Marcel Smith From My Soul Little Village Singer-songwriter Marcel Smith’s From My Soul follows up his Little Village release Everybody Needs Love, covered in 2020 by Richard Ludmerer on these pages. His review has considerable biographical information, so we’ll forge ahead with the essence of what’s at hand this time out. First, Smith co-wrote five […]
Wayne Nicholson Gin House Grindstone Singer-songwriter, producer and frontman Wayne Nicholson is the blues voice of Canada’s East Coast. He has fronted Horse and the Oakley Band and is out with his seventh solo effort, Gin House, recorded on his home turf in Nova Scotia. This writer covered his 2020 effort with John Campbelljohn on […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Sue Foley Sue Foley delivers her own brand of Texas blues in this stunning set, recorded live at the iconic Continental Club in Austin, Texas. Foley’s seasoned rhythm section responds to her every move as she sways, rocks, and digs in deep with equal parts ease […]
Kerri Powers Love Is Why Wildflower Child New England singer-songwriter Kerri Powers returns with her first album since 2018 with Love Is Why, songs written during the pandemic and steeped in loss and grieving when Powers was processing the loss of her father, with whom she was very close. So, the writing process was cathartic […]
Emma Wilson Memphis Calling Emma Wilson was the “Emerging Blues Artist of The Year” at the UK Blues Awards in 2022. As a result Wilson returned to Memphis to record this new album. Emmy Award winning Producer Scott Bomar brought in legendary Memphian musicians including organist Charles Hodges, bassist Leroy Hodges, and Booker T. and […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Eddie Angle The Rolling Stones Live By The Sword Robert Jon & The Wreck Hold On Gypsy Pistoleros Like Tears In The Rain DYMYTRY Enemy List The Hard Ons In Falls Everything Annie & The Bang Bang Let Me Down Anna Scott […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Tom Buenger After more than a decade in the US military and another near decade in corporate America, Tom Buenger emerged bringing with him a renewed focus on vocal performance, musicianship, and simplicity back to blues, gospel, roots, and American music. From dark Texas bars, Southern […]
Sue Foley LIVE in Austin Vizztone Lable Group Sue Foley has become a perennial Blues Music Award winner having won The Blues Music Female Artist of The Year award, also known as the Koko Taylor Award in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This live recording is a career retrospective. Although her most recent albums are “The […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Chris Beard Chris Beard is a modern blues guitarist and singer like no other. His personal connections to the blues were forged with the living blues men he sat with since childhood. Born in 1957, Beard is the son of blues guitarist, Joe Beard, who grew […]
Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #217 with his Guest Tyron Benoit Blackberry Smoke Little Bit Crazy Leo Lyons Hundred Seventy Split Walking In The Devil’s Shoes Ralph Selbach Paradise On Earth Diamond Dogs Desiree Traveling Blues Kings It’s Better Death x Destiny Defiance Robin Trower Sari Schorr I’ll Be Moving On Jackson Browne […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Tyron Benoit Tyron hails from Houma, Louisiana, where music and culture are plentiful. “Growing up around the house, I remember hearing a lot of classic country: George Jones, Hank Williams (Sr. and Jr.), Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Ernest Tubb. Going to my grandpa’s […]
Nathan Graham Steps Saint of Second Chances Pravda Welcome singer-songwriter, Chicago’s Nathan Graham to the fold. His circuitous route has taken him from a youth absorbed in such commercial acts as Prince and Earth, Wind, and Fire to many a night supporting various blues acts at Buddy Guy’s Legends or Kingston Mines in his hometown. […]
Larkin Poe An Acoustic Companion Tricki-Woo Records When sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell lead the roots and blues rockers Larkin Poe, they inject their Southern Gothic-bred songs with high octane-addictive, modern pop gas. But around the time of the pandemic, the sisters flooded social media with videos of themselves as an acoustic duo in […]
Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #216 with his Guest Jackie Chambers of Girlschool Johnny Gallagher The Jesus Song The Kings Cool The King Of The Guitar Tyron Benoit Waitin’ On Friday Paul Brady / The Forest Rangers Gimme Shelter Silveroller Hold Riley’s L.A.Guns Dark Horse Danny Bryant Hard Way To Go Lansdowne Safe […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Jackie Chambers of Girlschool Girlschool is a British rock band formed in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in the 1970s and is frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest-running all-female rock band, still active after almost 40 years. Originally […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Chris Yakopcic Chris Yakopcic is a fingerstyle acoustic blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter inspired by pre-war delta and Piedmont players. His guitar playing builds on the rhythmic and often high energy thumb-bass picking patterns innovated by Robert Johnson, Bill Broonzy, and Blind Blake to name a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Caroline Cotto Imagine leaving your country in search of beauty, love and truth. That’s exactly what Caroline Cotto was brave enough to do after her 22nd birthday. She toiled away in the NYC music scene for years before she left to live in Paris and explore […]
Joe Bonamassa Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 J&R Adventures Joe Bonamassa cannot possibly have an off switch, only one that adjusts the mode. If he’s not out promoting an album onstage somewhere in the world, he’s likely in a studio working on the next one. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 marks his 51st in 23 years, considering […]
Dave Keller It’s Time To Shine Montpelier, Vermont’s Dave Keller has been schooled by the very best. He studied acoustic blues with guitarist Paul Rishell, and soul blues with guitarist Robert Ward. After releasing the Dave Keller Band debut in 1998 he began to be mentored by Mighty Sam McClain who lived in nearby New […]
Ray Bonneville On the Blind Side Stonefly Juno Award winner and multiple Juno nominee, the Quebec-born, well-traveled and currently Austin-based blues and roots artist Ray Bonneville returns with his tenth solo album, On the Blind Side. This is Bonneville’s post-pandemic release, and understandably may be even more introspective than some previous efforts, leaning a bit […]
David Bennett Cohen Seems Like a Good Time for the Blues Self-released Blues pianist David Bennett Cohen has been on the scene for over sixty years and yet, as hardly a household name, his resume would be the envy of many, even those that are indeed well recognized. He’s a founding member of Country Joe […]
Ghalia Volt Shout Sister Shout Ruf We have one quick clarifier before we get started. The title may cause some, like this writer, to think this is a tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and an album of the same name did just that. The Belgian-born, ever-evolving, once one-woman band Ghalia Volt is not in that […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #214 with his Guest Chris Denman of The Southbound Snakecharmers Robert Jon & The Wreck Stone Cold Killer The Southern River Band Stan Qualen Southall All I Have Sunflower Fox & The Chicken Leg Naughty Little Girl The Record Company I Found Heaven Joanne […]
André Bisson Latchford Self-released It’s somewhat rare to hear an artist for the first time on his tenth album release and in the case of Canadian soul/R&B/roots singer-songwriter André Bisson, it raises the obvious notion of ‘look at what I’ve been missing.” Bisson has been on the scene for twenty years, boasts numerous awards and […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you The Turn it up Interview with Chris Denman of the Southbound Snake Charmers This dynamic four piece have been conjuring up their own unique brand of swampy blues since 2013. Led by the original Snake Charmer himself: vocalist and charismatic frontman Chris Denman, Brooke Maloney is on Drums, […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Willie J Laws Jr. A Texas guitar “gun slinger”, vocalist and song writer following in the footsteps of T-Bone Walker, Lightning Hopkins, Albert King and many others. This music is the kind of real Texas soul, all mixed up with classic R&B, country, blues/funk that grows […]
Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind Behind the Veil Gulf Coast Records Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind. What a suitable, vivacious name for this bunch, given all the ins and outs and ups and downs crisscrossing Ricci’s story. Ricci’s traits include being an on again off again drug abuser, and a spiritual, openly […]
Making a Scene Presents The 2023 Independent Blues Awards Winners! This is the 8th year we have produced and honored independent blues artists with the Independent Blues Awards. The voting this year has broken all records and was the largest voting participation since we began. As always we believe that not only are the winners […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #213 with his Guest Clara Rose The Rolling Stones Angry Laurence Jones I’m Gone The 100Watt Vipers In The City Tonight Jack Browning featuring Troy Redfern The Hangmen Midnight Riders Reach NYC All For Metal Goddess Of War Albany Down Same Damn Thing Climax […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Clara Rose Rose brings a raw rootsy blues edge to the vocals on her enticing folk and folk-rock efforts The album was recorded over two shows in Arthur’s Blues and Jazz Club (Dublin) and The Garage Theatre (Monaghan) in the spring of 2020. With […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Ralph Beeby of Ralph Beeby and the Elephant Collective It’s possible to revere the greats without just copying them. Ralph Beeby & the Elephant Collective treat the Blues and classic rock as a jumping-off point, crafting bold new songs with dark, richly storied lyrics, and tunes […]
Dave Keller It’s Time to Shine Tastee Tone In previous reviews of Vermonter soul/blues artist Dave Keller, this writer recalls a quote from Keller about preferring to be a big fish in a small pond than an artist competing with many in the same locale. Do you know any other national blues artists from Vermont? […]
The Count Basie Orchestra, Directed by Scotty Barnhart (with Guests) Basie Swings the Blues Candid Records (assisted by Alligator Records) ‘There ain’t nothin’ wrong with havin’ a good ol’ time,’ Mr. Sipp urges in “Let’s Have a Good Time,” the hip-shaking opening number to Basie Swings the Blues. Sipp, the saucy, dapper, alter ego of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Legendary Rick Derringer Entertainer Rick Derringer was just 17 when his band The McCoys TM recorded the No.1 hit “Hang On Sloopy” in the summer of 1965, knocking “Yesterday” by The Beatles out of the top spot. The McCoys had enjoyed four years of successful touring, […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #212 with his Guest Tullie Brae Johnny And The Drivers Real Wild Child Johnny Mastro & MBs Shake It Spy The Two Five Ones Featuring Charlie McGettigan Southbound Snake Charmers Hell On Wheels HeadCat Motrhead featuring Larry Wallis Alice Armstrong Upbeat Baby Aerosmith […]
Nick Wade Feeling Good Is Good Enough ESP It’s not often that a younger bluesman comes along, steeped in the country Delta blues. Enter Nick Wade, who has received a glowing endorsement from Guy Davis and Corey Harris, and surely many others who don’t grace the liner notes. Guy Davis says, “…a young cat with […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Tullie Brae The soulful Blues singer and multi-instrumentalist credits her musical gift to Gospel music like so many great soul singers before her. Tullie’s musical journey began singing in church where her Daddy was a preacher and her Mom was a vocalist and musician . […]
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2 Blue Heart The highly decorated Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are on a roll. They return with Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2, going for three in a row. The hot streak began with 2019’s Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon, followed by the first installment of Rose-Colored […]
Lee Oskar She Said Mahalo Dreams We Share She Said Mahalo is harmonica legend, Lee Oskar’s more lighthearted, uplifting follow-up to his stunning career tour-de-force, 2022’s Never Forget, covered on these pages. This one is similar in Oskar’s melodic lines that often front fairly large ensembles, creating cinematic, expansive sonic palettes. If you’re thinking of […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Nick Wade Nick Wade’s journey as a musician began 32 years ago, when he took his first lesson at five years old. Teaching him was his grandfather, Johnny Wade, a professional jazz musician who played with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Slack, and many others. Johnny […]
Joyann Parker Roots Hopeless Romantics Records Too often an artist that takes on this amount of variety in style for one project ends up presenting a flat experience. Not Joyann Parker with Roots. Not by a country mile and a half. Few shift so fluidly between rock, country, blues, hard and smooth soul, and even […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Greg Sover While Greg Sover’s friends in his Philadelphia neighborhood, where he grew up, were listening to local rappers he was immersed in classic rock, country and the blues ever since he first picked up a guitar at the age of five. “From the beginning, it’s […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Bernie Marsden Whitesnake Trouble Whitesnake Day Tripper Whitesnake Take Me With You White Snake Long Way From Home White Snake Medicine Man White Snake Lovehunter Whitesnake with Bernie Marsden Fool For Your Lovin ‘ Whitesnake with Bernie Marsden Carry Your Load […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Bernie Marsden Bernie Marsden is an English rock and blues guitarist born in Buckingham, England. A professional musician since 1972, he is primarily known for his work with Whitesnake having written or co-written many of the group’s hit songs, most notably the USA number one […]
Bill Connell with John Lynskey Forward by Chuck Leavell Allman Joy: Keeping the Beat with Duane and Gregg Mercer University Press Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Bill Connell lived a fulfilled, rollercoaster ride of a life that included playing the drums for, and on bills with, several significant names in the annals of rock and roll. […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with The Blackburn Brothers An obvious uniqueness that identifies and sets apart the band is that Blackburn Brothers is a band of brothers – literally. Duane (lead vocals, organ, piano), Brooke (guitar, vocals), Cory (drums, harmony vocals), Robert (guitar, harmony vocals), and cousin Nathan (bass guitar) all […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey and his Guest Dez Murphy Clara Rose Love You Like A Man Live ! Santiago Perotti Better Give Yourself To Someone Else Anthony Gomes The Whiskey Made Me Do It Eddie Angel Elephant Johnny Gallagher Scars & Stiches John Angus Blues Band Mamas Blues […]
Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Dez Murphy Dez Murphy is a quiet unassuming individual a soft spoken man but with a passion for the blues that burns like a raging inferno. Dez for the last 20 years has kept the spirit of the blues alive and well in Monaghan town and surrounding […]
The Christopher Dean Band w/ “Chicago” Carl Snyder Need a Friend Lost World Music If not mistaken, Need a Friend is the fifth album for guitarist/singer-songwriter Christopher Dean on “Chicago” Carl Snyder’s Lost World Music label. Dean has been touring steadily with his own combo for close to thirty years while “Chicago” Carl Snyder has […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents An Interview with Stevee Wellons and Cheryl Rinovato of Soulful Femme Stevee Wellons and Cheryl Rinovato, the two principals in the dynamic duo known as Soulful Femme, are more than simply a dynamic singing duo. They are seasoned performers in their own right, each possessing vast experience […]
