Music Reviews

Mike Bourne Band featuring Johnny BurginCruisin' Kansas City Blue Heart RecordsRelease Date: June 16, 2023Publicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © June 2023 For the last twenty-five years, Mike Bourne has been playing in many of the best clubs and festivals...

Mike Guldin and Rollin' & Tumblin'The Franklin Sessions Blue Heart RecordsRelease Date: June 16, 2023Publicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © June 2023 I've got to admit that immediately upon seeing this album's title - The Franklin Sessions - my...

Shaun MurphyI'm Coming Home Vision Wall RecordsPeter “Blewzzman” Lauro © June 2023 Since 2009, when I first reviewed her Livin' The Blues CD, I'm Coming Home will be the tenth release by Shaun Murphy that we have had the honor and privilege of working with. By the...

Nigel MackBack In Style Blues Attack RecordsRelease Date: June 1, 2023Publicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 When Chicago bluesman Nigel Mack isn't gigging in clubs around the windy city, he's most likely off headlining shows somewhere around the...

Lil' Jimmy Reed with Ben LevinBack to Baton Rouge Nola Blue RecordsRelease Date: May 19, 2023Publicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 Having just learned that Lil' Jimmy Reed - or as his military ID would have read, Leon Atkins - spent twenty years...

Jimmie BratcherFar Enough Ain't Skeert TunesPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 Jimmie Bratcher is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, guitarist, cookbook writer, preacher and author… and those are just the things I know about. Keeping the “Many...

Brad “Guitar” WilsonLovers Before Sunrise Cali Bee MusicPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2023 My review of Brad "Guitar" Wilson's last release started off with these exact words: “This self titled, self produced release is the fourth for Wilson...

Jennifer Lyn & The Groove RevivalGypsy Soul J&R CollectivePublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter “Blewzzman” Lauro © April 2023 Gypsy Soul is the fourth release from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival, and the first that I've had the pleasure of getting to hear....

Skylar RogersAmong the Insanity Blue Heart RecordsPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2023 When the people you hire to work for you prove to be a dedicated and caring bunch, who create a strong support system around you, tools that otherwise...

John PrimerLive At Rosa's LoungeTeardrops For Magic Slim Blues House ProductionsArtist Management:  Lisa PrimerPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 While working on this review, the announcement came out that John Primer was one of several very well-deserving blues...

Rhythm KreweUnfinished Business Rhombus RecordsPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 Unfinished Business contains twelve tracks with nine originals penned by guitarist, vocalist, horn arranger and band leader, Steve Zelman.Along with Steve, the...

Danny ListonEverybody  Blue House RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 Looking back on his own life experiences, as well as what he witnessed others in the music industry going through, was the driving force for this recording.  As...

James "Jabo" HoustonJabo Blues  Bello Publishing Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 PreludeIt's a good bet, that unless you are from Austin, Texas, you've probably not heard of James "Jabo" Houston.  That said, with the help of some very dedicated band mates -...

The Gayle Harrod BandTemptation  Self ReleasedPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 Is forty-two years of age too late to start a singing career? Of course it isn't – especially if it's the blues you'll be singing. Since many of the more...

Jeff PitchellPlayin' With My Friends Deguello RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 Jeff Pitchell's ninth release is titled Playin' With My Friends, and let me tell you, those friends are many.   Along with Jeff, on lead...

Jewel BrownThanks For Good Ole' Music And Memories Nic Allen Music FederationPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2023 Prelude Although she was playing shows at the age of twelve and cutting records shortly thereafter, Jewel Brown is best known...

Mississippi MacDonaldHeavy State Loving Blues  APM RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2023 With Heavy State Loving Blues being Mississippi MacDonald's eighth release since 2014, I'm going to start my own little personal 'release date...

Douglas AveryTake My Rider Greenwave MusicPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © December 2022 From the way I see it, Douglas Avery is the kind of man who can pretty much do anything and what he does choose to do, he does very well.  As a surfer, he's...

Big ShoesFresh Tracks  Qualified Records Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © December 2022 If there were ever a band that I could spend as much time and space listing their resumes as I would on writing an in-depth review, it is Nashville-based Big Shoes (who's show at Bourbon...

Yates McKendreeBuchanan Lane Qualified RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © November 2022 PreludeSimply said, Yates McKendree is a musical genius.  Between his writing, vocal and engineering skills (which garnered him a Grammy while still in his...