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April 15, 2010 

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Hey Blues Fans,

This weekend is a real deal first of the season Blues festival. The Juke Joint Festival is Saturday, April 17th in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Juke Joint Festival Weekend kicks off with a bang on Thursday night (April 15) when Grammy-winner Jimbo Mathus presents "Mosquitoville: Mississippi Songs & Stories" live on the Delta Cinema Stage (113 3rd St.). Doors open at 5pm with two free shows at 6pm and 7:30pm.

On Friday April 16th, there are more great events but for many visiting tourists, it's the music that matters most, and Saturday will be a day for the history books.  Saturday night's festival events kick off with Blues godfather David "Honeyboy" Edwards starting off the nighttime juke joint crawl's 16 venues.

Mississippi Blues musicians from 8 years young to 94 years old perform on Saturday including real-deal legends like Big George Brock, Big Jack Johnson, Big T Williams. Super Chikan, Watermelon Slim, Duck Holmes. Cadillac John, Gearshifter, T-Model Ford, Cedell Davis, Johnny Rawls, Stacy Mitchhart, Robert Belfour, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Scissormen, Mr. Tater, Bilbo Walker, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm and many more.

Blues Blast Magazine roving reporter Karen Nugent will be there to review the festivities and get pictures of all the Blues fun. For more information visit the festival website at  http://jukejointfestival.com


Blues Wanderings

We made it out to catch a show by a Wisconsin band this week. Perry Weber & The Deville's were at Blue Monday playing a selection of tunes from their latest CD, "The Riot Act".

With Weber on Guitar & vocals (and occasionally bass) Victor Span on drums and Kyle Jester on bass (and occasionally lead guitar), these guys did a fine job of keeping the crowd on the dance floor.


In This Issue

James "Skyy Dobro" Walker reviews a new CD from Kevin Selfe & The Tornados. Mark Thompson reviews a new CD by The Mark May Band. Gary “Wingman” Weeks reviews a new CD by Joe Bonamassa. John Mitchell reviews a new CD by Little Joe McLerran.  Steve Jones reviews an new CD by BoPoMoFo.  All this and MORE! SCROLL DOWN!!!



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 Featured Blues Review 1 of 5

Kevin Selfe & The Tornados - Playing The Game

http://www.kevinselfe.com

Self(e) Released

10 songs; 44:44 minutes; Suggested

Styles: Contemporary Electric Blues, Blues-Rock

Kevin Selfe’s CD “Playing the Game” is already a winner. There were six entries submitted to the Cascade Blues Association in 2009 to be considered for the organization’s representative in The Blues Foundation’s 2010 Best Self- Produced CD competition. The scores for all the discs were close, but the judges chose Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes’ “Playing The Game.” And..... the entire band was the Northwest’s 2009 Muddy Award Winner for Best Contemporary Blues Act!

Portland, Oregon based Kevin Selfe is a guitar playing son-of-a-gun, but I was momentarily worried when the “first” song, “Just Like Pulling Teeth” had a definite Stevie Ray Vaughan influence. My fears were needless; across the CD, Selfe demonstrates a huge vocabulary of clean Blues guitar licks and is anything but a one trick pony. The band’s second effort consists of ten original compositions of a variety that highlights the band’s depth, talent, and lyrical humor. Selfe (guita, harmona, and vocals) is joined by drummer Don Schultz and Allen Markel on bass. – both of whom add backing vocals. When Kevin Selfe moved to Portland from Virginia back in January 2007, he quickly found these two veterans to form a West Coast version of the band he had left behind. The trio has developed into a popular ensemble with faithful followers who seem to steadily grow in numbers.

Getting first air play on our WKCC Friends of the Blues Radio Show will be a fast shuffle, “Lay It On The Table.” Beside my favorite pumping bass line, Selfe implores his girl to be honest and come clean. The opening lyrics, sounding similar to Nick Moss’ vocals, set up an incredible guitar solo with hints some Tim “Too Slim” Langford influence.

Next spun will be track 8, the only track predominantly with slide guitar. As a glass-on-steel guitar fan, I enjoyed “Long Greasy Night” that has as greasy of an on-the-edge slide as I could want.

We’re fond of opening the show with an instrumental, and the jazzy CD closer, “Pulled Pork,” showcases the guitar-bass-drums ensemble nicely in just 2:38 minutes.

Other standouts: The eight minute plus slow Blues work “How Much Longer” is a guitar dream, filled with incendiary solos that reflect some Ronnie Earl influence. The jump- swinging “Walking Funny” turns into an earworm about the third listen. As you sing the chorus along with the band, you may have to stop singing to laugh when you get the title’s innuendo.

From the driving shuffle “Just Like Pulling Teeth” to the “Hootcie Cootchie Man” beat of “The Way She Moves” to the funky rhythms of “Blues Don’t Take A Day Off,” Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes consistently prove originality and versatile competence in their craft. “Playing the Game” has solid, enjoyable offerings for most every Blues taste.

Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and longtime Blues Blast Magazine contributor. His weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and at www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL

To See James “Skyy Dobro” Walker's CD rating system, CLICK HERE 

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Blues Society News


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Alabama Blues Project - Northport, AL

On Saturday, May 1st, the Alabama Blues Project presents Blues Extravaganza 2010.  It is a free, family-friendly blues festival and will be held in historic downtown Northport from noon to 7 p.m. The live show features three After-School Blues Camp student bands as well as Alabama blues greats Microwave Dave, Bettie Fikes, Lil' Jimmy Reed and more! This event is hosted by the Northport Downtown Merchants Association. The Blues Extravaganza is in its third year as a unique musical celebration, bringing seasoned blues talent together with the young ABP After-School Blues Camp students and showcasing their combined Alabama blues power to the community at large. The 60+ students have been studying the blues all spring and are looking forward to sharing the fruits of their hard work and performing along side professional Alabama Blues Performers.

The After-School Blues Camp brings Alabama's rich blues heritage to the next generation of budding musicians and combines hands-on music instruction with a life-skills curriculum and blues music history. Students and audience alike will also be treated to performances by the Blues Instructors, whose members have been teaching our young students throughout the semester. These great musicians include B.J. Reed, Bruce Andrews, Debbie Bond, Jesse Suttle, Brad Guin and more. It's going to be a party!

For more information, or if you would be willing to volunteer, please call at (205) 752-6263 or email cara@alabamablues.org.  

Crossroads Blues Society - Rockford, IL

Crossroads Blues Society will be hosting four Blues in the Schools Programs on April 27 and 28, 2010. Billy Flynn and Barrelhouse Chuck wil bring their musical knowledge and prowess to the Rockford area with a pair of programs each. The two will spend the day individually in two Rockford Public Schools on Tuesday afternoon and then one will be at Byron's Mary Morgan Elementary School while the other is just east of Byron, IL in Monroe Center Elementary School on Wednesday morning.

The two artists will also be doing a public evening show at the Just Goods Listening Room at 201 7th St in Rockford at 7 PM Tuesday night. Each will perform a set then the two will jam together for a while. The show is free to students, $5 for Crossroads members and $8 for others.

Mississippi Valley Blues Society - Davenport, IA

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents the Texas blues of Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King on Saturday April 24 at the Eagle Reception Hall—2030 4th Ave., Rock Island. This is a BYOB show; attendees must be 21 or over. The show starts at 8 p.m., and admission is $25 at the door, $20 for MVBS members or for advance tickets from the MVBS Office (MWF 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.).

Little Bobby and the Storm will perform for a Mississippi Valley Blues Society-sponsored event at Rascals (1414 15th Street in Moline) on Thursday May 6 starting at 6:00 p.m. Admission is $7.00, $5.00 for MVBS members. Little Bobby’s show will be followed by the regular Thursday night blues jam hosted by the Steady Rollin’ Blues Band. The band, from North Dakota, will be stopping in the Quad-Cities on their way down to Clarksdale, Mississippi. The last time they played here, Little Bobby and the Storm appeared on the street stage at the 2008 IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival.

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents the Holmes Brothers on Friday May 7 at the Capitol Theatre, 330 W. 3rd Street, Davenport. The show starts at 8:00 p.m., with doors opening at 7:00. Admission is $20, $15 for MVBS members or in advance through the Capitol box office (www.thecapdavenport.com or 563-326-8820). The Brothers are touring the Midwest for the first time in three years to advance their recent release on Alligator Records, Feed My Soul.

For more info call the MVBS office at 563-32-BLUES or visit our website at: http://www.mvbs.org .

Blues Blowtorch Society - Bloomington, IL

BBS Presents 3rd Friday Blues - On April 16, 2010 the Blues Blowtorch Society will host Steve "The Harp" Blues Band with Special Guest from Austin Texas Lightning Red at the Treehouse Lounge 2060 Ireland Grove Road, Bloomington, IL 61704 (309) 662-5231 Show starts at 7 PM till 10 PM For more info: www.bluesblowtorch.org

Columbia College - Chicago, IL

Free Blues Camp Audition -  Saturday, May 22, 10:00 AM - Noon, Columbia College Chicago Music Center, 1014 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. This is an opportunity to audition for this great youth Blues Camp held at Columbia College July 4 – 9, 2010 by Artistic Director, Fernando Jones.

Other audition date is Thursday, June 3, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, at Guitar Center, 4271 West 167th Street, Country Club Hills, IL. Go to www.BluesKids.com for more details. RSVP Online at Bluesnewz@aol.com

The Friends Of The Blues - Watseka, IL

Spring 2010 Friends of the Blues shows- 7 pm , Kankakee Elks Country Club, April 17 - Joel Paterson Trio, Kankakee Valley Boat Club (“Rockin’ the River”), April 20 - Too Slim and the Taildraggers, 7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club, May 6 - Ivas John Band, 7 pm , Legacy Bar & Grill, May 11 - Chicago Blues Angels, 7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club, May 27 - Moreland & Arbuckle 7 pm , Kankakee Elks Country Club, June 15 - Albert Castiglia 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill, June 22 - Al Stone, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill and August 10 - ean Chambers, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill For more info see: http://www.wazfest.com/JW.html 

Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL

BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $3 cover. April 19 - Too Slim & the Taildraggers

River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL

The River City Blues Society has started booking more of their weekly Blues shows. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are:  Wednesday April 21st, 2010 - South Side Cindy & the Slip Tones



 Featured Blues Review 2 of 5

Mark May Band - In Texas Live

Flyin’ Dog Records

www.markmay.com

www.flyindogrecords.com

7 tracks/65:53

Guitarist Mark May used to front the Agitators and had several strong releases with that band. He also was a member of Dickey Betts and Great Southern about ten years ago.

His latest recording captures him live on a variety of stages over a seven-year period beginning in 2002. His band includes Paul Ramirez on guitar, Dan Cooper on bass and Clyde Dempsey on drums with all three men contributing vocals. Three additional guitar players, who appear on five of the tracks, augment the group.

This one is definitely a feast for listeners who never get tired of hearing guitar licks, especially if they are delivered with fleet fingers and an aggressive attitude. With the shortest track clocking in at just over six minutes, there is plenty of room for all of the axe men to stretch out. Opening with a May original, “You’re Leaving Baby”, the leader is joined by Kirk McKim, a member of the Pat Travers Band, for an energetic romp through this fast shuffle that ends with McKim and May trading leads at the end. It is followed by “Blue Monday”, a song popularized by Albert Collins, one of May’s favorite guitar players. McKim takes the first solo and tears it up before May enters on a quiet note only to steadily build the intensity with a flurry of fast runs on his guitar.

The band handles the thirteen-minute version of “Ohio” on its own, with one of the other band members taking the lead vocal. Ramirez delivers a fiery solo that sets the stage for May, who squeezes every note he can out of his guitar neck before the band shifts into the Jimi Hendrix classic “Machine Gun”. May continues to wring as much as he can from his six strings until the group switches back to “Ohio” for the big ending.

Next comes a fourteen-plus minute excursion through the Betts classic, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”. Guest guitarist Kenny Cordray and May try to recreate the classic Allman brothers twin guitar attack, adding some aural fireworks in several frenzied passages. The pace slows on a cover of another Albert Collins tune, “Lights Are on But Nobody’s Home”. May pays tribute to his mentor by recreating Collin’s guitar tone and attack before turning Ramirez loose for more guitar fireworks.

“Gangsta’s Blues” is a May original that looks at the effects of gang life, delivered with an expressive vocal and a swirling Santana-like groove. The closing track adds Matt Johnson on guitar for “Mercury Blues” that features an extended ending section that shifts gears several times before finishing with “The Star Spangled Banner”.

May and his friends definitely deliver the goods at every turn. If you enjoy blues-rock guitar, you are going to love this recording. Others may find that this release pushes their tolerance level for guitar solos to the limit. Quality stuff – check it out for yourself!!

Reviewer Mark Thompson is president of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Featured Blues Review 3 of 5

Joe Bonamassa - Black Rock

J & R Adventures

www.jbonamassa.com

Recording in Santorini, Greece permeates Joe Bonamassa’s latest Black Rock with exotic ambience from Cairo and jukejoint fever from Dirty South.

Surrounding himself with Greek musicians and having Kevin Shirley take the controls again, Bonamassa flies high not losing the blues licks he took from his British heroes.

Longtime friend B.B. King shows up and trades vocals and guitar licks with Joe in Willie Nelson’s “Night Life.” There’s the Zeppelin Kasmir influenced “Blue And Evil” with Bonamassa pulling off his best Jimmy Page runs.

Having the Greek musicians play bouzouki and clarino takes listeners to the desert as Bonamassa’s “Quarryman’s Lament” and Leonard Cohen’s “Bird On A Wire” weave a Middle Eastern tapestry of romance and street beggar ethics.

The Elmore James classic “Look Over Yonder’s Wall” isn’t done in its usual slide barroom fashion. It’s as if B.B. King never left the studio because it has his marks.

And if you want to know about acid-folk blues, then “Athens To Athens” is the perfect bridge from one side of the globe to another. One minute your watching the Greek sunset and the next minute you are teleported to Highway 61 shaking hands with Robert Johnson.

Joe never takes much time between album releases. He is smart in releasing product every year that puts him in the spotlight and takes listeners on a journey. Black Rock only completes the circle.

Review by Gary “Wingman” Weeks.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.



 Featured Blues Review 4 of 5

Little Joe McLerran – Believe I’ll Make a Change

Roots Blues Reborn

www.littlejoeblues.com

www.myspace.com/littlejoeblues

10 tracks; 39.12 minutes

Little Joe McLerran was the winner of the IBC Solo/Duo category in 2009 and this latest CD is his fourth since his debut in 2004. He plays Piedmont style guitar and sings, with bass and drums accompaniment throughout and keys/harp/saxophone on some songs. However, the most interesting thing is that Little Joe is only 25, yet may be the successor to the late John Cephas. Normally players in this type of music are considerably older, but Joe seems to have mastered his craft already.

The CD is bookmarked by two short worksong/field hollers. The opening “Ratty Section” is just 16 seconds and is a railroad work gang piece which takes us into the first full song, the title track. Clear vocals, an old fashioned feel but entirely modern recording standards set the tone for the CD. The following track is another one credited as ‘Traditional’ but harks back to Big Bill Broonzy. “Down at the Village Store” is a catchy tune, embellished by organ and background sax underpinning the rhythm. “Cocktails for two” is an original song, written for pianist Eden Brent (another IBC winner) who Joe met at the IBCs. They clearly enjoy each others’ company as the song attests to a real party atmosphere when the two players’ paths cross!

If you know “Blues before sunrise” from Eric Clapton’s “From the cradle” you will be in for a surprise when you hear Joe’s cover of the Leroy Carr song. However, there is little doubt that Leroy would recognize it OK as it is absolutely authentic, just guitar, bass and drums. “Blue railroad train” is a song by the Delmore Brothers who Joe informs us were early white pioneers of blues. This song has some very nice harp work on it.

Next up is comic song “Ducks Yas” which has been recorded in blues, jazz and folk versions over the years. The baritone sax underpins the song and the amusing and risqué lyrics are great fun. Joe picks a nice solo mid-tune and a clarinet solo at the end is also a pleasant feature. Track 8 is a spiritual with strong harmonica work backing up the slide guitar. Lyrically “Jesus make up my dyin’ bed” is not far removed from Led Zeppelin’s “In my time of dying” but the presentation could not be further apart.

A cover of Blind Willie McTell’s “B&O Blues” follows, another train song in which the singer’s girl has caught the train of the title and left him. For those who are not railway buffs, B&O stands for Baltimore and Ohio railroad! As befits a sad tale the tune is mournful, whereas the following one is a real upbeat toe-tapper, a Homesick James tune called “Baby please set a date”. This one really moves along in an Elmore James 12 bar style, lots of slide guitar.

Two original precede the final field holler. First up is “Sargent Sunday” written by Joe and bass player Robbie Mack, “a blues ballad for the man in blue”. Sounds like a tough beat that this cop has, as we are given details of the hard life on these particular mean streets. On a lighter note “She’s got somethin’” and is another catchy and sweet tribute to Joe’s wife Casey. The closing holler is entitled “Mother’s callin” and closes the CD with a call home for those in the fields.

Acoustic blues is not my particular enthusiasm, but this is a good, well recorded CD, with variety and changes of pace. Recommended, especially for those who enjoy the acoustic and Piedmont styles. I suspect we will continue to hear from Little Joe for many years to come.

Reviewer John Mitchell is a blues enthusiast based in the UK. He also travels to the States most years to see live blues music. He has just returned from his first Legendary Blues Cruise.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


 Featured Blues Review 5 of 5

BoPoMoFo - Hell Froze Over

Self Released

www.bofomofo.com (not currently working)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/BoPoMoFo-Blues/59182490889

11 tracks

A self-released CD recorded at the legendary Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Blues, recorded in Memphis by a band from Taiwan with an American singer with a deep, profundo bass voice leading the way. Okay. Who are these guys and where the heck did these guys come from?

I was listening to the Nighthawks on The Bob Edwards Show on NPR via Sirius/XM radio the other day and they were talking about one of their tours in Japan. They commented that the blues (and American music in general) seemed to have been adopted everywhere American GIs frequented after WWII. Japan, Europe, Taiwan and Korea had strong ties to the US GIs stationed there and the blues seemed to stick quite well. Most of us are familiar with Europe and the influence of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and the many acts that toured there in the early to mid-60’s and gave rise to strong blues influenced music from there. Few of us hear bands from Asia, particularly Taiwan since we have worked of late to be in favor with the mainland and it’s cheap labor force. Well, BoPoMoFo touts itself as “Taiwan’s foremost proponent of hard rockin’ Chicago Blues” and I can’t argue much about that because they are a fun and an interesting band!

BoPoMoFo warrants a little explanation of what the name means. Literally, it is a phonetic system for transcribing Chinese (usually Mandarin) in order to help them learn the language. Consisting of 37 letters and 4 tone marks, it is more than an alphabet and allows the user to transcribe all the sounds in Mandarin Chinese. Popularized in Taiwan, it is a standard on the Personal Computer for use on the keyboard.

Adding to the mystique is front man DC “deacon” Rapier. Singing in his deep and profound bass voice, he is a real presence at the mic. He also fills in with the harp and rhythm guitar. Not a lot of deep basses front bands, especially blues bands (Sleepy LaBeef comes quickly to mind but not a lot of others who sing in the rich, lower ranges), so DC’s vocals stand out and get noticed. With every listen his vocals grew more and more on me. Aki “The Flame” Ikeda on guitar, Daisuke “Dafu” Neishi on drums, Micael “Steel Fingers” Tennant on bass and Klaus “Mr. Fixer Tseng on keys round out the band. They are a talented bunch who have put together a nice little CD.

All the guitar, bass and drum work was recorded live and all the songs except for the last one are originals. Rapier wrote 8 tracks by himself had his hand in another with Michael Rapier, and Tseng wrote the other tune. The tracks are predominantly a jump blues style with lyrics ranging from traditional blues topics to the whimsical. They begin with “Blues Floozy”, where Rapier laments about this hot women who appears while he’s out with his main squeeze and he swears that “She’s just a blues floozy”. Apparently he makes out okay because the woman stands up to her and cold cocks the “blues floozy”, knocking her out. Rapier's vocals here and throughout are deep and distinct, whether doing slow blues like “Back Alley Angel” or rocking to tunes like “You Done Me Wrong”. His lyrics are interesting (eg “I’m going Biblical- I’m gonna swap you an eye for an eye” on “You Done Me Wrong”). Ikeda’s fretwork is understated yet equally interesting. He approaches this and he rest of the tracks with a fresh sound, using a few tricks and fuzziness here and there to add appeal. Tseng’s keys add a nice touch and his lead vocals on his song “All I Do” are a nice contrast to Rapiers’. William “Honeyboy” Janssen adds his sax on “What Went Wrong”, which blends well with Rapier’s vocal, Ikeda’s guitar solos and Tseng’s organ. Rapier’s harp is greasy and very authentic Chicago, highlighted on tracks like “Making My Ulcer Bleed”. His lyrics here again give a bit of a chuckle, with all the angst from the thing his baby does to him to make his ulcer bleed. They close with the Beatle’s “I Saw Her Standing There”; they turn this into a slow blues with a deep, driving beat provided by Tennant. It is quite the interesting take on a familiar song. The deep vocals, bass line and down tempo offer a unique and different approach to this song.

At first I was unsure how I felt about these guys. The bass vocals are quite stark and different but between that and the often lighthearted lyrics it really grows on you quickly. Ikeda’s guitar is harnessed in and not overdone. The organ/keyboard work by Tseng fills in nicely and the back beat by Tenant and Neishi are tight and appropriate. It’s a cool production done by a talented set of musicians and as an initial offering from this band I have to give it a “thumbs up”! Check them out on line on Facebook and Youtube to see for yourself!

Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.


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