#762- > Bluesmore Festival 2025 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa~ PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com

 

Bluesmore Festival 2025
Brucemore Mansion
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
August 2, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; August 3, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It has been twelve years since the Linn County Blues Society from Cedar Rapids, Iowa has produced an event on the front lawn of the historic Brucemore Mansion. It felt really good to be back where our blues festivals began in 1994. The weather was perfect, and the tribe of blues fans which made the pilgrimage was a most impressive one. Three amazing bands played yesterday for a total of over six hours, making for an extraordinary music-event. The first act was Buckmiller/Schwager Band from Des Moines, Iowa comprised of Tom Buckmiller, Brian Schwager, bassist Eric Smidt drummer Drew Salim, and special guest Tom ‘T-Bone’ Giblin on keys. Next was Quad-Cities-based Avey Grouws Band with Chris Avey, Jeni Grouws, bassist Randy Leasman, and drummer Bryan West. Des Moines-based multi-instrumentalist Heath Alan made an appearance to perform with the band toward the end of their set, before playing the rest of the evening with the headliners Ghost Town Blues Band. Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Matt Isbell, this Memphis-based band is comprised of bassist Matt Karner, Grayson Smith on keys, and Garrett Marshall on drums. Heath Alan and Michael Peloquin both performed on sax. I could not have asked for a better evening of music. It was an absolute blast.

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·       *All photos by Phillip Smith

Buckmiller/Schwager Band 

Avey Grouws Band

Ghost Town Blues Band

   

    

      *All photos by Phillip Smith

 

For more info on Buckmiller/Schwager Band, visit their website at https://www.buckmillerschwager.com/

For more info on Avey Grouws Band, visit their website at https://www.aveygrouwsband.com/

For more info on Ghost Town Blues Band, visit their website at https://www.ghosttownbluesband.com/

For more info on Linn County Blues Society, visit their website at https://www.lcbs.org

 

 

Read my previous reviews for Buckmiller/Schwager Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Buckmiller+Schwager

Read my previous reviews for Avey Grouws Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Avey+Grouws

Read my previous reviews for Ghost Town Blues Band > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Ghost+Town+Blues+Band

 

#761- > Big Train and The Loco Motives - Sun Spots~ PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com

 

Big Train and the Loco Motives
Sun Spots : The Sun Studios Sessions
2025 – self released
 
By Phillip Smith; August 1, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

Current fans of KFFA’s King Biscuit Time Radio Show will most likely recognize the band name Big Train and the Loco Motives. Jimbo “Big Train” Madsen can often be found in the chat room of nearly every episode which runs weekdays between 12:15pm and 12:45pm. Hosted by Thomas Jacques, King Biscuit Time featured Big Train and the Loco Motives last August for a live on-air performance in their studio located at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas. I was there in-person and it was an extremely fun time. Madsen also has a huge following on social media sites. His fans chomp at the bit every morning to read his daily posts featuring moments of Blues Music history, and hear his This Week in the Blues podcast. Madsen, the entertaining ringleader of Oklahoma City’s ‘red-dirt’ blues band Big Train and the Loco Motives holds down the fort with guitar in hand and mic in front. His band is comprised of Bill “Top Dog” Cummins on harmonica, Nathan “The Possum” Johns on bass guitar, and Mike “Pinebox” Lander on percussion. August 7, 2024, the day before the band played at King Biscuit Time last year, they recorded this six-track album at Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee.

“A Place Called Jimmys” cracks the record open with a groovy beat and crunchy riff, slathering out a nod to jukes anywhere whisky, guns, dancing, and loud dirty blues is likely to draw the attention of the local sheriff. It’s cool to hear the studio version of their glutenous favorite “Baby, I Ain’t Skinny No More”. Originally this song landed on their Live From Ground Zero Blues Club album recorded in 2021 at Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It’s a track Grandpa Jones would absolutely love. I sure do. With every listen, I’m hankering all of those Southern delicacies which remind me of my Arkansas roots. Sometimes love just isn’t in the cards, and Jimbo sings all about it in “No Vacancy Sign”. This ultimate rejection letter-in-song brilliantly covers a slew of his favorite pick-up lines, and their sharp retorts. I love how Jimbo pours the grease all over this one while Top Dog keeps the harp fired up. The roof is aflame on “House Party” as it closes this shindig down in a most-swinging way. Madsen plays this splendidly clean on a bed of grits and greens, and rice and red beans.           

Sun Spots is a really fun disc which I recommend for all blues fans to check out.  Give them a follow on your social medias too, you’ll definitely learn something.

      

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For more info on Big Train and the Loco Motives, visit their website at https://bigtrainblues.com/

 

Read my previous reviews for Big Train and the Loco Motives > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Big+Train+and+the+Loco+Motives

 

Available on Bandcamp

  

#760- > The Alexis P. Suter Band - Just Stay High~ PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com

 

2025 – Nola Blue Records
Release Date : June 6, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; July 26,2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

When it comes to powerful voices, Alexis P. Suter sits at the top of the blues world today. I’ve been a big fan of her since reviewing Love the Way You Roll over eleven years ago.  Her songs are eloquent and her band is tight as hell. Just Stay High, the latest from The Alexis P. Suter Band is a brilliant album from start to finish. With Suter, front-and-center on lead vocals, her band consists of Vicki Bell on vocals, Jimmy Bennett on guitar, Peter Bennett on bass, Ray Grappone on drums, and Daniel Weiss on keyboards.  Additional musicians include Byron Isaacs on bass, Will Bryant on keyboards/Melodica, and Lee Falco on drums.

Suter opens this fourteen-track record with absolute authority as she belts out “God Gave Me the Blues”. It’s a true testament to the power of her voice. This ominous and enchanting track features an amazing display of slide guitar from Bennett which cuts right to the bone. An infectious rhythm laced with a load of psychedelic guitar rapidly draws me in for the riveting song “Breathe”. Wafting on top of a folky, free-spirited melody sits a wonderful gem of a love song called “My Only Need”. Suter has a gift in the way she sings from the heart. Her delivery of title-track “Just Stay High” is a beautiful song of encouragement for those enduring dreary times.     

The band covers two wonderful songs originally recorded in 1970. The first takes on Ron Davies’ “It Ain’t Easy”. I love the Southern gospel-tinted backing vocals immersed in a Muscle Shoals-inspired sound. The second, “Song For You” is a honorable tribute to Leon Russell which was originally released on his first album. Weiss performs this stunning piano-centric song with sheer elegance.

I highly recommend The Alexis P. Suter Band’s Just Stay High. This is a flawless recording that everyone should give a listen to.

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For more information about Alexis P. Suter visit her website : https://alexispsuter.com/

Read my previous reviews for Alexis P. Suter > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Alexis+P.+Suter+Band

Available on Bandcamp

#759- > Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All-Stars featuring Terrie Odabi - The Great Women of Blues (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – JayRay Records
Release Date : May 23, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; July 19, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

In 2023 two-time BMA recipient Lisa Mann and drummer Jimi Bott (The Proven Ones) were asked to form a supergroup of Pacific Northwest artists to appear at the Groove Now Concert Series in Basel, Switzerland.  With Mann on vocals/bass, Bott on drums, Ben Rice (PDX Hustle) and Jason ‘JT’ Thomas (Roy Hargrove, Snarky Puppy) on guitars, and Louis “King Louie” Pain on organ, they forged Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All-Stars. The band was asked to perform a tribute to the great women of blues for the show.  To fill the request, they also brought in five-time BMA nominee blues singer Terrie Odabi. This show took place June 9, 2023 at the Atlantis Club and was recorded live.

The eleven-track album opens with Odabi lending her beautiful voice to an a capella sampling of “Wade in the Water” which included a spoken-word narrative about the song’s origin. Following next is a roof-splitting cover of Etta James’ “I Sing the Blues”. It truly is magnificent. I break out an instant smile when I hear the hot guitars, swirling organ, and sultry vocals pour freely from their riveting delivery of “Let the Juke Joint Jump”. This song was originally recorded by Koko Taylor and was on her 1993 Force of Nature album.  I am instantly pulled into their Big Mama Thornton song “Ball & Chain” by its elegant and toneful guitar introduction. Odabi’s voice is fabulous and captivating. The song absolutely cooks. I adore Mann’s heartfelt performance of Ella James’ ’67 blues classic “I’d Rather Go Blind”. The band plays this with perfection. Bringing the recording its end is the Willie Dixon-penned party song “Wang Dang Doodle”. Howlin’ Wolf recorded the song in 1960, and five years later it was recorded by Koko Taylor for Checker Records. It became an instant hit for her and reached number thirteen on Billboard’s R&B chart.  Lisa Mann’s Northwestern All Stars embrace the song to its fullest for an eight-and-a-half-minute shindig.

Mann and Bott did a terrific job of putting together this Northwestern All-Star group featuring Odabi. Their recording genuinely honors the influential women of blues and their music. I hope the they come together for another recording. This one was exceptional.  

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For more information about Lisa Mann, visit her website : https://www.lisamannmusic.com/

For more information about Terrie Odabi, visit her website :  https://terrieodabi.com/

#758- > Jeffery Broussard and the Nighttime Syndicate - Bayou Moonlight (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – Fairground Records
Release Date : May 23, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; July 11, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Jeffery Broussard has been a mainstay in the Louisiana Zydeco scene for well over thirty years, playing in Zydeco Force, and later with the Creole Cowboys. His latest recording Bayou Moonlight is the first he has made with Nighttime Syndicate. The new configuration brings in members of TBC Brass Band from New Orleans and couples them with a swing-oriented rhythm section. They have a very cool approach to their music, flavoring their brand of Zydeco with subtle bits of Jazz, Ranchera, and Ska, and R&B. They really make the music pop. With frontman Broussard on accordion and lead vocals, the rest of the band consists of Gary Francois on washboard, a horn section featuring JU9CEY, Paul Chéene, and David McKissick, drummer Hanna Davis, bassist Spike Perkins, Zachary Wiggens on piano/organ, and producer Romain Beauxis on guitar.

The album commences with a fresh recording of “Whatever” from Zydeco Force & Lil Guyland’s 2005 album Louisiana Chicken Shack. It sets the mood quite nicely and conjures the spirit of good times. Keeping the positive flow going, they follow up next with “It’s Alright” featuring Jamie Lynn Fontenot (The Daiquiri Queens) and K.C. Jones (The Benzie Playboys) on vocals. This music quickly puts me in happy mode. I love their cover of Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come”. Hearing this ever so-poignant song delivered in New Orleans-fashion with Broussard singing in such a soulful and delicate way, really makes this a stand out performance. The keys and horns add a reverent touch to the track. “Madelin” is another which has a strong draw. The ska-soaked rhythm brings me to their wonder-filled world where the squeezebox and horns are best friends. It truly is a potpourri of sound. I adore their follow-up homage to Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me” called “I’m Coming Home”. I can’t help but be swept away into that era of early Sixties R&B. Special guest Anna Moss brings her lovely voice to an exceptional horn-infused cover of Rosie Ledet’s (The Zydeco Playboys) “Hello Baby” from her 2001 album Show Me Something.

Bayou Midnight absolutely soothes my soul with every listen. It’s surely one of my favorite releases of the Summer.

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Available on BandCamp

#757- > Bob Stroger & the Headhunters - Bob is Back (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2025 – Delmark Records
Release Date : May 5, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; July 5, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com 

It’s been a big year for Bob Stroger. The ninety-four-year-old blues legend was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame this year in Memphis, Tennessee. To help celebrate his induction, Stroger was invited to throw the first pitch at Wrigley Field, in Chicago on April 5^th. On top of all that, he has a new CD release called Bob is Back, and it is a fabulous slice of classic Chicago blues. This twelve-track record features Stroger front and center on bass guitar and lead vocals with Joe Marhofer on harmonica, Ricardo Maca on guitar, Arthur Catuto on bass, Leandro Cavera on drums, and Ben Levin on piano and organ.

The album opens with an attention-grabbing cover of Elmore James’ “Look Over Yonder Wall”. Stroger’s vocals are strong and authentic, with Marhofer’s searing harp performance superbly backed by Levin’s barrelhouse piano. This track sets the perfect tone for the rest to come. Over a tight and hot rhythm, Stroger claims “Jazz ain’t nothing but a blues-man blowing his horn” on his smokin’ original “Jazz Man Blues”.  The walking bassline solo is a grand one. I really dig their cover of Tampa Red’s “Don’t You Lie to Me”.  The song is played to perfection, with amazing performances from Maca, Levin, and Marhofer. It’s a treat to hear special guests Candice Ivory and Renée Gros accompany Stroger on backing vocals for “Love You Baby”.  In a groovy burst of Stax mojo, the funk-laden instrumental “Bob is Back” slides into the mix for an absolutely fabulous listen. For the closer, Bob wisely reminds us all to “Let the Good Times Roll”. I can’t help but sing along with this party song.

I was able to catch Stroger perform at the Pinetop Perkins Boogie & Crawfish Boil a couple of months ago at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. To be up close to blues royalty of this caliber felt pretty damn good. It’s great to see Stroger still performing on stage, and recoding new tracks. Blues fans will definitely want to pick up a copy of Bob is Back. It’s an instant blues classic indeed.    

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Bob Stroger at Pinetop Boogie & Crawfish Boil
Ground Zero Blues Club
Clarksdale, Mississippi
May 10, 2025

Photo by Phillip Smith