Join me today on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com for my Roadhouse Blues Nooner from 12-2 pm EST. I will be spinning tunes by Karin Rudefelt, Mia Vermillion, Forest McDonald, Tiffany Pollack, Tullie Brae, Mike Zito, and a bunch more.
So you still have people on your Christmas list to shop for or maybe just a little something for yourself? No problem!! Here are some roadhouse blues albums that will endear you to your friends and help out the blues artists….all of whom have been financially struggling during this hideous year while producing some fantastic tunes!
Steve Strongman – Tired of Talking (Stony Plain Records 2020)
Steve Strongman drifts effortlessly from traditional blues to R&B and soul and then to roots acoustic music on this fine album, Tired of Talking. This Canadian artist sings, plays the guitar, dobro, and does some damn fine harpin’ also. He’s good enough to have opened for B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy and that is damn sure good enough for me….and hopefully for YOU! Give Just Ain’t Right a listen!
Grainne Duffy – Voodoo Blues (2020 Independent Release)
With a powerful gritty soulful voice, this Irish lass has delivered a masterful roadhouse blues recording with the release of her seventh album, Voodoo Blues. Part roots blues, southern rock, and blues rock, overall it is representative of the talent and bright future that she has. Her style is ready made for live performances and festival appearances. As soon as the pandemic recedes, expect to hear a lot more from her! Give the title cut, Voodoo Blues, a listen….see what I mean!!
Johnny Iguana – Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular! (Delmark Records 2020)
If you love some rockin’ vibrant piano blues….have I got the album for you or someone you know! This badass blues man hails from Chicago and on Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular, he does rousing covers of 44 Blues, Down in the Bottom, Shake Your Moneymaker, and Stop Breaking Down. He was part of Junior Wells Band for a time and has toured or recorded with Buddy Guy, Billy Branch, Billy Arnold, and a number of other Chicago blues greats. Now, on his first album as the band leader, Johnny pounds the ivories through some great contemporary songs as well as blues classics. Cool tunes from a great guy!!
Brother Jon Band – Open Jam (Independent Release 2015)
I’m honored that so many independent artists choose to send me copies of their recordings. Just recently, I got one from Minneapolis that just blew me away. The Brother Jon Band has a badass roadhouse blues sound that is reminiscent of Canned Heat and the Black Crowes with hints of Guns ‘N Roses. Music like this brings back a lot of memories. Give WHEN SHE CRIES a listen (on Spotify) or BOBBY’S BLUES (on Youtube) and see if you don’t agree and then go to this link and download the album, Open Jam!
Duke Robillard – Blues Bash with Duke Robillard & Friends (Stony Plain Records 2020)
Photo by David Lee Black
I absolutely love 1950’s style upbeat blues. It was an era when the blues was in the process of giving birth to rock ‘n roll and the Duke captures the essence of that golden era for music with the new Blues Bash with Duke Robillard & Friends recording. It is an excellent album to have playing for small Christmas party gathering. The tunes are danceable, bright, and energetic. (Try Do You Mean It! This Grammy nominated artist and five time winner of the Blues Music Award as best guitarist has been thrilling audiences all over the world since 1967 and this recordings demonstrates why he won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Kerry Kearney – Tales from the Psychedelta (2020 Highlander Records)
A slide guitar player who I would put up against the likes of Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks, Kerry Kearney is a Long Island native who released his 18th recording this year, Tales From The Psychedelta. It is actually a compilation album that includes tracks that are no longer in print making it a nice gift for those familiar with him as well as new fans. Listen to his vocals and the badass guitar licks on Voodoo Down The River and I think you will understand why I named this album one of the 40 best blues rock albums of 2020 earlier this week.
Michael “Iron Man” Burks – Show of Strength (2012 Alligator Records)
Michael Burks’ Show of Strength album is one that I place among the pantheon of stellar blues recordings alongside works by Luther Allison and Buddy Guy. Tragically, Michael never got to hear the final mix of his work. He died suddenly of heart failure while returning from a tour of Europe. A son of Arkansas, Michael was the complete blues man; a showman, stellar guitar player, and he possessed a powerful voice that dripped with the soul. There isn’t a bad song among the 12 tracks and my personal favorite is Storm Warning. You can’t go wrong with this as a stocking stuffer for a friend or family member.
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.
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.
It’s Thanksgiving week here in the United States and normally a lot of us would be traveling to see family and friends. This year….not so much. Sooo…kick back at home and join us for some badass blues on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com from 12-2 pm ET. Got tunes by Ray Charles, Susan Tedeschi, Lonnie Brooks, Willie Dixon, and many more.
Below is the intended playlist:
ARTIST
TITLE
ALBUM
Johnny Burgin
Pumpkin’s Boogie
No Border Blues
Ray Charles
Lonely Avenue
Ultimate Hits Collection (1 of 2)
Barrett Strong
Money (That’s What I Want)
The Best of Soul and Rhythm & Blues
Tim Gartland
You Best Think Twice
Satisfied
Cara Being Blue
Skippin’ Stone
Grit
Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith & The House Bumpers
No Need Brotha’
Drop The Hammer
Scott Ramminger
Magic in the Music
Advice from a Father to a Son
Barbara Blue
Too Late Blues
Jus’ Blues
Glen Clark
When The Time Is Right
You Tell Me
Son Seals
Look Now Baby – Live
Blues Guitar Summit
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats
Rocket 88
The Story of the Blues
Corey Harris
Catfish Blues
Fulton Blues
Russ Green
Somethin New
City Soul
The Nick Moss Band
Note On The Door
The High Cost Of Low Living
Willie Dixon
I Ain’t Superstitious
I am the Blues
Johnny Cash
Get Rhythm
Classic Cash: Hall of Fame Series
Lucinda Williams
Can’t Let Go
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Lyle Lovett
M-O-N-E-Y
Pontiac
Dan Bubien & The Delta Struts
I Gotta Reason
Thieves & Yesterdays
Susan Tedeschi
Little By Little (with The Derek Trucks Band) [2016 Remastered]
Got some Good Time Roadhouse Blues comin’ your way at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com today (October 1st) from 3 to 5 pm EDST. Tune in and listen to new contemporary blues from a slew of great artists including Linsey Alexander, Nick Moss, Johnny Iguana, Johnny Burgin, and Heather Newman.
This is the intended playlist:
ARTIST
TITLE
ALBUM
Dave Specter
Soul Drop
Blues from the Inside Out
Jimmy Johnson
Down In The Valley
Every Day Of Your Life
Linsey Alexander
I Got A Woman
Live at Rosa’s
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers
Night Time (feat Jimbo Mathis)
Volume I
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones feat. Little Charlie Baty
Too Far from the Bar
Too Far from the Bar
John Nemeth
Sometimes
Stronger Than Strong
Heather Newman
His Soul
Rise From The Flames
Gaetano Pellino
Money Talks
Tribute
Nick Moss Band Feat. Dennis Gruenling
Full Moon Ache
Lucky Guy!
Willie Buck
(All I’m Doin’ Is) Thinking Of You
Willie Buck Way
Johnny Iguana
Down In The Bottom
Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular!
Bob Margolin & Dennis Gruenling
Low Life Blues
Don’t Pass Me By
Johnny Burgin
Late Night Date Night (Feat. Rae Gordon)
Live
Coco Montoya
Trouble
Coming In Hot
Whitney Shay
Love’s Creeping up on You
A Woman Rules the World
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters
Big Town Playboy
Rise Up
Mary Jo Curry Band
Front Porch
Front Porch
AJ Crawdaddy Band
Don’t Think About It, Baby! Featuring Baxter Robertson
Join me today, June 9rh, for my Roadhouse Blues Nooner on BMFR from 12 to 2 pm ET. I have new tunes from Dion, the James Pitt Band, Mary Jo Curry, The Nighthawks, Jeff Fetterman and plenty of great contemporary roadhouse blues!! Grab your beverage of choice and tune in at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com.
Below is the intended playlist:
ARTIST
TITLE
The Little Red Rooster Blues Band
Rockin’ My Boogie
The Rudy Boy Experiment
Juke Joint
The James Pitts Band
Love Me
The Little Red Rooster Blues Band
Hey, Hey, I Love You
Mary Jo Curry Band
Front Porch
Scott Ellison
Perfect For You
Etta James
Gotta Serve Somebody
Stephen Stills
Isn’t It About Time
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Live Every Day
Mike Zito
Bad News Is Coming
Heather Newman
His Soul
Lisa Mills
Slip Away
Tony Holiday
Paying Rent
Tom Hambridge
Bluz Crazy
Shaun Murphy
Happy with the One I Got Now
Sean Pinchin
Someone Like You
Daniel Castro
Cold Hearted Woman
Kenny Parker
Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty
Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan
Jimmy Reed Highway
Omar & The Howlers
Too Many People Talkin’
The Nighthawks
Chairman Of The Board
Jeff Fetterman
Goin’ Down To Nashville
Alvin Lee
Memphis
Rita Chiarelli
Tupelo
Blind Faith
Can’t Find My Way Home
Dion
Hymn To Him featuring Patti Scialfa & Bruce Springsteen
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!
I have new songs by Lucinda Williams, Jeff Fetterman, Tony Holiday, Eliza Neals, Victor Wainwright, and many more Good Time Roadhouse blues tunes today, May 21st, at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com from 3 to 5 pm ET. Grab yer favorite beverage and call/message a friend and ask them to share the social distancing blues with ya!!
The contemporary blues scene is very much alive in 2020. Below are some artists that you may not be aware of that are worth a listen. Check ’em out! Links to their albums on Spotify are provided in blue.
A vibrant soul singer out of Chicago, Katie Kadan got her first big break on The Voice back in 2017. Her voice is a delightful mix of Adele and Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes). Her newest release, Katie Kadan, contains a number of great tunes including My Man and Stuck on You.
Peter D. Harper hails from Australia where he released his first album back in the mid 1990’s. On his latest album, RISE UP, he cranks out some rockin’ and socially relevant roots blues playin’ a badass harmonica and incorporating the use of the didgeridoo. Give the title cut a listen to see what I mean. I Still Got You and Welcome Home are tunes I also loved…heck…the whole album is great!!
A Sacramento California based artist, Pinkie Rideau has been playin’ music for a long time. On the new album BRING ME SUGAR, she brings together some fine musicians (and life long friends) to produce music with a laid back “down the bayou” feel. I particularly liked Forgetful and I’m On The Outside. She has such a great voice….give her a listen!!
What’s not to like when two of the finest blues artists in America collaborate to produce a spectacular album. If you are not familiar with either of these artists, John Primer is a well known Chicago blues man (who played with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Magic Slim) and Bob Corritore, who is based in Arizona, is one of the genre’s great harmonica players. I love the title cut as well as the grindin’ blues tune Walking The Back Streets And Crying and the Elmore James/Magic Slim inspired Keep A-Driving.
A great new group out of my ancestral home of Croatia, the BE SHARP BAND features the stellar voice of Marija Gašparić. On their debut album, ASHES, they crank out some badass roadhouse blues. Give Put ‘Em Down and Wolf a listen….and then download and buy the album!!
If you have suggestions for albums that I should give a listen to or are an artist with radio ready material…..just send me an email at ben@benveeblues.com.If I like it, I will give it a spin during my shows on BMFR and, perhaps, write about it.
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]
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.
