CD Reviews INDIE Blues

Smoke Wagon Blues Band Cigar Store Independent The Smoke Wagon Blues Band, from Hamilton Ontario, was formed in 1996. Their now out of print debut was 1997’s “Smoke Wagon Blues Number 36”. They followed up in 2001 with the live “Low Down Righteous Blues”. “The One and Only” was issued in 2005 and resulted in […]

MonkeyJunk Time to Roll Stony Plain Records MonkeyJunk, the Ottawa Ontario based trio, is Tony “D” Diteodoro, rhythm and lead guitar; Steve Mariner, lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica and organ; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. The band released its first album “Tiger in Your Tank” in 2009 and won the […]

The McKee Brothers Enjoy It While You Can Independent The accompanying publicity sheet states that “Enjoy It While You Can”…features great performances by a talented roster of players from Los Angeles and Michigan…” I will list them later. But who are these McKee Brothers that they can attract such a talented ensemble when this is […]

Biscuit Miller Wishbone Bluebass Music David Miller was born and raised on Chicago’s south side. He was nicknamed “Biscuit” by his grandma as he wouldn’t get outta’ her kitchen. He learned to play bass from his friend’s older brother. He formed his first band “Clever” with another friend Ivan Wallace. The family moved to Minneapolis […]

The Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome Interscope Records The Rolling Stones started out as high school classmates listening to the blues. Their early influences were American blues artists Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed. Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts used to sit in with British blues artist Alexis Koerner when he played The Marquee. […]

Big Head Blues Club Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon Big Records The Big Head Blues Club is a project of Big Head Todd and The Monsters. The Colorado based band was originally formed in 1984. Todd Mark Mohr, guitar; Brian Nevin, drums; and Rob Squires, bass; all met while attending Columbine High School. […]

Mississippi Heat Cab Driving Man Delmark Records Mississippi Heat is one of Chicago’s best working blues bands. The ensemble has talent galore. Their leader Pierre Lacocque is the talented songwriter and harp player who formed the band twenty-four years ago. This is their twelfth recording overall and sixth for Delmark records. Lacocque has written eleven […]

Mary Jo Curry Guitar Angels Records Mary Jo Curry is from Springfield, Illinois. She is from a big family and has seven older brothers all whom are musicians. She plays piano and studied theater and voice while in college. She has been with theatrical touring companies and sang with an 80’s cover band. Five years […]

The Jimmys Hot Dish Brown Cow Productions The Jimmys are a seven piece R n’ B and jump blues band from Wisconsin. The band was formed in 2008 by Jimmy Voegeli. By day Voegeli works on his family’s fifth-generation dairy farm with 200 Brown Swiss dairy cows. At night Voegeli is an award winning musician […]

Mitch Kashmar West Coast Toast Delta Groove Music Mitch Kashmar was born in the beachside community of Santa Barbara, Ca. in 1960. He is a disciple of the California harp scene that includes George “Harmonica” Smith, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, and Kim Wilson. Kashmar has shared the stage with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, […]

Colin James Blue Highways True North Records Colin James Munn was born in Saskatchewan Canada in 1964. As a young man he and his band opened for Steve Ray Vaughan who suggested that he drop his last name. James released his first recording in 1988. He is probably most well known in blues circles for […]