Hey there. So I was just telling someone yesterday that it’s difficult staying in touch with all the music you’ve grown to love over the years, when there’s still so much good music coming out today. Case in point, Heavy Shoes by The Cold Stares.
If you like your Blues Rock with an extra side of Rock, this album’s for you. Every track has a relentlessly crunchy guitar groove and fierce drum work. When guitar solos appear, they’re just flat out tasty. And yet it’s Chris Tapp’s vocals, and especially his lyrics, that stand out the most to me.
They’re front-and-center in every song. Painting picutres. Pricking and stinging as they go. Great stuff!
And just so you know, The Cold Stares are a duo (Brian Mullins being the other half). Which begs the question, how the hell are just 2 guys putting out so much damn sound? My answer? It beats the hell out of me! But I’m okay with not knowing. Just as long as I’m enjoying.
Heavy Shoes is another album I’m gonna have to add to my personal list. (Sigh.) So much good music, so little time.
Online Corner
Swiffering my way across the Internet for Blues News always unlocks some good stuff.
For instance, Tommy Castro’s got some good-feeling Blues. Blues Traveler gives us a peek into their recording habits. And Joe Bonamassa gets to play with some brand new “vintage” guitars. (And they ain’t cheap either!)
Videos
- Tommy Castro: Get your happy helping of harmonica, slide guitar, and Blues from Tommy’s new single “Somewhere.”
- Blues Traveler: Here’s a short video of the band in the studio as they were recording their latest album Traveler’s Blues.
- Colin James: The Canadian Blues Rocker’s new single, “Down On The Bottom.” (That reminds me, I need to buy gas.)
- Southern Avenue: New album coming real soon (Be The Love You Want). Here’s their single, “Move Into The Light.”
- Colin Linden: It looks like Colin has a plan to hide out (in plain sight) at least “Until The Heat Leaves Town”
Articles
- Music Boosts Well-Being: 6 ways that music positively impacts your mental health. (Psssst, the Blues hits 5 out of 6.)
- John Mayer: He gets a little “inside baseball” here to tell you why he doesn’t consider himself a real Blues guitar player.
Podcasts/Livestreams
- Joe Bonamassa: The Maestro’s having fun playing and reviewing some Murphy Lab-aged Gibson Custom Shop guitars.
- Best Guitars Under $500: Darrell Braun can steer you straight to a new Blues guitar that won’t break the bank.
New Blues Albums
This week’s additions favor the acoustic side of life.
The Cold Stares rock (of course) while Gisele Jackson booms that voice of hers and Good Morning Blues get jazzy.
But Mattias Malm, Brandon Isaak, and Shakey Trill all scale it back to the basics and hit their marks.
Out Now
- The Cold Stares: Heavy Shoes …This album is definitely on the Rock side of Blues Rock. Big sound from this duo.
- Gisele Jackson & The Shu Shu’s: Soul Live …A tasty live album from a powerful singer and a great backup band.
- Good Morning Blues: Things Are Getting Better …If you dig jazzy Blues with plenty of horns, this album’s for you.
- Mattias Malm: Malm On Burnside …Mostly acoustic. One man’s homage to the North Mississippi Blues style.
- Brandon Isaak: Modern Primitive …Lean instrumentation and a Tab Benoit-meets-Leon Redbone singing voice.
- Shakey Trill: Shakey Trill …Got your basic Canadian acoustic Blues/Americana duo here, with their debut album.
Coming Soon
- GA-20: Try It…You Might Like It (Aug 20th)
- Johnny Tucker And The All Stars: 75 And Alive (Aug 20th)
- Robben Ford: Pure (Aug 27th)
- Southern Avenue: Be The Love You Want (Aug 27th)
ATWB: New Blues Playlist
Photo by Fixelgraphy on Unsplash
Did some work this week!
I added a fabulous new set of Blues tunes to the ATWB: New Blues Playlist.
I added some Gisele Jackson & The Shu Shu’s. A bit of The Cold Stares. There’s Tommy Castro, Ronnie Wood, and I even found a spot for Billy F. Gibbons.
New songs folks. Hot off the digital presses. Just sit back, plug in, and hit that little play button.
They’re all on Spotify, so crank ’em up — and please Follow or Share.
I’ll Leave You With: Some Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster
This is a small sliver of the concert (and film) that was called: The Road To Austin (released in 2014).
The idea was to present and celebrate the fact that Austin was the “Live Music Capital” of the world.
Artists came together from all over to be interviewed and to perform. And in less than a week, they pulled off a 3-hour concert.
Presented for your consideration then is Bonnie Raitt and Ruthie Foster joining forces on John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.”
Good to the last drop!
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!
Download this FREE Blues Resource Guide and keep up with everything that's going on in the world of Blues Music.