Music Reviews
Keep up with the latest Blues releases and concert reviewsMost of our CD Reviews come to us from the tireless Peter Lauro, over at Music4Mary.com, who keeps his finger on the pulse of all new releases in the Blues universe. Occasionally we have reviews submitted to us by ABS Members, and we encourage that! We also encourage reviews of live concerts, if you’ve seen something lately that was particularly noteworthy. There is a lot here, so click away!
Tony Holiday
Tony Holiday"Porch Sessions Volume 2" Blue Heart RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 As you have probably figured out, by either being familiar with the 2019 Blues Blast Award nominated "Porch Sessions" or from the very hint giving words...
Robbin Kapsalis
Robbin Kapsalis & Vintage #18 Soul Shaker Bird Song RecordsManagement: The Galaxie AgencyPublicity: Jill KettlesPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 "Soul Shaker" is the second release for Robbin Kapsalis and Vintage #18. The band, who have been playing...
Teresa James
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1 Blue Heart RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 Wondering exactly how long I've been reviewing Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps' music, I took a peek at the archives...
Altered Five Blues Band
Altered Five Blues Band – Holler If You Hear Me Blind Pig RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 With "Holler If You Hear Me" being the band's sixth release, there should be a heck of a lot of hollering going on out there in the blues...
Johnny Tucker
Johnny Tucker FeaturingKid Ramos And The Allstars"75 And Alive" A HighJohn Records Production,released via Blue Heart RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 Let me cut right to the chase here, "75 And Alive" by Johnny...
Rodd Bland
Rodd Bland and The Members Only BandLive On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby 'Blue' Bland Nola Blue RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © 2021 If everything in the above header reeks of familiarity, you certainly know your blues. From the...
Gerald McClendon
“Let's Have A Party!Delta Roots RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © July 2021 It's just a bit over a year since I reviewed Gerald McClendon's last release, "Can't Nobody Stop Me Now", and since that release...
Amaury Faivre
Amaury Faivre"2020"Self ReleasedPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © July 2021 Since over the last twenty years he's played on some eight hundred stages, in twelve countries on three different continents, there is a chance that some of you may be familiar...
Malcolm Wells
Malcolm Wells & The Two-TimersHollerin' Out Loud Self ReleasedPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © July 2021 Although it didn't sprout till twenty years later, when he heard Muddy's "Hard Again" album, Malcolm Wells believes the blues seed was planted in him while being...
Johnny Riley
Johnny RileyWith Special GuestWatermelon Slim"Clarksdale Revival"Flyindog RecordsBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © June 2021 "Clarksdale Revival", Johnny Riley's fourth release, was recorded live at Bluesberry Cafe in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Along with Johnny,...
Rob Stone
Rob Stone FeaturingElena Kato and Hiroshi Eguchi"Trio In Tokyo"Blue Heart RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2021 To this day I still enjoy the music of the genre, but prior to my music interests being totally consumed by the...
Donna Herula
"Bang At The Door"Self ReleasedPublicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2021 "Bang At The Door", is the third release for singer, songwriter, and guitarist Donna Herula. For the project, Donna - on lead and backup vocals, resonator and acoustic...
Clarence Spady
"Surrender"Nola Blue RecordsRelease Date: May 21, 2021Publicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2021 Since "Nature Of The Beast", the 1996 debut release that garnered Clarence Spady a 1997 W. C. Handy Award nomination in the "Best New Blues Artist"...
Misty Blues
“None More Blue”Self ReleasedBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2021 Lead Singer Gina Coleman and Misty Blues are in the midst of celebrating two milestones that are not all that common for a blues band - or for that matter, a band in other genres, as...
EG Kight
"The Trio Sessions"Blue South RecordsBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2021 Prelude It's pretty hard to forget the first time I met EG Kight because it was the night of my first time going to the W.C. Handy Awards - May 25, 2000. Yep, it was way...
Jimmie Bratcher
"I'm Hungry"Ain't Skeert TunesPublicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2021 PreludeA conversation at the House of Blewzz while "I'm Hungry" was playing… Blewzzlady: (calling out from the other room): That's a really good CD you...
Jonny T-Bird and the MPs
"Common Cents"Neon Grub Jeer MusicBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2021 "Common Cents" is the fourth release for Milwaukee based Jonny T-Bird and the MPs. If like me, you are unfamiliar with the band, I'd be willing to bet you'd never guess what the MPs stands...
Trevor B. Power
"What Is Real"Farm 189 RecordsPublicity: Blind RaccoonBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2021 It's been exactly two years since I reviewed Trevor B. Power's first release and for songwriters like Trevor, the events of those two years have certainly...
Swamp Poets
Swamp PoetsFeaturing: Christian Michael Berry"Hoodoo Du Voodoo"Retrofit RecordsBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2021 The Swamp Poets are a Northern Arizona based American blues based roots music band. Their primary influence is the diverse styles of...
Rosedale Junction
"Stompin' On The Front Porch"Center Block RecordsBy Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2021 "Stompin' On The Front Porch" is a very impressive debut release by the Boston based Rosedale Junction. The album contains thirteen tracks of what the band calls...