WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Alabama Mike – “Tailor Made Blues” (JukeHouse Records) B

Bay Area blues artist with pretty large gathering of old-timers backing his vocals. Enlists killer bassist Kadar Roy (of Jr. Watson fame), and bari saxophonist Mike Peloquin to name but two. Seems like another band put together to back an older black singer. Solid musicianship and okay vocals, though his soul and R&B selections bump it up a notch (#6, 8).

Ghost Town Blues Band – “Dust the Dust” (Inside Sounds) B-

Three piece road band—rhythm section and front man (Matt Isbell) who plays all other instruments and sings. A ZZ Top-like group groomed with fuzz guitar and scattergun harp. Probably fun live and dancin’…pretty average with some interesting guitar on some tunes (#5), overdone on fuzz, wah-wah and slam on others (#7).

Holmstrom, Rick/Juke Logan/Stephen Hodges – “Twist-o-Lettz” (Mocombo Rec.) B

Old pals and blues wizards Rick Holmstrom and Juke Logan get together to indulge their weird musical fantasies – Juke with his wild 50’s-low-ridin’-rocker stuff mixed up with Rick’s space gitar rocker-dreams, backed by Hodges on all manner of drums to record a live “fun” recording at an LA club. Not typical blues fare. When they flip into blues—strangely to Shy Guy Douglas’s “Let’s R & R”—the machinery jumps right into motion. Sounds like they’re having a wailin’ good time with that crazy Juke…on harp and vocals all over the place. Recorded with mics all over the room, the mix is a little rough, but it’s clear they’re playing to fill the dance floor.

Lemon, Cathy & Johnny Ace – “Lemonace” (VizzTone) B

Renowned California entertainer and bass player Johnny Ace (Johnny Nitro and the Door Slammers) meets Texas blues singer Cathy Lemon. Ace, apparently quite a showman on stage, played with Victoria Spivey, Hooker Otis Rush, Charlie Musselwhite and here serves as backup in duets with the lady singer—also does intros to songs. Lemon added several things he missed—belting chick vocals, lyrics, etc. All songs here are their originals, and guests include Tommy Castro, David Maxwell, Kid Andersen, Paul Oscher and Ron Thompson. That’s some serious firepower for someone who unsmilingly calls himself “Ace.”Heh. Duet vocals are from the Bonnie/Delaney Bramlett school and guest artists bristle with stinging licks. Lemon is the big surprise here with powerful and clear vocals worth noting…supple and expressive (#3, 11).

Macaroni, Tony & Friends – “I Got Skills, Pt. 1” (Tony Macaroni Records) A-

Single tune release featuring Robben Ford. Tony “Macaroni” Lufrano sings a slow blues with horn and chick-vocal backup – the whole nine yards with Robben Ford on guitar. Don’t know if this is attached to a coming CD or what…it’s nice in a slow, big production way, and of course Robben is wicked smooth as usual. Give it a A-…and a little hope for a full record soon.

Mack, Daddy Blue Band – “Bluesfinger” (Inside Sounds) B+

Daddy Mack is a self-taught guitarist – torturing the ceramic tiles in the bathroom and his wife for hours a day until he got the “hang” of it…eventually playing with the great Fieldstones in Memphis. Relatives of Fieldstone’s artisty Wilroy Sanders joined up and they were soon cutting records. This is the fourth for the group who quickly ecame popular. The music is simple, the vocals expressive and sticks right there in the genuine blues pocket. Inspired by Albert King, I also hear some BB in his guitar attack. Shines on the slow ones.

Musselwhite, Charlie – “The Well” (Alligator) B+

Charlie leans mostly on his prodigious harmonica skills for this blues offering. As always they are great. Hiis guitar playing is actually KILLER as well, but he doesn’t feature that much (here only on # 7 & #13). His vocals have always been the weakest part of his show, but he’s not too shabby, and of course has a crack band backing him up (Dave Gonzalez and Mavis Staples, etc.). Nice back seat blues.

Various – “This is the Blues, V4” (Eagle Records) B-

Selected cuts from three projects done by producer Pete Brown (“Rattlesnake Guitar, the Music of Peter Green,” “The Knights of the Blues Table,” and “From Clarksdale to Heaven”) with a variety of blues-rock performers. British blues heritage as collected by Pete Brown. Many tunes more rock-pop than blues. Interesting (British) view of blues.

Vaughan, Stevie Ray – “Can’t Stand the Weather” (Sony Records) A

Re-release of SRV’s great stuff, some unreleased or alternate takes. First disc holds studio recordings and the second features some of those same songs done live in August of 1984. Although SRV has a BUNDLE to answer for with the 2 gazillion guitar wannabes that followed in his wake, there’s no denying something super special went on when he played. His blistering guitar here, backed by the wicked-sharp Double Trouble, deserves to be titled classic. What can I say – he lived up to his own worship of Jimi Hendrix and the blues. Great rock blues. Second disc lets listener in on crowd enthusiasm as all cuts are live. Go get ‘im.