WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Aiken, Mike – “Hula Girl Highway” (Aspirion Rec.) B

Country-rock, big-time. Double guitar leads, and great mandolin solos. Sings nicely with wife…a bunch of friends having fun. Obviously like Duane Allman and George Jones. Medium but stable.

Bonamassa, Joe – LIVE-from Nowhere in Particular (JR Adventures/Blues Fdn.) A

A Collection of blistering rock-blues from ever-expanding talents of a kid who sucked down his mama’s milk while rockin’ to SRV, and opened for BB. King at age eight. He’s been dabbling with electricity ever since, remixing Led Zepplin and burnin’ circuits across the land. If you like your rock and blues sizzling, this is the action. Expressive voice on top of all that (not scream-fried), and a penchant for giving his tunes a framework and dynamics (who knew they came with a sustain pedal?). But he knows how to take it down to a rock steady blues beat and soar above that (#2), get back to bleedin’ a la Otis Rush (#3), or experiment with some Indian refrains electrified (#4)…you gotta love it. He’s stretchin’ the Jimi envelope, a guitar explorer. Live audience mixed to the back so you don’t hear too much of that…but they’re screamin’ “Yes!”

Denhert, KJ – “Lucky 7” (Motema Music) B

New York songstress who thinks of her music as urban folk-jazz…a sort of jazzy Lilith Fair contender. Expressive and smooth voice, backup accent vocals, and the jazz setting of tunes makes tunes easy on the ears. A Norah Jones-ish approach to jazz, but you can hear her Joni Mitchell jazz influences in many of the tunes. Good for all mixes.

Dive Bar Stalkers – “Rock the House” (Indie) D+

Super distoro rock. Need to toke up big and bring a flask, a girl in 7” heels and lotsa lipstick.
Not recommended.

Justice, Jon – “The Rebound” (Indie) B-

Swamp, rockin’ blues of all originals, Justice has a good singing voice, and the band’s got the blues-rock chops, but nothing stands out & grabs me; songs all sound the same-ish. Most would probably work in all mixes.

Raines, Darrell – “Moanin’ Time” (Bluzpik) B

Soft-voiced singer from Florida has a relaxed/light approach to the blues, which doesn’t always support the tunes he does, but his guitar and instrumentation are in the pocket and keep you hooked. Lazy tune choice makes me want a drink (smile)—good for clubs.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – “The Whole Fam Damnily” D

(Planetary)

An Indiana (God Bless Us) comedy band that plays like the Shaggs after high school. All songs have a one-trick drum part behind them – marching comedy, marching blues, marching talk songs. Not Recommended.

Thomas, Irma – “Simply Grand” (Rounder) A-

Grammy-winning New Orleans blues diva sings her stuff with 12 different backup pianists. Music is acoustic and low-key, allowing the focus to be on the vocals and the wonderful piano variety of her backing artists. Known as a soul singer, Thomas to me is more a ballad crooner with a blue-soul tinge. She’s best in person, but this record puts her over nicely. Very cool to hear the different touches of the players—sounds like parlor music in the crooning blues fashion… female backups are tasty. All good for mixes.

Torrez, Omar – “The Beat Outside” (Omar Torrez Music) C

Winner of the Bumbershoot Jimi Hendrix contest, Torrez sings and writes tunes that sound somewhat like Prince with superfluous chord changes, and a boy-on-the-brink attitude. He’s got the toolbox, but not the cool. Promising…but not recommended.

Various Artists – “A Brief History of the Blues” (Universal) A

A collection of some of the blues masters and songs they made famous. A nice over-all hearing of tunes done by the originators and a few done by younger artists covering the older soldiers. Good for all mixes. Nice collection—largely acoustic, but mellow/dynamic bands (remember dynamics?).

Woods, Mitch – “Jukebox Drive” (El Toro Records) B

A jump-swing pianist, Woods sings like he’s fronting Louis Jordan’s band, and really fond of the boogie woogie. A real swingin’ jump band, reminiscent of the Love Dogs. His backing band has some hot players and call themselves the “Lazy Jumpers.” Double bass, sax and everyone veterans of jump. Strong sax support gives it a special umpf. Woods sings like a Big Bopper shouter.