Category Archives: Albums

Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite cool as all get-out on Get Up!

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Mike

It may just be that we aren’t all that hip, but we have to admit we’ve never paid a whole lot of attention to Ben Harper. But when we heard last year that Harper was teaming with blues harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite on … Continue reading →

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San Fran harp player Big Bones helps remember Paul Pena with some vintage blues by the Bay

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Mike

About a decade back during a visit to the world-famous Biscuits & Blues club in San Francisco (which, true to its name, offers up some tasty food as well as music), we picked up a Joe Louis Walker-produced CD compilation entitled Mean … Continue reading →

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As Christmas approaches, some Ho! Ho! Hoey for blues fans

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Mike

This summer, we told you about a Kickstarter campaign from rock guitarist Gary Hoey, who you may recall was seeking funds for an album of all blues songs. Having achieved 135% funding for the project, it’s been more a question of when than whether the album … Continue reading →

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Give it up now… for Gary Clark Jr. on Blak and Blu

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Mike

We’ve talked quite a bit here before about the rising star of Austin bluesman Gary Clark Jr., who you may recall being hailed as nothing less than “the future of the blues” during this spring’s Red, White and Blues performance at the White … Continue reading →

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A year after his death, Willie Big Eyes Smith still helping to keep the blues alive; new CD captures performance by blues legend accompanied by friend Roger Hurricane Wilson

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Mike

A while back, we told you about a Kickstarter project aimed at helping with the costs of a live recording from Muddy Waters band alumnus Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Georgia bluesman Roger “Hurricane” Wilson. Though the Kickstarter campaign didn’t … Continue reading →

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This weekend: Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania’s CD release party – Blues from the Burgh III

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Mike

If you’re looking to take in some live blues around the ‘burgh this weekend, we can’t imagine a better place to be than Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale Sunday afternoon. That’s where you can catch the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania‘s … Continue reading →

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Quick takes: some mighty sweet new releases from Mighty Sam McClain, Sugar Blue

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Mike

We couldn’t decide which of these blues legends’ great new albums – both released this week – we wanted to tell you about first, so what the heck, here’s both! Sugar Blue – Raw Sugar (Beeble Music) Though few may recognize him by name, nearly … Continue reading →

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With new Almost Always Never, Joanne Shaw Taylor almost never fails to delight

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Mike

U.K. blues-rock guitar-slinger Joanne Shaw Taylor may not have come away from last weekend’s British Blues Awards with any prizes, relinquishing the best female vocalist honor she’s held for the past two years to Chantel McGregor this time around, but she’s certainly got a winner of … Continue reading →

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The original rollin’ stone, Muddy Waters jams with the Stones on Checkerboard Lounge DVD

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Mike

Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones – Live at the Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981 (Eagle Rock Entertainment) You know that question you’re sometimes asked during job interviews about “If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be?” … Continue reading →

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Spring/early summer can really hang you up the most; Quick Takes: new(ish) music from Johnny Rawls, Albert Castiglia, Liz Mandeville, and The Nighthawks

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Mike

Anyone who says the blues is dying probably ought to take a look at the stack of new blues releases we’ve managed to accumulate over the recent months, many of which we may never be able to even begin thinking … Continue reading →

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