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| FREE Blues Internet Magazine | from IllinoisBlues.com | April 24, 2008 |
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| Hey Blues Fans,
It was a busy Blues week! Since we found quite a bit of Blues right in our own backyard last week, we decided to venture out a bit further this week. Here is a summary of our 800 miles of Blues travels and fun. Thursday we made it to Bradley, IL to catch the fun at Brandon Casey as "The Friends of the Blues" put on another early show bringing Smokin Joe Kubek and Bnois King to town for another well attended Blues event. This band is really hot right now as they are touring to support their newest CD release Blood Brothers. (Alligator Records)
See all the pictures CLICK HERE
Then on Saturday we made it to a show put on by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society in Davenport, IA. They brought John Nemeth with Junior Watson along with Mark Hummel's rhythm section in for a show at Blueport Junction. It was easy to see why Junior Watson is regarded so highly especially among guitar players. Pure Blues genius! John Nemeth is a 2008 Blues Music Award nominee for "Best New Artist Debut" for his current CD Magic Touch.
To see all the pictures CLICK HERE
Finally just to put a few more miles on the car at $3.50 a gallon, we made it to Illinois Central Blues Club's "Blue Monday" show in Springfield, IL to hear Bryan Lee and the Blues Power Band at the Alamo. If you are not familiar with Bryan you should be. Check out this clip of Bryan fronting a band that includes Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Hubert Sumlin on the Tonight show - CLICK HERE Bryan was great this night singing his heart out and playing blazing Blues for a very appreciative crowd. Another great thing about seeing Bryan is his other guitar player Brent Johnson. Brent know how to lay back and let Bryan shine but man when this kid takes off on a lead or breaks out his slide you are in for a real treat. Don't miss Bryan and this fine young guitarist if they come anywhere near you!
See all the picture of the Blue Monday fun, CLICK HERE
MORE Blues Reviews James Walker reviews a CD by The Mud Angels. Ben Cox sends in a review of the new CD by Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone and Chicago Editor Lordy is back this week with a show review by The Harry Garner Band at The Pump Room. All this and much More! SCROLL DOWN! |
Chicago Blues Update
| Live Blues reviews by Chicago Blues editor Lordy Blues Beat: Chicago (Photos by August Lord) The Harry Garner Band at The Pump Room . CLICK HERE to visit Lordy's website at ChicagoBluesBeat.com To see a Chicago Area list of upcoming events CLICK HERE If you know of a Chicago Blues event or news, please send it to |
| | Barstool Blues New Release by Big Paw Records Chicago style Blues Guitar
Chicago Bluesman Bob Levis with a host of Chicago area Blues greats including Lonnie Brooks, Brother Dave Kaye, Steve Ditzell, Westside Andy Linderman, Dennis "Link" Leary, Larry Pendelton, Jimmy Voegeli, Ted Lawrence, Marty Binder and Dave Wood.
"Authentic sound, infused with gritty energy of Chicago Blues." - Blues Blast Magazine
CLICK HERE to Purchase this CD
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Click image above to visit our website for more info!
(Note: Our prayers are with Little Arthur! The Backscratchers will perform with another harmonica player if Arthur is unable to perform.)
Featured Blues Review (1 0f 2) SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE
| Self Release - www.mudangels.com 12 songs; 52:14 minutes; Splendid Genre: Blues-Rock Help! I’ve fallen in the mud, and I can’t get up. I am not calling for rescue; I am calling for company! Join me, neck-deep-in-love with the slide guitar opening, rocking rhythm, two six string mid-song solos, and angelic vocals from the Mud Angels’ debut album’s first track, “Derailed.” The album is a wealth of vocal and guitar melodies, performed by front woman Laura "Torch" England and lead guitarist Kenny Cobb. Sure, it’s a CD from a “regional band” in the Madison, Wisconsin area, but so what. Even The Beatles were a local hit before their inter-galactic success. Laura England is the real star in this tone-rich, guitar-driven outing. The timbre of her voice instantly calls one’s attention away from even an interesting task, and she is wonderfully versatile across varying styles, emotions, intensities, and ranges. Her comely looks (seen in the liner photos) put the peanut butter square in the middle of this chocolate bar. England also shines as a songwriter; she crafted all of her vocal melodies, most of the lyrics, and some of the song structures. Born and raised in North Carolina, England only in recent years began singing Blues. Blues and Rock highlight the strength and style of her voice. "The expressive and challenging melodies of the blues feel so natural -- it’s like this is where my voice belongs," says England. The Mud Angels are a Blues-Rock band justly nominated for three awards in both the 2007 and the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards competition (Female Vocalist of the Year, Blues Song of the Year, and Blues Artist of the Year). Their sound is created by England on vocals, Kenny Cobb and Jackson on guitars, Mike Burden on bass guitar, and Andy Mosey on drums. At the band’s core are Andy Mosey, Mike Burden, and Jackson, who have been playing together in various forms for more than ten years. Serendipitously, they recruited singer Laura England to front the band in the spring of 2005 and lead guitarist Kenny Cobb in the fall of 2006 to complete their guitar-driven, vocal highlighted sound. It is Cobb, the band’s newest member, who provides the stylistic adhesion that pulls together the tightness of the core and vocals with crafty fretboard fireworks to create their full and rousing sound. Through two years performing the influential bluesy tunes of powerhouses like Susan Tedeschi (to whom England is frequently compared), Sue Foley, Candye Kane and The Allman Brothers Band, the Mud Angels steadily added original songs to their set until this album shaped up. The Mud Angels released A Bolt From The Blue in February 2008. The record includes 12 original tunes with a variety of styles coming from having three writers in the band, Laura England, Kenny Cobb and Jackson. The record showcases many moods, like slow, sexy numbers "You Sang My Note," "Bring Color Back," and "River Landing." "Kiss Me Slow" is downright sensual while "You Say I'm Picky" exudes sassy confidence. "On My Side" finds England chastising a selfish lover for soured love, but singing sweet devotion on "I Gotta Know." "Tell Me Where We're Going" and "It's Late" are flat out, catchy-guitar-hook, rocking blues. Jackson takes a turn at vocals on his edgy and bitter lyrics found in "Politics." But, for a fun oddity, try the 90-miles-per-hour Rock and Rolling ode to sweet summer fruit, “Summer Tomatoes.” How many varieties of love apples can you name? There are no less than 21 types are listed in the lyrics. The Mud Angels will be touring around Wisconsin and beyond in 2008 to promote this new record, with appearances at a number of regional blues festivals. Keep an eye out and both ears open to the Mud Angels for more of their catchy originals and favorite blues rock covers! To Purchase this CD now CLICK HERE Reviewer James “Skyy Dobro” Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ and Blues Blast contributor. His weekly radio show “Friends of the Blues” can be heard each Thursday from 4:30 – 6:00pm on WKCC 91.1 FM in Kankakee, IL For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Mud Angels - A Bolt From The Blue| Click image above to visit our website for tickets and more info! |
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Bull Riding and Blues? After many failed attempts to secure a Country Band for for the Redneck Rodeo in Fort Madison, IA on April 26th, The Rodeo decided to try something different. Blues slide master Eric Sardinas And Big Motor will perform at 9:00pm followed by Freebird - The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band Start time for the rodeo is at 7:00 PM This should be a great time and very interesting. For advanced tickets ($10) contact Nichole at (319) 470-3068. Admission is $12 at the show. The host hotel is the Travelodge (formally The Iowan) (319) 372-7510. If you have not seen Eric Sardinas LIVE and Outdoors, don't miss this! |
Blues Want Ads
| Place Your Blues Musician Want Ad here for FREE Blues Society Seeks Artist Dressing Trailers for Blues Festival The Mississippi Valley Blues Society (Davenport, IA) seeks some Blues fans who have a large vacation trailer and want to attend one of the best Blues Festivals on the planet for FREE. If you have a large travel trailer, touring coach or motor home (Air Stream etc) that we could use as a dressing room for our festival performers during the MVBS festival (July 3-5th, 2008) we can offer FREE VIP backstage passes and Hotel accommodations at our Festival hotel (The Lodge) in Davenport, IA in return for the use of your mobile trailer. For more information please contact the MVBS office at (563) 322-5837 or by email at mvbs@mvbs.org Venue Wanted for Blues Jam The Twist and The Groove Machaine Band are looking for a new home to host open night jams for thursday nights. We are out of the Will county area (Illinois). We have a good following, just need a good place to host. so if you are a bar, club, or theatre owner and you have live blues and R&B and can open your doors to us. Then drop us a line at jeffruffinsgiftworld@yahoo.com We just closed out a two (2 1/2 ) year run in Plainefield,I L. You can see video clips at myspace.com/jeffruffinthemuffinman Equipment For Sale Hartke XL 4-10 400 watt bass cabinet with cover. Used very little. $285.00. Cedar Rapids, IA.319.365.2686 evulich@mchsi.com "workin Blues performers" can place Want Ads here for FREE. NO Commercial Ads! 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 |
| The Rutledge Youth Foundation’s A Night Of Blues Friday, April 25th, 2008 - 7:00 PM Capital City Bar and Grill FREE Admission Introducing Tombstone Bullet With special guests SHUN KIKUTA Elizabeth Eckert (of American Idol) Luca Giordano (Italian Blues Artist) Brother Ray and the Blades |
| Thursday, May 22 - Saturday, May 24, 2008 Email: bluesandthespirit@dom.edu Phone: (708) 524-6050 | A Symposium on the Legacy of Blues & Gospel Music Dominican University (located just minutes from the Chicago Loop) hosts the Blues and the Spirit Symposium, emphasizing the heritage of African-American Chicago and exploring the shared roots of Blues and Gospel.
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Blues Link of the Week
| http://blindman.forumhoster.com The Blindman's Blues Forum is a Blues Blog. This is a place Blues fans and musicians can read about or participate in contemporary discussions about any Blues topic. You do not have to "join" to just read what is going on but if you join (It's Free!) you can start Blues discussion topics and reply or comment on any on going discussion thread. It is a great place to read about subjects such as Rock, Soul & Folk Blues, Pre War and Post War Blues and more. It is also a great place to go if you have a question about any Blues topic. The Bloggers on this forum are mighty friendly and they probably have an answer to your Blues question. Enjoy, and tell them the Blues Blast sent ya! For more Blues links, CLICK HERE to visit the IllinoisBlues.com Links Page |
| Looking for Blues CD's by independent artists? It's easy to find it here because Blues is all they have! Looking for a way to market your bands Blues music? At BluesDetour.com you can find independent Blues artists and their music. Blues Fans can browse and purchase music from the independent Blues artists. Blues artists now have a place to sell their Blues music to fans worldwide! |
Blues Society News
| Send your Blues Society's BIG news or Press Release to: Max of 125 words, Text or Word file ONLY. Illinois Central Blues Club Springfield, IL - Blue Mondays On April 28. 2008 the Illinois Central Blues Club brings BMA nominees the Kilborn Alley Blues band to the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 Music starts at 8:30pm - $2 cover. The Blues Blowtorch Society - Bloomington, IL Blues Blowtorch Society presents Too Slim and The Tail Draggers Thursday, May 08, 2008 in a 7:00 PM Early Show at NV Ultra Lounge, 107 East Beaufort St. Normal, Illinois 61761 Tickets are $5.00 At The Door |
Featured Blues Reviews (2 0f 2) SCROLL UP FOR MORE
| Harmonotone Records Run Time: 70:27 (live recording) The Northwest in recent years has been a hotbed for new blues talent. However, Kim Field and his Mighty Titans of Tone have been plugging away as barnstormers on their own and in various bands in Seattle WA for well over 30 years. Touting themselves as, “Little Walter brawling with the Thunderbirds while a spaghetti western soundtrack plays in the background,” make a sound statement on their national release. Musicianship is the supreme element and talent in this band. Normally, dual lead guitars in a blues band frighten me a little as it leaves plenty of room for some wanking to occur. You’ll get none of that here. In this album full of mostly covers and usually touted as classic cuts, it leaves no room for said guitar vomit and the musicians prove it. Field has a pure harmonica tone and his voice instantly reminded me of Kim Wilson with its deep, rich baritone and emotion. Steve Yonck and Eric Daw are about as solid, tasteful and refreshing as they come when it comes to the guitar, just listen to the opening two instrumentals Pee Wee Clayton’s “Texas Hop” and Albert Collins’ “Don’t Lose Your Cool” and you’ll understand. Billy Spaulding and Brady Millard-Kish on drums and bass, sound like they’ve been playing together for years. The album makes no bones about separating tracks as they were recorded over 2 nights in September last year in Seattle. With only one track running just a smidge over seven minutes, you won’t be bored with any senseless and endless jamming. The arrangements, like the band, are tight and to the point without losing any of its entertainment power. The only fault I see in the whole production are the two vocal tracks handled by Spaulding and Daw. The vocals at best are a little weak while the musicianship carries the song. Magic Sam’s “You Belong To Me” and Ray Charles “A Fool For You” just are two tunes that have to vocally sound right and be played right to resonate. I tip my hat for the effort but, it does present a hole in the disc. However, the follow up to these two songs is the Henry Cooper/Field penned zydeco number “Dis Pas Ca” which jumps right back at you with the whole package. The band is tight and Field is in his prime or better. Look for them as they branch out on a nationwide tour this year to support the album. Visit Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone at Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kimfieldandthemightytitansoftone Ben Cox is a Blues Songwriter, Musician, DJ and Journalist. For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE. |
Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone - Blue SmokeLive Blues Calendar
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