I'm back from The Bahamas and still somewhat jetlagged after 18
hours or so travelling including an almost sleepless red-eyed
special trans-Atlantic flight. Yes, the sea really was that clear
and an amazing colour. From the position of the rudder on the wreck
of the Imperial, the final command was probably "left hand down a
bit ... NOW!"
Steppin Up - Ramblin' Dawgs (E.
Brunswick, NJ, USA)
From the album
Rockin
Blues
The Ramblin Dawgs are an energetic rock driven modern blues
powerhouse, formed in late 2007 and making waves throughout their
local New York / New Jersey communities with energetic rock driven
modern blues performances. Driven by Carlos "C-Dawg" DC's soulful
vocals and tasteful guitar playing, Raul DC's thunderous drumming,
Rick Frank's screaming Hammond organ, and Jonas Landau's rock solid
grooves on bass, the buzz continued in 2008 as the band performed
relentlessly.
www.ramblindawgs.com/
www.myspace.com/ramblindawgs
http://cdbaby.com/cd/ramblindawgs
I've just had 24 highly enjoyable hours in London including an
evening at the
QuecumBar in
Battersea which is the adopted home of French swing jazz (a la
Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli). Just a jam night but a
very high standards of musicianship, very good food and a great
atmosphere.
www.quecumbar.co.uk
Have faith believe - Tom
Browning (Parkend, Gloucestershire, UK)
I had a MySpace friend request from a young British musician called
Tom Browning deep in the Forest of Dean a couple of days ago. I
think it is the straightforward honesty of his playing that
appeals.
"I'm soon to be playing in pubs once I've got a covers set
together. I also hope to be going on the stage with a set of
orignals too! I play a Taylor 110-E."
www.myspace.com/tbrowningmusic
This Is Not The Fire - My Tiger My
Timing (London, UK)
Another contact through MySpace. My Tiger My Timing are Anna,
James, Harrison and Gary and formed in 2008 in south east London.
Their debut single
This Is Not
The Fire is produced by Andy Spence of New Young Pony Club
and released April 6th 2009 on download through Silver Music
Machine.
31 Mar 2009 Cargo w/ Yo Majesty, London
4 Apr 2009 Big In Japan @ 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth
11 Apr 2009 Be @ Proud, London
17 Apr 2009 Blow Up @ Chorlton Irish Club, Manchester
24 Apr 2009 Slutty Fringe @ Cargo, London
1 May 2009 Hinterland Festival, Glasgow
15 May 2009 The Great Escape, Brighton
28 May 2009 Broken Yolk @ Bardens Boudoir, London
www.myspace.com/mytigermytiming
I hope you'll never come back -
Organic Despair (Montpellier, France)
Organic Despair haas recommended quite a few albums through Jamendo
- all are worth a listen. Now it is his turn to get a play.
"Passionné de musique Organic Despair anciennement "Jesus First
Christ" s'éprends de jouer de la guitare.... un premier groupe rock
psychédelique né mais se disloque assez vite..
From
The Unfaced Album on
Jamendo.
http://organicdespair.jimdo.com/
www.jamendo.com/en/artist/organic.despair
The Empire - Danny Shayler
(south-west England)
Danny Shaylers songs contain a healthy dose of cynicism about
nationhood and the power of one nation over another. A sentiment
that I fully endorse.
It has taken a while to get this track from singer, songwriter and
actor Danny onto the show after my chum Nicky Valentine met up with
him when they were both appearing in the UK hospital drama Casualty
(I think Danny was Nicky's patient).
Danny plays guitar in Chris Jagger's band "Atcha" and has recently
put a band together to play his own music.
www.myspace.com/dannyshaylerband
I've been converted - Kelly Joe
Phelps (Oregon, USA)
Kelly Joe Phelps is a musician and songwriter from Oregon State who
is well-known as one of the best living "bluesman" and lapslide
guitar players.
From the album
Lead me on
due for street release in a couple of weeks on April 15 although
the digital version has been available for a month or so. Actually,
I think it is a re-release of quite an old album.
"Hundreds of gigs and bloodied fingers led up to his first
recording for Burnside Records, an independent label based in
Portland, Oregon. 'Lead Me On' was released in June 1994,
representing a recording session that was to set up the Kelly Joe
Phelps standard for recording practice: "close your eyes and
play".
Download the track free here:
Kelly
Joe Phelps, Kelly Joe Phelps
"I've Been
Converted" (mp3)
from "Lead Me On"
(Burnside Records)
Buy at
iTunes Music Store
Buy at
Rhapsody
Stream from
Rhapsody
More On This Album
Some Day Baby - Kat Danser
(Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
I played a track from Kat Danser a few weeks ago and subsequent
correspondence has resulted in the arrival today of her CD
Somethin' Familiar.
Her '"Swamp Blues" style is delivered on the waves of her deep,
resonant vocals and the soulful voice of her Weissenborn lap slide
guitar. She is one part backwoods juke joint, one part plow puller
and two parts dusty ol' canvas tent revival. Kat serves up a
refreshing and original approach to roots, blues and gospel music
in the 21st Century. Kat is a national touring and recording
artist, based in Edmonton, Alberta. Early in 2007, she released her
second full-length album, filled to the brim with eleven new roots,
blues and gospel originals. This album is a richly textured
exploration of 'sin and salvation' featuring west coast guitar
maniac Steve Dawson (Zubot & Dawson) and the legendary Linda
Tillery.
Me, I just love the sound and the songs - here is a talent to be
reckoned with.
www.katdanser.com/
www.myspace.com/katdanser
A child shall lead - Brother Joscephus
and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra (New York, NY,
USA)
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra are an
11-piece explosion of love and righteousness specializing in Groovy
New Orleans-inspired Roots Rock/Soul with a Gospel feel. BroJo is
more than a musical and visual spectacle, it's a movement - a
Revolution of Love. No one on the planet brings it quite like
Brother Joscephus - righteous, feel-good music with a message of
positivity.
www.brotherjoscephus.com/
www.myspace.com/brotherjoscephus