Sam & Luke

Brothers still in their teens, Sam & Luke are both self-taught guitar players...Once their voices change, Look out blues world!!!

Buddy Guy, Paul Rogers Some Kind Of Wonderful

The Dr. is definitely in!!!

Check out all the new videos from Dr Project Point Blank Blues Band !!!

They're great, as always...

The Metropolitan Blues Allstars featuring Rodney Hatfield on a Wordless Wednesday

Carl Wyatt and his Cigar Box Guitar...

Carl Wyatt | MySpace Music VideosCarl Wyatt and his Cigar Box Guitrar.. video #2 Video by Carl Wyatt - MySpace Video

Dr Project Point Blank Blues Band

The Doctor is DEFINITELY in...Dr. Project Point Blank Blues Band really comes through with a fine blend of blues on their CD 'A Whiter Shade Of Blue'. Dr. has the perfect voice for singing the blues. The combination of his vocals & excellent guitar-playing style on this CD makes for a good blues CD that is easy to listen to. He has an excellent band in Point Blank backing his nice, deep voice. They are a very well-coordinated & professional band that sound as if they've been playing together all their lives. This CD flows from one song to the next in a most excellent manner. In my opinion, 'A Whiter Shade Of Blues' is a smooth & interesting blend of songs that are easy on the ear. This Belgrade-based band has a style all it's own that keeps a steady rhythm going throughout the entire CD. 'The Devil, God & I' kicks off the CD with a great, smooth beat that gets you going, and each subsequent song has it's own unique style and sound. You're going to have to listen to this one. 'Belgrade Blues' resurfaces in the song, "Buda's Lament', and then a tad in the song 'Golden Arrows'. This helps tie the songs together for a smooth flow on this CD. 'Golden Arrows' also has another catchy beat which keeps the smooth sound going steadily throughout this CD. Dr's deep, gritty voice really shines through in 'Last Pain', and in the last song,'Love That Hurts',a classic slow-blues song that puts the finishing touches on this recording. In 'Mama I Blew It',(a song a lot of folks can probably identify with) another up-tempo song, has some good blues guitar licks in it and is just really GOOD. 'No Pride' adds a touch of the country sound & feel with the steel guitar. The song, "Gonna Get Better', to me, sounds kinda like he is singing "gonna get badder", which just adds to the flavor of the song. I love this CD to play as I am riding in my car and also to listen to around the house. It has a good feel to it. Check out the video of 'Will We Ever See', and see what you think. I think you'll be very well-pleased with this selection. Each song is uniquely different, yet they have a perfect blend, which makes this a most excellent CD to have in your collection. Did I mention I LOVE this CD???

Wordless Wednesday

Tom Waits on a Wordless Wednesday

Slippin' and Slidin'.....Carl Wyatt & The Delta Voodoo Kings

Being a former blues deejay, I've probably heard the best of them... Best known for his slidin' guitar, Carl Wyatt's style has recently come to my attention as being right up there with the likes of Johnny Winter, John Lee Hooker and the rest. I am just being introduced to Carl's music, but what I have heard impresses me. Unfortunately for those of us living in the good ol' United States, Carl Wyatt and The Delta Voodoo Kings are currently living and performing in France. You can find videos and links to Carl all over the web (iTunes, CD BABY, etc..), so just look around...He's everywhere! His new live DVD and CD, 'Live At The Entr'Pot', are now available. I recommend you check them out. Also view Carl on Facebook, MYSPACE, YouTube and several blues sites. The list goes on and on... it's ALL good.

The Fast and The Furious...once again, John D'Amato

I felt compelled to feature John D'Amato on my blog again since his new CD, 'Ain't No Big Deal', is now available for sale on his website, cdbaby, amazon and on iTunes. After receiving this CD in the mail, I went for a drive in my car and cranked it up...I had to get the maximum effect. After listening to John's fast and furious guitar picking style, I had to play it again...and again. This is one of those CDs that gets better with each listen. John does excellent covers of  'Folsom Prison Blues' and 'Mojo Working' (that's where his fast and furious style shone through...), as well as five original songs. 'Double Stop Me' is yet another fine example showcasing his guitar-playing skills. On 'Got No Shame' and the instrumental, 'Black Orpheus', (a really laid-back tune I loved) I was reminded of the guitar sounds of Gary Moore. John is both a very talented songwriter and musician and has a God-given talent for the blues. He has also included an (original) inspirational tune on this CD that I liked ('Lift Me Up'), which just showcases John's wide-range diversity. Give this CD a listen when you get a chance...you'll be glad you did. On the scale of one to ten...I'd give it a 'crank it up'!!!

Frank 'Son' Seals

Son Seals was another one of my favorite bluesmen. Throughout his lifetime, Son suffered many setbacks, but never allowed his misfortunes to stop him. His ex wife shot him in the face a couple times, he lost one of his legs to diabetes, got a lot of his guitars stolen & lost his belongings in a house fire...just to name a few. I guess Son is one bluesman who truly earned his blues creds. After a lifetime of living the blues, Son died in 2004 from complications of diabetes.  My very favorite author, Andrew Vachss, was a friend of Son & promoted him through several of his books. He had the  voice & guitar style of the quintessential bluesman..RIP Son, you are dearly missed...

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Wordless Wednesday once again...

for more on John Mayall, click on his name above.

Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker is another favorite of mine (I have SO many...) He is an excellent blues guitarist as well as a smooth vocalist. His newest album, 'Between a Rock & the Blues' showcases those abilities. Joe is originally from San Francisco and started out as Mike Bloomfield's roommate. (I'm sure he got plenty exposure to the blues there!) After Mike's heroin overdose, Joe started playing gospel music and came back to the blues in the 80's. He has played with lots of the blues greats, including Jimi Hendrix. I kinda like 'Blues of the Month Club', even though it is more of a mainstream song...It's got a good beat, and you can dance to it kinda song. I really enjoy all Joe's music, you really should check him out. He is a FINE bluesman in every way & destined to be a classic...

Another Wordless Wednesday...(Etta James needs no introduction)

John D'Amato

There is a video of John D'Amato on You Tube playing 'Red House'...(it's on the video bar to the side of this post) but by sharing the stage with Eric Gales & Billy Cox, I didn't feel John was given the opportunity to showcase his talent for playing blues guitar. By checking out this sampling in a 'St. Blues Bluescaster IV' guitar workshop promo, you should be able to get a clue as to what an accomplished and talented player John D'Amato is. I only recently learned of his music (& his fine contribution to the blues community) through Facebook. John is a damned fine guitar player who has been compared to the likes of Chet Atkins, SRV & Johnny Winter...and he is all about singing and playing the blues. He does an first-class job of both. Look out for John... In my opinion, he is a driving force behind the blues. You should really check out his new CD, 'Ain't No Big Deal'. You definitely won't be disappointed! (After you check out John, scroll across the video bar at the bottom of his screen to see other such as Roy Buchanan, Eric Gales & others playing Bluesmaster guitars...)

Jimmy Hall

Jimmy Hall has been in various bands throughout the years. The first time I heard him he was singing & playing with Wet Willie. That was on my 18th birthday in Johnson City, TN. I got the chance to meet him that night & never saw him again until about 15 years later. At that time, he was a member of The Nighthawks, singing & playing sax. These days he does pretty well by himself. His 'Rendezvous With The Blues' CD is still a favorite of mine and I keep it handy in my car. Jimmy is currently on tour with various blues players throughout the southeastern U.S. If you get a chance to catch him in the act, by all means, nab him! Check him out, I guarantee you won't be disappointed

Metropolitan Blues Allstars

This group was from Kentucky & played the blues for many years before disbanding. They were a regular fixture at the Appalshop & the Hillbilly Nation Celebration that they put on every year. I have seen them many times over the years. Rodney Hatfield, the harmonica player is considered to be the king of the blues harp in eastern KY & probably the rest of the state. He is now in a band called Tin Can Buddha. I don't know what became of lead guitar player, Nick Stump, but he was a good one. Frank Schaap (from Coney Island) was the acoustic guitar player & had a voice comparable to Tom Waits. David White was the drummer & always worked up a jamming beat, not to mention a really good sweat. Check them out. I'm sure you can find some of them playing in some bar around the Lexington or Louisville areas of KY.

Kudos to the younguns...

There seems to be renewed interest in the blues over the past few years, or a resurgence if you will. Lots of younger folks are finding blues music to be pretty cool & hip these days. There are a lot of younger players in the field these days too. I remember when Jonny Lang hit the air. I was blown away that such a young man had the grit & feeling it takes to be able to belt out the blues with such a passion. He's an excellent guitar player as well. He had commercial success for awhile, and is still a big player in the blues scene these days & only getting better in my humble opinion. With young guys like Jonny & Kenny Wayne Shepherd playing the blues guitar & Susan Tedeschi grinding out her excellent voice& guitar playing (sometimes with her husband, Derek Trucks) there is no doubt in my mind that the blues is here to stay.

S'cuse Me While I Play The BLUES!

My love of blues music inspired me to share some of it as best as I can on the internet. I was a deejay of the blues for 10 years on public radio in KY. That was a long time ago...I had a lot of fun doing that job & developed a real passion for the blues. Some folks say you've got to live the blues to appreciate 'em, and although I have done my share of that, I don't necessarily agree with that point. I'm going to try to post some of my all-time favorite music, mostly the blues, but knowing me as well as I do, I'll get carried away & go way out there on some tangent...If you're here, WELCOME. I hope this works out.It's all new to me. Albert King's 'I'll Play The Blues For You' was the very first song I played on my radio show ('The Blues Vein'-WMMT-FM 88.7).It soon became my anthem song. So, it only seemed fitting to have Albert be my 1st guest... Check it out. It is the essence of the blues.