Author Archives: Mike

Joined by Shemekia Copeland and Ronnie Baker Brooks, Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues are “Begging for Change” with new single from new Rosa’s Lounge Records label

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Mike

Okay, one more from Chicago before we move on (now you see why they the celebrate the blues the way they do there!)…  this new single from Billy Branch and his Sons of Blues is a powerful one both musically … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Joined by Shemekia Copeland and Ronnie Baker Brooks, Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues are “Begging for Change” with new single from new Rosa’s Lounge Records label

New album from Willie Buck and Bob Corritore will have you, too, saying Oh Yeah!

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Mike

We’re keeping things focused on Chicago after our last post with a look at the latest collaboration from harmonica ace Bob Corritore, who, although he’s called Phoenix, Arizona, (where he owns and frequently plays at the legendary Rhythm Room blues … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New album from Willie Buck and Bob Corritore will have you, too, saying Oh Yeah!

Delmark All-Stars knock it out of the park with “Sweet Home Chicago” collab with Cubs

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Mike

We’re no fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball club (still maintaining loyalty to the team firmly entrenched at the complete opposite end of the National League Central standings, and thus forced to glory in championships of a far more distant … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Delmark All-Stars knock it out of the park with “Sweet Home Chicago” collab with Cubs

D.K. Harrell is Talkin’ Heavy about the blues on Alligator Records debut

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Mike

Rising bluesman D.K. Harrell keeps on rolling with his sophomore album–and Alligator Records debut–Talkin’ Heavy. Released last week, the album includes another dozen extremely impressive original tracks that demonstrate why the 27-year-old Harrell is one of the hottest acts on … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on D.K. Harrell is Talkin’ Heavy about the blues on Alligator Records debut

Gary Clark Jr. goes “Catfish”in’ too on one of two new singles from Antone’s 50th anniversary box set

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Mike

We know we just spotlighted a cover of Robert Petway’s blues classic “Catfish Blues” and had every intention of going a different direction with this week’s featured single, but then this happened… New West Records this week released another couple … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs | Tagged | Comments Off on Gary Clark Jr. goes “Catfish”in’ too on one of two new singles from Antone’s 50th anniversary box set

New Englander Ryan Lee Crosby teams with Bentonia blues master Jimmy “Duck” Holmes for Delta blues classic “Catfish”

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Mike

Ryan Lee Crosby may not be from Mississippi, or anywhere near it, but that didn’t stop the under-45-year-old Rhode Islander from packing up his bags and equipment and heading there to record his latest album At the Blue Front, due … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs | Tagged , | Comments Off on New Englander Ryan Lee Crosby teams with Bentonia blues master Jimmy “Duck” Holmes for Delta blues classic “Catfish”

Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ make Room on the Porch for everyone with sophomore album

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Mike

There’s simply no better pairing in the blues today than when Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ get together, as we heard and saw back in 2017 with their Grammy Award-winning debut collaboration TajMo, which also captured both the Album of … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ make Room on the Porch for everyone with sophomore album

Blues guitarist and singer Larry McCray looks on the “Bright Side” with track originally written for Bobby “Blue” Bland

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Mike

We’ve been a big fan of Michigan-raised blues guitarist Larry McCray ever since we first heard him play the Pittsburgh Blues Festival a decade and a half back — and then discovered that McCray was the first artist to record … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs | Tagged , | Comments Off on Blues guitarist and singer Larry McCray looks on the “Bright Side” with track originally written for Bobby “Blue” Bland

Tune into the Weekend: Blind Boys of Alabama’s Joey Williams joins North Mississippi Allstars on soul-stirring single “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Mike

The North Mississippi Allstars have a new album coming in early June, but you don’t have–or want–to wait until then to take this one in: a simmering, soulful take on the oft-covered gospel blues classic “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” … Continue reading →

Posted in Songs, Tune into the Weekend | Tagged | Comments Off on Tune into the Weekend: Blind Boys of Alabama’s Joey Williams joins North Mississippi Allstars on soul-stirring single “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”

Jus’ Blues Music Foundation celebrates 25 years with essential anniversary album

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Mike

We haven’t talked about the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation much here over the years, but their 25th anniversary seems as good a time as any to tell you about the organization’s good works, especially when that anniversary is accompanied by … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jus’ Blues Music Foundation celebrates 25 years with essential anniversary album