Ready for a Road trip? Take along the Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of 2021!

It’s summertime here in the northern hemisphere and many of us will be taking road trips to see family and friends. Whether the journey is an hour away or across the continent, here are the Roadhouse 66 best blues songs of 2021 to listen to along the way. And this year, for the first time, the playlist is available on the Ben Vee Youtube channel and on the Ben Vee Spotify account. I hope you enjoy reviewing and listening to the songs. And bear in mind that music is not a sports competition…..whether the song is listed at number 4 or number 64, these are all truly great tunes culled from an initial list of over 4,000 new songs that I reviewed or streamed during the course of 2021!! And if you have a comment or want to tell us what your best roadhouse blues song of 2021 was, just leave a comment below.

The Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of 2021 Top Ten

#1 Altered Five Blues Band – Full Moon, Half Crazy

Another in a long series of vibrant upbeat tunes from this amazing band out of Wisconsin, the group is powered by the voice of Jeff Taylor.

#2 Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Long Distance Woman

The Kingfish is a true superstar of the contemporary blues and…..he is only 23!! He first came to my attention four or five years ago and his musical trajectory just keeps rising and rising!

#3 Dion – I’ve Got to Get to You (ft. Boz Scaggs, Mike Menza, and Joe Menza)

His career started over 60 years ago and at the age of 82 he is still kickin’ out some badass blues songs!

#4 Colin James – Open Road

Stevie Ray Vaughan opened the door for him in the 1980’s and in the years since he has become a mainstay of the Canadian music scene. This is the title cut from his latest album that was also the Roadhouse Blues 61 best album of the year!

#5 Tommy Castro – Somewhere

This California based bluesman is a personal favorite. I have seen him in concert 3 times and he is an absolutely incredible performer. He also walked away from this year’s Blue Music Awards in Memphis with a bevy of the top awards. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

#6 J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls – Highway

This blues rock band out of the UK just cranks out some badass music!

#7 Atomic 44s – Fade to Black

I tried to see this southern California band last summer when I went to visit my younger daughter. They are the perfect roadhouse blues band. Unfortunately, COVID cancelled the show. I hope to see them on a future trip!

#8 JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat Pereya – Mighty Dangerous Boogie

I just love JP’s style of roadhouse blues. And I appreciate the fact that he appeared in chat on several of my BluesMusicFan Radio shows during 2021.

#9 Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method – I’m Not Guilty

A long time star of the blues from the American northwest, Polly O’Keary has paid her blues dues! I just love her voice!

#10 Blues Traveler – Roadhouse Blues

John Popper and company do an amazing blues version of the Doors classic. Easily one of my favorite tunes of 2021….I wonder why?!!

The entire Roadhouse 66 Best blues songs of 2021

The Roadhouse 66 list includes perennial music stars like Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Barnes, Billy Gibbons, Van Morrison, and Doobie Brothers as well as personal favorites like Uncle Watson’s Widow, Mike Zito, Carolyn Wonderland, the Black Keys, and Davy Knowles. There are a slew of contemporary blues stars on the list such as Eddie 9V, Joanne Shaw Taylor, the Record Company, and Sue Foley. Also included are some rising stars of the genre that you may not have heard before; 8 Ball Aitken, Veronica Lewis, Ben Levin, Hendrikse, and AJ Fullerton to name just a few! I hope you get a chance to listen to all of them sometime soon. Just remember you can use my playlists on Youtube and Spotify to listen to them all and hopefully buy and download a few….the ultimate compliment to the artists!!

ARTISTTITLE
1Altered Five Blues BandFull Moon, Half Crazy
2Christone “Kingfish” IngramLong Distance Woman
3DionI’ve Got To Get To You
4Colin JamesOpen Road
5Tommy CastroSomewhere
6J Lee and the Hoodoo SkullsHighway
7Atomic 44sFade To Black
8JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat PereyraMighty Dangerous Boogie
9Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm MethodI’m Not Guilty
10Blues TravelerRoadhouse Blues
11Mike ZitoDreaming Of You
12Billy F GibbonsStackin’ Bones (Feat. Larkin Poe)
13Markus K.Rollin’ and Tumblin’
14Sean ChambersRockin’ Daddy
15Carolyn WonderlandBroken Hearted Blues
168 Ball AitkenWhat Goes Up
17Eddie 9VDog Me Around
18Sue FoleyHurricane Girl (ft. Jimmie Vaughan)
19The Black KeysCoal Black Mattie
20Uncle Watson’s WidowNasty Dogs Funky Kings Precious and Grace
21Melissa EtheridgeFor The Last Time
22Jimmy BarnesEnd Of The Road
23Joanne Shaw TaylorStop Messin’ Round
24Steve MarrinerTake Me To The City
25Simon Kinny-LewisSwamp Rat
26Chickenbone SlimServe It to Me Hot
27The Dirty Mojo Blues BandMy Little Sue
28The Doobie BrothersCannonball
29Dirty Dave OstiRiver Of Shame
30Eldon Backhouse And The Electric Blues BandAnother Man
31Band Of FriendsLivin’ Like a Trucker
32Steve CropperShe’s So Fine
33Joe MetzkaWalk
34Tom Feldmann and Noah LevyGoing Away Baby
35The Record CompanyToday Forever
36The Kokomo KingsShe´s Shaking Up A Storm
37SuperdownhomeHomework
38Vintage TroubleLow Down Dirty Dog
39Delta FuseLetter on the Table
40Gov’t MuleSnatch It Back And Hold It
41AJ FullertonThe Forgiver And The Runaway
42Davy KnowlesOne & The Same
43Captain Morgan ExpressHanging Tree
44Quinn SullivanWide Awake
45Dave KalzShes Got A Hemi
46The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn BandToo Cool To Dance
47Tommy ZTommy Guns
48HendrikseTry to Save Your Soul
49Andy LindquistThe River Queen
50Big Chief Monk BoudreauxChoo Choo
51Dionne BennettFull Time Job
52CactusPreaching Woman Man Blues
53Bernie MarsdenMe And My Guitar
54Teresa James and The Rhythm TrampsGonna Rise Together
55Ben LevinI Can’t Stop It
56The LiberatorsWrong Distraction
57Trainman BluesTroubled Mind
58Mike Goudreau BandTonight’s The Night For Big Fun
59Van MorrisonDeadbeat Saturday Night
60The Immediate FamilySlippin’ and Slidin’
61Colin Linden4 Cars
62WellBadOne Kiss Too Late
63Dennis SiggeryGypsy Woman
64Early Times & The High RollersDo What She Do
65Selwyn BirchwoodI’d Climb Mountains
66Veronica LewisPut Your Wig On Mama

#blues #roadhouseblues #bluesrock

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 as well as a Youtube channel.

Best Blues Songs of 2021 on Today’s Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner 12-2 pm ET

There isn’t much good to say about the year 2021 other than, while we were all still hunkered down because of the pandemic, blues artists continued to produce some fabulous music. Join us today as I play some of the tunes included in my Roadhouse 66 Best Blues Songs of 2021. I will feature the top ten tunes of the year by Tommy Castro, the Altered Five Blues Band, Dion, Christone Kingfish Ingram, Colin James, J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls, the Atomic 44s, the JP Williams Blues Band, Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method, and Blues Traveler. Which one was my number one tune for 2021? You will just have to tune in at http://www.bluesmusicfan.com from 12-2 pm ET today and listen along!

For those of you that can’t tune in, I have already posted the entire Roadhouse 66 Best Songs of 2021 playlist on my Ben Vee Spotify account for you to peruse and I will be posting the list to my Ben Vee Youtube channel tomorrow. (Previous year lists for 2017-2020 are also on my YouTube channel.) A review of the 2021 list will be posted here on my blues blog by the end of the week. It is a joy to put together these annual lists of my favorite 66 tunes from among the 6000 or so songs that I spin for the year. I hope you get as much enjoyment from reviewing my selections, listening to them….and hopefully downloading….your favorites!!

Rockin’ the Blues on BluesMusicFan Radio 3-5 pm ET

I have some great new blues rockin’ tunes from Dennis Johnson (one of world’s finest slide guitar players), Eliza Neals, MIcki Free (with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram), Dom Martin (from Ireland), Armin Sabol, Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs, Bacon Fat Louis and some classics from Robin Trower, Rocky Athas, and Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood. Sooooo…..join us from 3-5 pm ET on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com. You won’t be disappointed!!

Here is the intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLE
Dom MartinMaxwell Shuffle
Mike Campbell & The Dirty KnobsLightning Boogie
Bacon Fat LouisIt Won’t Be Easy
The Harpoonist & the Axe MurdererRoll with the Punches (Live)
GreyhoundsNo Other Woman (OurVinyl Sessions)
BluesmanCold Coffee and Cigarettes
AJ PlugTrain Of Love
Dennis JohnsonGoing Down
The Delta ProjectLove My Baby
MudlowSo Long Lee (Redux)
Mesquite CafeNeed A Place To Hide
The Cadillac CatsCatfish
The Wake WoodsElectric Boogie
R.C. and the 3rd Shift7 Years
Armin SabolBad Harvest  (Album Version)
Katie HenryBury You
Malone SibunEvil
Dom Martin12 Gauge
Micki FreeJudicator Blues (feat. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram)
Eliza NealsCan’t Find My Way Home (feat. Lance Lopez)
Nick AndreaSuperstition
Robin TrowerSomething’s About to Change
Joe BonamassaThe Loyal Kind
Eric Clapton/Steve WinwoodLittle Wing
Fred ChapellierTend to it
Rocky AthasMiracle

A Veteran’s Day Roadhouse Blues Playlist for Nov 11th

Today is Veterans Day in the USA and I’d like to take this chance to thank the men and women from the United States and around the world that serve their nations and protect the peace. Many spend holidays away from family and do their duty on stations in remote and lonely places. Over the years, I have heard from some of them listening in to my shows from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. To a person, they all comment on how the blues remind them of home and today it reminds me of all of YOU! Thank you for your service and listening to the songs I spin!!

This is the intended playlist for today’s show from 3-5 pm EST on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com.

ARTISTTITLE
Ben GranfeltBecauAse We Can (Live)
Christone “Kingfish” IngramLong Distance Woman
Roger ChapmanRabbit Got The Gun
Maria DainesDown to the Heart
Grizzlee TrainBurned Him Again
Mark SutherlandSuffocation Blues
Kai FjellbergYour Life
Billy F GibbonsShe’s On Fire
Ally VenablePlayed The Game
Mario Rossi BandMidnight Woman
Bjorn BergeA Matter Of Time
The Cold StaresIn The Night Time
West Side Joe & The Men of SoulKeep On Climbin’
Ben GranfeltMy Soul To You (Live)
Tedeschi Trucks BandJust As Strange
Supersonic Blues MachineRemedy (Feat. Warren Haynes)
Buddy GuyRed House
Guitar PeteIt Rained For Daze
Dennis SiggeryCall Me
Uncle Watson’s WidowJust Got Back From Babys
Gary MooreLove Can Make A Fool Of You
TBellyI Know You’re Mine
Simon Kinny-LewisCrawling Kingsnake ( Feat Andy Just )
Southern GentlemenEnd of the World
SantanaWhiter Shade Of Pale (Feat. Steve Winwood)

Roadhouse Blues Nooner on BluesMusicFan Radio (12-2 pm EST)

Hope you get a chance to listen in today to the Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com from 12-2 pm EST. We will roll out with a Faces tune featuring Rod Stewart from back in the day and then spend the rest of the show spinning some incredible new contemporary blues from artists all over the USA and around the world:Manny Fizzotti, Joe Louis Walker, Natalia M. King, Malted Milk, Bad Temper Joe, Colin James, Carolyn Wonderland, and a whole bunch more!!

ARTISTTITLECountry
Manny FizzottiSliding AwayItaly
FacesThree Button Hand Me DownUK
Joe Louis WalkerTwo Trains RunningUSA
Son Of DaveGimme A DoctorUK
Natalia M. KingPink Houses (Feat. Elliott Murphy)France
Mick Schafer BandDon’t Wanna B JudgedUSA
Zoom With Shawn KellermanBorn To Sing The BluesCanada
Jesse RoperDoes Anybody KnowCanada
P K MayoTruthUSA
Santana ft. Chris StapletonJoyUSA
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night SweatsI’m On Your SideUSA
Eric GalesI Want My Crown  (Feat. Joe Bonamassa)USA
Altered Five Blues BandAll Suit, No SoulUSA
The Head Hunters Blues BandForty Days And Forty NightsUK
Black PumasI’m ReadyUSA
Manny FizzottiTurn Me OnItaly
Malted MilkLet Me RideFrance
Circle Of MudNative ManFrance
Andreas Diehlmann BandMade It My WayGermany
Bad Temper Joe3rd Floor Elevator BluesGermany
Colin JamesRaging RiverCanada
The Doobie BrothersCannonballUSA
Carolyn WonderlandBroken Hearted BluesUSA
Phillip-Michael ScalesWhen They Put Me in My GraveUSA
Simon Kinny-LewisJust Need A Kind Hearted Woman ( Feat Robben Ford )Australia
Gov’t MuleMake It RainUSA
Tommy CastroBluesman Came To TownUSA
Christone “Kingfish” IngramThat’s What You DoUSA

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

61The Smoke Wagon Blues BandThe Fat ManThe Ballad Of Albert Johnson
62Misty BluesTreat Me Like I WantWeed ‘Em & Reap
63Peter ParcekBeyond Here Lies NothingMississippi Suitcase
64Nora Jean WallaceI’m A Blues WomanBlues Woman
65Lloyd JonesTurn Me LooseTennessee Run
66The Rolling StonesLiving In A Ghost TownLiving In A Ghost Town

The Roadhouse Blues Top 50 & 60 songs

51John Primer and Bob CorritoreKeep A-DrivingThe Gypsy Woman Told Me
52Cary MorinNobody Gotta KnowDockside Saints
53Pinkie RideauBring Me SugarBring Me Sugar
54Dudley TaftThe End Of The BluesCosmic Radio
55Henrik Freischlader BandWhat Have I Done to YouMissing Pieces
56JD3 & The Jondo TrioRocks At The MoonSomething Good
57Shaun MurphyLiving In The Palace Of The KingFlame Still Burns
58The NighthawksChairman Of The BoardTryin’ to Get to You
59Paul Buchanan’s Voodoo PreachersSome Kind Of VoodooTestimony
60New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom RockersNight Time (feat Jimbo Mathis)Volume I
41Mary Jo Curry BandNothin’ Is EasyFront Porch
42Kerry KearneyVoodoo Down the RiverTales From The Psychedelta
43Simon Kinny-LewisBlack Cat MoanAnother Day In San Jose
44The Reverend Shawn Amos & The BrotherhoodCounting Down The DaysBlue Sky
45The Lucky LosersHalf a NothingGodless Land
46Marcus KingThe WellEl Dorado
47Samantha Martin & Delta SugarSacrificeThe Reckless On
48Coco MontoyaTroubleComing In Hot
49Robert CrayAnything You WantThat’s What I Heard
50Dave FieldsForce of WillForce of Will

The Roadhouse Blues Top 40 songs

31Steve Washington (feat  Lucky Peterson)Blues Don’t Cost a ThingJust A Matter of Time
32Tammi Savoy & The Chris Casello ComboAs Long As I’m Movin’That Rock ‘n’ Roll Rhythm!
33Too Slim and the TaildraggersDevil’s HostageThe Remedy
34David Rotundo BandI Must Be CrazySo Much Trouble
35Mick ClarkeAin’t Beggin’ NobodyCrazy with the Blues
36Casey HensleySearching For A ManGood As Gone
37Tas CruSave MeDrive On
38Sass JordanThe KeyRebel Moon Blues
39Mark MayBarbecue And BluesDeep Dark Demon
40Shemekia CopelandWalk Until I RideUncivil War

The Roadhouse Blues Top 30 Songs

21Eric JohansonDown To The BottomBelow Sea Level
22Tinsley EllisEvil Till SunriseIce Cream In Hell
23The Immediate FamilyCruel TwistSlippin’ and Slidin’
24Mike ZitoAfter The StormQuarantine Blues
25Savoy BrownJaguar CarAin’t Done Yet
26Kirsten ThienShoulda BeenTwo Sides
27Larkin PoeEvery Bird That FliesSelf Made Man
28Eric SteckelSince I Been Loving YouGrandview Drive
29Sonny LandrethSomebody Gotta Make A MoveBlacktop Run
30Crystal ShawandaEvil MemoryChurch House Blues

The Roadhouse House Top 20 Songs

11Rae Gordon BandGet Right With The WorldWrong Kind Of Love
12Fantastic NegritoChocolate SamuraiHave You Lost Your Mind Yet?
13Ben LevinMy Back ScratcherCarryout Or Delivery
14Kat RigginsThe StormCry Out
15Albert CummingsRed RoosterBelieve
16The War and TreatyBeautiful (feat. Jason Isbell)Hearts Town
17Anthony GomesUntil The End Of TimeContainment Blues
18Popa ChubbyI’m The Beast From The EastIt’s A Mighty Hard Road
19The Mary Stokes BandComin’ HomeComin’ Home
20Joanne Shaw TaylorHumanReckless 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.

October 1st Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues on BMFR

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:

ARTISTTITLEALBUM
Dave SpecterSoul DropBlues from the Inside Out
Jimmy JohnsonDown In The ValleyEvery Day Of Your Life
Linsey AlexanderI Got A WomanLive at Rosa’s
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom RockersNight Time (feat Jimbo Mathis)Volume I
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones feat. Little Charlie BatyToo Far from the BarToo Far from the Bar
John NemethSometimesStronger Than Strong
Heather NewmanHis SoulRise From The Flames
Gaetano PellinoMoney TalksTribute
Nick Moss Band Feat. Dennis GruenlingFull Moon AcheLucky Guy!
Willie Buck(All I’m Doin’ Is) Thinking Of YouWillie Buck Way
Johnny IguanaDown In The BottomJohnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular!
Bob Margolin & Dennis GruenlingLow Life BluesDon’t Pass Me By
Johnny BurginLate Night Date Night (Feat. Rae Gordon)Live
Coco MontoyaTroubleComing In Hot
Whitney ShayLove’s Creeping up on YouA Woman Rules the World
Ronnie Earl & the BroadcastersBig Town PlayboyRise Up
Mary Jo Curry BandFront PorchFront Porch
AJ Crawdaddy BandDon’t Think About It, Baby!  Featuring Baxter RobertsonSteppin’ Out!
Elvin Bishop & Charlie MusselwhiteHelp Me100 Years Of Blues
The Barrett Anderson BandEmma LeeHypnobooge
Billy Walton BandCan’t Love No OneDark Hour
Christone “Kingfish” IngramEmpty PromisesEmpty Promises
Casey JamesIf You Dont Know By NowIf You Don’t Know By Now
The James Pitts BandHey BabyCome to Play the Blues
Tas CruSave MeDrive On
The Little Red Rooster Blues BandHey, Hey, I Love YouUnder the Covers
Scott EllisonPerfect For YouSkyline Drive

Post Labor Day Roadhouse Blues Nooner 12 to 2 pm EST

It’s back to the real world after a long Labor Day Weekend here in the United States. Join us from High Noon until 2 pm EST today on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com for the Ben Vee Roadhouse Blues Nooner.

Here is the intended playlist:

ARTISTTITLEALBUM
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones feat. Little Charlie BatyReel BurnerToo Far from the Bar
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom RockersNight Time (feat Jimbo Mathis)Volume I
Curtis SalgadoThe Longer That I Live2020 Blues Sampler Alligator Records
Ronnie Earl & the BroadcastersYou Don’t Know What Love IsRise Up
Al BasileSecond WindLast Hand
Mary Bridget DaviesThunder and Lightin’Wanna Feel Somethin’
Chris Bevington OrganisationBad Bad BadSand & Stone
A Band Called SamVoice Of The BluesLegacy
Chris CainI Believe I Got Off Cheap2020 Blues Sampler Alligator Records
Marc BroussardLet The Music Get Down In Your SoulS.O.S.-Save Our Soul
Selwyn BirchwoodLiving In A Burning House2020 Blues Sampler Alligator Records
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones feat. Little Charlie BatyNumb and DumbToo Far from the Bar
Andy Watts featuring Joe Louis WalkerBurning DeepSupergroove
Long Tall Deb & The Drifter KingsHouse On FireDiamonds on the Desert Floor
Luxuriant SedansGot to Keep MovingBorn Certified
Trigger HippyDon’t Wanna Bring You DownFull Circle & Then Some
Crooked Eye TommyCongo SquareHot Coffee And Pain
Christone “Kingfish” IngramRock & RollEmpty Promises
Mark KnopflerGot to Have SomethingPrivateering
Big Joe SheltonLittle WillieI’d Never Let Her Down
Andreas Diehlmann BandGot To Get Over ItMercy On Me
The Barrett Anderson BandNot Your BabyHypnobooge
Dave FieldsBest I CanForce of Will
Seth JamesHouse on the HillBad Luck and Trouble
Mark MayMercury BluesTelephone Road

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!!!


ArtistSong TitleAlbum
1Mary LaneBlues Give Me A FeelingTravelin’ Woman
2Big Daddy WilsonCrazy WorldDeep In My Soul
3Altered Five Blues BandMischief ManTen Thousand Watts
4Keb’ Mo’Cold OutsideOklahoma
5Christone “Kingfish” IngramFresh Out (ft Buddy Guy)Kingfish
6Jontavious WillisLow Down WaysSpectacular Class
7Tiffany Pollack & Eric JohansonBlues In My BloodBlues In My Blood
8Beth Hart Bad Woman BluesWar in my Mind
9Brandon SantiniDrive You Off My MindThe Longshot
10The Allman Betts BandShinin’Down to the River
11Amnesia Blues BandFast Johnny CoolHailstorm
12HeavyDrunkIf I Love You Hard EnoughHolywater
13Mindi Abair and the BoneshakersWho’s Gonna Save My SoulNo Good Deed
14Walter TroutMe My Guitar and the BluesSurvivor Blues
15Coco MontoyaLights On But Nobody’s HomeComing In Hot
16Ghost Town Blues BandShineShine
17Chris O’Leary7 Minutes7 Minutes
18Tedeschi Trucks BandThey Don’t ShineSigns
19Van MorrisonThree Chords and the TruthThree Chords and the Truth
20Terry HanckHowlin’ For My Darlin’I Still Get Excited
21Kenny Wayne ShepherdWoman Like YouThe Traveler
22Zack Walther BandBad GirlThe Westerner
23Samantha FishDirtyKill or Be Kind
24Giles RobsonDon’t Give Up on the BluesDon’t Give Up on the Blues
25Lucky PetersonPack It Up50: Just Warming Up!
26Heather NewmanI’m Coming For YouRise from the Flames
27Left Lane CruiserSmooth CommanderShake and Bake
28Delbert McClintonA Fool Like MeTall, Dark, and Handsome
29Miss Bix and the Blues FixFollow Me DownWe Don’t Own the Blues
30Ash GrunwaldAin’t My Problem (ft The Teskey Brothers)Mojo
31The Texas HornsI’m Doin’ Alright (ft. Carolyn Wonderland)Get Here Quick
32The Mike Duke ProjectI’m Not Sad Tonight….Took a Whlle
33Ronnie Earl & the BroadcastersBaby How LongBeyond the Blue Door
34Travelin’ Blue KingsNinety MinutesWired Up
35Al BasileSo Called Story TellerB’s Hothouse
36Ida Bang & the Blue TearsShelter MeGood to Me
37Arsen ShomakhovWomen and WhiskeyRainy City Blues
38Elles BaileyHelp SomebodyRoad I Call Home
39The Teskey BrothersSo Caught UpRun Home Slow
40Kerry Pastine and the Crime SceneDown DownCity of Love
41Tad RobinsonReal StreetReal Street
42Sugaray RayfordThe RevelatorSomebody Save Me
43Southern AvenueWhiskey LoveKeep On
44Honey HoundsShine OnThe Flame
45Zac HarmonGypsy RoadMississippi BarBQ
46Annika ChambersI Feel the Same (ft Paul DesLauriers)Kiss My Sass
47Tennessee RedemptionBack To TennesseeTennessee Redemption
48Ivy FordStart a FightHarvesting  My Roots
49Wentus Blues Band w/ Duke Robillard 2:19Too Much Mustard
50Rockin’ Johnny & QuiQue GomezEverybody Loves My BabyDos Hombres Wanted
51Albert CastigliaHeavyMasterpiece
52Seth RosenbloomBroke And LonelyKeep On Turning
53Arlen RothI Can Fix It (ft Jack Pearson)Tele Masters
54Eliza NealsPawn Shop Blues (Roadhouse)Sweet Or Mean
55The Kokomo KingsHeatwaveFighting Fire with Gasoline
56Robin TrowerComing Closer to the DayComing Closer to the Day
57Blue Moon MarqueeAs I Lay DyingBare Knuckes & Brawn
58Peter WardTrain to Key BiscayneTrain to Key Biscayne
59Duke RobillardDon’t Bother Trying To Steal Her LoveEar Worms
60Harpdog BrownThinkin’ and Drinkin’For Love & Money
61Brother YusefI’m a BluesmanJook Joint Jam
62Manx Mariner ManlineRattlesnakeHell Bound for Heaven
63Josh NewcomGirl Got the MojoThe Blues Gonna Getcha
64Savoy BrownConjure RhythmCity Night
65Big Wolf BandBe FreeBe Free
66Coyote KingsDrive MeRocket

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” IngramKingfish ( 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 RedemptionTennessee 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.