Category Archives: Albums

Chicago guitarist Dave Specter delivers Message in Blue with latest Delmark release

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Mike

There aren’t many musicians out there who could pull off a song acknowledging some of the biggest names in Chicago blues without coming across as somewhat opportunistic or trite. But Chicago native guitarist, bandleader, and producer Dave Specter manages to … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Chicago guitarist Dave Specter delivers Message in Blue with latest Delmark release

Forget the champagne… Bootleg Whiskey is the way to go this New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Mike

A few weeks back, we promised to bring you more on the latest album from Grady Champion. With the new year now just mere hours away, we couldn’t think of a better note on which to end 2014 than a closer … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged | Comments Off on Forget the champagne… Bootleg Whiskey is the way to go this New Year’s Eve

Chicago tribute show, latest album Step Back both good ways to remember blues guitar legend Johnny Winter

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Mike

If, like us, you weren’t able to make it to Chicago for the Johnny Winter remembrance show that took place at Buddy Guy’s Legends a few weekends back (or to a computer for the accompanying live webstream of the program), … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums, Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chicago tribute show, latest album Step Back both good ways to remember blues guitar legend Johnny Winter

Liz Mandeville tells it from the heart on Heart ‘O’ Chicago

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Mike

Though not as widely known perhaps as such contemporaries as Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball, Deanna Bogart, and Janiva Magness, Wisconsin-born singer and guitarist Liz Mandeville is really starting to make a name for herself among today’s top ladies of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Liz Mandeville tells it from the heart on Heart ‘O’ Chicago

Blues rockers Walter Trout, John Mayall together again on Black Friday Record Store Day vinyl exclusive

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Mike

We don’t usually pay a whole lot of attention to Black Friday deals, but here’s one that we thought might actually be worth standing in line for: a special edition, double A-side 7-inch vinyl record featuring tunes from the legendary … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Blues rockers Walter Trout, John Mayall together again on Black Friday Record Store Day vinyl exclusive

Previously unreleased studio album captures magic of late blues guitarist/singer Sean Costello

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Mike

As you might imagine, there are plenty of blues guitarists we’d love to go back and see live if we had the time machine to do so, including the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Rush, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged | Comments Off on Previously unreleased studio album captures magic of late blues guitarist/singer Sean Costello

Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater gets Soul Funky on first live album in quarter of a century

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Mike

We weren’t able to make it to the recent CD release party for Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater‘s new album Soul Funky at Buddy Guy’s Legends, nor have we yet had the chance to check out the video from the show … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater gets Soul Funky on first live album in quarter of a century

Nearly twenty years after debut recording, Alvin Youngblood Hart still has Helluva Way of setting self apart

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Mike

Okay, so Alvin Youngblood Hart may not exactly be the first name that jumps to mind when you’re talking bluesmen who are also quite capable of rocking out. The California singer and multi-instrumentalist has been entertaining and delighting music fans … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged | Comments Off on Nearly twenty years after debut recording, Alvin Youngblood Hart still has Helluva Way of setting self apart

Sugar Ray Norcia, Curtis Salgado, and Dave Maxwell among All-Stars playing Open Mic at the Knick

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Mike

Tucked away in the town of Westerly on the southwest border of Rhode Island, the Knickerbocker Cafe has enjoyed a rich blues history, having served as the site of a regular gig from the hometown Roomful of Blues for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sugar Ray Norcia, Curtis Salgado, and Dave Maxwell among All-Stars playing Open Mic at the Knick

Blues Lyrics of the Week: Keep on Playin’ the Blues

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Mike

It’s been just over two and a half years now since blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer Louisiana Red passed away, but our friends at Wolf Records are helping to ensure that Red’s legacy continues to live on with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums, Lyrics | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Blues Lyrics of the Week: Keep on Playin’ the Blues