Author Archives: Mike

Blues-rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor reveals The Dirty Truth on indie label debut

After three acclaimed studio albums as well as last fall’s live Songs from the Road CD/DVD set – all on the German Ruf Records label – UK-born, now U.S.-based, blues-rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor has stepped out on her own with … Continue reading

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Blues Lyrics of the Week: I Gave Up Everything for You, ‘cept the Blues

Here’s one we mentioned in last week’s review of blues-rocker Joe Bonamassa‘s latest release Different Shades of Blue, a down-and-dirty shuffle featuring doo-wop background vocals as well as some nice work on horns and keyboard – the latter courtesy of … Continue reading

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Gary Clark Jr. back and blu on new Live double CD/vinyl

Anyone who thought that Gary Clark Jr.‘s smash debut on Warner Brothers Records, Blak and Blu, might not have been, well, bluesy enough probably isn’t likely to have the same view of the rising guitarist’s new live album, out today, … Continue reading

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Blues-rock artist Joe Bonamassa unveils another masterpiece in Different Shades of Blue

As a father, I’m frequently reminding my children to take the time to cherish the moment they’re in rather than always looking ahead to what might be coming next. I’ve had to take that same advice myself recently when it … Continue reading

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Three cheers (on 20 years) for the Music Makers!

Few organizations have assisted as many blues men and women in need over the past two decades as the Music Maker Relief Foundation (MMRF), a North Carolina-based non-profit record label focused on supporting struggling traditional southern musicians by providing everything … Continue reading

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New CD, star-studded Chicago benefit to honor memory of late bluesman Sean Costello

It’s been just over six years now since the blues world lost singer, guitarist, and rising star Sean Costello. In that time, we’ve seen several new CDs of Costello material – including a good number of previously unreleased tracks on … Continue reading

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35 years on, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones still playing the blues, Living Tear to Tear; plus an exclusive interview with Bluetones bassist Mudcat Ward

We’ve all heard the adage “The more things change, the more they stay the same”, and perhaps no blues band today more resembles that comment than the storied Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, who have certainly seen their share of … Continue reading

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Muddy Waters Tribute caps off stellar night of blues focused on fighting cancer

It’s not every day that you get to see two former guitarists with Muddy Waters‘ band perform together on the same stage, backed by an all-star band of some of the top names in the blues music world. And while … Continue reading

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A first look at Project Blues Review 2014

The late, great Muddy Waters once sang about a dream he had on his mind and when he woke up the next morning, not a thing could he find. Saturday night’s Project Blues Review was so good, we thought we … Continue reading

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One night only Muddy Waters Tribute to assemble Waters band members John Primer and Bob Margolin, other top names in the blues

Yesterday, we told you about the latest releases from second generation bluesmen Mud Morganfield and Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith – in Mud’s case, a tribute to his father McKinley Morganfield, a.k.a. Muddy Waters, on which he paired with esteemed harp player … Continue reading

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