#732- > Mark 'Muleman' Massey - Been a Long Long Time (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Muletone Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 21, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I first heard about Mark ‘Muleman’ Massey on episode six of Moonshine & Mojo Hands a ten-episode 2016 Mississippi Blues series from Roger Stolle and Jeff Konkel. Damn that was a great series too. I encourage everyone to watch every show. It took about eight years, but I finally had an opportunity to see Muleman this past summer in Clarksdale, Mississippi at the Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival. Massey, a Clarksdale native put on a fantastic electrified show. That being said, I was excited to hear his latest album Been A Long Long Time. Slathered in southern soulful blues, this eleven-track record was recorded at Wishbone Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Alongside the Muleman on guitar are guitarists Billy Lawson, Travis Wammack, and Kelvin Holly. The rest of the band is comprised of bass player Bob N Weaver, drummer Roger Starr, The Webster Street Horns, Robbert Fossen on harmonica, and background vocalists The Avalon Sisters.

The slow blues of “Baby’s Gone” drips with pure emotion as Muleman beautifully sings this with a heart-felt delivery. The temperature rises on “Can’t Tell Me Nothing About the Blues”. The Allman-esque slide guitar and juicy keys on this delightful track put me in the zone. I love his cover of Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got to Memphis”. He surely makes this his own vocally. The Steve Cropper-inspired guitar licks win me over every time. “My Used To Be”, his ode to his ex, is a real-deal blues song with an infectious groove. “Going Back to Memphis” puts a smile on my face with every listen as he mentions all the things he loves about the Bluff City. The song is topped with a hot serving of harp, and makes for a hell of a checklist. The album ends with the funky, dance-friendly break-up song “Your Good Stuff”. It really is a fabulous tune.

Mark ‘Muleman’ Massey’s Been a Long Long Time stole my heart at first listen. It is a wonderful album with masterfully written songs served to perfection.   

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* Photos of Mark 'Muleman' Massey by Phillip Smith , 

Taken at Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival, Clarksdale, MS 2024

 

WEBSITE & SOCIALS

 

Mark ‘Muleman’ Massey

https://markmulemanmassey.com/

 

Moonshine & Mojo Hands

https://www.moonshineandmojohands.com/

 

#731 : Winter Blues Fest 2025 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Downtown Marriott

Des Moines, Iowa

February 15, 2024

 

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 16, 2025

 

Original source: phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I made the trek to Des Moines this weekend for my second visit to the Central Iowa Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest, and had a spectacular time.  Although the festival runs for two days, I was only able to make it over to the Saturday shows again. Acts I was able to catch included Hudspeth & Taylor, Cedar County Cobras, Duke Robillard, Altered Five Blues Band, Orphan Jon & the Abandoned, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, John Nemeth & the Blue Dreamers, and Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets featuring Big Joe Maher.

 * All Photos by Phillip Smith

  

Hudspeth & Taylor

Duke Robillard

Cedar County Cobras

Altered Five Blues Band

Orphan Jon & the Abandoned

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal

John Nemeth & the Blue Dreamers

 

Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets feat. Big Joe Maher

w/ Duke Robillard

* All photos by Phillip Smith

#730- > HeavyDrunk w/ Watermelon Slim - Bluesland Theme Park (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – HeavyDrunk Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 14, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Bluesland Theme Park, the new release from Rob Robinson (HeavyDrunk) and Bill Homans (Watermelon Slim) is one hell of a musical ride. This eleven-track recording alternates tracks between the two artists, creating a memorizing listen. The two met in Clarksdale, Mississippi after one of Watermelon Slim’s performances. Afterward, a chain of events took place which paired the two in a recording studio with HeavyDrunk’s band and sparked a tour of the UK and Europe.

Title-track “Bluesland Theme Park” leads this record off in a carnival-inspired atmosphere with HeavyDrunk as the ringmaster. In a riveting performance topped with blues-soaked horns, hand-claps, and searing harmonica, he reminds us all that the land of blues is not as safe and carefree as folks like to believe. The swampy sounds of slide guitar pull me in to the southern gospel soul of “Church Bells (Little Zion)”. I love the New Orleans second-line pulse topped with sounds of swirling organ, trombone, and backing vocals. Hearing this track is truly a religious experience. “Road Food & Cheap Motels”, Watermelon Slim’s ode to traveling on a tight budget, hits close to home. Slim captivates me with his mastery of words, and unique style of playing guitar. Watermelon Slim’s account of Custer’s Last Stand cuts right to the bone as he sings “Little Bighorn” accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. The album closes with a funky intoxicating track called “Fresh” with HeavyDrunk behind the microphone. Loaded with an unescapable groove, this one keeps me locked in and smiling.

Bluesland Theme Park is one of those albums that begs to be heard. I absolutely love it.

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WEBSITE & SOCIALS

 

HeavyDrunk

OS: www.heavydrunk.com

FB: www.facebook.com/heavydrunkband

IG: www.instagram.com/heavydrunkband

YT: www.youtube.com/@HeavyDrunkBand

 

Watermelon Slim

OS: www.watermelonslim.com/

FB: https:www.facebook.com/watermelonslimofficial

IG: www.instagram.com/watermelonslim1/

#728 > Frank Bey - Peace (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – Nola Blue Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 1, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

It has been nearly five years since the passing of multi-award-winning Philadelphia-based blues artist Frank Bey (January 17, 1946 – June 7, 2020). To commemorate his life and shine a light on some of his lesser-known work, Nola Blue Records has released a fabulous, new compilation called Peace. There’s certainly not a better message than this to put out into the world.

The record opens up with a cover of Little Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”, featuring The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra. From the opening licks of Paule’s B.B. King-inspired guitar licks to the vibrant punch of horns, this track absolutely shines. A funky keyboard riff from Doug Travis drives “Midnight & Day” as Bey’s soulful vocals throw down some real-deal blues. I love the simmering original “If You Want Me”. Kevin Frieson’s buttery bassline and Brian Wolfe’s delicate beat join forces amid swirling keys make a perfect backdrop for Bey’s suave vocals. Jeff Monjack steps into the spotlight as he unleashes a guitar performance which is totally off the chain. As soon as I hear Bey’s voice sing the opening words of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come”, a wave of emotion washes over me. This is a such a beautiful and meaningful song, and this version is gorgeous. This album ends with a cover of John Lennon’s 1971 classic “Imagine”. Fully immersed in the blues, this track features an amazing lineup of Kid Andersen on guitar, Jim Pugh on organ, Nancy Wright on saxophone and Derrick “D’mar” Martin on drums. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

Frank Bey’s Peace is a timeless collection of his work, and an album that everyone should give a listen to.  

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  Available on BandCamp

#724 > Tommy Castro and The Painkillers - Closer to the Bone (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – Alligator Records

Release Date : Feb. 7, 2025

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 11, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

There’s a deep sense of authentic blues with the latest album from Tommy Castro and The Painkillers’ Closer to the Bone, and I absolutely love it.  As Castro stated, "I have always wanted to do what I would call a real blues record, and I felt like the right time was now. There is nothing contemporary about this album. It’s a blues record the way they might have made blues records back in the day.” With Castro on guitars and vocals, he is joined by his band The Painkillers : Mike Emerson on keys, Randy McDonald on bass, and Bowen Brown on drums. His star-studded guestlist includes Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, Deanna Bogart, Billy Branch, Chris Cain, June Core, Rick Estrin, Scott Jensen, Jim Pugh, Mike Rinta, Jack Sanford, Sons of Soul Revivers, Endre Tarczy, and Lisa Leuschner Andersen.

Castro lures me quickly in with his masterful guitar-play on Jimmy Nolen’s “The Way You Do”. His twangy surf guitar is brilliantly paired with Rick Estrin on harmonica, and Kid Anderson’s infectious bassline. Johnny Nitro’s “One More Night” is fabulous to the core and filled with scorching guitar licks riding on top of an unescapable Texas blues groove. The tribute is so good, I was forced to acquaint myself with Nitro’s work. With guests Branch on harp, and Core on drums, Castro serves up a lively cocktail of Latin-infused blues with “Ain’t Worth the Heartache” for a fun, freewheeling original about moving on. Everything about “Freight Train (Let Me Ride)” is red hot. This cover originally from Ron Thompson and the Resisters features Pugh on piano and sounds amazing. Estrin appears again on a smokin’ recording of Eddie Taylor’s “Stroll Out West”. Castro sings this with a voice seemingly baptized in the Mississippi. This is what the blues is all about.

I think a lot of listeners will declare Closer to the Bone a favorite of 2025.  I sure have.

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For more information about Tommy Castro, visit the website @  

https://www.tommycastro.com/

For other PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Tommy Castro, follow this link: https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Tommy+Castro 

#723 > Eddie 9 Volt - Saratoga (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Ruf Records

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 4, 2025

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Eddie 9V, aka Brooks Mason first wowed me with his Little Black Flies record in 2021. He continued to draw me in on his 2023 release Capricorn. With his third and latest album, Saratoga, Eddie 9V delivers a gorgeous hat-trick, with this first three albums out the gate all hitting the bullseye. Cowritten with his brother Lane Kelly, Saratoga was recorded by the two multi-instrumentalists in their own studio Echo Deco Studio in Atlanta with guest musicians appearing on horns, lap steel, and fiddle.

Riding a propulsive rhythm with a locomotive beat, Saratoga opens with its title-track. The song bursts open with big waves of energy and poetic verse relating the trapped feelings of small-town living. Eddie’s soulful voice sounds absolutely remarkable. I soak up the goodness of the slow-pace, horn-infused track “Delta”. I can’t help but wrap myself up in its playful swampy groove. I love the fiddle-fueled genre-bending hillbilly hip-hop banger “Wasp Weather”. “Truckee” seemingly draws inspiration from classic rock bands like The Doobie Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young for its carefree, lazy Sunday feel. It’s a beautiful song. The cover of Mac DeMarco’s “Chamber of Reflection” is a brilliant make-over which takes the song to greater heights. “The Road to Nowhere” brings the record to its close with a western ballad served in a sea of twang-filled guitar topped with vocals reminiscent of music legend Roy Orbinson.  

Eddie 9V is definitely on a hot-streak. I absolutely adore Saratoga from beginning to end.

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For more information about Eddie 9V,  visit the website @  https://www.eddie9volt.com/

Catch up on previous PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Eddie 9V through this link :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Eddie+9V

#721 > FreeWorld - More Love (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – SWIRLDISC

By Phillip Smith; Dec. 28, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

FreeWorld is definitely one of the must-see bands in Memphis Tennessee. For over thirty-seven years, this ever-changing ensemble has been captivating audiences and earning the utmost respect from their contemporaries. They sure have my full attention. In 2012 they were honored to receive a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. Fronted by Richard Cushing (producer/ band director/ lead vocals/ bass guitars/ shaker/ ratchet), FreeWorld is also comprised of Peter Climie (saxophones/ NuRAD EWI/ tambourine), Cedric Taylor (Hammond B3/ grand piano/ Wurlitzer/ Nord), Alex Schuetrumpf (trumpet/ piccolo trumpet/ flugelhorn), Courtney Reid (lead & backing vocals), Frank Paladino (baritone saxophone), Freedman Steorts (trombone), Walter Hughes (guitars), Matt Sweatt (drums). More Love, their eighth album is a melting pot of fourteen fresh original tracks baptized in the vibrant sounds of funk, jazz, soul, rock, and blues.

I’m instantly charged by the high-vibrational sounds of “Outta Sight”. The track ferociously tears the roof off and opens things up. The rhythm is slathered in funk, the horns are so hot they melt, and the guitar solo is phenomenal. Soaked in that Southern spiritual goodness, title-track “More Love, sung by special guest Jerome Chism with the Tennessee Mass Choir is a beautiful anthem. I dig the addition of slide guitar by special guest Aubrey McCrady into the intoxicating sounds of their reggae song “Heart on the Table”. That’s really unique. In numerology 11:11 refers to a reset or transition. FreeWorld brings it to song form with “11:11 on Beale”, a relaxed horn-fueled jazz instrumental which serves as a backdrop for a free-flowing spoken-word homage to Beale Street by Benjamin Theolonius “IQ” Sanders. It’s a very cool track indeed. “Who Knew” draws me in with its buttery rhythm before it really wows me with the sax-guitar dual, steering the song into a smoking instrumental. I snuggle right in to the feel-good and carefree blanket of “Nothin’ Wrong”. The song reminds me of the playfulness of one of my favorite bands Phish. Closing out the album is “D-Up (Here’s to Diversity)” the second of two bonus tracks. With lyrics written by FreeWorld’s drummer David Skypeck, the song made its first recorded appearance twenty-five years ago on their 1999 album called Diversity. The song was re-recorded in 2020 and featured over three dozen Memphis artists to make a ‘We Are the World”-inspired video with stars like Earl “the Pearl” Banks, Joyce Cobb, Luther Dickinson, Al Kapone and Blind Mississippi Morris. The version on this album is from the 2020 video and I absolutely love it.

FreeWorld’s More Love has everything I like to hear in an album. It has surely landed among my favorites for the year,

 

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D-Up (Here’s to Diversity)

For more information about FreeWorld, visit the website @ https://freeworldmemphis.com