#716 > Antonio Vergara - The Fury (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – AVA Records

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 21, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

The Fury by Antonio Vergara is one of the 2025 Grammy-nominated releases for Best Contemporary Blues Album. From the first song of this thirteen-track original masterpiece, I surrender my utmost attention in return for a one-of-a-kind mystical blues journey.  Engineer/producer/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Vergara boasts a career which has stretched over three decades, and the innovation and passion poured into this album definitely shows.

A tribal beat ushers the record in with “My Lucky Mojo” as Vergara’s melodic vocals float skyward. As soon as I hear him unleash his guitar, I knew this album was going to be absolutely amazing. “Delta Shine” encapsulates me with its riveting intro. The song is filled with unexpected treats within the groove. Vergara, with resonator guitar in hand, takes the listener for a walk through a Mississippi delta swamp on “Hoodoo”. An awe-inspired harmonica accompaniment is the icing on the cake. The horn-infused deep-blues groove which carries “Guitar Tree” pops like a secret hoedown in the dark delta woods. World-class Afro-fusion artist Tito Da Fire lends his voice to the spaghetti-western-friendly ballad “The Rebel’s Right”. I love how the song unravels into a furious guitar-heavy flurry of spoken word. Vergara cleverly brings The Fury to its final destination with “Outro”, a nearly fifteen-minute meditative experience filled with Native American chants, voodoo-inspired sound-bites, and the mysterious sounds of nighttime in the boondocks.

The Fury takes the Blues, bursts through to the other side and sticks the landing. It is a remarkable listen. I highly recommend it to all music fans.

---

#715 > Guy Davis - The Legend of Sugarbelly (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – M.C. Records

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 16, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

The Legend of Sugarbelly from Guy Davis is an absolutely remarkable recording. The way he captures the pure essence of blues, folk, and Americana instrumentally and in verse simply amazes me. Davis, a two-time Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues Album pushes the boundaries of his talent as a writer, and singer, and multi-instrumentalist as he performs with six and twelve-string guitars, five and six-string banjos, harmonica, and percussion. Backed by Professor Louie on Hammond organ, Chris James on mandolin and six-string banjo, and Mark Murphy on double bass, and cello, Davis truly shines as he stitches together a baker’s dozen of fascinating songs, ten of which are original.

With banjo in hand, Davis leads the record off with “Sugarbelly”, a murder-ballad dedicated to his uncle William Conan Davis. This compelling song is based on a true story his uncle had told him about a woman who met a grim demise. With every listen to “Early in the Morning”, a wave of solemness washes over me. The acoustic guitar and heavy chords of Hammond instill a spiritual sense of a Southern Baptist hymn. As Davis sings “this time tomorrow, I may be gone”, I’m swiftly connected to memories of funerals. Breaking out the harp for “Long Gone Riley Brown”, Davis tears into a riveting, story-telling blues track about a moonshiner’s run-ins with the law and his post-death experience from dying of old age. Vice is nice as Davis keeps the moonshine whiskey theme going as he follows with the infectious banjo ditty “Come Gitchu Some”. I love his timeless cover of the Blind Lemon Jefferson classic “Black Snake Moan”. Sticking to the Ledbelly arrangement, he brings a certain freshness to this pre-war blues standard.

It’s always a pleasure to listen to Guy Davis. His traditional sense of playing the blues certainly plays an important role in keeping it alive.

---

 Visit Guy Davis online at guydavis.com

  

Check out additional PhillyCheeze reviews of Guy Davis with this link:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Guy+Davis

  

 

#714 > Piper & the Hard Times - Revelation (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Piper & the Hard Times

Revelation

2024 – Hard Times Records

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 9, 2024
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

Revelation by Piper & the Hard Times is one of the most riveting blues albums gracing my to-review stack of CDs in the past several months. I love the band’s energy, vibrant sound, and groove-filled songs. It’s no wonder they pulled down first place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis earlier this year. Fronted by vocalist Al ‘Piper’ Green, the band is also comprised of Steve ‘The Conductor’ Eagon on guitar, Dave ‘Sexy Boy Himself’ Colella on drums/percussion, Amy ‘The Professor’ Frederick on piano/Hammond organ, and Parker ‘PH Funkstick’ Hawkins on bass. Guests include Shaun Murphy, Lisa Oliver-Gray, Melissa Gardner, Chris ‘Freight Train’ Floyd, Eddie Meyer, and Dick Aven.

From the opening song “Trouble Man”, I was totally onboard. This up-tempo, organ-infused jam quickly grabbed my attention with Green’s husky baritone voice and Eagon’s ripping guitar licks. “Hard Times” is a wonderful hard-driving blues-rocker. Piper’s vocals shine and the band absolutely cooks.  To hear the fabulous Shaun Murphy (Meatloaf, Bob Seger, Little Feat) step up to the microphone on this song puts a smile on my face. Hosting an infectious hook, and a funky groove, title-track “Revelation” truly wins me over. With Freight Train on harp, “Crave You” becomes a surefire barn-burner. Piper breaks out in full Howlin’ Wolf-mode on this one. I love hearing Murphy lend her amazing voice to “Walk With Me”.  It’s a wonderful experience to listen to her bounce lines back and forth with Piper.

No doubt, Piper & the Hard Times’ Revelation is a must for the blues fan. The record is definitely ranked among my favorites of 2024.

--- 

 For more information about Piper & the Hard Times, visit their website:  https://www.piperandthehardtimes.com/

#713 > Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2024 – Vizztone Label Group
 
By Phillip Smith; Nov. 2, 2024
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

Christmastime is coming up soon, and for those in search for new holiday music, I’m going to have to recommend “Ben Levin Presents a Holiday Blues Revue”. This album plays like a timeless classic. Levin, a Blues Music Award nominee for Best Piano Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, and nominated for Best Emerging Artist Album in 2020, brings in big-name guests Lil’ Jimmy Reed, Candice Ivory, Lil’ Ed, and Sonny Hill for this record. Also appearing on the album is his father Aron Levin on guitar, Takuto Asano on guitar, Joe Polen on saxophone, Eli Gonzales on saxophone, Walter Cash Jr. on bass, Jim Anderson on bass Chris Douglas on bass, Cole Baker on drums, Art Gore on drums, Ricky Nye on drums, and Oscar Bernal on drums. This Revue consists of a marvelous mix of ten seasonal tracks, eight of which are original songs.

“Candy Cane”, featuring Lil’ Ed on guitar and vocals, leads the record off with deluxe serving of Chicago blues. Listening to Ed and Levin join forces is indeed a riveting treat. I adore how Levin suavely delivers the 1961 Charles Brown song “It’s Christmas Time”. There’s a certain retro-feel to this memorable song which taps into my soul. Candice Ivory appears with Levin for the duet “Christmas Mood”. With the addition of Asano on guitar, they walk the line between blues and jazz. The jump blues of “Forgot Mrs. Claus” pulls me in tight for another wonderful track featuring Asano on guitar. I love Levin’s cover of Vince Guaraldi’s instrumental “Skating”. This one sure takes me back to the care-free days of my youth. Animated images of the Peanuts gang skating on a pond gush from my memories with every listen. It’s so very fitting to represent the Blues on Christmas with a “Lump of Coal” from Santa. Soaked in a barrel of deep blues, this song features Lil’ Jimmy Reed on guitar and vocals for an outstanding performance.

Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue is a beautifully-crafted seasonal album which I could listen to anytime of the year.

---

For other PhillyCheeze reviews with Ben Levin follow this link:    https://amzn.to/4hxEtuphttps://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Ben+Levin

This album available on Amazon : https://amzn.to/4hxEtup

#712 > Cedar County Cobras / McMurrin and Johnson / Illinois John Fever at The Ideal Theater 10/26/24

 

Cedar County Cobras / McMurrin and Johnson / Illinois John Fever – Oct. 26, 2024

Ideal Theater & Bar
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 27, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I'm always happy to experience live music, and it makes me happier to experience it with like-minded music lovers. The Ideal Theater and Bar in Cedar Rapids, Iowa hosted an absolutely astounding three-act show headlined by Cedar County Cobras. Illinois John Fever kicked the evening off with a very cool set of country blues.  This was my first time to hear these artists.  They played a quite impressive set and are certainly on my radar now. It was great to see Dennis 'Daddy-O' McMurrin and Dan 'DJ' Johnson again. I have been a fan of them both since I moved to Iowa just over thirty years ago, The Cedar County Cobras, finished off the evening with an outstanding-as-usual performance.  They are always a delight to hear. After winning the 2024 Iowa Blues Challenge recently, the band earned an entrance to participate in the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee which will take place in January. I wish them my very best on their journey.  

  ---

 

·       All Photos by Phillip Smith

Illinois John Fever

Dennis 'Daddy-O' McMurrin and Dan Johnson

Cedar County Cobras

·       All Photos by Phillip Smith

For more information about Cedar County Cobras visit https://cedarcountycobras.com/

For more information about Illinois John Fever visit https://www.illinoisjohnfever.com/

  

#711 > Don Aaron Mixon - The Welcome Mat (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Don Aaron Mixon

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 26, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I knew I was in for the listen of a lifetime after just reading the back cover of Don Aaron Mixon’s double-album The Welcome Mat. What I had read was the narrative introduction and title-track to this wonderful, coming-of-age, outlaw-county-rock opera. Like a snake bite, this southern man’s version of The Who’s Tommy rapidly grabbed my attention, and held my focused attention as Mixon sang about growing up in The Welcome Mat trailer park in Pensacola, Florida. With Mixon on vocals, guitars, pedal steel, bass, keyboard, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, he is joined by long-time friend Lindberg Smith as narrator, Rob Hammersmith on drums, and Maria Grigoryeva on violin.

I love how Mixon floors the gas pedal after the initial introduction with “Double Wide Soul”. This song rocks with a searing ferocity and is generously slathered in grease. Heavy, slide-infused and grinding guitar riffs propel Mixon’s anthem to his hell-raising, neighborhood daredevil friend in “The Myth of Lindberg Smith”. It’s a hell of an homage. Gonzo-inspired stories of bikers, heroin addicts, seasonal thieves, and Mexican wrestlers lead into the key events which pushed Don into a defining moment of self-defense in “The Welcome Mat (Pt. 1) as narrated by Smith. Mixon’s song “Coal Miner & Little Boy Blue” has a Springsteen, blue-collar appeal. I dig the CB radio-inspired lyrics. Mixon adds a mysterious cloak of suspense to “Peeping Tom & Tammy” on guitar while Smith tells the eerie tale of a trailer break-in overnight which wake young Mixon and his mama from their sleep. I love the opening line, ‘She gets up at the ass-crack of dawn’ which ushers in “A Hard Way to Make an Easy Living”. The amazing guitar runs and hard-scrabble lyrics have a genuine Tom Petty feel. “The Welcome Mat (Pt. III) serves as the epilog of Don’s life at the trailer park. This music-infused narration brings The Welcome Mat to an end with a nearly ten-minute long bundle of fascinating stories about hooligans, ghouls, graverobbers, feuds, UFO sightings, Pentecostal preachers, and Old Joe.

Don Aaron Mixon’s The Welcome Mat sits at the top of my favorite albums of the year so far. It’s absolutely brilliant.  

---

#710 > Jovin Webb - Drifter (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Blind Pig Records
By Phillip Smith; Oct. 19, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

It is exciting to see a new musician take the blues scene by storm. Gonzalas, Louisiana native Jovin Webb, who captured the hearts of television audiences on Season 18 of American Idol in 2020, now has a spectacular new album called Drifter and is signed to Blind Pig Records. Produced by the four-time Grammy winning Tom Hambridge, the album is destined to be a grand-slam. With Webb on vocals and harmonica, he is joined by Hambridge on drums, background vocals, and percussion, Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Mike Rojas on piano and keys, and Rob Cureton on bass guitar.

Webb delivers a striking and soulful performance on “Save Me”, a powerful original he wrote with Hambridge and Richard Fleming. The way Greenberg injects a dreamy texture to this heartwarming track on guitar pulls everything together. The opening bassline on “I’m a Drifter” instantly pulls me in to this propelling anthem with a marching magnetic pulse. I can’t help but smile when the electric piano boogie of “Wig on Wrong” kicks in. This one is surely a standout. I love the way Webb pours his whole being into “Mine Someday” and belts the song out of the ballpark. His voice is a beautifully strong one. Webb pours the icing on the cake as he brings the album to its close with a stellar cover of “Born Under a Bad Sign”. Featuring Max Abrams on saxophone and Julio Diaz on trumpet, this is an absolutely amazing track.   

Jovan Webb’s Drifter won me over upon my first listen. This instant classic garners my highest of recommendations.      

---

#709 > Scott Weis Band - Live in Europe (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Scott Weis

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Live in Europe, the eighth release from Scott Weis Band packs the raw essence of his live shows into a bootleg-type recording made with four microphones and a two-track board from performances across four different cities in Germany. This Pennsylvania-based blues-rock band has been on my radar for just over four years now, and have very much enjoyed each of the studio albums I have reviewed. This is an interesting disc.  It reminds me in ways of John Mayall’s Live in 1967 discs featuring Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood in a kind of way. With Weis standing front and center on guitar and lead vocals, he is joined by Robert Kopec on bass guitar, and Roger Voss on drums.

This fourteen-track release begins with hard-driving title-track off his most recent studio album called “Raise Your Hands”. Weis’ guitar performance is searing. Their smoking cover of ZZ Topp’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” sounds best at high volume. I love their cover of Chris Stapleton’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey”. That is such a beautiful song, and Weis sings it with a soulful delivery. “Pride and Soul” off the Simmer Me Down album surfs a heavy-rockin’ Texas-style blues riff and is topped with an amazing guitar solo. The way he plays that swampy slide on “Motherless” takes me right to the Mississippi Delta. They attack “Right Where It Belongs” with flash and fury and it sounds great. They bring this record to an end with “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” which runs just a little over ten minutes. Lyrically it is different from the Freddie King version but the essence remains as Weis makes this his own with amazing licks and runs.  

Live in Europe captures the energy of Scott Weis Band’s live shows and brings it directly to the listener.        

--- 

 

Visit Scott Weis Band online at https://scottweisband.com

 

Check out additional PhillyCheeze reviews of Scott Weis Band with this link:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Scott+Weis

 

 

#708 > Chad Rupp and The Sugar Roots - Gate C23 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Lightning In A Bottle Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Since reviewing Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots’ previous album last year, I’ve been totally onboard with their soulful approach to music. The latest recording from this Portland, Oregon ensemble is titled Gate 23 and hits like a fresh breath of air. I’m quite fond of the all-original guitar-centric, horn-infused blues they create.

Rupp and Sugar Roots quickly grab the attention of my ears with the suave and rockin’ blues of “Fresh Suits”. His guitar solo hits like a blast of Joe Walsh, and I soak it all up. As if simmered in a pot of funky New Orleans gumbo, “She Got That Business” surely puts a smile on my face. The masterful, slow dripping piano-laced blues on title-track “Gate C23” wonderfully captures the experience of being stuck in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. No trip to Beale Street in Memphis should be without a visit to Blues City Café for an evening of southern delicacies and top-notch entertainment. Rupp’s homage to this eatery and juke joint cleverly name-drops a plethora of musicians and menu items often found there with “Blues City Cafe”.  Growing up as one of those boys who had to shop for clothes in the ‘husky’ section of J.C. Penney, “Fat Kid Boogie” makes for a fun track loaded all the sweet treats which I often crave. The album comes to a funky jam-packed end with “Blind, Crippled & Crazy”.  I dig the way the song opens up to allow each member of the band to shine on this track.

Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots have certainly scored again. Gate C23 is a terrific album, and further fuels my urge to see them in a live show. I’m definitely keeping an eye on this band.

 ---

 

Check out additional PhillyCheeze reviews of Chad Rupp with this link:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Chad+Rupp

 

 

#707 > BillyLee Janey Band - King of the Roll (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Fervor Records

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 28, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

King of the Roll, the latest album from BillyLee Janey Band is seventeen tracks of all-original hard-driving blues-rock, and I absolutely dig it. I’ve been a fan of BillyLee’s work for quite a long time, and he never ceases to amaze me. With Janey on all guitars and vocals, he is joined with Tommy T-Bone Giblin (Lonnie Brooks) on B3 and clavinet, Dan ‘DJ’ Johnson on bass, Bryce Janey on bass guitar, Eric Douglas on drums, and Troy Harper guest drummer on “Lucky Star”.

Setting a strong impression, the album leads off with title-track “King of the Roll” a song loaded with a funky rhythm and searing guitar licks. Douglas’ commanding approach on drums fuels this smoking track. The rolling sound of Giblin’s B3 sets a groovy background for Janey as he lays down the law on “Killin’ Flow”. In a fabulously smoldering performance, Janey and band conjure memories of the ferocious derecho which tore through Iowa in August of 2020 in “Iowa Hurricane”. That was a day I will never forget, and the song captures the event in a most honest way. I love the propulsive “Hellbound Nite Ryder”. The song guides the listener down a mesmerizing journey of Janey’s guitar mastery. “Rain Fallin’” is an amazing track with a jazz-soaked rhythm which brilliantly takes me back to 2008 when a hundred-year flood wreaked havoc across Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hearing Janey cut loose on the nearly seven-minute long instrumental “Star Spangled Blues/Mountain Fire” is a genuine treat.

BillyLee Janey Band truly shines with King of the Roll.  I highly recommend giving this album a listen.

 ---

 

For more information about BillyLee Janey, visit https://fervor-records.com/artist/billylee-janey/

 

Check out previous PhillyCheeze reviews and photos of BillyLee Janey with this link:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Billylee+Janey

 

 

#706 > KAT Blue & the True Believers - Start Believin' (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – KAT Blue

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 28, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

KAT Blue & the True Believers, an up-and-coming blues-rock band out of Iowa has a new six-track EP called Start Believin’, and it is definitely worth checking out. KAT Blue fronts this tight-knit band on vocals, with Bob Sulzer on lead guitar, Bill Kiesel on bass, Paul Abodeely on keys, Doug Allemang on drums, and Bob Gleason on harp.

The EP kicks off with a hot take on Susan Tedeschi’s “Rock Me Right”. Sulzer’s guitar performance and Abodeely’s barrelhouse keys punch this up quite nicely.   I dig their rocking cover of 35^th & Taylor’s “Hard Times”.  KAT’s vocals hit with a Pat Benetar vibe. Warren Haynes’ “Soulshine” is a wonderful song, and the band does a great job making this heartfelt tune their own. Gleason’s harp performance absolutely shines.

Start Believin’ is about as solid as a debut EP can get. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more from KAT Blue & the True Believers.  

 ---

 

 

 

#705 > Avey Grouws Band + KAT Blue & the True Believers - Live Sep. 21, 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Avey Grouws Band + KAT Blue & the True Believers – Sep 21, 2024
Olympic South Side Theater
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 22, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It was great to see Avey Grouws Band return to Cedar Rapids to play the Olympic South Side Theater. With KAT Blue & the True Believers opening up, it made for quite a night of music. It was much needed. KAT Blue took the stage and played a cool set-list full of blues, including The Shangri-Las' "Walking in the Sand", Etta James' "Blues is my Business", Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working", Beth Hart's "Bad Woman Blues", and Johnny Lang's "Lie to Me". Avey Grouws played a lot of my favorite originals like "Hanging Around", "You Need Love", and "Hard Times", "Two Days Off (and a Little Bit of Liquor)", "I Dig What You Do" and "Love Reigning Down". Before the evening ended, Avey Grouws Band brought KAT Blue up on stage for a grand finale of "Sweet Home Chicago". It was a great night indeed. 

  ---

 

·       All Photos by Phillip Smith

KAT Blue & the True Believers

Avey Grouws Band

* Photos by Phillip Smith