Blues For Life Your place for blues reviews and news.

Well here is the new Roadhouse, which I will finally be able to listen to now that I got my iPod situation knocked out.

Here is some news on the House of Blues. Firstly there is going to be a new one in Houston; secondly it will continue the trend of really crappy fake blues venues. House of Blues has absolutely no credibility as a blues venue and should not be treated as such.

I say this as a man who has eaten it's cajun fish ans enjoyed it's rosemary cornbread with maple butter. I've been the the Chicago House of Blues and I stayed in the Hotel Sax right across the parking lot from it (formally the House of Blues motel). All they did was play crappy alternative music and generally show a come attempt a capatalizing the the idea that this is a blues club all while scheduleing anything but blues. Don't belive me? Here is a link to the schedule of the Chicago House of Blues link. As you will notice there is basically no blues and a lot of alternatice/emo music.

So here is my letter ot Dan Aykroyd

Dear, Mr. Aykroyd

I love you movies, even 2000 but you club is such a disgrace to it's name that I turely and honestly believe it should be condemed. Please fix it or at least change the name and let me have all the blues decorations.

Sencerly, Dan

P.S. I will be buying the Ghost Busters game though.

Seriously I've become such a big fan of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown it's strange that I've had two albums of his for a year without discovering what I actually had. This time I'm reviewing "American Music, Texas Style!" but here is a funny story about how I found this album. Well I was going through the local library which has a pretty good blues CD section, but that's not where I found this album, It was in the Country Western section (I was looking for some Hank Williams) well I saw it and new it didn't belong there so I moved it, into my checkout pile. Seriously the album does not belong in the Country Western section; if not the Blues section at least the Jazz section would be a great home.

One of the reasons I've been likeing Clarence is his mixing of genres and his out look on music. This album is a continuation of everythign I've already said about his work. Yet this album is different from his other album I review "Back To Bogalusa" which was very much as more rural album with lots of fiddle and acordion. American Music on the other hand is more Jazz and Jump Blues but both albums comonly share Clarence's guitar which is one of the ways he makes it his own. I really love is playing (heavly influenced by T-Bone, who he subbed for sometimes). My favorite song on theis album is one of the odd ones out called "Swamp Ghost" which ominously starts out with spooky noises and laughing. "Guitar in My Hand" is also a really great song.

I recomend anyone who is even interested in the Blues to go out and get "American Music, Texas Style!" and "Back To Bogalusa" by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. Even if you don't like the blues parts there is enough in them to still have a great time.

1. Rock My Blues Away (3:30)
2. Half Steppin' (2:57)
3. Hootie Blues (4:57)
4. Front Burner (5:29)
5. I'm Beginning To See The Light (4:32)
6. Swamp Ghost (6:46)
7. Without Me Baby (3:41)
8. Gate Swings Again (2:55)
9. Strange Things Happen (5:07)
10. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (4:42)
11. Guitar In My Hand (5:10)
12. Jumpin' The Blues (2:53)
13. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (4:42)

Joey Gilmore has a new CD out called "Bluesman"..... no I've never heard of him but i really dig his sound. Check out his myspace page.

Well I've been trying to get this song down which is not to hard but I'm really trying to get what Hubert Sumlin is doing in this video. The end he fallows Wolf's and the songs main lines with guitar licks and man is it the coolest thing I've seen in a while; now I just need to do it.

Oh and there is nothing that I can say about Wolf that aint already been said...... well actually I can say "I need more of his albums."

Well everyone's favorite (non-Fender) guitar is celebrating it's 50th birthday! Yes that's right the Gibson ES-335 is turning the big five O and lets take a second to look back on it's life. Firstly the "Electric Spanish" has served all of it's fifty years under Mr. B.B. King even though there is the renamed Lucile version. The Es-335 has also served Otis Rush, Freddy King, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Luther Alison, and many many more.

Truth be told as much as I am a Fender guy the ES-335 is on top of my list of guitars I want. So not lest enjoy some great work done with the ES-335 and a nice article about it and the celebration party for the ES-335

Here a link to the new roadhouse for you. Now I have to get it to work with Songbird the new music player I've been using. It does somethings great but good podcast support isn't scheduled for implementation till December....seriously.

With all the hoopla I wrote about one of his albums I couldn't believe I haven't posted a video of him so here is an awesome video of Clarence Gatemouth Brown playing and talking about his playing. He starts off playing the fiddle which is one of many instruments he plays along with the guitar. He talks about his jazz influence and incorporating it into his playing which I also share and am trying to introduce into my style along with some funk and reggae, all of which he has already done. It's looking like Clarence Brown is increasingly becoming a larger influence on me and I really couldn't be happier with that.

Here's an article about a blues fest about 30 minutes from where I live. No I will not be going because I have work on Saturday but if you're in the area I suggest stop by.

It's no secret that I am a huge Buddy Guy fan (I'm seeing him again next month, yes thats twice in one year.....done two years in a row) So here is a sweet interview with him done by everyone favorite terrible music magazine Rolling Stone.

New Roadhouse, now I just need to get my darn iPod working.

Here is an article on Kenny Wanye Shepherd about an upcoming album. Looks like there is no shortage of blues albums what I want to spend my hard earned money on.

Hey happy birthday. Keep trying to meet all our expectations of you (you're doing fine don't worry)

Here is an article on the Western Maryland Blues fest that I attended. I know I have yet to write something up on it but I've been busy and cant seem to rememeber to get the photos off my phone. It's a shame too because it was awesome. I'll get right on it.

Here is a vid of one of the band I saw today (not my video though)

I just got back from a Zydaco show but anyways here is the new Roadhouse.

Hey here is an article on Shemekia Copeland daughter of the late great Johnny Copeland. I had the great fortune to catch Shemekia at last years Cheasapeake Blues Fest and I must say she is standing up very well even in her father's shadow. Look for more good things from her.

I loves me some New Orleans piano and Henry Butler is one of its best exporters and here is an article about him. Oh did I mention I've already seen him live and thought he was spectacular? I did here.

A sad for the Blues and Rock & Roll as the man who bridged the two has passed away. Bo Diddley.

Lets remember the man the way he lived, with a killer beat.

Well I'm typing this on my cell phone so forgive me.

Right now I'm at the Western Maryland Blues Fest and enjoying every minute of it. This is the best fest I've been to yet. I'll have photos in a little bit and a full post later after I see Guitar Shorty.

Till then known I'm enjoying myself.