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| July 23, 2009 |
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| Hey Blues Fans, The 2009 Blues Blast Music Awards voting is open until August 31st. You can win free prizes in our weekly drawings for voters. HAVE YOU VOTED YET? To vote now CLICK HERE. If you are not familiar with all the artists nominated visit the "listening page" our friends at GLT Blues Radio 24/7 created where you can sample the music of the nominees BEFORE you vote. To check out the website and begin listening to these great artists now, CLICK HERE. Blues Wanderings We went went to the Nothin' But The Blues Festival last weekend. The show featured some great Blues acts including Harper, Big James and the Chicago Playboys and Sharrie Williams pictured below. We will have a complete review and photos of all the fun next week. In this issue - Blues Reviews and MORE! Mike O'Cull reviews a new CD from Cal Williams Jr. Eric Steiner reviews a new CD by Dave Acari. Steve Jones reviews a new CD by Rich Berry. Mark Thompson reviews a CD by Mike Benno. Joan Turner reviews a new CD by Homemade Jamz Blues Band. Gary “Wingman” Weeks reviews a new CD by Sean Chambers Bob Kieser reviews day two of the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. Our Blues Video of the Week is Blues Blast Music Award nominee Joanne Shaw Taylor playing "Blackest Day" from her Debut CD. |
 | 12th Annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest Friday, July 31, 2009 Queenie & The Blue Cats Curtis Salgado The Groove Hogs Ana Popovic The Swamp Kings Saturday, August 1, 2009 Perry Weber & The Devilles, Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers Johnny Rawls Lil' Brian & The Zydeco Travelers Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam Jon Justice
Festival Website www.prairiedogblues.com |
| The only Blues festival held on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River! Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on St. Feriole Island | |
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| Blues Musicians Place Your Want Ad here for FREE "workin Blues performers" ONLY can place Want Ads here for FREE. NO Commercial Ads! Keyboard Player Available For Gigs Great Keyboard player available for gigs. Can play piano, organ and back up horn sounds and much more. See current solo site and current band site at: www.myspace.com/michaelhepner www.elwoodsplintersbluesband.com Contact "Detroit" Mike at 574-202-7603 Singer Looking For Band Blues& Jazz singer with original songs looking for a band, check out www.jamesvanburen.com click the bottom of home page to hear my best selling single. James Van Buren jvb25@att.net All ads submitted will be used if space allows. If space is limited, ads will be randomly selected to appear in the Blues Blast. Ads may be edited. Send your ad submission to |
Featured Blues Review 1 of 6
| Self Release Cal Williams Jr. is a fine, understated acoustic blues and slide guitarist from Australia and seems to be generating a big noise ‘down under’. He has been voted South Australian Songwriter of the Year three times, has performed at a variety of leading U.K. venues and festivals including the Leeds In-The-City Festival, the Famous Spiegeltent, the Edinburgh Festival fringe, the Beverley and East Riding Festival, H2004 and H2005 Scarborough Beached Festival, Musicport World Music Festival, Baysound Festival and The St. Ives September Fringe, and has recently put forth his latest recorded effort, Morning Star. One listen and it is easy to see why Williams has been successful at his work and why he has shared stages with the likes of Billy Bragg, KT Tunstall, and Martin Simpson. His thing is folk/acoustic blues music with an occasional hippy vibe thrown in for good measure. Morning Star has a gentle, soothing quality and is a great alternative when you want some blues, but don’t really need the sting of a Stratocaster. Williams’ laid-back vocal delivery and gorgeous acoustic guitar sound drift out of your speakers and envelop you and pull you into his musical world, which could be compared to the one inhabited by icons like Ry Cooder and Rory Block. The album’s opener, the instrumental “GreyHound”, begins with an almost New Age feel, which catches the listener off guard. This is supposed to be blues, right? Well, these are Cal’s blues, and he plays them as he pleases, with all of his influences thrown in. The track does develop more rootsy flavor as it progresses, which should make the stalwarts happy. “Mexico City Blues” is like listening to an acoustic Canned Heat with Skip James singing lead and has a very cool 70’s sort of thing to it. Through it all, Williams paints vivid pictures of landscapes and the people within them and is obviously as much of a songwriter as a guitarist. Cal Williams Jr. is one that blues fans who are looking for something a bit different may want to keep their ears pealed for. Reviewer Mike O'Cull is a noted Chicago music writer and Blues Blast contributor. Visit his MySpace page at: For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Cal Williams Jr. - Morning Star| The BEST Way To Promote YOUR Next Blues Project! BANDS, BARS, AND LABELS: Is your promo material getting you the gigs and business you desire? If not, call music journalist and copy writer Mike O'Cull for all your promotional needs. Mike is a veteran music journalist and musician and writes for the Illinois Entertainer, IllinoisBlues.com, and www.Chicagomusicguide.com and can deliver the highest quality promotional writing around quickly and at a reasonable price. Mike's specialties include bios, press releases, liner notes, and web content. Full press kit design, including graphics, is also available. Clients include The Joe Moss Band, Carl Davis, TruSoul Entertainment, B.A. S. Entertainment, and many others. Samples available on request. Email mocull@mac.com , call Mike O'Cull Music at 847-608-0357, or visit us online at www.myspace.com/mikeocullmusic for more information. Mention the Blues Blast for a $10 new customer discount. |
| The Blues Blast Music Awards recognize the best Blues performers and their music. Our nominators included Radio stations, Blues DJ's, Blues Bloggers, Blues Critics, Journalists, Festival Promoters, Managers, Musicians and Blues Societies. They have nominated the BEST in Blues Music today. To vote now CLICK HERE. BE AN INFORMED VOTER - If you are not familiar with all of the 2009 nominees, GLT Blues Radio 24/7 has a created a "listening page" where you can sample the music of the nominees BEFORE you vote. To check out the website and begin listening to these great artists now, CLICK HERE Voting continues until August 31st. Details of the Awards show on October 29th, 2009 at Buddy Guy's Legends coming soon. | |
| Best Contemporary Blues Recording " At Least I’m Not With You” The Insomniacs "Love Me Tonight" John Nemeth “Live at Chan’s Vol 2” Nick Moss "Clean Getaway" Curtis Salgado "What Love Will Do" Janiva Magness "Never going Back" Shemekia Copeland | Best Blues Band Nick Moss and The Flip Tops Lil Ed And The Blues Imperials Kilborn Alley Blues Band Mannish Boys The Insomniacs Watermelon Slim and The Workers |
| Best Traditional Blues Recording "Chicago Blues: A Living History" Various Artists "Sweeheart Like You" Guy Davis "All Original" John Primer "Lowdown Feelin" Mannish Boys "Blues Attack" Shirley Johnson "One Kind Favor" BB King | Best Male Blues Artist John Primer Bobby Jones Nick Moss Lurrie Bell John Nemeth Elvin Bishop |
| Best Blues Song “Bad Year Blues” Albert Castiglia "At Least I'm Not With You" - The Insomniacs "Mr. Coffee" Chris James & Patrick Rynn "20 Years of B.B. King" Curtis Salgado "Let Life Flow" Kenny Neal "See That My Grave is Kept Clean" BB King | Best Female Blues Artist Shirley Johnson Robin Rogers Diunna Greenleaf Shemekia Copeland Eden Brent Janiva Magness |
| Best New Artist Debut "Stop And Think About It" Chris James & Patrick Rynn "White Sugar" Joanne Shaw Taylor "Austin To Chicago" Dave Herrero "2 Man Wrecking Crew" Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm "Livin It" Guy King "Mississippi Number One" Eden Brent | Sean Costello Rising Star Award Eden Brent Kilborn Alley Blues Band Joanne Shaw Taylor Albert Castiglia Dave Gross Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm |
Blues Society News
Send your Blues Society's BIG news or Press Release to: Please submit a maximum of 175 words or less in a Text or Word format ONLY. Magic City Blues Society - Birmingham. AL Magic City Blues Society presents Junk Yard Juke, August 15, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at 430 41st Street South Washington Blues Society - Seattle, WA The Washington Blues Society IBC 2010 Competition - WBS will host local competitions to send a band and a solo/duo act to the 2010 International Blues Challenge (IBC). The semi-final band competition will be held Sunday, July 26th at the Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. The semi-final solo/duo competition will be held Sunday, August 9th at Seattle’s New Orleans Creole Restaurant. Finalists in each category will compete in the finals on Sunday, August 23rd at the Highway 99 Blues Club. If the WBS receives more than 10 applicants in either category, the Board may select applicants via a lottery at the July 14th Blues Bash at the Red Crane in Shoreline. One winner in each category will represent the WBS in the 2010 IBC in Memphis, January 20-23. Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation criteria ( www.blues.org/ibc/scoring.php), and not be affiliated with the WBS Board or any contestant. Contestant applications are due July 13th from www.wablues.org, and IBC rules are at www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php. More info: Eric Steiner (president@wablues.org). River City Blues Society- Peoria, IL The River City Blues Society's Wednesday Blues Series features the best traveling regional and National Blues musicians each Wednesday at 7:00pm. The shows are held at the Dragon's Dome, 3401 Griffin Ave in Pekin, IL. Admission is $4. Shows scheduled are: July 29 - Jon Justice Band, August 5th - The Dave Chastain Band The Natchel’ Blues Network - Norfolk, VA The Natchel’ Blues Network and Beach Events Presents the 16th Annual Blues at the Beach Festival, September 11-13, 2009, Beachstreet Pavilion - 17th St. Stage, Virginia Beach VA. Free and open to everyone. The lineup includes Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Sherman Robertson, The Deanna Bogart Band , Li’l Ronnie’s Blues Harmonica Revue, The JW-Jones Blues Band w/ Little Charlie Baty, Nick Curran, Matt Wigler, The Buddy Parker Band, Planet Full of Blues and The Blues Cats. Blues workshops will be presented on-site over the course of the weekend, featuring national and local artists TBA. The workshops are part of the festival, and are free and open to the public. For further information concerning the Blues Festival weekend, please contact: Mark Johnson, 757-344-6637 (C) blues1mark@aim.com or visit the Natchel Blues Network at http://www.natchelblues.org The Arkansas River Blues Society - Little Rock, Arkansas The Arkansas River Blues Society presents a monthly Blues jam at Juanita’s, 1300 Main Street, Little Rock, Arkansas the first Tuesday of every month. The next jam will be September 1, 2009, at 8 pm. The jam will feature a different house band each month. G - Funk The Tree Trunk will be our house band. You can check this band out on our myspace site. Admission is $5 for the public and $3 for members of ARBS. Participating musicians are FREE and this is an open jam. For more information contact Babs at 501-920-7783 or check out www.myspace.com/arriverbluessociety Friends Of The Blues Shows - Kankakee IL The Friends of the Blues 2009 Blues concert Series shows for July. Tuesday, July 28 – CHICAGO KINGSNAKES, 7 p.m. Early Show, Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen Club, 2672 Chippewa Drive, Bourbonnais IL (815) 937-0870. Some Great Chicago Blues! Central Mississippi Blues Society – Jackson, MS The CMBS presents Blue Monday at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St., Jackson, MS) every Monday night. Doors open @ 8:00 and music begins @ 8:30. Cover is $5. The Blue Monday Band is comprised of the “best of the best “ musicians in the Central MS area. Featured artists are King Edward, lead guitar/vocalist and Pat Brown, Abdul Rasheed and Dennis Fountain as vocalists. Other regular band members are Dwight Ross and Rick Lewis (drums), Keith Collins (bass), Johnny Sharpe (keys) and Malcolm Shepherd (CMBS President) on Congas. Most of these musicians appeared in The Last of the Mississippi Jukes. The Blue Monday Band plays the first set and then the event turns into a jam. For more info see: www.centralmississippibluessociety.com or call Peggy Brown @ 601-613-7377 Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL The Illinois Central Blues Club will be conducting its Third Annual Blues Challenge during the Old Capitol Blues & Barbeque, August 29, 2009 beginning at noon. Deadline to apply is July 15, 2009. Official rules can be viewed on the ICBC’s website, www.icbluesclub.org . The Challenge includes both the band competition and the solo/duo competition on the same day. The winner of the band challenge will receive $1,000 and the winner of the solo/duo challenge will receive $500 in travel monies to represent the Club at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN January 20-23, 2010. Inquiries regarding this press release should be directed to Mark Edmiston, President of the Illinois Central Blues Club, at (217) 679-0721 or e-mail markredmiston@msn.com BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $2 cover - July 27 Bill Evans |
Featured Blues Review 2 of 6
| Dave Arcari’s CD sounds like it’s straight out of Greenville, Mississippi rather than this Scottish guitarist’s Glasgow. Dave Arcari has released a CD with a baker’s dozen of ragged and rough-hewn blues built around his National steel guitar, and he’s an in-demand, award-winning bluesman across the pond. Last year, Dave was a featured player at the North by North East festival in Toronto (Canada’s response to the call of Austin’s SXSW), and he was a finalist in the best male solo artist category in the United Kingdom Indy Music Awards. He’s touring 150+ nights a year throughout the UK, with stops in Germany, France, Estonia, and Finland. Dave also has a considerable rock resume, but I’m glad that he’s focused on that National (as opposed to those everpresent Marshall stacks). Got Me Electric is Dave’s got four other well-regarded blues CDs (Blue Country Steel, Something Old/Something Borrowed Volumes 1 and 2, and Come With Me), and I hope that his latest Buzz records release gets him greater recognition and airplay stateside. There are 10 original cuts on Got Me Electric, but especially appreciate his fine, gentle, and nuanced playing on the classic “Soul of a Man,” and ragged, forceful delivery on “One More Heartbreak.” Fans of troubadour-styled acoustic blues will warm to the story behind “Parcel of Rogues,” the upbeat, country-blues inflected “Hear Me Coming,” and the plugged-in and ragged (guitar done Hound Dog Taylor-style, vocals stretched to their breaking point a la the Wolf) tribute to Robert Johnson, “Walkin’ Blues.” This year, Dave will play the prestigious Smokie Blues Festival in Carnoustie, and the bill also features international blues acts like Papa Mojo, Dr. Bendix, and one of my favorite young guns of British blues, Ian Siegel. Dave’s keeping some pretty good company, and I’m glad he got himself electric. Fair warning: if you like your blues smooth with crooning vocals, I’m sorry to say that this CD is not for you. However, if you appreciate blues played on a National steel guitar with a few rough edges now and then with vocals to match, I highly recommend Got Me Electric. . Reviewer Eric Steiner is the President of the Washington Blues Society, the proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation. For more information, you can email Eric at president@wablues.org and visit www.wablues.org For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Dave Arcari - Got Me Electric
Featured Blues Review 3 of 6
| 10 tracks/32:14 Older listeners may remember Marc Benno from his partnership in the late 1960’s with Leon Russell in the Asylum Choir. The guitarist cut several solo recordings in the following decade. After a long absence, Benno started issuing new recordings six years ago on his own label. This title is a re-issue of a project from 2004 that features eight original tunes and two more that Benno co-wrote with Gary Nicholson. The photos that accompany the disc all feature Benno with his 70’s vintage Fender Stratocaster. He handles all of the guitar parts and lead vocals as well as adding keyboards on several tracks. The rhythm section consists of Jack Barber on bass and George Rains on drums. Both were long-time associates of the late Doug Sahm. Additional support comes from Al Gomez on trumpet, Louie Bustos on tenor sax and Sauce Gonzalez on Hammond organ and piano. Benno has a clean, fluid style on guitar with a definite Texas feel that one would expect from a musician that started out his career in Austin. The lone instrumental, “Tip Jar,” is a concise example of Benno’s guitar sound, which favors tone and feel in place of speedy runs up & down the guitar neck. On the slow blues tune, “My Baby’s a Gambler”, Marc punctuates his gritty vocal with taut guitar licks that make this track one of the highlights of the disc. The opening tracks benefit from the presence of the horns. “Terminal Case of the Blues” is a rough-edged rocker while “Alone in San Antone” is a swinging shuffle, the kind of tune that Sahm used throughout his career. Benno’s voice fails him a bit on “Texas Oil Driller”. He has a limited range and can’t quite muster the power that the track requires. But Jim McFarlin shines on piano and Benno overdubs a slide guitar part in addition to his Strat work. He fares better on “Too Bad You’re Good”, a tune better suited for his singing capabilities. Gonzalez provides superb support on the organ. He turns in his strongest vocal on “Chance on You”, singing at the upper end of his range without straining his voice. The disc closes with another hard-driving track, “Thing or Two”, with more fine guitar work from Benno. While Benno may not be the most compelling singer, he definitely is a guitar player worth a listen. He also ably demonstrates his talent as a songwriter throughout the disc. Other than the short playing time, I Got It Bad is a strong collection that certainly deserves another chance to reach a wider audience. Reviewer Mark Thompson is president of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Marc Benno - I Got It BadBlues Video of the Week
| This week we feature Blues Blast Music Award nominee Joanne Shaw Taylor performing the last song on her debut CD live this past April. This girl ain't no sissy guitar player! Check out this video to see what it means to play like a girl! We need more female Blues guitar players! To see this cool video on our website, click the play button below. . For other videos on our website CLICK HERE. |
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Live Blues Music Review
| IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival - Day Two - July 3rd,2009 The 25th Mississippi Valley Blues Festival day two in Le Claire Park in Davenport, Iowa featured some huge Blues names and a few new ones that may be around for awhile. Kicking off the show on the main stage this day was one of the new ones, the Avey Brothers. The Avey Brothers won the 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge sending them to Memphis to compete in the 2009 International Blues Challenge last February. They have proved they have staying power by winning the 2009 Iowa Blues Challenge to represent the state of Iowa in Memphis again next January at the 20010 International Blues Challenge. They kicked it up a notch for this show with "Detroit" Larry Davison sitting in on harp. Starting off on the tent stage banjo master T. J. Wheeler. He got the crowd singing and clapping along. Wheeler served as a great warm up for a true legend who took the stage next, David "Honeyboy" Edwards. Most folks know that Honeyboy is the last of the original Delta Bluesmen. As he will tell you, he was there the night Robert Johnson was murdered. There was a slight delay as Honeyboy and his good friend and partner Michael Frank waited for Hawkeye Herman to find a guitar. Honeyboy insisted that Hawkeye play the set with him and Michael and it was a great combination. We've caught Honeyboy's show quite a few times in the last couple years and this was the most energetic set we have ever seen him do. Not bad for a guy who just turned 94 years old the week before the fest! Back on the band shell stage, Iowa Bluesman Ellis Kell played a hot set of blues. His guitar playing is pretty amazing. His slide playing got the crowd going too. Next up was Eugene Hideaway Bridges all the way from Huston, Texas. Eugene is the real deal. Man this guy can wail on the guitar. His singing and songwriting skills are awesome too making him the complete package. He is definitely a "must see" if he plays anywhere near you! Back in the tent stage Fiona Boyes hit the stage and easily won over the crowd with her solo set, playing a mean guitar and singing songs from her last CD. She is a master storyteller too and this Australian Blues woman will definitely change your idea of what it means to " play like a girl"! This gal knows what to do with the business end of a guitar. Next up on the tent stage was jazz artist Dee Alexander. She provided a nice break from the constant Blues by showing a jazzy side of the Blues. Back on the band shell stage Ric E Bluez provided a great set of soul Blues for the crowd. The evening finally brought the headliners on both stages. On the tent stage Sugar Pie DeSanto provided a bawdy set of blues that the crowd loved. At the age of 74 this little lady is a ball of musical energy bounding form one side of the stage to the other and jumping off the stage at times to get up close and personal with her audience. This is another of those "must see" acts so look for her near you and check her out! The final act on the Band Shell stage was Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater. You know you are in for a great performance when ever Eddy performs and this evening was no exception. Eddy had the crowd going and was a fitting end to day two of the 25th Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. We would be back the next day for one more day of great Blues. Stay tuned next week for day three! Review and photos by Blues Blast editor Bob Kieserl |
Featured Blues Review 4 of 6
| Self-Produced 11 tracks/38:01 When you think about Kansas City, what first comes to your mind may be good barbeque. Well, in addition to good barbeque, there also happens to be a bluesman there who can play and sing traditional folk blues who just might surprise you. Rich Berry has played music regionally for over 40 years and he’s lately been on the move to perhaps become a national act. He participated in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 in addition to playing a lot of festivals over the last few years. His style is traditional acoustic blues and his stated and obvious influences were the masters of the Mississippi Delta and Chicago blues. Berry sings and plays both guitar (acoustic and resonator with slide) and harp. 10 of the 11 tracks feature Rick playing and singing solo while the other one includes Jim Brown on bass. His guitar picking is nicely done and the harp is clean and bright. His voice gives his music a lonely, airy tone with headiness, which fits the tone of most of songs; they tend to be about loves lost, gained, regained, maintained or destroyed. Ah, the blues! “The Devil Takes Care of His Own” is a spiffy little song about…well, you can guess what it’s about. He sings that he’s carrying a mojo with him (the old black cat’s bone) and a Saint Christopher medal that all hang from his mike and that have been blessed by a voodoo queen. But he claims he’s still looking over his shoulder because “The Devil Takes Care of His Own.” In another nice cut, he owns up to his responsibilities in bad relations and admits in song and title, “I’ve Got No Alibi.” “Make a Fuss” is another great track and there are 8 other equally good tracks, not overly complex, but all just straight up and regular blues that are executed by man who really seems to enjoy playing and singing. Rick’s songs are about his life, your life, my life, anyone’s life. They are filled with simple complaints, pleas, wishes, hopes and dreams; a regular guys’ life’s set of woes and pleasures. He sounds as if he’s your neighbor, strumming while blowing harp or singing. Pop a beer or grab soft drink, get a chair or comfy seat, turn on this CD and sit back and relax to the blues in a neighborly way as it was, is and always will (or at least should) be! Reviewer Steve Jones is Secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Rich Berry - Headin’ South On a Delta Breeze| Blues Blast Magazine - Summer Advertising SALE! Blues Blast Magazine is running an advertising special for Blues festivals and new CD releases during July through October. Are you a promoter or a Blues Society having a festival anytime during July through October? Is your band's CD being released in the coming months? If so we are offering a great deal to get the Blues word out for you. Your ad can be seen each week by 13,000 Blues fans in all 50 states and in 60 countries for a very low price of $30 a week. (Four Week minimum!) So for the low price of $120 your ad will be seen more than 50,000 times by real Blues fans. How is that for a deal? You want more you say? OK then we recommend our combo rate where for an additional $20, your ad will also run at the same time on our website at TheBluesBlast.com. Our website gets 17,000 visitors and more than 900,000 hits each month. The sale prices are good for ad space reserved through July 31st, 2009. Available advertising space is limited and is offered on a first come, first served basis so contact us today at |
Featured Blues Review 5 of 6
| Fans hungry for more from this amazing North Mississippi trio will find a feast in this sensational new album from Northern Blues Music. The Perry siblings, Ryan, sixteen, lead guitar and vocals; Kyle, fourteen, bass; and Taya, ten, drums, burst upon the blues music scene in 2007, placing second in the band category in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis against a field of a hundred and the rest is legend. Not only were they the youngest blues band to sign with a major recording company, their smash debut album for Northern Blues Music, Pay Me No Mind, rocked Billboard Charts for seven weeks and garnered the band a nomination for the coveted Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut, 2008. Their momentum continues. Homemade Jamz has been featured on the TV programs “Today Show,” (NBC), “All Things Considered” (NPR) and “Sunday Morning News” (CBS) and is in demand for festivals and other events everywhere. And their music keeps getting better. I’ve Got Blues For You features twelve tracks, eleven of which are original numbers penned by their father Renaud Perry, who not only creates the unique handmade guitars Ryan and Kyle play but joins in with some rich harmonica work on several songs, including the rocking “Hobo Man” and the smoking title track “I Got Blues for You.” Ryan’s wailing guitar work and throaty vocals backed by Kyle and Taya’s strong percussion keep the beat jumping on the Titus Turner cover “Grits Ain’t Groceries,” and from the up-tempo “Hard Headed Woman” to the sweet love ballad “Heaven Lost an Angel” to the traditional low down blues grooves of “In the Wind,” this album is a winner. An immediate sensation from day one, Homemade Jamz proves once again they are no flash in the pan. I’ve Got Blues for You is a powerful follow up to the band’s knock out debut album. Their music is only getting better. Two thumbs up for I Got Blues for You! Reviewer Joan Turner is a writer and blues fan from North Mississippi Hill County who frequently covers the Deep South blues scene. Her reviews, articles and fiction have appeared in over 700 print and online publications worldwide, and her article “The Ghosts of Mississippi” was voted Best Nonfiction Article of the Year in the Preditors’ and Editors’ Readers’ Poll, 2005. For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Homemade Jamz Blues Band - I Got Blues For You| | New CD From South Side Cindy & The Slip Tones This Time To listen & purchase this CD now - CLICK HERE
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Featured Blues Review 6 of 6
| Independent Release When you grow up listening to players like B.B. King, Howlin Wolf, Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters, you're getting the best education in learning how to play the blues. And when you work your way into becoming Hubert Sumlin's guitarist and bandleader, then that's an additional feather in your hat. Not bad for Florida's own Sean Chambers who has just released his third cd entitled "Ten Til Midnight." Traces of Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan can be found in Sean's playing. Yet they are only reference points for a brand of blues rock that owes to a wide spectrum of influences and not pigeonholed to limited sources. When you listen to Chambers' rendition of Luther Allison's "All The Kings Horses," the guitar-work sounds like Walter Trout when he was starting out at the age of twenty. Sean has strong backing from drummer Paul Broderick and bassist Tim Blair. But the contributions of other players can't be ignored. Gary Keith's harmonica provides jukejoint nuance in the upbeat "Blues And Rock 'N' Roll." Jack Henriquez hits them piano keys heavily on Eddie Jones' "You're Gonna Miss Me" which is a spiritual cousin of Muddy Water's "Cant Be Satisfied." Sean is hitting his stride as a songwriter. He pours a bleeding heart into "In The Winter Time" with his Strat that just bends, twists and howls notes. He does a pretty good Billy Gibbons vocal impersonation of ZZ Top's riff-rocker "Brown Sugar." It might be difficult for Chambers getting away from the strong grasp of Muddy Waters. The slide dobro of "I Don't Know Why" and electric slide of "When I Get Lonely" both bear the seal of Mckinley Morganfield. Chambers is not signed with any big label yet. Once he shops this release around, he shouldn't have any problems in hooking up a company who love their guitar players loud with rocking doses of the blues. Review by Gary “Wingman” Weeks For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Sean Chambers - Ten Til Midnight
Live Blues Calendar
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Performance dates were submitted by Musicians, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Blues festivals. TheBluesBlast.com is not responsible for errors or omissions.
or click a state to see Blues shows by State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Performance dates submitted by Musicians, Clubs, Blues Societies and Blues festivals. The BluesBlast.com is not responsible for errors or omissions. |
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