Join me for my annual Roadhouse Mardi Gras show on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com from 12-2 pm EST! I am from New Orleans and love to share what I call the “Down the Bayou” blues of artists not only from Louisiana but around the world. I will have tunes by Tab Benoit, Marcia Ball, Long Tall Deb, Jersey Swamp Cats, Kjell Gustavsson Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and many more.
Join me today for my Roadhouse Blues Nooner from 12 to 2 pm EST at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. Got tunes by Link Wray, Vidar Busk & His True Believers, C.W. Stoneking, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bulldoze Blues Band, Mia Dyson, Steve Earle & the Dukes, and plenty more!
Government restrictions on the right to assemble during the ongoing pandemic have destroyed the livelihoods of many local musicians and performing artists. And the rationale for lockdowns being used by politicians and public health officials bode ill for their long term future.
The current pandemic was initially termed the Wuhan flu before it was deemed politically incorrect. It is a virulent and deadly form of the flu. It is not the first such strain nor will it be the last. Every year, the flu strikes millions of people. It is particularly deadly to the elderly and those with other serious underlying medical problems. AND it mutates as it goes so that in any given year there can be new strains to address. And this strain is really bad news.
But we know this….if you are over 70 or have a serious medical issue…take EVERY rational precaution. If you are over 50, wear a mask and wash your damn hands when you are out and about. But if you are under 50 and have no serious medical condition, you should have the CHOICE to take the RISK and get on living your life. Restricting the rights of people under 50 to go to a restaurant or a concert hall or a local bar is government sticking its nose where it can….but it shouldn’t!!
We ALL live with risk every moment of every day. And destroying the livelihoods of performing artists to mitigate these risks is not going to do anything but lead to more drug use and suicides among this vulnerable group of people. Public Health officials are already stating that it may be 2022 “before they feel the threat to the public is under control”. And I have news for you ….the NEXT STRAIN of flu after COVID-19…and there will be a next strain… will lead to the same rationale for restricting public assembly in the name of safety……..for whom?
At some point, we must, in the music industry, stand up to the hysterical (and politicized) fear mongering. Previous generations have had to battle evils that far outweigh this pandemic. All we have to do is endure the slights of the social media trolls (who tolerate no opinion but their own) and rationally make the case that freedom is about making choices and taking the associated risk. If the reasoning takes hold that MY freedom should be restricted dramatically to lower YOUR risk then democracy will become just a platitude and public health officials will be screaming an alarm on any number of issues. If they can restrict your right to assemble, they can damn sure restrict your ability to eat, drink, smoke, drive, create music, or make comments like I am…all in the name of public health!! Fight for your freedoms…..and help put a lot of performing artists and musicians back to work NOW!
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.
It’s already the end of August….and 2020 can’t get done soon enough for me!! Join us today, August 27th, from 3 to 5 pm EST for the Ben Vee Good Time Roadhouse Blues show on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. Let’s blues the day away…..together!!
The intended playlist is below:
ARTIST
TITLE
ALBUM
Andrew Alli
Chrome-A-Thick
Hard Workin’ Man
Linda Shell
Me & The Band (Me & My Guitar)
Under The Influence
The Lucky Losers
Half a Nothing
Godless Land
Savoy Brown
River On The Rise
Ain’t Done Yet
Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn
Shake Your Money Maker
Elmore’s Blues
Turn On
Wasted Days
The Ghost On The Wall
JD Taylor
By All Means
The Coldwater Sessions
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Born In Louisiana (Live With Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown)
The Legends EP Vol. II
Sonny Landreth
Congo Square
KFOG Live From The Archives 2
Tab Benoit
Fever For The Bayou
Carolyn Wonderland
Swamp
Moon Goes Missing
Honey Island Swamp Band
Head High Water Blues
Demolition Day
Laurence Jones
Soul Swamp River
Smokehouse
Cadillac In the Swamp
Cadillac In the Swamp
Tiffany Pollack & Eric Johanson
Keep It Simple
Blues In My Blood
Wily Bo Walker/Danny Flam
Fool for You (2020 Hindsight)
Ain’t No Man a Good Man (Deluxe)
Johnny & the Mongrels
True Life
Creole Skies
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
How Come You Treat Me So Bad featuring Janiiva Magness
We have the Ben Vee July 9th Good Time Roadhouse Blues for ya from 3-5 pm EST on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. The show features plenty of new contemporary blues such as Cass Clayton, The Hi-Jivers, Gravel & Grace, and Odds Lane as well as some badass “keepers” by Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Keb’ Mo’, and Muddy Waters.
A first class acoustic guitar player with a great voice and a true appreciation for the blues, Rory Block (a six time winner of blues awards from the prestigious Blues Foundation) unearths some gems by early female blues singers and applies her special touch to them. This is the second Power Women of the Blues recordings she has done and it is a great listen.
I enjoyed her new song Eagles as well as He May Be Your Man (Helen Humes), It’s Red Hot (Madlyn Davis), and Wayward Girl Blues (Lottie Kimbrough).
Some badass Chicago blues from singer and harmonica player Kyle Yardley who hails from St. Louis and is now lives in Georgia. Particularly loved Little Girl which features some licks from one of my favorite guitarists, Johnny Burgin, and also loved That Ain’t Right, Savannah Georgia Women, and Country Girl (alternate version).
Evelyn Rubio – Crossing Borders (2020 Productions On Seaspeed LLC)
Evelyn Rubio hails from Mexico City and is now based in Houston. A singer and saxophone player, when she turns up the volume and lets it wail, she is at her finest. Really liked I Made a Mistake, Just Like A Drug, and One More Last Time.
Joshua Batten hails from Australia and at 23 has just released his second recording that features a range of tunes across several genres. I loved the blues rocker Tell Me I am Wrong as well as Silver Dollars and The Fox and The Hound. All three will get airplay during my roadhouse blues shows on Blues Music Fan Radio.
Produced by the great Texas bluesman Anson Funderburgh, Jose Ramirez’s new album features some stellar guitar playing and singing and is full of catchy blues tunes. Jose hails from Costa Rica and is now based in Tampa, Florida. With a Robert Johnson tat on his arm and a distinctive guitar tone, he is more than ready to pay his blues dues. I loved One Woman Man as well as Gasoline and Matches and Stop Teasing Me. Keep an ear out for this guy…..he has a very bright bluzin’ future!
Jan James has been singin’ the blues and payin’ her dues for many years. The new album Justify may finally get her the broad based recognition she is due as one of the contemporary blues’ great female singers. I loved the songs A Different Life, Believe in Me, and I’m Always Coming Back. Her long time partner Craig Calvert plays some mean guitar licks as well on all the songs. Overall, a great blues recording!!
What have YOU been listening to over the past month?? Leave a comment with an album that you have enjoyed….we wants to know!!!
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.
Join me today, May 28th, from 3 to 5 pm ET on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com for some great Good Time Roadhouse blues! I have new tunes by Dion, The Teskey Brothers, Johnny Burgin, Jeff Fetterman, Kat Riggins, Seasick Steve and plenty of contemporary blues!
You can find the intended playlist below……hope ya download and buy a couple during the show!
Starting today’s Roadhouse Blues Nooner at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com with a string of fabulous female blues artists including new tunes by the Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion and Eliza Neals that you just have to hear! And I will finish it with new songs by the Rolling Stones, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Fetterman, and another blues rock group out of West Virginia, Three’s Company Blues, that you just don’t want to miss! So grab your favorite beverage and click the link. Cya from 12 to 2 pm EST!
Below is the intended playlist:
ARTIST
TITLE
Arsen Shomakhov
Three Arrows
Katie Kadan
Hey Yo
Lucinda Williams
Happy Woman Blues
Kristin Diable
Black Plague & Dynamite
Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion
When the Blues Come A Knocking
Eliza Neals/Derek st. Holmes
Never Stray
Mojo Hands
High Blood Pressure
Michael Grimm
Hold On I’m Comin’ (feat. Bill Medley)
Vegas Strip Kings
Hold On
Terry Hanck
Here It Comes
Tony Holiday
It’s Gonna Take Some Time
Travellin’ Brothers
I Believe
Jimmie Vaughan
Hey-Yeah
Sonny Landreth
Hell At Home (with Eric Clapton) [2016 Remastered]
Have some great tunes lined up for you for today’s Good Time Roadhouse blues show on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. Will be playing a beautiful duet by Gregg Allman and Mindi Abair that they recorded in 2014 as well as songs by Danielle Nicole, The Nighthawks, Rynhrd Boegel, Jim Allchin with Keb’ Mo’, Pinkie Rideau, and many more. Grab your favorite beverage and/or smoke and join us at from 3 to 5 pm EST.
Kind of an eclectic set of the roadhouse blues today with contemporary blues, roots blues, some soul, and a bit of blues rock. A number of tunes are by artists that won awards at Sunday night’s Blues Foundation award ceremonies for 2019.
Hope ya have a chance to tune in from 12 to 2 pm EST today on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. And since most of us are at home, freshen up your coffee or whatever you are drinking….kick back….and enjoy the tunes.
