#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.  

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#360 : Bob Dorr and Friends Live @ Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery

November 2, 2018

Swisher, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Nov 4, 2018

Friday, November 2nd, the Linn County Blues Society and Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery hosted a stellar evening of blues in Swisher, Iowa.  Bob Dorr and Friends (guitarist Jeff Petersen, bassist Dan ‘DJ’ Johnson, and keyboardist Tom Giblin) brought their Parlor City Jam Band out to play in a totally different setting, at Cedar Ridge Winery to a full house of blues fans.   

With Bob behind the drum kit and Jeff Petersen armed with his Flying V guitar, the band played through crowd favorites such as the Hank Williams classic “Mind Your Own Business” and Freddie King’s “Have You Ever Loved a Woman”.  DJ stepped up to the mic and rocked the room with “Shake Rattle and Roll”, originally recorded by Big Joe Turner.  Keeping the momentum going, Petersen belted out Ike Turner’s legendary “Rocket 88”.  It sounded great.  When “Mustang Sally” rolled around the dance floor quickly filled.  DJ paid a wonderful homage to Jimmy Reed’s “Baby What You Want Me to Do?”  As the blues jams go, you never know who will appear on stage throughout the show.  This particular evening, keyboardist Jeff Craft and harpist Bob Gleason made an appearance.  Craft led the band on a great cover of Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Workin’” with Gleason wonderfully ripping it up on harmonica. It was very cool.  The music was so hot; the time quickly flew by.  Before long, the jam came to its end with Bob Dorr’s traditional Limestoner Blues Jam closer, Dylan’s “Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35”.  It was a terrific night, indeed.     

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  * photos by Phillip Smith

Tom 'T-Bone Giblin

Jeff Petersen, Bob Dorr, Dan 'DJ' Johnson'

Bob Dorr, Jeff Petersen

Bob Dorr, Dan 'DJ' Johnson, Tom 'T-Bone' Giblin
and Jeff Petersen

Jeff Petersen, Dan 'DJ' Johnson

Tom 'T-Bone Giblin' , Bob Dorr

Jeff Craft, Bob Gleason

Jeff Petersen

Bob Dorr

Jeff Petersen, Dan 'DJ' Johnson

Jeff Petersen