DARREN WATSON " DARREN WATSON SINGS JOHN HIATT "

L'affermato bluesman Darren Watson torna con una nuova uscita questo mese, un album completo di canzoni di John Hiatt reinterpretate: Darren Watson Sings John Hiatt. Watson ha prodotto materiale di qualità per quasi 40 anni, iniziando negli anni '80 come frontman dei Chicago Smoke Shop (che hanno supportato la Robert Cray Band, George Thorogood and the Destroyers e i Fabulous Thunderbirds), e proseguendo dall'inizio degli anni 2000 come artista solista con sei album pubblicati con grande successo, tra cui numerose nomination agli NZ Music Award.(Tra l'altro, non ultimo tra i riconoscimenti di Watson c'è stata la recensione entusiastica che Sir John Key in persona ha dato al singolo satirico di Watson del 2014, Planet Key, che Key stesso ha definito "realizzato in modo piuttosto professionale. Era anti-americano, ma come parodia era accettabile". Nonostante le vibrazioni positive da primo ministro, la canzone ha portato Watson in tribunale contro la Commissione Elettorale, che voleva che il brano venisse bandito perché ritenuto materiale elettorale. Watson alla fine ha avuto successo, con l'Alta Corte che ha stabilito che il caso della Commissione Elettorale equivaleva a censura e violava la libertà di parola protetta.). Si tratta di circa 40 minuti di blues classico prodotto e registrato in modo impeccabile. Ci sono chitarre slide, chitarre resofoniche, contrabbasso, coriste in stile barbiere – tutto suona come se fosse stato registrato in una splendida stanza di legno con tutto il suo caldo riverbero e timbro (in realtà è stato registrato nello studio di casa di Watson, un salotto e una camera da letto riadattati). DARREN WATSON

KERRY PASTINE & THE CRIME SCENE "CITY OF LOVE"

Dicono che il cambiamento è l'unica cosa su cui puoi contare. Che si tratti della crescita di una città o dell'evoluzione di un ensemble musicale; senza crescita arriva la morte. Si potrebbe tranquillamente affermare che Kerry Pastine è un architetto di vita, amore, felicità e cambiamento; e con questo bel LP, City of Love, Kerry esplora questi temi con grazia e aplomb. Questo disco è una celebrazione dell'accoglienza della crescita a braccia aperte, mentre allo stesso tempo riconosce i dolori crescenti che possono derivarne. Ha scelto alcuni dei migliori musicisti che si esibiscono oggi per aiutare a realizzare la sua visione musicale e i risultati sono semplicemente mozzafiato. Dalla macinante passeggiata di Goin 'per Broke, alla ventosa ondata di Singapore Downbeat, la scena del crimine pone le basi per Kerry per erigere il paesaggio musicale musicale che ora tieni in mano. Una città la cui architettura è radicata nel passato, ma fa un passo audace nel futuro. Quindi sali e fatti un giro attraverso la Città dell'amore con Kerry Pastine e la scena del crimine.Le canzoni di Kerry Pastine e della scena del crimine dovrebbero essere nei film di Quentin Tarantino. C'è una ferocia negli energici spettacoli dal vivo della band; i musicisti si nutrono chiaramente l'uno dell'altro.I toni vintage oscillano e colpiscono come i primi anni '60 Wanda Jackson in possesso di una giovane Joan Jett come sostenuta dai gatti randagi. CRIME SCENE BAND

THE CASH BOX KINGS "HAIL TO THE KINGS!"

I Cash Box Kings sono dei blues autentici. Condotta dal cantante e cantautore blues di Chicago Oscar Wilson e Madison, cantautrice del Wisconsin, gigante dell'armonica e cantante Joe Nosek, la band suona blues crudamente.L'enorme, grintosa voce di Wilson e l'armonica potente di Nosek alimentano le loro canzoni originali come un rasoio. Con la loro musicalità ai massimi livelli e il loro buon umore, i Cash Box Kings sono una band blues unica nel suo genere. Secondo le parole della rivista MOJO, la band è "impeccabile". Mescolando il blues di Chicago e Delta, rock'n'roll e "bluesabilly" (il loro mix originale di Chicago blues e Memphis rockabilly), attaccano ogni canzone che suonano con autorità contemporanea e autenticità della vecchia scuola. Lo straordinario ensemble che suona tra Nosek, Wilson, il chitarrista Billy Flynn, il bassista John W. Lauler, il batterista Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith e il loro amico, pianista Queen Lee Kenehira, è una vera forza della natura. I musicisti si nutrono reciprocamente delle idee e dell'energia, passando senza sforzo da una fusa di basso respiro a un ruggito a tutto gas.Dopo l'enorme risposta critica e popolare al debutto di The Cash Box Kings nel 2017 dell'Alligator Records, Royal Mint, la band ritorna con Hail To The Kings !.La loro decima uscita in carriera. Registrato a Chicago e prodotto da Nosek, l'album contiene 13 canzoni, tra cui 11 originali scritti o co-scritti da Nosek e Wilson. “Le nostre canzoni sono tutte incentrate su argomenti della vita reale che contano: bei tempi, momenti difficili e alcune brutte situazioni. Alzeremo la voce quando dobbiamo. " THE CASH BOX KINGS

LITTLE MIKE AND THE TORNADOES "ALL THE RIGHT MOVES"

Queens native Little Mike grew up on the very competitive New York City music scene. He started playing harp at age 14 and took up piano two years later. His first brush with the blues came while hearing John Lee Hooker at Carnegie Hall and later listening to a Paul Butterfield record.After that Little Mike couldn't get enough. If a blues show was in New York City, Mike was there, especially when the Chicago players came to town. His favorite was Muddy Waters. "I used to go and see Muddy anytime he was within 150 miles of New York," he said. "He is easily the biggest influence on the band and my playing. And if it's not Muddy himself then it's the great guys he always picked to play with him, like Pinetop Perkins and Otis Spann on the piano or Little Walter and James Cotton on harp."Another musician Mike greatly admired was Paul Butterfield, who would regularly come and see Mike's band perform. He liked their old "Chess sound" and took Mike under his wing. Mike says, "He helped me become less of a blues purist, and more of a music purist. Paul opened up my playing and taught me to put my blues in other music forms, to make it very personal." Other influences cited include Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Walter Horton.After leading a series of bands as a teenager, Mike formed the Tornadoes in 1978. At age 22, Mike was leading one of the busiest and toughest blues bands in New York City. Whenever a visiting blues artist came to town and needed a band, Little Mike and the Tornadoes usually got the call, backing artists such as Walter Horton, Otis Rush, Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, and Big Mama Thornton. Mike's reputation led to the band's touring as the backing unit for blues legends such as Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, and Jimmy Rogers.Little Mike and the Tornadoes proudly describe themselves as a "working class band" that plays blues with a rock 'n' roll edge. "We all come from working class families and tough, working class neighborhoods," says Mike. "Working class people have always been our biggest supporters." Music luminaries who have sat in with the band include Robert Cray, Jaco Pastorius, Kim Wilson, Jorma Kaukonen, James Cotton, Los Lobos' Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Taj Majal.In 1988, Mike played on and produced Pinetop Perkin's first domestic release, After Hours. The following year he did the same for Hubert Sumlin's Heart & Soul. Both recordings are available on Blind Pig.In 1990, Blind Pig released the first solo album by Little Mike and the Tornadoes, Heart Attack, which Mike also produced. It features all original songs and guest appearances by Perkins, Sumlin, Butterfield, Ronnie Earl, and Big Daddy Kinsey. The album thrust the band out into the spotlight, where they began to tour almost non-stop across North America and Europe, establishing themselves as true road warriors.Little Mike's success led to a 1992 follow-up release entitled Payday. The material is once again all original and draws upon Mike's blue-collar upbringing and experience. Says Little Mike, "It's the best thing I've ever done. Best writing, best playing, and best producing. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this." LITTLE MIKE AND THE TORNADOES
 

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DOUG PRESCOTT BAND "KARMA & THE BIG CABOOSE"

Doug has been crafting his songwriting skills since the late 60's. Many bands and recordings later, 2013 saw the release of his 3rd solo effort, Blues in the Key of Sea. This new release features Billy Payne from Little Feat. This CD features what has become the core band, with special guests, including Mike Wesolowski (Blues World Order) on blues harp, Danny Gotham on mandolin, Johnny Gallagher (Ireland) on electric guitars, and Tony Bowman on keys (Edgar Winter Band) as well as engineering/co-production. Tom Maxwell (Squirrel Nut Zippers) also contributes on production. The 11 songs on this release are all over the map stylistically, yet form a cohesive Blues/Rock/Americana blend, with truth and heart at the core. One of the common threads throughout Doug's recordings have been his musical connection with Tommy Hartley, a guitar virtuoso who permeates the music. DOUG PRESCOTT BAND

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PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS "PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS"

Miles Cabeceiras writes songs that accurately describe his vision of experiencing life in South East Louisiana, from hit and miss love affairs to the simple pleasures of life on the bayou. His band of seasoned musicians, The Pontchartrain Wrecks, lend credence to his musical mission and his goal of recreating the vibe of his influences which include Tom Petty, Gram Parsons, the Rolling Stones and others.The Pontchartrain Wrecks have a great name, albeit a slightly cringe-worthy one given recent events, which unfortunately hits a little too close to home on their debut. The South span of their meat-and-potatoes radio rock can jostle you all over the place, as on “Anyway, Anyhow,” but it can also hypnotize you with its sameness; they don’t sound locked in a groove so much as stuck in a gear. PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS
 

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DAWN SHIPLEY & THE SHARP SHOOTERS "VOODOO YOU"

Baby If I Review From Fred "Virgil" Turgis - Jumpn from 6 to 6: You'll find a wide variety of genres on Dawn Shipley's second album. The opening track Bear With Me Baby is a solid rocking song with an early 60's beat. Of course, there's a majority of Rockabilles like Anyone But You (nice guitar work with some Scotty Moore echoes in it), the frantic rhythm of Baby If I, the cover of Glen Glenn's One Cup Of Coffee and on the rural edge full Moon Keeps On Shining. Empty Stretch Of Highway a haunting country song with echo on the guitar has some more modern vibes in it. I's probably one of the best cut of the album and I suppose I'm not the only one to think that because you find an alternate take more acoustic and slower that ends the album. On the traditional country side Make Believe is a true and classic Honky Tonk with good steel throughout and Patsy Cline's Crazy Dream is slightly played faster than the original, but is still a great country weeper. Warm voice, slight rhythm and jazz chords on the guitar are on the menu of Goin' Crazy a love song a la Fever. Sharp Shootin' a fine hillbilly instrumental is another occasion for guitarist Joel Morin to shine on picking guitar and on steel. The rest of the band has to be credited too for their solid work on the album: Tony Macias on bass and Tony DeHerrera on drums. Good job.Baby If I Review From Midwest Records: DAWN SHIPLEY & the Sharp Shooters/Baby If I: A thoroughly modern gal from Texas with a rockabilly/hillbilly streak doesn't channel the 50's energy of Wanda Jackson so much as an amped up Patsy Cline. Loaded with sincere handmade charm, Shipley and her crew love their work and do everything they can to make it sound like play. Like the lo-fi stuff Ray Campi and that rockabilly bunch from the 70's did, Shipley is building her own thing from the ground up and we're all having a grand time as the building goes up. Certainly a tasty slab of fun from todays rockabilly underground. DAWN SHIPLEY & THE SHARP SHOOTERS

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BEN WASSON "ADIOS C'EST LA VIE"

While Ben Wasson, a native born Missourian, was serving as a radar man on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid, he danced at the local USO in New York City to Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue”. Little could he know that a short time later he would be in far away Clovis, NM at the legendary Norvajak Recording Studio singing into the same microphone and produced by the same producer, as the late great Buddy Holly. Ben worked under the tutelage of the innovative engineer/producer/composer Norman Petty. Ben recorded with some of Nashville’s greatest talents, such as - Tommy Allsup, Brien Fisher, Norris Wilson and musicians - Pete Drake, Lloyd Greene, Weldon Myrick, Hargus Robbins, Buddy Harman, and The Jordanaires. 

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