Author Archives: Mike

Tune into the Weekend: no need to wait ’til the Midnight Hour for Handsome Jack’s rocking cover of Wilson Pickett classic

You, like us, may not have known Jack… New York-based rock trio Handsome Jack, that is. But the latest single from the band has certainly helped put them on our radar, and will likely do the same for you. It’s an absolutely smashing version of … Continue reading

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Forrest McDonald Band puts some of its best Blues in a Bucket on latest release

We liked the Forrest McDonald Band‘s earlier album Turnaround Blues so much that we wondered if we’d ever hear another one quite that good from them. Not that the band’s 2017 follow-up album Stand My Ground was anything to sneeze … Continue reading

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Times are Getting Tougher

Here’s another talk-free edition of our BluesPowR Radio Hour to help keep your new year rolling, featuring a trio of classic tracks off Earwig Music’s Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records: The Definitive Collection from Little Mack Simmons, Sunnyland Slim, … Continue reading

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Before you cast your votes for the Blues Music Awards, be sure to check out Best Emerging Artist nominee Ben Levin’s Before Me

Just before Christmas, we told you about young blues pianist Ben Levin‘s holiday song “Forgot Mrs. Claus“. Between that single and the recent unveiling of this year’s Blues Music Awards nominees, which included Ben among its Best Emerging Album candidates, we figured … Continue reading

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Georgia bluesman Eddie 9V hits the ground running on debut album Left My Soul in Memphis

Among the most pleasant of surprises to cross our desk in 2019 was the debut release from a young Georgia bluesman who goes by the name of Eddie 9V. Don’t let his mere 23 years of age fool you: this guy has a sound much deeper than his … Continue reading

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Tune into the Weekend, Christmas edition: Ben Levin reveals the one person Saint Nick forgot (don’t be that Santa!)

Well, this might just be the real story behind “The Year Without a Santa Claus”: it looks like jolly ol’ Saint Nick may have left someone very important off his lists — someone very close to home (and we ain’t talking Rudolph, … Continue reading

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Heartaches and Pain

We couldn’t let the year come to a close without sneaking in another talk-free edition of our BluesPowR Radio Hour, this time featuring music from John Mayall with Larry McCray, Lurrie Bell & the Bell Dynasty, The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis … Continue reading

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

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

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

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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