Kid Ramos

Southside of Heaven just North of Hell…..the ATOMIC 44s Crank It out at the Roadhouse Blues Epicenter

I’ve often struggled for a mental image of the location of the Roadhouse Blues. The place itself would undeniably be an aged structure with a big dance floor, pool tables, and a large bandstand that serves cold beer and food that scorns calorie counters. The music would be edgy, primarily upbeat, and definitely the roadhouse blues. And now I know the location……southside of Heaven just north of the Hell, thanks to a lyric from the fabulous debut ATOMIC 44s album, VOLUME ONE.

The Atomic 44s are a result of the synergy between two talented and veteran artists; Johnny Main (The 44s) and Eric Von Herzen (The Atomic Road Kings). Johnny sings and plays the guitar with a tone and style that defines the roadhouse blues and Eric wails on a badass harmonica. The music on the album is loud and boisterous with the kind of rhythm and feel you are looking for on a Friday night after another week of slogging through the grind. And Johnny and Eric have surrounded themselves with a band of roadhouse blues luminaries; Kid Ramos of the Proven Ones, The Roomful of Blues, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds (guitar), blues award winning Deb Ryder (backing vocals), Bill Stuve (bass), Gary Ferguson who played with Etta James and Gary Moore (drums), plus Taryn Donath and Jim Pugh (keyboards).

Picking a favorite tune off this recording is tough. THE BOOGIEMAN was released earlier this year as a music video and serves as a gateway to the other eight original tunes on the album. It has already topped several blues charts propelled by Eric’s harpin’, Johnny’s gritty vocals, and the dueling guitars of Johnny and Kid Ramos. Another song, MY ’49, also deserves release as a video as a anthem to car lovers everywhere. OL’ MEXICO and OLIVIA are some straight up Chicago blues that showcase the overall talents of the band. They drift into Omar Kent Dykes territory on SAINTS AND SINNERS that features a hypnotic beat laid down by Gary and some great guitar riffs. It is a perfect tune for a concert jam that I would love to be able to see. CANDY MAN has some tasty keyboard playing and Eric gets yet another chance to wail on that badass harmonica. LYIN STILL is world class low down dirty blues with amazing guitar solos and BARBWIRE AND FENCES provides the memorable lyrics…southside side of Heaven just north of Hell.. which will forever be ground zero for the Roadhouse Blues. But my favorite cut has to be FADE TO BLACK with its film noir feel. It’s a ready made musical vehicle for a future Quentin Tarantino movie featuring stretches of edgy harmonica, dark guitar tones, and the raw and growling vocals of Johnny.

With the pandemic finally beginning to recede, the Atomic 44s should begin to hit the road supporting this incredible recording. It is undoubtedly one of the finest releases of 2021 and well worth your time and money. And for me personally, it will always be the recording that defines the location of the Roadhouse Blues….the end to a lifelong musical search!!

Atomic 44s – VOLUME ONE (Bird Dog Records 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

Roadhouse Blues Nooner for May 21st on BMFR at 12 pm EST

Hey Folks!  Got some new tunes…some classics…and a whole lot of contemporary blues today on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com during my Roadhouse Blues Nooner at 12 pm EST.

You can find the intended playlist below.

ARTIST TITLE
Arlen Roth Tuff Tele
Jimmie Vaughan Don’t Cha Know
Tony Cuchetti And Joe Flip Do Your Thing
Big Joe Shelton Hole In Yo Soul
Rosie Flores Mercy Fell Like Rain
Sean Taylor The Other Side Of Hurt
Kenny ‘Beedy Eyes’ Smith & The House Bumpers Keep On Pretending
Sugar Queen and the Straight Blues Band I Can’t Wait
Tony Holiday, James Harman, Kid Ramos Pickpocket Fingers (feat. James Harman & Kid Ramos)
Dennis Brennan & The White Owls Nothin’ But Love (Live)
Abel James Swamp Thing
Zakiya Hooker (ft John Lee Hooker) Rock These Blues Away
Black Carl Mama, Mama
Vidar Busk & His True Believers She’s So Fine
Karise Eden Gimme Your Love
Treynwrek Did You
Chris Bell & 100% Blues Cold Hearted Woman
Wes Jeans I’m a Good Man
Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods All My Money’s Gone
Chris Rea Never Tie Me Down
Myers Brothers Band Straight From The Woods
Wingman Tony Black The End of the Line (ft Lance Lopez)
Levi Platero One Day
Eliza Neals Windshield Wipers
Myles Goodwyn Good Man In A Bad Place
U. Pasanen Band The Bond

Ben’s Bin Full of Blues Reviews for Oct 30 2018

 

My thoughts go out to the people of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh as they mourn the senseless and hateful act of violence in their midst. I think I can speak for the blues community when I say that we share your grief and stand next to you arm in arm in the battle against bigotry and hate.

With that stated,   I move on to quick reviews of some albums I have listened to recently.

Eric Bibb – Global Griot (Stony Plain Records, 2018)

Eric Bibb

The term griot (gree-oh) refers to a class of traditional West African musicians and storytellers that carried on the oral traditions of their people.  Eric Bibb certainly merits inclusion given his roots and his artistry on the acoustic and electric guitars and his easy story telling voice.  Reflecting a truly global perspective with recordings for the album done in France, Sweden, Jamaica, Ghana, England, and the United States, this two CD set was an enjoyable listen.

I particularly liked Gathering of the Tribes, All Because, Grateful, Remember Family, and Race & Equality. And the song, Michael…Row Da Boat Ashore, brought back memories of long road trips with my parents and five kids in a Chevy station wagon. My mother would lead us in singing old gospel and traditional tunes. I thank Eric for reawakening memories that bring both sadness and joy; it is the truly the power of music in the fingers and voice of a master!

John Akapo – Paradise Blues (Mensch House Records, 2018)

john akapo

Hawaiian born and Samoan blooded, Big John Akapo is a talented acoustic guitarist with the perfect voice for the style of delta and mellow blues that he plays on his debut recording, Paradise Blues.  I loved his renditions of the blues classics, I Can’t Be Satisfied, and Ramblin’ On My Mind.  I also enjoyed his original songs Little Lani, Don’t Believe Her, and Maui Drive.

John has stated that “I think my music is like a tree rooted in traditional blues but sprinkled with Pacific salt water.”  Here’s to hopin’ that the tree continues to flourish and that we hear much more from him as the years go by!

Anthony Geraci – Why Did You Have To Go (Shining Stone Records 2018)

anthony geraci

Anthony Geraci is a gifted blues pianist  His career spans over 40 years and he is an original member of both Sugar Ray and the Bluetones and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters. His blues pedigree attracted the likes of Ronnie Earl, Sugar Ray Norcia, Monster Mike Welch, Kid Ramos, Dennis Brennan, Jimi Bott, Sugaray Rayford, Willie J. Campbell, and Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson to contribute to his newest recording, Why Did You Have To Go.

The album features 13 all original tunes and showcases the blues, R&B, and even a bit of jazz. Though based in Massachusetts, he spent sometime in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the epicenter of the delta blues, as he wrote songs for the album and the influence shines through on the song, Baptized in the River Yazoo.  My favorite on the album is the title cut, a great soulful R&B tune. I also loved Fly On the Wall, Don’t the Grass Look Greener, and the down the bayou feel of Long Way Home. And if all that wasn’t enough, the song My Last Good Bye is some great deep down grindin’ blues.

Overall, this is an joyous celebration of the blues….a worthy addition to my collection and hopefully yours!