Hey there. I’m holding firm on my prediction that this musical year will be the year of the duo.
Case in point, this Oklahoma wife/husband duo, The Imaginaries, Maggie McClure and Shane Henry.
Their debut album is out now and, while it’s more Rootsy than Bluesy, it checks all the boxes for me. Great songs, quality musicianship, excellent arrangements, and terrific vocals. Their vocals, in particular, stand out.
You see, they’re both great individual singers. But they know when to fly solo and when not too. The result is a lot of artful vocal variety that serves the material, and the audience, well.
This is going to be a big year for these two. Check out their album and see if you agree.
Online Corner
- Provogue Records is releasing some previously unreleased work from the late Gary Moore (Promo Video)
- Pete and Willie (The Blues Rock Show) chat about surprise albums, song covers, and more (Video Podcast)
- Zed Mitchell shows off his great guitar chops on “River Minus Water” (Live Video)
- Conor Gains performs his first single from his upcoming EP, “Light Shine In” (Music-Smokin’ Video)
- SiriusXM is celebrating International Guitar Month with a limited-engagement channel (Article)
- Eric Bibb sings “Whole World’s Got The Blues” with help from Eric Gales (Music Video)
- Ana Popovic reflects on her Covid year and what comes next in Blues Blast Magazine (Article)
Notes For Notes
Notes for Notes has been giving young musicians a chance to explore real music production since 2006. Today, the non-profit reaches over 8,500 students across 11 states. And it’s all at no charge to the students.
Now the 32 Bar Blues clothing company is partnering with N4N to help fundraise for their music programs.
Check out the gear they’re offering in support of this worthy program. (And remember, paying it forward is always good thing.)
New Blues Albums
- Zed Mitchell: Route 69 (Out Now)
- Georgia Randall: Hound Dog (Out Now)
- Chris Cain: Raisin’ Cain (Out Now)
- New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers: Vol 2 (Out Now)
- Sunday Wilde: Peace In Trouble (Out Now)
- Rosedale Junction: Stompin’ on the Front Porch (Out Now)
- Conor Gains: Three (Coming Apr 16th)
- Eric Johanson: Covered Tracks: Vol. 1 (Coming Apr 23rd)
- Gary Moore: How Blue Can You Get (Coming Apr 30th)
Blues Bridge Builder: Paul Butterfield
Calling Paul Butterfield a Blues Trailblazer might be going a little bit too far. But acknowledging the large role he played in bringing electric Blues to the mainstream would not.
Read about how it happened and more in this great article in LouderSound.
Paul was the real deal. And his early work stands as part of the foundation for all the Blues we enjoy today. Check It Out.
ATWB: New Blues Playlist
This week on the ATWB: New Blues Playlist I’ve got new singles from Cristina Vane, Tina Neilson, The Hitman Blues Band, and more.
These are my personal picks from the new tunes out right now
Check them out on Spotify, and please Follow or Share.
I’ll Leave You With: Some Eric Clapton
Here’s a music video of Mr. Clapton from his Slowhand at 70 Live at the Royal Albert Hall concert film. In it, he’s performing “Cocaine.”
The buttoned-up British audience tried to keep their seats – they really did. But by the time the piano solo finished, most of them were dancing their knickers off.
And what an absolutely great sounding band! (Not bad for a septuagenarian.)
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
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