Author Archives: Mike

Blues, Whiskey & Wimmen: John Lee Hooker centennial collection assembles some of bluesman’s finest

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Mike

When it comes to music compilations, phrases like “finest” and “the very best of” tend to leave a good deal of room for debate: no matter how great a collection may be, there are always going to be at least … Continue reading →

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R.I.P., guitarist and singer Lonnie Brooks

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Mike

The music world lost another true father of the blues this weekend with the passing of Chicago blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks (born Lee Baker, Jr.). We had the pleasure of seeing Lonnie – whose most recognizable songs included the likes … Continue reading →

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Tedeschi Trucks Band keeps on growing with Live from the Fox Oakland

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Mike

By now, we probably don’t need to tell you how terrific the Tedeschi Trucks Band is. If you’ve heard any of the band’s three studio albums, you’re already aware of just how nicely the sounds of this now-dozen member ensemble … Continue reading →

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Holler n’ Moan

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Mike

How about we help finish up another month with another fine edition of our BluesPowR Radio Hour, this time featuring music from Devon Allman, Patty Reese, the Kentucky Headhunters, Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado, The King Brothers, Tami Neilson, … Continue reading →

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Remembering music legends James “Mr. Superharp” Cotton and Chuck Berry

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Mike

The blues world lost another legend Thursday with the passing of harmonica great James Cotton. Here’s a good obituary on Cotton from Alligator Records, with whom the harmonica player first recorded in the mid-80s and then returned for the final … Continue reading →

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Canadian bluesman Matt Andersen impresses mightily at Pittsburgh’s Club Cafe

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Mike

A little over five years back now, we introduced you to Canadian guitarist and singer Matt Andersen, about whom we said at the time: “Combined with Andersen’s recent wins at the IBC and 2011 Maple Blues awards (where he took … Continue reading →

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Mojo Risin’: UK pianist Tom Bell blends boogie woogie blues, classical on debut album Face to Face

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Mike

Here at The BluesPowR Blog, we frequently receive albums that either incorporate elements of or cross more fully into such other genres as rock, jazz, soul, or country. But it’s not often that we encounter an artist who attempts to … Continue reading →

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The Same Thing That Can Make You Laugh (Can Make You Cry)

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Mike

With February already largely in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to dig into another talk-free edition of our BluesPowR Radio Hour, this month featuring the wisdom and talents of artists such as Guy King, Walter Trout, Sugar Ray Norcia & … Continue reading →

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New recording offers glimpse of what you’ve been missing at annual International Blues Challenge

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Mike

You may have seen that the 2017 International Blues Challenge (IBC) took place in Memphis recently, with the Dawn Tyler Watson Band (Montreal Blues Society) and Al Hill (Nashville Blues Society) taking top honors in the band and solo categories, … Continue reading →

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Gary Clark Jr. and first-time GRAMMY winner William Bell deliver soulful primetime performance of “Born Under a Bad Sign”

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Mike

Okay, we’ll be honest: we spent a lot more time watching Sunday’s GRAMMY Awards pre-telecast ceremony online (waiting for the blues categories to be announced) than we did the network televised portion of the awards. Which means we missed this … Continue reading →

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