Hawkeye Herman Update

Former Iowa bluesman (Hey, once an Iowan always an Iowan:-)  Hawkeye Herman has a video of him performing in Oregon.  To read a great article about our one of our great Iowegian exports click HERE. You can also click on the title of the blog post!  Also you can watch the video below. 

Kenny Neal Update

Great article in Tahoe.com about Kenny Neal. Neal has recovered from Hepatitis C, and has a new release on Blind Pig Records. Click HERE to read about it.

Cathy Ponton King

I miss diggin around the internet looking for new musicians, or at least new to me. Over the last year or so, I have been very lazy, or should I say a typical blogger:-) So I am crusing around on google looking for some blues and I found a cool article on the Fredrick News-Post online. Cathy Ponton King came to the blues after starting her career playing Irish music. The article (Click HERE) makes some interesting comparisons between the Irish and the blues. Certainly the Irish know something about the blues. Hundreds of years of living under British rule, in desperate poverty, and near slavery can have an effect on a people.

To check out King's website Click HERE.

Claudia Swartz And Her Merry Band Of Bluesmen

Our pal Claudia Swartz from Charlotte North Carolina and her band of bluesmen are on the cover of next magizine. To check out the story about her library jam session click HERE.

Janiva Magness Article

The Duncan Banner from Oklahoma has an interesting article about Janiva Magness. I never really knew much about her until I read the article, and I suppose the old saying that you have to live the blues to sing the blues applies to Janiva. To read her fascinating life story Click HERE.

Honey Boy Edwards/Bobby Rush Article

I found this article from the Globe and Mail in Canada about delta blues. I really don't agree with some of the article. One of the ideas is that African Americans have abandoned acoustic blues. I suppose to a reporter in Canada who doesn't specialize in blues (ie to lazy to Google it) Honey boy maybe the end of the line, but if he were to look at this website he would see quite a few African American acoustic blues performers. Just off the top of my head, I can think of Corey Harris, Keb Mo, Jerry Ricks (who just passed on last week) and quite of few of RL Burnsides kids (and he had a lot of them:-) perform acoustic blues. Heck, Keb Mo who can play Robert Johnson note, for note, including the mistakes!:-) But, hey it ruins the script that journalists love to right. African American abandon the blues, and white folks save it from the historical rubbish heap. What a load of BS. I Know the reporter is just trying to write some poetic article about the blues, but please, do a little bit of research before you start waxing poetically.

DAWG FM Canadian Blues Radio

An interesting article from the Chilliwack Times about the all blues format radio station that I mention a few months ago. I think it is great that at least in Canada someone is trying to format an all blues radio station. These guys are not only trying to get one station off the ground, but hope to get four going! To check out the story Click HERE.

Interesting Take On Blues History

I found this Blogcritic article on Memphis being the home of the blues. The main idea of the article isn't so much the claim to Memphis being the birthplace of the blues, but it is about the ups and downs of Beale Street, and the relationship between Joni Mitchell and Furry Lewis, and her song Furry's Sings The Blues which deals with the decay of Beale. I think what the author probably dosent realize is that there were hard feelings in Memphis among the black community over how Beale Street was revitilized and turned into the Disneyland of the blues. Many of the old buildings were torn down, or false facades were place over them. I suppose in away it is progress, because unlike other African American business districts that had blues and jazz, it still exists.

Joe Bonamassa Blues In Schools

Joe Bonamassa who was a child prodigy in the blues, continues to help out kids with his blues in schools program. I have posted about Joe and his program HERE and HERE

Click here for another great article about Joe and his blues in schools program. This time reported by the Green Bay Press Gazette.
I think one of the best ways to keep the blues alive is having great blues artists like Joe going into the school so the kids can hear the music. I have found that administrators, teachers, and students love the blues. I think there has always been the misconception that the music is sad, but when people hear all the variety of blues it changes their mind about the music, and they realize that the blues really can chase the blues away.

Honey Boy Edwards: Blues In Schools

A nice blues in schools article from Gazette.net, It features Honeyboy Edwards who played a blues in schools show at Georgetown Prep school in Maryland. What is amazing about Honeyboy, is that he is still doing 100 shows a year at the age of 92! Click here to read more.

The Rebirth Of Soul??

This is an interesting article from Canada's Exclaim Website. It covers a lot of ground, and makes an argument that soul is on the upsurge. From some of the new British soul hitting the charts, to the reemergence of some older soul artists, it is apparent that soul music is making a comeback. I think that this is true. I am seeing more great young soul and blues artists starting to make impacts on the scene, and certainly some of the older performers, who really never went away, are getting some attention. However, I haven't seen that with the blues yet. I would think that since soul and blues are so intertwined especially in the south, that if soul is on the upswing, then it makes sense that blues should also experience a rise. Lets hope its true!

Mem Shannon Article

a nice short article about New Orlean's Mem Shannon from Beach Connection net. Mem has gone from Taxi driver, to traveling bluesman! Read all about it HERE.

Jo Wymer Interview

An interview with a new artists who is starting to create a buzz on the east coast. Jo Wymer is a singer songwriter, and has had success with her songwriting and her band. The article is in the News Transcript from New Jersey. Read about her HERE.

More Cool Local Blues News

As you know I am a fan of local blues bands. These can be the weekend warriors, to the retired blues star who likes to stay at home. These people truly keep the blues alive. They also keep alive the local blues sound. Unlike Rock, or Country, Blues is still a local style. All towns develop their own sound. Kansas City, New Orleans, and Chicago blues are just a few examples of local blues styles. so When I come across something that promotes a local area I sometimes like to post it. In the Fayetteville Observer, from North Carolina comes an article about Claudia Swartz, who puts on a local blues showcase every year. (hmmm sounds like something I used to do:-) Brian Dukes does the reporting, and actually shows some compassion for the music, and some knowledge too. None of this blues is dying crap:-) It is a short article, but it is worth your time Click HERE to read it.

Wingnut Adams

I don't know who Wingnut Adams is. I have never heard of him, but he has an interesting name. I don't know if he realizes that "Wingnut" is slang for rightwing crazies! Perhaps he is, after all it takes all types. I certainly know a few republican blues performers, but they are few and far between:-) However, there is an interview in the Pine Tree net, which is an online news source for Calaveras County in California. there isnt a whole lot about the guy in the interview, so perhaps wingnut, is just a wingnut:-) If you would like to peruse his website CLICK HERE.

Dave Gross

I found an interesting short article about Dave Gross. He is another young guitarist who is breaking away from the conventional screaming blues guitar, and plays a variety of styles. The Montclair Times, from northern New Jersey almost seems sad to see him take off, since his CD, Take The Gamble, was nominated for best new artist debut category. Which means that he won't be playing as much in north Jersey as he used to. (Slick Ballinger won that award) For more of the article click here.

Janiva Magness Pasadena Weekly

It is interesting that after Janiva Magness got such a bad review from Blog Critic, that she went on to win female artist of the year at the BMA's and has had several nice articles printed about her including one here at the Pasadena Weekly. Of course if you go here, you can read what I think about music critics. Although Blog Critic has had some decent reviews, for the most part most people who write about music have no idea what they are talking about. I have always theorised that those who cant play, but want to play write about it. It is sort like the old adage about those who cant, teach:-) hmmmmmmmmmmm where does that put me:-)