Tag Archives: blues

Album review: COCO MONTOYA – Hard Truth

Posted on May 17, 2017 by petefeenstra

Alligator Records [Release date 24.03.17] Coco Montoya’s ‘Hard Truth’ is a career highlight for Coco Montoya. It’s an object lesson in old school dynamics and an album glued together by an essential flow. It’s given a contemporary sheen by drummer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged Albert Collins, album, Alligator Records, Allman Brothers, Billy Watts, blues, Bob Glaub, Coco Montoya, Dave Steen, Deb Ryder, funk, Hard Truth, John Porter, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, Mike Finnigan, review, rock, Ronnie Earl, soul, Teresa James, Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN MAYER – 02 Greenwich, London, 12 May 2017

Posted on May 13, 2017 by petefeenstra

So there I was nursing my £10 gin and tonic (ice not an option) in an executive suite at the Greenwich 02, pondering the mysteries of how 20,000 people can go crazy over a perfunctory blast of John Mayer’s harmonica … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 02 Greenwich, 12 May 2017, blues, funk, gig, guitar, John Mayer, London, Pino Palladino, review, rock, soul, Steve Jordan | 3 Comments

Gig review: MIKE VERNON & THE MIGHTY COMBO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 8 May 2017

Posted on May 12, 2017 by petefeenstra

In this age of instant downloads and 15 second celebrities, it’s refreshing to catch a legend worthy of the term. Step right up Mike Vernon in his new found career as lead vocalist and song writer with his excellent band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, boogie, Dave Bartholomew, fats Domino, Freddie King, funk, Gatemouth Brown, gig, Ian Jennings, Junior Parker, Keb Mo, Kid Carlos Moreno, Leiber & Stoller, Matt Little, Mike Hellier, Mike Vernon, Nick Hyde, Paul Tasker, Peter Miles, Quique Bonal, review, Russ Brown, soul, swing, The Mighty Combo, Uncle Buck | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – The Source

Posted on April 26, 2017 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Ben Mathot, blues, David Bowie, Floor Jansen, Frank Zappa, funk, Guthrie Gavan, James LaBrie, Jeroen Goossens, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, metal, Michael Eriksen, Mike Mills, Nils K. Rue, Paul Gilbert, Pink Floyd, prog, Queen, review, Russell Allen, Simone Simons, The Darkness, the Source, Todd Rundgren, Tommy Karevik, Tommy Rogers, Trace, Utopia, Yann Souetre, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Midnight Highway

Posted on April 19, 2017 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 24.03.17] Best known as Buddy Guy’s protégé, 17 year old Quinn Sullivan’s third album ‘Midnight Highway’ takes a major step up in carving out his own niche in the crossover blues rock-world He’s got the chops, he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Allman Brothers, blues, Buddy Guy, electro, funk, George Harrison, guitar, Jerry Garcia, Midnight Highway, Quinn Sullivan, review, Tom Hambridge | Leave a comment

Gig review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Album Showcase, Ain’t Nothing But The Blues, London, 10 April 2017

Posted on April 12, 2017 by petefeenstra

The intimate surrounding for Erja Lyytinen’s ‘Stolen Hearts’ album showcase is well suited to an award winning artist who this afternoon willingly shares the rudiments of her creative process with the assembled members of the press and guest musicians. She’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, Chris Kimsey, Elmore James, Erja Lyytinen, guitar, Kasper, Peter Tosh, Rollin Stones, The Cult, The Proclaimers. rock, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – Bush Hall, London, 5 April 2017

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jason

Alejandro Escovedo is playing his first European shows with a full band in over five years and tonight’s London show sees him roughly two thirds if the way through the tour. Support comes from his back-up band for these dates, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 April 2017, Alejandro Escovedo, Americana, blues, Bush Hall, Don Antonio, gig, London, punk, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PROCOL HARUM – Novum

Posted on April 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Records [Release date 21.04.17] What do you think of when you hear the words “Procol Harum”? “Whiter Shade Of Pale”? Symphonic rock, maybe? Robin Trower was in an early incarnation? Perhaps this demonstrates the band’s eclectism over 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Gary Brooker, Geoff Whitehorn, jazz, Novum, Procol Harum, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: JFK BLUE – Old Finchleians, London, 26 March 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by petefeenstra

JFK Blue is a new band on the rock/blues circuit and tonight they take a step up by opening for the Stevie Nimmo Trio at the new ‘Spirit of the Torrington’ club at the Old Finchleians, Finchley. They immediately remind … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, Chris Elliott, gig, Iago Banet, JFK Blue, Les Victor, Paul Blount, Paul Kossoff, review, Robert Cray, rock, Rough Round The Edges, Sol Ezra, Stevie Nimmo, The Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

EP review: DAVE HANSON – Live!

Posted on March 30, 2017 by jason

www.davehansonmusic.co.uk Six String Social Records [Release date 31.03.17] Dave Hanson was the guitarist with folk pop band the Dunwells and he’s now gone solo, releasing his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Almost Horizontal’ last year. Less than a year later he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, Dave Hanson, EP, guitarist, interview, live, reggae, review, Santana, singer songwriter, soul, The Dunwells | Leave a comment

Album review: MALCOLM HOLCOMBE – Pretty Little Troubles

Posted on March 29, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Gypsy Eyes Music [Release date 26.05.17] As a co-reviewer pointed out to me, I have previously reviewed an album by ‘old soul and modern day southern blues poet’ Malcolm Holcombe back in 2011 (To Drink To The Rain). But, falling … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, folk, Malcolm Holcombe, Pretty Little Troubles, review, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BERNIE TORME – Dublin Cowboy

Posted on March 28, 2017 by jason

Retrowrek Records [Release date 07.04.17] Bernie Torme I first came across via his days in Gillan and loving the band’s performance of ‘New Orleans ‘ on ‘Top Of The Pops’. Then I didn’t really take much notice of his solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Bernie Torme, blues, Dublin Cowboy, Gillan, GMT, guitar, review, rock, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

Album review: DOYLE BRAMHALL II – Rich Man

Posted on March 24, 2017 by jason

Concord Music [Release date 30.09.16] Doyle Bramhall II has worked with many bands and artists including Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Roger Waters and the Tedsechi Trucks Band. ‘Rich Man’ is only his third solo album and the first since 2001 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Concord Music, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, r n b, review, Rich Man, soul | Leave a comment

Gig review: THUNDER – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 22 March 2017

Posted on March 23, 2017 by david.wilson

I have been a Thunder fan for more years than I care to remember, in fact I was a fan of the guys right back in the big trousered and big haired days of Terraplane, which is showing my age … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 22 March 2017, blues, Cats In Space, Clyde Auditorium, Danny Bowes, gig, Glasgow, live, Luke Morley, Paul Manzi, pop, review, Rip It Up, rock, Terraplane, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: TROY REDFERN – Dirt Blues Ritual

Posted on March 23, 2017 by petefeenstra

RED7 Records [Release date 27.02.17] What’s the significance of an album title? In Troy Redfern’s hands a ‘Dirt Blues Ritual’ might be interpreted as an artistic way of life for a contemporary bluesman with a penchant for musical landscapes that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, dirt blues, Dirt Blues Ritual, dirty blues, Gary Clark Jr, Jack White, Little Hurricane, review, rock, slide guitar, The Black Keys, The Imperial Crowns, Troy Redfern | Leave a comment

Album review: ELIZA NEALS – 10,000 Feet Below

Posted on March 22, 2017 by petefeenstra

E-H Records LLC [Release date 17.02.17] Eliza Neals’ brand of rock-blues shifts from hard edged noir narratives to emotive, heartfelt and spontaneous moments that you might call blues expressionism. It’s an album full of hard hitting colourful lyrics, unique phrasing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 10000 Feet Below, album, Billy Davis, blues, Chicago Blues, Detroit, Eliz Neals, Howard Glazer, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Nelson, Paul Randolph, review, rock, Skip James, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: CATFISH – Broken Man

Posted on March 20, 2017 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Release date 29.01.17] Catfish’s ‘Broken Man’ is a good example of the high standard of contemporary British blues-rock. Their 10 track album features 9 impressive self penned tracks, shot through with enough feel and spark to satisfy all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Brit Blues, Broken Man, Catfish, Dusty Bones, Foy Vance, funk, Joe Bonamassa, Kevin Yates, Matt Long, Michael Caswell, Paul Jones, Paul Long, review, rock, soul, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review – GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – Live At Rockpalast – Dortmund 1980

Posted on March 19, 2017 by david.wilson

MIG Music [release date – 24.02.17] George Thorogood live is akin to a tornado hitting your town, fast, furious and guaranteed to lay waste to all before him. This package was recorded for posterity back when he and The Destroyers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged 1980, blues, CD, Dortmund, DVD, George Thorogood, live, MIG Music, rock, Rockpalast, Who Do You Love | Leave a comment

Album review: PAT TRAVERS – Live At Rockpalast – Cologne 1976

Posted on March 19, 2017 by david.wilson

MIG Music [Release date – 24.02.17] This album package is one of a number of releases from MIG Records (Made In Germany in case you were wondering!) which feature old recordings from Rockpalast. They have recorded many gigs across Germany … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged 1976, blues, CD, DVD, Iron Maiden, live, Live In Cologne, MIG Music, Nicko McBrain, Pat Travers, Peter Cowling, rock, Rockpalast | Leave a comment

Album review: ADAM ECKERLSEY BAND – The Second Album

Posted on March 4, 2017 by petefeenstra

Universal Australia [Release date 15.08.15] Although released some 18 months ago, this album seems to be getting a more belated push in Europe. The Adam Eckersley Band infuse harmony laden country rock with a southern rock feel in well crafted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Eckersley Band, album, Allman Brothers, Australian, Benny Elliot, Black Stone Cherry, blues, Charlie Daniels, country, Dan Biederman, harmonies, Little Feat, Neil Young, Rascall Flatts, review, rock, Scotty Greenaway, soul, southern rock, The Second Album | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLUES EXPLOSION – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, 26 February 2017

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Davoski

Blues Explosion is the house blues/jazz/funk band at Ronnie Scott’s and has a residency on the last Sunday of every month at this intimate venue. It’s a stylish show. Each musician is highly accomplished in their own right and the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues, Blues Explosion, gig, jazz funk, live, Marcus Bonfanti, Paddy Milner, review, Ronnie Scott's, Tony Remy | Leave a comment

Album review: KRISSY MATTHEWS – Live At Freak Valley

Posted on March 1, 2017 by petefeenstra

Proper [Release date 14.04.17] Krissy Mathews lives or dies by the first take and his road tested band do him proud on an album full of tight interplay, scorching solos, raw aggression and a magnificent unexpected finish. He makes up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alvin Lee, BB King, Blind Willie McTell, blues, funk, Gerd's Juke Joint, guitar, Jimi Hendrix, Krissy Matthews, live album, Live At Freak Valley, review, rock, Ten Years After, Valley Sam Weston | Leave a comment

Album review: ERIC GALES – Middle Of The Road

Posted on February 28, 2017 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 24.02.17] Eric Gales is a former child protégé and post Hendrix disciple who isn’t so much enjoying a comeback as pouring his big toned licks and life experiences into meaningful songs. ‘Middle Of The Road’ isn’t the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Christone ‘Kingsfish’ Ingram, Eric Gales, Eugene Gales, Freddie King, funk, Gary Clark Jr, guitar, Jimi Hendrix, Lauren Hill, Middle Of The Road, psychedelia, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ BLUE COMMOTION – This Is The Life I Choose

Posted on February 27, 2017 by petefeenstra

33 Jazz [Release date 10.03.17] From the way she attacks the opening note of ‘Hold On’, to a sultry Nina Simone style finish on ‘Feeling Good’, Zoe Schwarz dominates a diverse album rooted in the blues but not bound by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Anthony Newly, blues, funk, Jack Bruce, jazz, Nina Simone, Paul Robinson, Pete Whittaker, Phil Coles, Rob Koral, rock, This Is the Life I Choose, vocals, Zoe Schwarz, Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion | Leave a comment

DVD review: ROBIN BIBI – Colour House Blues Live!

Posted on February 14, 2017 by petefeenstra

Robin Bibi - Colour House Blues Live! DVD

Stonkin’ Production [Release date 08.01.17] ‘Colour House Blues Live!’ is a stripped down duo affair which finds guitarist Robin Bibi with his bass player Tony Marten (who doubles on acoustic guitar and banjo) in unplugged mode. The duo explore a … Continue reading →