been a favorite of mine since I first heard him several years ago as a solo performer. Drums are played by Tierinii’s sister, Tikyra Jackson, and the keyboard player is Jeremy Powell. Guest bass player for most of the cuts on the album is Gage Markey. There is also a horn section compromised of Art Edmaiston and Marc Franklin. Together, they all meld to produce a distinctive sound that is a delightful mix of southern soul, funk, R&B, and contemporary blues. I encourage you to give a listen to We Got the Music, Whiskey Love, and the sensual Savoir to get a feel for just how good this group is.
Southern Avenue has an ambitious set of concert dates in the United States in February and March 2020 and then embarks on another tour of Europe in the spring.
And I am not the only one taking notice of this group. They were nominated for a 2020 Grammy Music Award and are a nominee for the 2020 Blues Music Awards held in Memphis each May.
Sugaray Rayford – Somebody Save Me (2019 Forty Below Records)
Sugaray Rayford is the epitome of the soul blues man; a big barreled voice full of emotion and, man, can he groove!! The album, Somebody Save Me, has 10 original tunes written by the record producer, Eric Corne. Together, this tandem has produced one the best albums of 2019.

Sugaray was nominated for the BB King Entertainer of the Year award this past year and the first cut on the album, The Revelator, helps explain why. Opening with a driving beat on drums and bass, he sets the vocal groove which is framed by some soulful backing singers and a badass trumpet solo. This is a song I want to see him perform…hopefully someday soon.
I also enjoyed Angels and Devils and Dark Night of the Soul. I absolutely loved Sometimes You Get the Bear (and Sometimes the Bear Gets You) with its down the bayou feel.
Sugaray Rayford is an imposing figure standing 6’5″. He dominates the music and stage with his persona and voice. Over the years, he has made some great records with the Mannish Boys but this is by far his best recording to date. In March 2020, he will do a concert swing along the west coast in California and then Washington. Go check out a soul man at the top of his groove!
Tad Robinson – Real Street (2019 Severn Records)
Tad Robinson got his start back in the 1980’s in the blues clubs of Chicago. That itself is no easy thing given the plethora of talent in the Windy City. He is an eight time Blues Music Award Nominee and REAL STREET has garnered him yet more attention in the past year. With a baritone voice and talent on the harmonica, Tad recorded the album in Memphis, another fitting city for his soul blues style. The producer for the recording is Scott Bomar.

The title cut, Real Street, is one of my favorites on the album. It’s upbeat and rhythmic and plays to the strength of his voice as well as highlighting the talents of the legendary Hi Rhythm Section (Howard Grimes, Charles Hodges and Leroy Hodges) who contributed their talents to the record.
I loved Tad’s imaginative reworking of You Got It, a song originally performed by Roy Orbison and penned by him, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. It is the perfect platform for Tad’s soul blues voice. It also features the tasteful Hammond B3 organ playing of Charles Hodges.
Long Way Home is another favorite of mine. It’s funky beat is set by drummer Howard Grimes and bass player Leroy Hodges. I also enjoyed Love In the Neighborhood which features some nice guitar licks by Joe Restivo.
Tad will be performing in his adopted home of Indianapolis during February and March of 2020. I hope you get a chance to catch this star of the soul blues!
Ben Vee is an internet DJ and writer from New Orleans that now lives in Connecticut with his wife Annette. He started spinning records back in the 1970’s and has been writing about the roadhouse blues since 2011. He does two roadhouse blues shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and he writes about the blues when the urge strikes on http://www.benveeblues.com.