BOOK REVIEW ANDRES ROOTS “Build Me A Statue” 25 Songs: 1995-2010 Here’s a nice book from Estonian  musician, writer and guitarist, Andres Roots, a member of the very fine band, Bullfrog Brown – a collection of 25 song lyrics spanning some 15 years, and illustrated by Siret Roots. Andres Roots has just also enjoyed major [...]

24PESOS “Busted Broken And Blue” (OurGate Records) Here’s a great album from four-piece London band, 24Pesos – 11 tracks that straddle many genres – a heady mix of blues, funk and soul, with a touch of hip-hop thrown in – all-in-all a very modern blues album, with some ‘old school’ influences on board, and all [...]

ROB STONE “Back Around Here” (Earwig Music Company – Earwig CD 4961) Now here’s a belter of an album from young Chicago-based bandleader Rob Stone – the Boston-born harmonica player and singer has produced a great traditional blues album, mainly all upbeat, firmly rooted in the classic Chicago 50s style – twelve tracks all highlighting [...]

ELVIN BISHOP “Red Dog Speaks” (Delta Groove Music – DGPCD138) Slide master Elvin Bishop’s second release for Delta Groove Music, following the star-studded “The Blues Rolls On” in 2008, sees the veteran paying homage to his trustee ’59 Gibson Stereo ES 345 guitar, “Red Dog”, with the 11 tracks on offer being very varied, and [...]

JIMMIE VAUGHAN “Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites” (Proper Records – PRPCD062) With only four solo outings in some 16 years, Texas guitar legend and ex-Fabulous Thunderbird member, Jimmie Vaughan, has hardly been prolific, but it’s a pleasure to report his latest offering, “Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites” does exactly what it ‘says on the can’ [...]

ROBERT CRAY / ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool: 02.07.10 It was a pleasure to catch Robert Cray’s second appearance in Liverpool, following on from a great gig at the Empire Theatre some two years ago. Here, accompanied by his crack band – the returning Richard Cousins (bass), Jim Pugh (keyboards) and Tony Braunagel [...]

TOMMY CASTRO “Hard Believer” (Alligator Records: ALCD 4931) A mainstay on the blues scene in the San Francisco Bay area since the late 80s, Tommy Castro brings his soulful guitar chops and great voice to this first  release on Alligator Records, “Hard Believer” – a 12-song mix of rocking roadhouse blues, tasteful soul and more, [...]

WARRINGTON RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL The Pyramid: 29 May 2010 The second Warrington R&B Festival, run by the excellent team from Warrington Borough Council with assistance from Dave and Shirley Sawyer, and backed by their many sponsors, including Dawsons Music. The two stages featured a healthy array of North West-based talent, and some nationally known [...]

ANDERS OSBORNE “American Patchwork” (Alligator Records – ALCD 4936) Here is a fine release from the Swedish-born, New Orleans-based, singer and guitarist, Anders Osborne – his first for Alligator Records. The title for “American Patchwork” based on the destruction and re-birth of his adopted home city – the loss of community and friends and the [...]

THE WILDCARDS “When The Moon Shines Bright” (WILDCD003) The third studio album from the Devon-based band, The Wildcards, features an appealing mix of uptempo r&b, blues and rock ‘n’ roll, delivered with their customary vigour and musical quirkyness – with some heavy tremolo and surf guitar and powerful playing from the whole band that comprises [...]

M.O.C.T. Liverpool Blues Club at Liverpool Marina: 20.05.10 The name M.O.C.T. – Men of Considerable Taste – may not instantly be recognisable to any blues fans – however, it is the new name for the brilliant Dutch band, The Backbones – led by the charismatic Big Pete – aka Pieter van der Pluijm – with [...]

THE MANNISH BOYS “Shake For Me” (Delta Groove Music: DGPCD137) The fifth album from the all-star blues collective, The Mannish Boys, once again reaches the high standards we have come to expect from Randy Chortkoff’s California-based Delta Groove and Eclecto Groove labels, indeed he formed Delta Groove as a vehicle to put out music by [...]

“THE BLUESMASTERS – FEATURING MICKEY THOMAS” (Direct Music Distribution) Quite often the ‘rock singer makes blues album’ can turn out to be a disaster – therefore it’s good to report that this album of sturdy blues and r&b classics featuring former Jefferson Starship vocalist, Mickey Thomas is a most enjoyable affair, in the company of [...]

KIRK FLETCHER “My Turn” (Eclecto Groove Records: EGRCD511) The term ‘all killer, no filler’ often gets used on some releases, safe to say here is another one of them, and is totally justified – an early contender surely for album of the year – ok, I know the year has a long way to go [...]

JIM CRAWFORD ‘Goin’ Up The Country’ at Worthenbury Village Hall: 23.04.10 The latest gig organised by the ‘Goin’ Up The Country’ guys, saw a welcome return to the intimate surroundings of Worthenbury Village Hall for the amiable, all-round nice guy, Jim Crawford – originally from Lancashire, but now residing in Appledore, in North Devon, who [...]

JIMMY WARREN BAND “No More Promises” (Electro Glide Records) Following on from their recent “Live At Last” album, comes this extremely classy offering from the Illinois-based Jimmy Warren Band, “No More Promises” – led by the tasteful guitar and voice of Jimmy Warren, who despite only picking up the guitar at age 25, has now [...]