L'uomo Nero - Elle De La Mer

 

This is a refreshing and interesting one. L'uomo Nero are a blues rock band who bring in a few heavier influencers but stay firmly rooted in 60s sounds that reflect the power of the decade and are produced with some gorgeous sounds. The end result is a record that is driving and powerful and feels modern but also classic. Even though this is not a total retro record, the avoidance of Sabbath worship actually works out nicely in their favor. It makes their latest EP, Elle De La Mer, the second offering in their ongoing trilogy of EP's all the more compelling. 

What will perhaps first strike you about this record is the vocals which come across full throated and powerful. Though they do sit a bit high in the mix they really help to add to the sort of in your face sensibility of a track like 'Elle'. Meanwhile the jangly guitars that define an offering like 'Too Late Too Long really go to showcase what makes Elle De La Mer such a compelling record in the first place. The band find a way to really bring in disparate influences to craft what are essentially doomed pop rock songs. It's a fun experience to sit through this EP and feel its myriad waves of sound crashing upon your ears. 

L'uomo Nero prove with Elle De La Mer that they are a sonic force who are here to stay. Their music is compelling and fun and the way that they craft their releases is potent. This is a record that pushes above and beyond consistently and regularly reminds listeners just how exciting this sort of music can be. They are crafting songs that have dark sensibilities but with massive hooks that will keep you listening for days. Powerful and deceptively emotional, Elle De La Mer will keep listeners coming back for its short runtime.

Pre-order the album!

https://luomonero.bandcamp.com/album/elle-de-la-mer

Little Albert - Swamp King

The blues side project of a noted doom metal guitarist? Interesting! While I may not be a huge fan of Italian doomsters Messa, the fact that their guitarist Alberto Piccolo was putting out a blues album was genuinely interesting to me. Most projects in this vein claim to be blues but are not actually, leaning more on a classic rock vibe. What I enjoy here is that Little Albert has clearly done his homework. If nothing else, the passion he has for Robert Johnson or even some of the early Chicago guys like Big Bill Broonzy is palatable.

What we have here is not necessarily straight blues, but rather a mix of doom and blues, and the execution is actually pretty interesting. The band revels in crushing riffs but also Delta licks. While at times the project doesn't quite itch either of those, at others the vision is clearly achieved. This is an ambitious project and one that has a lot of ins and outs. It's a record that I'm not always sure has the sense of forward motion it needs to really stun (I'm looking at you 'Blues Asteroid') but at other moments shows that Little Albert is more than capable of unleashing truly next level heavy blues on the masses.

Swamp King is an interesting release. At his best, on songs like 'Bridge of Sighs' Little Albert is able to evoke swampy sounds and stunning imagery. Other times though it just feels like boring bluesy doom. Little Albert clearly has the skill to fuse his two passions, I'm just curious if the project is given time to mature so that it can be done at the level it needs to be to win over the hearts of fans everywhere. Swamp King is an interesting take on a oft attempted idea and one that certainly bears checking out for fans of both genres.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/littlealbertblues/

Child - Blueside

Chilled out and just a little buzzed Child are old school rock and roll for dudes and dudettes who just wanna take a moment to appreciate the finer things in life. Blueside shows a darker aspect of this band, wallowing in groovy pentatonics and doomy grooves that find you lost in blossoming waves of sound. Blueside is going to take you on a journey, whethr you like it or not, because at the end of the days it's bands like Child who seem to truly understand rock and roll and what it can do for the huddled masses.

The colossal guitar work in a song like The Man is perfectly suited for the epic almost washed out vocals. The sense that things could all apart at any moment is delicious. These guys understand that rock and roll needs to have forward motion, but as the long form songs found throughout the record prove, Child don't especially care if they need to take their grand old time getting from point A to point B. Rather they will sit back, chill out and let you fall in love with flurries of notes immediately contrasted with the strangely reassuring thudding bass tack of these songs. It's easy to lose yourself in Child because they want you to dig in deep with them.

So yeah, this band isn't exactly creating new soundscapes, but they represent something great. They show us a way forward through the rock and roll misery that so many of us must deal with and remind us that no matter what we can always find a path to absolution, despite the trials and tribulations we might face. These guys understand the beauty of vibrato, the crush of a good progression and how wailing vocals can leave you unable to turn the record off. From tip to tail Blueside is a tasty journey.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/childtheband/

Interview with Kevin Starrs of Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats

 Rejoice, fellow fans and readers! 2 years after the release of the bands’ mindcrushing Mind Control, Uncle Acid will be marking their return with their highly anticipated follow-up titled The Night Creeper, thus marking their 4^th full-length album release. This upcoming album scheduled for a September release deals with crime, murder and mystery and will be sure to please any music fan with a thirst for old-school rock music with a vintage aesthetic. To prepare for the albums’ release, I was fortunate enough to catch up with none other than frontman Kevin Starrs to shed some light on this mysterious album.
 

- So this coming september will mark the release of your fourth full-length album "The Night Creeper". What can fans expect from this album?
Expect the unexpected (laughs)? To me it's a natural progression from what we've done so far, it's the next step. It sounds like Uncle Acid but at the same time it's different. There're different influences and different sounds, a different approach to it I think. It's darker, with maybe a slightly heavier feel to it. I think people will really like it.

- Could you tell us a bit about the lyrical themes that you touch upon with this album?
The album tells story from start to finish. I guess you could say it's a concept album, but it always sounds ridiculous when you say "I've made a concept album" (smile). To me it's just the easy way of writing lyrics. It's basically about a serial killer thats' on the loose in the city. It could happen in any city; London, New York, Paris... It's basically up to the listener to try and figure out who the serial killer is, but it's not who you'd expect. You're going to have to read in between the lines and discover it for yourself. Above the story it's kind of a look on the establishment and corruption between the police and the media and how they protect one another when things go wrong. So there's a story but there's also a meaning behind it all.

- So the lyrics basically takes the form of a mystery story

Yeah exactly, like the old pulp stories from the 40s' and 50s' that were made into Film Noir films like The Maltese Falcon. The idea was that it would’ve been a short story that would’ve developed into Film Noir.

- The album cover reminds me of the film poster for “Dawn of the Dead” with the title font, the colors and the art style. Was that an intentional reference?
Yeah I guess it does! I know what you mean. The guy that did it is a guy called Jay Shaw. He does poster work for films and he did the cover art for the last John Carpenter album. He’s a really good artist. I just gave him the story of the album and told him I wanted something really minimalist inspired by Polish film posters from the 60s’ so he came up with this, which is perfect.

- Your music is known for its’ old-school approach to rock and heavy metal music. Could you explain what first drew you towards writing in this style?I think it’s’ just the music that grew up on really. I was really into Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest… all of those classic metal bands. Then on the other side I was also into lighter stuff like Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin … That’s all it is really, my influences coming out.- Some of these bands seem to carry a more “recent” sound than that of Uncle Acid though.
Yeah that is true. There’s also some 60s’ bands that I’m into as well, but it’s mainly the 70s’ stuff that really got me. I guess it’s just the combination of so many different things that makes it sound a certain way.

- What is your take on the more recent evolutions and subgenres in rock and metal music?Well there’s’ some good bands; I really like Blood Ceremony for example. Then there’s’ a lot of other stuff that just, to me, is trying too hard to sound like something, you know? Certain bands get popular and so the other bands try to jump on the bandwagon to try and copy that. I think there’s’ a lot of that going on at the moment.
- Regarding the sound production on your albums, was the old school approach something you chose as a rejection of modern productions or could there ever be an Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats album recorded digitally?
(Laugh). I mean to me it just doesn’t sound good. Modern production is not pleasing to me. We do use digital recording as well, it’s a mix and it’s mostly analog but there are digital parts to it. I think it’s more about the philosophy of the production that’s different. We just do very little production; we just put a mic in front of an amp, record it, maybe do a bit of EQ but that’s it, there’s’ no gloss applied to it. There’ no fancy ProTools shifting or whatever, it’s just a raw live band. That’s the day they used to do it in the 60s’ and 70s’ and that’s the way it should be done I think.
- Some musicians tend to use these modern tools as crutches to compensate their performances also.
That’s true, yeah. People that can’t sing or whatever try to correct it on Protools. I can’t sing that well but it doesn’t matter. If you fuck up who cares, you know? As long as it feels good.

- So your band is from Cambridge, which is also home to Trinity College where …
(Kevin starts Laughing) Has this something to do with Pink Floyd?
- I was actually referring to the cities’ history with the occult, since Trinity College is where Aleister Crowley studied for a few years and some of your lyrics deal with this subject. Do you have any weird stories or encounters that happened in your town?
Not really actually, but the best thing that ever happened to me in Cambridge was that I saw Syd Barrett once, since he had obviously retired there. I spent years and years looking for him, asking “Where is he? How come I haven’t seen him?”. Then one day I saw Syd Barrett on his bike and I was like “Yeah! I finally saw him!”, but then he died about 6 month later.

Sid Barrett on his bike

Other than that, nothing really. Cambridge is a really strange place, it’s very academic but I guess a lot of it hasn’t really changed since Aleister Crowley would’ve been there; the buildings are still the same, they’ve still got the same traditions, the same uniforms. I guess it’s interesting in some ways. It looks cool when it’s dark and it’s just old street lamps. It looks pretty sinister sometimes.

- Have you ever been approached by any shady, occult organizations in your hometown or on tour? No weird handshakes?
Actually no. That sort of thing would happen in Glasgow more than anywhere else really. The weird masonic handshakes… yeah that does happen sometimes (laughs).

The Warriors (1979, by Walter Hill)

- If you could rearrange or reinterpret the soundtrack to a specific movie, which one would it be?
That’s’ a good question… I’d be tempted to say The Warriors. It’s got a really good soundtrack but I think I’d make it more Synth-heavy and darker. I love those John Carpenter soundtracks, him and Alan Howarth, who worked together. I really like 70s’ and 80s’ synth music.
- Theres’ actually a great RetroWave scene in Paris that makes John Carpenter-inspired music.
Yeah! Theres’ was this one guy, Kavinsky.
- Yeah he was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Drive.
Yeah, that’s right. A lot of that sounds really good to me! I really like that sort of thing.
- If you like that sort of thing there’s’ also a guy who goes by the name of Perturbator, another one called Carpenter Brut you might wanna check out. They’re heavily inspired by 80s’ synth soundtracks like John Carpenters’ Escape from New York.
Oh really? I love all of that stuff! I’m going to have to make a note of that. Perturbator… (Looking it up on his phone). This looks good! I’m going to have to look into that. I didn’t even know that !- Interestingly enough, a few of the guys and a fair deal of their audience consists of metal fans. A lot of fans show up with black metal shirts, when I saw Perturbator he was sporting a Black metal shirt and a Mr.Bungle cap.
Wow, that’s interesting. That’ really cool, I didn’t know about that. It’s funny that a lot of metalheads appreciate that sort of music as well.
- What if you were to rearrange or reinterpret the soundtrack in the style of Uncle Acid?
I’d probably say Witchfinder General (1968, by Michael Reeves), where Vincent Price plays the witchfinder. That was actually what kind of inspired Blood Lust partly, that kind of character. The Witchfinder general was an actual person back in the 1600s’ who would torture women because he’d claim they were witches. He made a living out of doing that. He would travel from city to city, accusing women of witchcraft, torturing them, get money for it. It’s crazy to think that it actually happened. Crazy times (laughs).

- To finish things off, could you name one of your favorite albums, movies and books? Maybe also recommend a few to our readers to prepare for the albums’ release?
My favorite album would probably be On the Beach by Neil Young.
My favorite film would be The Warriors (1979, by Walter Hill), that’s my all-time favorite film.
My favorite book would probably be The Maltese Falcon (1930 detective novel by Dashiell Hammett), which kind of ties in with the album as well, it’s very similar. It’s this sort of Film noir crime fiction.

Inteview by Robin ONO

PS: Special Thanks to Kevin and HIM Media for making this review possible!

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats
Official website
http://acidcoven.com/ Official facebook
https://www.facebook.com/uncleacid

The Night Creeper, scheduled for release on Rise Above Records, Friday September 4th!

 

Jay Smith-King of Man

A Swedish rock hero out to unleash his second solo release. Jay Smith is usually known for his work with the band Von Benzo, but now he seems to be out on a track of his own with the genre sweeping King of Man. This is the sort of modern rock and roll release that has the sort of ubiquity that is almost required to succeed in the modern rock game. You see, King of Man shows us something distinctly human about Jay Smith and it helps all the little people like you and me get a better grasp for what it means to be an artist in his prime.

Part of what makes King of Man so appealing to me is the earthy quality to the music. There is a true depth to what Jay Smith is doing here, like he really wants people to get at the fundamental nature of his music. The result of this is a record that sounds honest, through layers of beautiful production and carefully crafted songs. Jay Smith is a man who really knows how to craft pieces of music, every song here has a unique twist to it, but they all fit in the same general vibe. Even his cover of Cowboys from Hell, which is far removed from the original, brings something new and exciting to the table. This is a labor of love and proves Smith to not just be another rock and roller.

So where does this leave us? Well, we could simply be gaping in the tracks of one of Sweden's rock superstars, but I think that King of Man gives us something more. Jay Smith is revealing the soul of a master to the people and wants us to connect with him and this makes him beautiful. King of Man is an album from a lord of rock, someone who will not be stifled but only turn it up louder. So let yourself be taken in the storm, there's only so much you can take, but Jay Smith will help you with the burden of everyday life. Let down your hair and join the groove, what else can you do?

Find Jay Smith on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/jaysmithofficial

Tomas Doncker Band-Moanin' At Midnight: The Howlin' Wolf Project

Longtime readers will know I love me the blues. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and perhaps above all, the legendary Howlin' Wolf. Now, the Tomas Doncker Band has been around for a little while, Doncker himself is a career musician who has been busting genres wide open since the 1980's. So when a figure as talented and gifted as Doncker comes out with a tribute to one of the greatest blues artists of all time, you know you should stand up and take notice. With Moanin' At Midnight: The Howlin' Wolf Project the Tomas Doncker band pays tribute to a true legend.

Part of what makes this record so special to me is the touches of modern blues that Doncker manages to mix into the sound. His takes on classics like Back Door Man and Killing Floor bring in touches of rock elements, a few even toss in a Led Zeppelin vibe. (I know Zeppelin stole a lot from Wolf, but the point stands) Tomas Doncker has gone above and beyond, he knows that of course you can't hold a candle up to Howlin' Wolf, but by god can he put an exciting new twist on it. That's what makes Moanin' At Midnight worth a listen or ten. Doncker gives his unique take on a legends work and it gives the entire catalogue new life and leaves blues nerds like me begging for more.

The ten tributes found on this record are going to capture your heart and make you want to go back and check out not just all of Wolf's catalogue, but also Donckers. As the band roars through an exciting take of I Ain't Superstitious you start to realize that these guys are on to something big with Moanin' At Midnight. Many have tried to put out tributes to the blues god that is Howlin' Wolf, but I think that no complete tribute album is really better than this one. Tomas Doncker gives his all into these tributes and proves once again that legends never die!

Find The Tomas Doncker Band on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TomasDonckerMusic

Dirty Deep-Shotgun Wedding

Another day, another top notch rock and roll record. This time we have an earthy one man French blues project. Filled with down home blues and a gritty dedication to the all powerful might of the blues, Shotgun Wedding is one of the most promising blues releases I've heard in a good long while. Beautifully produced and chock full of great ideas this is the kind of album that you spin again and again, just because it's that good. Simple and to the point, Dirty Deep gets at the spirit of rock and roll and makes us face the terrors of a forgotten world.

Right off the bat, I need to say, the old school blues worship seems to be pretty apparent throughout, and by god is it awesome. The only artist I can honestly compare Dirty Deep to is Seasick Steve, they have the same magic in their music, born of being dedicated old school bluesmen. The harmonica playing is another key highlight to this record, really taking me back and giving the entire album a true blues vibe, making things a lot more interesting than they might come across as otherwise. The vocals are simply the icing on the cake, with a tight and homely vibe to them that hearkens back to old blues masters, giving the entire thing its unique and groovy blues vibe.

In closing, Dirty Deep may very well be the best blues act of 2014. Shotgun Wedding is unique and interesting, the product of thousands of hours of hard work and an undying dedication to the devils music. I'm excited to hear how Dirty Deep evolves as this record is already simply incredible. As for now, let your body groove and mind shake as your entire world is shaped by the stripped down and purely beautiful soundscapes of Dirty Deep. This is French blues, and it will take you down to the crossroads for a lesson in the most true music.

Find Dirty Deep on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/dirtydeep.official

The Coyote's Dessert-The Wedding

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is the greatest year for good old rock and roll since 1975. The Coyote's Dessert is another great example of the incredible uprising that true rock music has been experiencing lately. Their new record The Wedding is fourteen tracks of rip roaring groovy stoner rock madness. With a huge and diverse set of influences, this Marseille four piece is ready to rock your socks off with a riff driven attack that will get even the most hoary old fan on his feet and ready to join the apocalyptic rock and roll party.

The thing that really attracts me to The Wedding as an artistic statement is the earthy power of the riffs. These guys simply know how to write tight songs built around guitar parts that are simply to die for. The incredible charge of tracks like Rejuvenation shows that The Coyote's Dessert is not a band to be trifled with. As you sink deeper into the undulating and frightening layers that make up this album, you start to realize the primal rage of The Coyote's Dessert. Their is a very French feel here too, a certain element that I find only in French rock, yet I can't really put my finger on what it is exactly, suffice to say, it reflects the roots of the band and helps to make The Wedding a more profound release.

The product of top notch songwriting and a plain and simple dedication to the genre that has ruined all of our lives, I must say, The Coyote's Dessert have impressed me. Filled with layer upon layer of intricate sounds and unique melodies, it's hard to crack this release on first listen, even if it is immediately appealing. I am sure, as I get deeper into the dark mysteries that this group seem to be getting at I will discover strange new planes of reality. But for now, all I will say is that The Coyote's Dessert are triumphant and loud, prepare your body for a rock and roll meltdown.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/thecoyotesdessert

Kamchatka-The Search Goes On

Let's be honest, most of us are only familiar with Kamchatka because of the game Risk. if there was no Kamchatka region in that game I for once would be lost trying to understand this groups name. So now were do we start? This groups new record The Search Goes On is a riff heavy rock release that uses a lot of tasty fills and earthy vocals that get at the spirit of rock and roll in a way that few of the groups contemporaries can touch on. Wonderfully mixed and very exciting, this is yet another top notch rock and roll record to come out in 2014.

Part of what makes The Search Goes On so darn appealing is simply how human it sounds. Kamchatka really get at the spirit of riff heavy 70's rock bands. Yet rather than aping them as most of their contemporaries in the 'revival' or 'vest metal' movement might, they really get at the spirit of the thing and this is what makes them special. Kamchatka are so much fun to listen too because they truly channel the drug addled spirit of the 70s, getting a dynamic and exciting sound that is filled with twists and turns. Yet it all seems natural, all a part of the flow, reflective of the beauty of the music and demonstrating the undying power of this kind of music.

Kamchatka are promising songwriters, and The Search Goes On is proof of that. The riffs are heavy, the songs engaging, and the vocals simply magnificent. As you fall into the incredible well of sound that this group has formed for themselves it is hard to believe that this is a 2014 release. Yet all of the elements are here, the moment is right, and rock and roll will dominate once more. So, brothers and sisters, I want to see a revolution out there, start up your rock and roll bands, and if you can be even half as good as Kamchatka, then you'll be going places.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Kamchatkaofficial?fref=ts

Bushfire-Heal Thy Self

Bushfire are a crushing and powerful metal group from Germany. With a decidedly bluesy sound and more than a few nods to their heavy rock ancestry, their new record Heal Thy Self is a shocking new way to approach rock and roll music. Filled with chunky fills that are reminiscent of groups like Crowbar, or maybe even Black Label Society this is a group who take it all in and have thus been able to embrace a powerful and heart stomping sound that gets at the true immortal spirit of what heavy music is really supposed to be about.

The thing that really gets me with Heal Thy Self is simply how darn groovy it is. The chugging might of these songs is not something to be taken lightly. The riffs are ridiculously tasty, they embody the sort of divine rock and roll that makes the genre worth loving. The vocals are another thing that really give this album a distinct vibe. The groups singer alternates between metal growls, bluesy chants, and all manner of shouts and incantations. This helps to give a sort of all encompassing and almost universal feel to Heal Thy Self, bringing out the best in the groups unique brand of oh so heavy blues rock. This is what hard grooving below the belt rock and roll is supposed to sound like!

Heal Thy Self is simply one of the coolest and most exciting records that I have heard in months. Rock and roll seems to be making a comeback in 2014 and along with bands like Supercharger and Jackson Firebird, Bushfire seem like they will be on the fore of this new movement. Dedicated to grooves and bound to capture the hearts of thousands of fans Bushfire bring something new and exciting to the dominating world of rock and roll music. Sit back, turn it up, and let's go, Heal Thy Self is a blues metal masterpiece for the ages!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/bushfiremusic

Gaelle Buswel-Yesterday's Shadow

I first ran into Gaelle Buswel a few weeks ago opening for The Aristocrats, I was stunned by the sheer beauty and magic of her music. Here is a girl who crafts songs that are often rather minimalist in instrumentation, yet vast in soundscape, and incredibly beautiful. Her debut record Yesterday's Shadow evidences the power and glory of her work. This is blues folk at its finest, memorable and heart rending sounds that are all tinged with a supreme and tear jerking sadness. Yes, tear jerking, Yesterday's Shadow is remarkable because in a world were literally hundreds of albums come out every day, this one stands tall and makes the listener feel. 

See, Gaelle has a simply incredible voice, rife with Bonnie Raitt tinged emotion, evidence of someone who has been through the hard times and come out stronger because of it. On first glance, an album with song titles like 'Love' and 'Fever' might seem bland, yet once you get into it you are forced to acknowledge the incredible beauty of the music. More than that, the lyrics are magical, with an earthy and very human understand of the common man's everyday existence. Yet, it is not only Gaelle's wonderfully accented voice that gives the record glory. The guitar playing is magnificent, blues tinged jazz that often comes in with little licks that add incredible flavor to the songs. Keyboards come in occasionally too, adding flavor to tracks like  the tasty duet None of us Are Free. All of this culminates in the ultimate track, a cover of the Beatles classic Help, and frankly, it is far superior to the original.

Now, dear reader, you might be thinking 'Isn't Matt supposed to be a metal dude? And what is this crap about a band playing Beatles songs better than the Beatles?' Maybe I am just some confused punk who doesn't know what he's talking about. But I think when you get into the heart of it, Yesterday's Shadow is significant because of its sheer humanity. There are very few records coming out these days that reflect the human condition as well as this one does. Gaelle Buswel understands the spirit of mankind and channels it in her music. How else can I conclude than to say, listen to this record and try to hold back the tears.

Find Gaelle on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/GaelleBuswel.OfficialFanPage

BlackWolf-The Hunt

There are few enough top notch hard rock bands around these days. A lot of them are unoriginal, bland, or simply go for the horrific butt rock of Nickelback. So when you discover a rock band who offer more than that, it's a pretty special occasion. With their new record The Hunt BlackWolf showcase multiple levels of rock and roll madness at its finest. From bluesy solos to punk derived riffs there is a little something for every  fan of the genre to be had here. So plug it in, turn it up and let's go, we have some good old rock and roll music to listen too!

The first thing that strikes you after listening is the power of the songwriting. While many of the tracks are around 4-5 minutes long they each have unique ideas that come across in interesting and beautiful ways. The soundscapes crafted by BlackWolf are not especially intricate or majestic, instead they are luscious in their simplicity. With a fairly open sound, every instrument is accentuated and allowed to showcase its full potential. One of the things that is best showcased in the bands mix is the voice of their lead singer. Throughout The Hunt he showcases the unique ability to roar as well as to croon. He has an excellent range and really takes the band to a whole new level.

In conclusion, BlackWolf is the sort of act who have the capacity to rise up and take the rock world by storm. And to some degree they already are, with thousands of Facebook fans and an upcoming tour with The Answer the future seems bright for these rockers from Bristol. Soulful and passionate, this is the kind of rock and roll music that the world could only do with more of. Not a lot of bands 'get it' in the way that Blackwolf do and for that they will one day reign triumphant. With a groovy sound that is a blast to listen too I'm excited to here what they put out next!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ukblackwolf

Levi Clay's Easy Blues Fusion Guitar

I'll admit, it's been a while since I seriously watched an instructional DVD. I have dark and nebulous melodies as a beginner guitarist, trying to figured out how to play, and becoming frustrated by, 'Easy guitar' DVD's. Four years and thousands of practice hours later, I have to say I think Levi Clay's new DVD Easy Blues Fusion Guitar has won me back to the world of guitar DVD's. From the stellar company that is Lick Library (Producers of iGuitar magazine and countless instructional videos) Clay is coming at you with a DVD that could very well revolutionize your blues playing.

One of the things that makes this DVD especially appealing for me is the easy going way in which Clay presents the material. It is clear that he is an experienced guitar teacher. As he goes through each example he provides a lot of good ideas on how to handle the material and suggests different fingerings. I especially like how every lick is played at at least two different speeds, sometimes more depending on the difficulty of the phrase in question. The overall presentation of each lick is also rather uniform, making it easy to watch and master just one lick.

A key aspect of this whole video is the little gems of theoretical knowledge that will definitely help a beginner blues guitarist. In the introduction of the video Clay does an especially good job of explaining how to mix the Mixolydian mode, arpeggio, and minor pentatonic scale to maximum effect. Furthermore, he does a great job of explaining how guide tones work and how to target them. In fact, there is an especially large focus on reaching the third in licks, and for good reason. This kind of well explained and wonderfully placed theoretical tidbit helps to make this DVD even more useful than it already is.

So how do you best use Easy Blues Fusion Guitar anyway? Well, frankly there are months worth of ideas to practice in here. Not only are some of the licks very tricky, but many present ideas that could easily be fused into new licks. While the main focus is on jazz/blues fusion, blues is also fused here with country and occasionally rock. This gives you ideas that are applicable in a variety of genres, making for even more work. A detailed study of this DVD would entail not just multiple viewings of each lick, but a careful annotation of the (very well presented) tab book. I get the sense, it would be very, very rewarding.

If you want a DVD that will give you all sorts of new ideas for you blues playing and help you bring your understanding of theory to a new level, this may very well be perfect for you. Designed with practicality in mind, there is not a wasted minute. Clay knows how to teach and has created something that is easy to understand and very practical. From the excellent and clear tab booklet found on the disc to the thorough and easy to understand explanations I have no real complaints. If you want to revolutionize, or merely advance your approach to blues music, then get this DVD as soon as you can!

Buy it here: https://www.licklibrary.com/store/levi-clay/54945/easy-blues-fusion-guitar-dvd

Katie Sings the Blues

It's getting on midnight on a Friday here in Paris and its time to play them blues. So I bring you Katie Bradley of Katie Sings the Blues, a woman with a strong voice and a wonderful sense of how to play that blues harp. Passionate and powerful Katie Bradley is a powerful frontwoman who gives her backing band a wonderful centerpiece. The kind of group who are more than ready to tour internationally (Why, they've even started!) It's a surprise that Katie Sings the Blues doesn't have more worldwide recognition. These guys know how to make blues music of the highest degree and their passionate approach is more than enough to capture the heart of any blues fan. These guys know how to play and their rock and roll inflected tracks (Let the Good Times Roll anyone) and searing guitar solos get my foot tapping and head bobbing right away. I think it is a joy to listen when Katie sings the blues and I hope you get the chance to agree with me. So come on down and turn this up, it's time to close out your evening with some good old blues magic!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-sings-the-Blues/290146934375680

Hamish Anderson

Hamish Anderson is a rock musician who brings in a variety of influences to a sound that is both powerful and dynamic. With lots of interesting musical shifts and twists and turns that showcase the magic of the band Hamish Anderson represents some of the coolest folksy blues rock that I have heard in a good long while. What's more impressive is that he got the chance to record with the legendary Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters, ex-Wallflowers). In other words, this guy is darn good and some pretty significant people are starting to notice. Suffice to say, the future seems bright for this young blues rock purveyor and I think that with a little luck he could become seriously big. A man who understands the spirit of musicians like Jeff Buckley and Bob Dylan (something that is very, very hard to find these days) there is a certain magic to Hamish Anderson's sound that gives me hope. Hope in the knowledge that one day, this rising Australian blues god will get the recognition that he rightly deserves.

Find out more on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/hamishandersonmusic

Price to Pay-Robbie Hill and The Blue 62's

Longtime readers know that I love me some blues, especially in the grand old chunk rock and roll style that made some of those early Led Zeppelin tracks so great. The thing about this record from Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s is that this record is filled with passion and explosive bluesy music. Price to Pay isn’t just a blues record, on many levels its an embodiment of blues in 2013. Sure a lot of it seems to be rooted in the past but some of the more dramatic, jazzy fills show that there is a little more than originally meets the eye on Price to Pay.

What really sets this record apart for me is the solos. Sure there are a variety of blues techniques employed (to perfection I must say) and they make the songs unique, but it’s the solos that make it magical. The sheer excellence in musicianship broadcasted by these songs proves that Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s are more than just a blues bar band. Any old bluesman can enjoy this record with all of its classic blues glory. At the same time, a newer fan might still find these songs enjoyable, the jazz fills provide flash and the song s are overall fairly relatable. Lyrically this record is classic blues, adding to the general BB King aura that can dominate a lot of the songs.

To finish, Price to Pay is already one of my favorite blues records of 2013. These guy s know how to make good blues and revel in every second of it. The end result is that Price to Pay comes across as passionate and triumphant, a record that proves that good old blues music will never die, no matter what the generations of detractors might say. A band that perfectly fuses old and new with a little bit of rock and roll for good measure the future seems bright for Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s. I for one cannot wait for a new record from these blues magicians!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Robbiehilltheblue62s?fref=ts

Item 9 & The Mad Hatters-Live from Dead Squirrel Studios

So now we have some old Two Guys Metal Reviews favorites with Item 9 & The Mad Hatters and their brand new record Live from Dead Squirrel Studios (How about that cover art?) A band whose music is defined by the credo 'We're not famous but we know how to party' it's not hard to hear those elements in the funky blues rock sound of this group, as characterized by songs like The Fall of Gondolin. Something all you modern rock and rollers will want to hear Item 9 is gradually getting bigger and suffice to say Live From Dead Squirrel Studios shows they definitely deserve it.

Here's what makes the record special, the sheer polish as it is fused with the raw rock and roll energy that characterizes many of these songs. Somehow these guys strike a balance and find the right chord in my heart, showing me that their CAN indeed be some great rock and roll in 2013. With some cool old school elements mixed in with some more contemporary sounds reminiscent of groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers this band is easy to fall in love with. These three songs give a great example of what Item 9 & The Mad Hatters are all about, and if you're any kind of rock fan then you'll soon be scouring their social networks for more of their custom 'modern vintage rock' goodness!

To wrap it all up, while this may only represent 12 minutes of music it also showcases a TON of heart and passion from a band who are not afraid to stand up and tell it like it is. I think the future will be bright for these Iowa natives, if only because they seem to have such a good grasp on what they want to do. Fusing the best bits of old and new their is a bit of something for everyone here, and the music is definitely not alienating. Fresh, loose, and fun, Live From Dead Squirrel Studios showcases Item 9 & The Madhatters at their finest, let's hope for more of the same!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/item9andthemadhatters

Albatross

Albatross is a nifty bluesy hard rock band who in many ways remind me of bands like Led Zeppelin in the way they are not afraid to mix light and dark. Their modern hard rock elements add in a taste of Altar Bridge to their heavier parts and the sheer groove is at best reminiscent of Black Sabbath. Their is a certain vibe here that is just magic, the bluesy acoustic playing that gives the music a great old school classic rock feel and the roaring pentatonic solos. While the band could use another member to fill out the sound (Some parts do sound a bit 'empty') Albatross's music is still exciting and dynamic showcasing a band who know what they want to do and more importantly how to do it. I especially like the drum lines, the cowbell playing on Smoke and Mirrors really captured my heart. The slide guitar parts add a certain earthy quality to the music that few other bands can emulate and with a more full sound the group might be able to get down and gritty. In short, one of the most exciting bands to come out of Ontario in a long while (See, there CAN be Canadians who rock!) the future seems bright for Albatross!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/albatrosscochrane/app_2405167945 

El Doom & the Born Electric-El Doom & the Born Electric

El Doom &the Born Electric are a tasty prog band from Norway. Their frontman is in fact the father of one of the members of Kvelertak. After seeing them live last night, I am thrilled to say that their debut record El Doom & the Born Electric is a tasty slab of prog rock ripe for the picking. This collection of 7 tracks (With not a single one under 5 minutes) show the magic of this band. Their solid songwriting and nifty guitar parts that seem to fuse garage rock with Rush type prog, prov that El Doom  & the Born Electric are filled to the brim with the potential to be great.

The raw energy incarnate in El Dooms singing is beautiful. It has a groovy earthy vibe that flows gently through the sound and grounds some of the more fanciful playing in reality. Part of what makes this record special is that its prog infused with a rock and roll grit. Even though their are airy and psychedelic choruses the sound is still firmly rooted in old school garage rock. Overall though, the songwriting is spectacular and I love how extended pieces like the lead single Fire Don't Know manage to stay interesting without getting too flashy for the duration of the piece.

In conclusion El Doom & The Born Electric is a promising debut from a band who seem to be some of the greatest up and comers in modern prog. Their down to earth and back to the roots brand of prog rock seems like something that will endure many a trial and tribulation. With nearly 6000 facebook fans already and a great tour currently ongoing with the mighty Kvelertak it seems like El Doom & the Born Electric will be bringing their popularity to a whole new level in 2013. For fans of prog or fans of bluesy hard rock El Doom  & the Born Electric is a crunchy and powerful band you won't soon forget!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Doom-The-Born-Electric/280228895340482

The Final Fight

The Final Fight is a groovy hard rock band with a major bluesy influence. Since 2011 they have been belting out a devastating mix of blues, rock and metal. Their riffs are filled with a great crunchy tone that gives their sound an impressive meatiness. It really captures the magic of 70s era bluesy hard rock bands like Bachmann Turner Overdrive. The funk influence is also clearly apparent and helps the riffs to become a lot tastier. Meanwhile the solos have a bluesy might to them that is hard to find in the 21st century. The groove embodied by the band is great and the rhythmic element is obviously key to the band. The swagger of this power trio is also impressive. It allows the band to strut their stuff and portray themselves as the rock gods who they seek to be. Also, the garage rock feel of songs like Day By Day put the band in the realm of the  magic garage punk bands of the 70s and 80s. Its surprisingly addictive and a joy to listen to. In conclusion, if you want to find some old school heavy rock and roll with a big blues feel then The Final Fight might just be right for you!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreTheFinalFight/app_2405167945