Home Archive by category "Roots Music Safari" (Page 41)

Category: Roots Music Safari

2013 Blues – King King – Standing in the Shadows

Standing in the ShadowsSo it’s always pretty neat when I listen to an album, like I did with Standing in the Shadows from the blues band King King, are blown away, and then go to their website and read that they were the winners of the Best Band & Best Album at the British Blues 2012 Awards!! They are also Winners of ‘Best Band’ & ‘Best Album’ – Blues Matters Writers Poll in 2011!! Hailing from Glasgow King King is fronted by guitarist Alan Nimmo, formerly of the award-winning Nimmo Brothers. As I listened to the album, I heard tracks that went from all out blues ballads to funky blues… from the band’s Facebook page.. Read More

Blues from 2004 – Dave Specter and Steve Freund – Is What It Is!

Steve Freund and Dave SpecterSo I first became aware of blues guitarist Dave Specter a few years ago, when I listened to his album Live in Chicago. It’s been on the iPod and when songs come up on random shuffle, I’m always thinking about how much I like his work! Anyway, his guitar can be heard on a couple of albums that I’ve been listening to lately, one is a new one from harmonica player Al Miller ..In Between Time and the other Knockin’ Around These Blues with John Primer and Bob Corritore, both good albums. Well, somewhere in the last week or so, I came across another Chicago Bluesman Steve Freund and his latest release Come On In this House and I’ve been listening to it since then. When I was looking for Freund’s album on MOG, I also saw that Specter and Freund had released an album together back in 2004, titled Is What it Is. So I gave that a listen , too. What do they say, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In this case it’s two guitars are better than one, as friends Steve Freund and his former pupil Dave Specter, join together for a really fabulous album (IMHO). From the Delmark press release for the album: Read More

This Day in Music – 1937 – Happy Birthday Waylon Jennings

Waylon JenninsSo on this date 1937 in Littlefield, Texas an Americana music legend was born. Waylon Arnold Jennings.(June 15, 1937–February 13, 2002) Waylon along with Willie Nelson is responsible for the kind of music that I love. Waylon had recorded music for many years, when in the mid 1970s he said no to Nashville’s sound. You know the one with too many strings and a pop inflect. Waylon wanted it too sound his way…. so he became an “Outlaw” and along with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash created a ragged, maverick image and a music that was independent from Nashville. The movement went on to become a significant force in music during ’70s, and laid the foundation for Americana music, a genre that adheres to its hardcore honky-tonk roots! Read More

Life’s Soundtrack – Good Knees, Slow Run with Americana and ProgRock!

So for the last several weeks possibly a month I have been without my glucosamine and chondroitin pills and my knees have felt the effects, particularly when I go up and down the stairs. I think this is one of the reasons that I haven’t run as much over this time, maybe not consciously but on some level it’s made me feel less like running! Last Saturday I finally bought new pills and boy, what a difference after a few days my knees felt great going up and down the stairs and yesterday I actually felt like running! I still suck but a least my knees feel good today!! While I didn’t feel bad throughout the run I did though have to keep slowing down to keep my heart rate down! I finished a 3.8 mile run just a little faster than last time with an average pace just under 10:30 per mile! Just building miles!! Read More

Today in Music – 1977 – Kenny Wayne Sheppard’s Birthday!

Kenny Wayne Sheppard2

Ok this is the third time, I have tried to write this post today!!

Today is the 36th birthday of blues guitar great Kenny Wayne Sheppard. I first heard Kenny Wayne’s name way back, well maybe not way back, but back in 1995, when as an 18 year-old he released his first album Ledbetter Heights. Like many in the blues and rock worlds, I was blown away by the album and Sheppard’s playing!! When his second album Trouble Is… came out, I went out and quickly picked it up! I didn’t like that album as much as the first one, particularly the vocals…. Here’s what Allmusic says about the album…. Read More

Cotton Mouth Man from Mr Super Harp James Cotton

James Cotton2You know James Cotton’s career has spanned 69 years and his new release Cotton Mouth Man proves that there’s no quit in the man! Way back in the late 60s, the rock music scene was still in its infancy, young folks wanted to know where rock music came from Muddy Waters and Brownie McGhee told them in a song they co-wrote, “The Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock and Roll”. According to Cotton’s website: Read More

2013 Blues – Cotton Mouth Man from Mr Super Harp James Cotton

James Cotton2You know James Cotton’s career has spanned 69 years and his new release Cotton Mouth Man proves that there’s no quit in the man! Way back in the late 60s, the rock music scene was still in its infancy, young folks wanted to know where rock music came from Muddy Waters and Brownie McGhee told them in a song they co-wrote, “The Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock and Roll”. According to Cotton’s website: Read More