The Hogtown Allstars Hog Wild “The Hog Town Allstars” debut album is appropriately named “Hog Wild”. It consists of some truly dynamic and experienced players. Collectively they have earned more than 20 Maple Blues Awards, five JUNO awards, two Lifetime Achievement Awards and countless other blues and jazz awards. The band features former DownChild Blues […]
Gina Sicilia Unchange VizzTone Superb vocalists have little trouble crossing genres. Gina Sicilia established her career as blues singer, flirted with Americana having moved to Nashville, and is now trying her hand at gospel as she returns to where she started, on the VizzTone label. This is anything but a casual experiment however, as Sicilia […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Eliza Neals Standing before one of America’s truest art forms with an unconditional passion to give the Blues everything she’s got. Eliza Neals, a Detroit born blues-rock star on the rise, honors the gut-wrenching, soul splitting intent the American roots of contemporary blues represents with inspired songwriting, […]
Making a Scene Celebrates 8 Years of Publication! It was on May 1st 2014 Making a Scene Officially came online with a very simple philosophy; Provide coverage for the indie music community and bring the best information to this community on what is happening in the music industry. We have strived to be the #1 […]
Anthony Geraci Blues Called My Name Blue Heart Records The first time I ever heard Anthony Geraci was on his previous recording “Take It from Me” where he was paired playing piano with Sugar Ray Norcia who was on harmonica and vocals. At the time Geraci also fronted his own band and the previous year […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Jeff Massey of The Steepwater Band Bernie Marsden Black Cat Moan Walter Trout Ghosts Frankford Fitler Heartstruck Motive Black Lift Me Up Daedric Dawnbreaker Dead City Ruins Preacher Anvil Take A Lesson Crossing I’s Dotting T’s You The Steepwater Band Shift The […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Jeff Massey of The Steepwater Band You should already know these songs. If the old saying about talent equaling success were true, then The Steepwater Band would already be a household name, rubbing shoulders with Aerosmith, Bad Company and other like-minded travelers in our collective […]
Trudy Lynn Golden Girl This is Trudy Lynn’s eighteen recording. Lynn often writes about domineering men and prostitution. Women like the “TV Mama” “the one with the big wide screen”. This all-original new recording features Kevin Mckendree keyboards, Yates McKendree guitar, Terry Wilson bass and background vocals, Teresa James background vocals, and Brennen Temple drums. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Reverend Freakchild of BananaFish Bananafish was a Boston based Rock & Roll Jam band in the 1990’s. Fronted by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Fordham Murdy (known now as Reverend Freakchild). The band also consisted of Dan Simone on keyboards, and Ben Chen and then Ry Cavanaugh […]
Justin Golden Hard Times and a Woman Self-released with help from Virginia Folklife Program Welcome a new artist to the blues and Americana fold with this debut, Hard Times and a Woman, by Richmond-based singer/guitarist Justin Golden. Golden takes a “big umbrella” approach to the blues. Yes, you’ll hear some of the Piedmont style, but […]
The Love Light Orchestra Leave the Light on Both the older and the newer recordings are produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The first album includes John Nemeth singing as he covers Bobby “Blue” Bland on the 1961 hits “Turn On Your Love Light”, and again on the 1966 hit “Poverty”. Nemeth also covers songs from Little […]
Jo Harrop The Heart Wants Lateralize British jazz vocalist and songwriter Jo Harrop brings her second album, The Heart Wants, stateside. One immediately senses her intimate, smoky, bluesy voice as the album opens with “The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants,” to the accompaniment of a first-rate lineup that boasts bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Andy […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #139 with his Guest Dean Owens The Hollywood Stars When Will The Lights Go On Again Chloe Trujillo & Rav Medic The Heaviest Sound Is Silence Thunder Across The Nation Van Morrison Pretending Datura 4 Open The Line Muddy Mangolias Down By The […]
Tommy Castro A Bluesman Comes to Town Alligator Records This new album is produced by Tom Hambridge who also co-writes and plays drums. He is widely known as the drummer/producer Buddy Guy where he plays the same roles. Hambridge is also co-writer along with Castro and his regular writing partner. A Bluesman Comes to Town […]
GeminiiDragon Fighting Fire with Fire The bluesy hard-edged grooves and hearty power-filled vocals stand front-and-center on Fighting Fire With Fire, the latest release from Louisiana recording artist Jessica Harper aka GeminiiDragon. Undoubtedly, that’s the winning combination which immediately drew my attention to this record. This all-original album hosts eight splendid tracks co-written with producer/guitarist Christian Simeon. With Harper behind the mic, and Simeon on guitar, the rest […]
Jessey Jackson Gypsy Willow When an artist creates new songs and puts them together to form an album it’s a really special occasion. So when listening to Gypsy Willow I’m reminded how art and life experience are really one and the same. It takes a unique and special talent to combine lyrics that are meaningful and connect […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Interviews Mark Wenner of The Nighthawks! 50th Anniversary of the Nighthawks! The Nighthawks was an idea in Mark Wenner’s brain long before he was able to implement it. The musical product of pre-1958 radio in Washington, D.C., he did not know there were rules against mixing blues, R&B, honky-tonk country, […]
Michelle Malone 1977 SBS Previous efforts from singer-songwriter/guitarist Michelle Malone have been searing, no-holds barred blasters, as gutsy blues as any contemporary blues artist has delivered. 1977 is a whole different side of Malone though. This is acoustic driven Americana that mixes nuance with nostalgia, autobiographical tales and introspection. Her character studies are particularly interesting. […]
Making a Scene Presents an Interview with J-Rad Cooley Young Salt Lake City-based musician J-Rad Cooley is a singer/songwriter, piano player and harmonica player, a unique storyteller with a distinct sense of blues, melody and groove. His soulful songs show his diverse influences from Lightnin’ Hopkins to Ray Charles to The Band, some with a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Dana Fuchs BROOKLYN, NY — Dana Fuchs is proud to announce the release of eighth album, Borrowed Time on April 29th. It’s her fourth release for German indie Ruf Records. With her feet planted on both sides of the blues-rock divide, Dana Fuchs is one […]
Eliza Neals Badder to the Bone E-H Records Eliza Neals is an artist who consistently delivers album after album of solidly-written, exquisitely performed blues-rock. Badder to the Bone marks my fourth album from Neals which I have made a point to review, and the title is very much on the mark. She is a total badass in the music world, and […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his guest Helen Turner of Born Healers Thundermother Watch Out Robert Jon & The Wreck Waiting For Your Man Banty Holler Hit This Cord Dom Martin Here Comes The River AC/DC Ride On Toronto Is Broken Circle Pink Floyd Featuring Andriy from Boombox Hey […]
HOME PAGE MAKING A SCENE Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Helen Turner of The Born Healer Born Healer released their new album in March 2022. Herbs, Roots, Barks, Etc. is the first album from Helen Turner, Iain Black and Marek Funkas since 2016’s ‘Til The Dawn, and the first featuring Steve Weaver on drums. Ten essential songs – […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pierre Lacocque of Mississippi Heat Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago Blues Band. Their motto is “Traditional Blues With A Unique Sound” as they present fresh yet vintage-based musical ideas. MISSISSIPPI HEAT’s name is a reflection of Pierre’s […]
The Nighthawks Established 1972 VizzTone There are not many bands that can mark a 50th anniversary but Washington D.C.’s legendary Nighthawks, have been carrying the flame for blues and roots music since 1972. The only two blues festivals where this writer had a major production role were the Brass Monkey Blues Festivals of 1983 and […]
Vaneese Thomas Fight the Good Fight Blue Heart One of our best and criminally underrecognized powerhouse voices and songwriters, Vaneese Thomas, daughter of Soul Music icon Rufus Thomas, returns for her ninth album and her first for the growing Blue Heart Records, in partnership with her husband, multi-instrumentalist Wayne Warnecke’s Segue, where she recorded her […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Gina Sicilia Gritty soul and blues singer, Gina Sicilia, always stays one step ahead in her songwriting and music. The Newtown, Pennsylvania-native, who now calls Nashville home, has never been one to sit still musically. Songwriting and singing are second nature to Sicilia. She was […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his guest Aoife Doyle Danielle Bloom I Am Woman The Michael Mills Band See Me Baby Crashdiet No Man’s Land Boogie Beasts Grinning In Your Face Robin Trower The Razors Edge Nazareth Runaway Trudy Lynn Take Me Back Bonnie Raitt Somethings Got A Hold […]
Hurricane Ruth Live at 3rd and Lindsley Live at 3rd and Lindsley, the sixth and most recent album from Ruth LaMaster aka Hurricane Ruth lands a ferocious punch with a fistful of raw, hearty blues. This fourteen-track gem was recorded at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by two-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge. It features Scott Holt and Nick Nguyen on guitar, Calvin Johnson on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys, with Hambridge also […]
Doug MacLeod A Soul to Claim Reference Perennial BMA Award-winner for Acoustic Blues, Doug MacLeod, returns with his 22nd album and his fifth album for Reference Recordings, A Soul to Claim. Up until now, the former North Carolinian MacLeod has lived in Los Angeles with his wife Patti Joy for the past 30 years, but […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Bubba of Bubba and the Big Bad Blues Bubba and the Big Bad Blues is a SoCal based original Blues Rock band influenced by Freddie King, SRV, Allman Bros, The Meters& Gov’t Mule. Bubba’s powerful vocals, impressive guitar work and veteran rhythm section forge an electrifying […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Charlie Landsborough NitroVille Thunder Road Dana Fuchs Hard Road Jessey Jackson Gypsy Spirit Lady Ronan Gallagher Coming Home Rob Strong Going Down Wayward Saints Got To Give In Foo Fighters Everlong Foo Fighters Best Of You Foo Fighters All My Life Charlie […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Popa Chubby Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Trudy Lynn Born Lee Audrey Nelms in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Trudy Lynn comes from strong musical stock: the late Al “TNT” Braggs, one of Houston’s most electrifying R&B vocalists and a prolific songwriter for Bobby “Blue” Bland, was her cousin. Growing up, she and her […]
Mississippi Heat Madeleine Van der Linden Recordings Led by songwriter, harmonicist, and band leader Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat returns with their 13th album in time to celebrate their 30th anniversary. As one of the longest running bands, per usual theirs is the traditional Chicago blues sound with wailing harp, stinging guitars and several terrific vocalists. […]
Lisa Hilton Life Is Beautiful Ruby Slippers Productions Life Is Beautiful marks the 25th album for pianist, composer and producer Lisa Hilton, and the third recorded during the pandemic years with her trio of bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Rudy Royston. Here we have ten originals and one cover, the classic, bluesy “Ernie’s Blues,” composed […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Dom Martin The Southbound Snakecharmers Dead Man Walking Andy Lindquist Pumping Blood The Black Keys Wild Child Leslie West Featuring Charlie Starr The Glycereens Electric Alfonzetti Shake My Blood Julian Sas World On Fire John Corabi Your Own Worst Enemy Andy & […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Dom Martin Although a young man new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn’t paid his life and musical dues. Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for […]
Dom Martin A Savage Life Dom Martin is someone who has a talent that is so obvious from the moment you first experience his spellbinding musical abilities. Over the decades Ireland has produced many fine artists in the world of blues. Legends like Rory Gallagher, and Gary Moore spring to mind . Dom Martin has […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Bobby Gentilo Take a walk through the world famous Cat Head Records in Clarksdale, MS and you will find more than a dozen albums with Bobby Gentilo’s name credited on the jacket. Gentilo is an award-winning international record producer and musician who has worked and performed […]
Prakash Slim Country Blues From Nepal Ram Prakash Pokharel aka Prakash Slim, an emerging blues artist from Lamatar, in the Lalitpur district of Nepal, has most definitely caught my attention with his new album Country Blues From Nepal. With only a resonator guitar and slide in hand, he captures the pure essence of the blues with magnificent covers of legends such as Robert Johnson, Bukka […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mike Guldin Mike Guldin first picked up the guitar at age 15 and since then has honed his craft playing in roadhouses, clubs and bars, and Festivals and Theaters for over 45 years. Influenced by blues legends Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, The […]
Tim Gartland Truth Taste Good Music Truth marks the fifth solo album for Nashville-based harmonicist, singer-songwriter Tim Gartland. The dozen songs were all written or co-written by Gartland, who learned from the best in Chicago, having been mentored by Jerry Portnoy. Gartland cites as major influences Little Walter for harp playing, Ray Charles for song […]
Albert Castiglia I Got Love Gulf Coast The searing blues rock guitarist and songwriter Albert Castiglia always leaves it all on the floor, whether it be his ferocious guitar playing, impassioned vocals, or his honest, personal take on what’s happening to him on a personal level. The pandemic years for Castiglia, like for most of […]
Making a Scene Presents The Blues Foundation Announces the Nominees for the Blues Music Awards! An impressive assembly of blues music masters, ranging from Blues Hall of Famers to rising stars, will gather in Memphis on Thursday May 5th, for the 43rd Annual Blues Music Awards. Presented by The Blues Foundation, the BMAs honor the […]
Lady A Satisfyin’ I’ve been a fan of Lady A since my first listen when I reviewed her 2016 album Loved, Blessed, and Blues. Her ninth and latest album, Satisfyin’ continues to capture my affection for her music as it perfectly pairs her songwriting expertise with her special blend of funk, soul, and blues. With Anita White aka Lady A front and center on lead vocals, […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #134 Muddy Waters Mannish Boy Philip Lynott Ode To A Black Man The Byrds 8Miles High Bob Dylan Tangled Up In Blue Vanilla Fudge You Keep Me Hanging On David Bowie Watch That Man The Rolling Stones Paint It Black Jo Jo Gunne Run […]
Josh Hyde Parish Blues Self-released The title lets you know that bluesman Josh Hyde hails from Louisiana. This is Hyde’s third album, and this writer was privileged to have covered his debut, about which the state’s premiere guitarist, Sonny Landreth, used these terms to describe Hyde – “funky, atmospheric, and soulful.” That debut, 2017’s The […]
Home Page Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Big Al of Big Al and the Heavyweights! Big Al and the Heavyweights originally formed in 1996 as the Unknown Blues Band, with founding members Al Lauro, Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule), and pianist Rick Gergen (Sweethearts of the Rodeo). Although, Warren is […]
Mike Guldin Tumblin’ Blue Heart The tempting way to begin this review was to hail yet another Pennsylvania act living near this writer, and while we give an obligatory nod to that notion, we then learn that the album was recorded at seven different studios by over a dozen players, beyond just the usual Philly […]
