Author Archives: Mike

“XTRA XTRA, read all about it: the blues is back in town” on fifth installment of Blues from the Burgh compilation

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Mike

The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania (BSWPA) delivers another terrific compilation of tracks from local and native blues artists on this fifth edition of the society’s Blues from the Burgh CD series.  This latest installment kicks off with songs from two strong female singers, … Continue reading →

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Tune into the Weekend: All I Got for Christmas was the Blues and a Broken Heart

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Mike

We admit that we haven’t gotten much into the Christmas spirit so far this season (still seems a bit early for that to us!), but this swaying new blues-rock single from longtime Johnny Winter guitarist, band leader and Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Nelson sure does help, entitled “All I … Continue reading →

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Mojo Risin’: Belfast singer and guitarist Dom Martin delivers blues without borders on debut album Spain to Italy

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Mike

You may remember us posting recently about the latest album from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, in which we praised the band for its ability to strike just the right balance of gritty and smooth on its albums. Another great example … Continue reading →

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The Blues Came Falling Down

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Mike

While it may “Seem Like a Million Years” since our last episode of the BluesPowR Radio Hour, we’ve at least been able to stack up some great music to share with you during that time, with this latest talk-free edition … Continue reading →

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Johnny Burgin reconnects with West Coast friends on Johnny Burgin – Live

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Mike

We’ve mentioned the name Johnny Burgin here a few times before, with Burgin having appeared as a guest guitarist on recent projects such as Tony Holiday’s Porch Sessions and the Howlin’ Wolf tribute album Howlin’ at Greaseland. While it’s been great to get a … Continue reading →

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Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues pay homage to harp great Little Walter with Roots and Branches

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Mike

There have been plenty of projects paying tribute to the music of legendary harmonica player and singer Little Walter (Walter Jacobs) over the years, but that didn’t stop modern-day harp master Billy Branch and his band The Sons of Blues from undertaking the task as well on their newest … Continue reading →

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Admirers and friends such as Bob Margolin, Victor Wainwright, North Mississippi Allstars, and Amy Helm gather in tribute to late Sean Costello on Don’t Pass Me By

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Mike

One of the biggest tragedies to hit the blues world over the last few decades — right up with the helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan, in our opinion — was the passing of another extremely talented young guitarist and singer named Sean Costello, who died of … Continue reading →

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Hey, fellow travelers: make sure to catch the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s new album The Traveler

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Mike

We here at The BluesPowR Blog certainly don’t mind either some good ballads or all-out rockers from time to time, but the tendency of some blues-rockers to stick with much the same tempo and sound across most of or an entire album, whether putting listeners … Continue reading →

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Earwig Music relays important part of Chicago music history through Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records: The Definitive Collection

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Mike

Chicago label Bea & Baby Records and its subsidiaries may never have achieved the same recognition as others like Chess, Alligator, Delmark and Vee-Jay, but listening to the new four-CD set Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records: The Definitive Collection … Continue reading →

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If you can’t make it down to Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, bring the festival to you, via pay-per-view online or TV!

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Mike

We’ve had the pleasure of attending and reporting back on three of Eric Clapton‘s four previous Crossroads Guitar Festivals: the inaugural festival in Dallas in 2004, its 2010 run in Chicago, and the most recent festival in 2013 at Madison Square Garden in … Continue reading →

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