Author Archives: Mike

The Mannish Boys pack double the dynamite on latest release

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Mike

There’s perhaps no better way of describing blues supergroup The Mannish Boys than as written in the liner notes to their latest offering, where they’re portrayed as “a virtual blues festival in a single band.” As applicable as that statement could be … Continue reading →

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Quick takes: Volker Strifler, Tail Dragger & Bob Corritore, and Mac Arnold & friends

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Mike

We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing some pretty terrific albums in recent weeks, including new releases from Mud Morganfield, Curtis Salgado, the Phantom Blues Band, Pinetop Perkins, Janiva Magness, and Lurrie Bell, among others. But those aren’t the only ones worth adding to your blues music … Continue reading →

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Bonamassa, Trucks help celebrate crowning of a King

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Mike

Blues guitar great Freddie King was among the new acts inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last weekend. Here’s a little musical tribute from the ceremony, performed by some other pretty fine guitarists in Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks, and ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons and … Continue reading →

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Heavenly new blues from Pinetop Perkins, Lurrie Bell

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Mike

It’s been just over a year since the blues world bid farewell to one of its true masters in pianist Pinetop Perkins, who died at age 97 only weeks after receiving a Grammy Award for his Joined at the Hip project with former Muddy Waters … Continue reading →

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Live from New York, it’s Joe Bonamassa!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Mike

There’s no question that Joe Bonamassa puts on a superb show, as evidenced on both his earlier Live from Royal Albert Hall DVD and our own report from last March’s concert at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall. This week, Bonamassa is back with another live DVD, … Continue reading →

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Jake and Elwood ride on with Official Blues Brothers Revue

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Mike

Few blues names are as recognized on the pop culture front as those of Jake and Elwood Blues, the fictional brother team created by comedians John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd who became stars of both the big screen and recording world after getting … Continue reading →

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R.I.P., Louisiana Red

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Mike

Blues harmonica player and Rhythm Room proprietor Bob Corritore is reporting today that friend and fellow musician Louisiana Red has passed, another great loss to the blues music world. Here are a couple of posts we’ve done on Red in recent years, one on … Continue reading →

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Red, White and Blues at the White House

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Mike

The House was a’rockin Tuesday night when the President and First Lady hosted a Black History Month salute to the blues featuring a host of artists ranging from longtime performers such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Mick Jagger to “the future of the … Continue reading →

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Joe Louis Walker unleashes some Hellfire on Alligator Records debut

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Mike

The last we heard from the guitar-slinging Joe Louis Walker, he and some friends were caught up in quite a Blues Conspiracy aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. After the switch to a new label and a little time in studio with … Continue reading →

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Canadian Matt Andersen mines some deep blues on latest CD

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mike

As much as I’d like to say I accomplished everything I wanted (and more) by the ringing in of the new year, a small stack of unreviewed new releases decorating my home office might suggest otherwise. Among the albums I … Continue reading →

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