live from the midnight circus

Ilana Katz Katz Subway Stories: All Trains Blues & Roots Fiddle Vizztone Label Group The modest Ilana Katz married Warren Katz to become a double Katz. She started as a busker and still plays fiddle in the Boston subway system. In 2014 Ronnie Earl included her song “Running in Peace”, about the bombing at the […]

Indie Blues CD Review Alastair Greene Dream Train Rip Cat Records Alastair Greene is from southern California. Influenced by seventies guitarists, especially Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughan, he found work backing artists like James Harman. Greene recorded his own rockin’ debut “A Little Wiser” in 2001. His follow up live album “Bootleg: Live in […]

Howlin’ At Greaseland Various Artists West Tone Records Chester Arthur Burnett a.k.a. Howlin’ Wolf was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. Musician and music critic Michael “Cub” Koda said it best “no one could match Howlin’ Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down…while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its […]

The Original Blues Brothers Band The Last Shade of Blue Before Black Severn Records The Original Blues Brothers Band is a band that began as a one time skit on “Saturday Night Live” in 1978. They backed up Joliet Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd). The band was an overnight sensation making several […]

George Thorogood Party of One Rounder Records George Thorogood was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1950. He began as a solo acoustic performer in 1970 and soon later formed his band The Delaware Destroyers. Thorogood signed with the roots oriented Rounder Records label in 1976. It was a departure from the labels usual folk and […]

Albert Castiglia Up All Night Ruf Records Albert Castiglia was born in New York City in August of 1969. Castiglia was only five years old when his Cuban American parents moved to Florida. Castiglia joined the Miami Blues Authority in 1990 and was named “best blues guitarist” by the Miami New Times. In 1996 Castiglia […]

Al Basile Quiet Money Sweetspot Records Al Basile grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts a suburb outside of Boston. He received a Master’s degree from Brown University in 1970. He first met Duke Robillard in 1969 and Robillard talked Basile into joining Roomful of Blues in 1973. Basile became Roomful’s first trumpet player and while with […]

Tommy Castro and The Painkillers Stompin’ Ground Alligator Records Tommy Castro is a guitarist and vocalist from San Jose, California. Castro became a member of The Dynatones in 1980 but by 1991 had left to form his own band. Castro released “Soul Shaker” on Blind Pig Records in 2005 and received his first two Blues […]

Gregg Allman Southern Blood Rounder Records Gregg Allman had some serious health issues. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007. He had a successful liver transplant in 2010. Allman who at the time had six previous solo recordings achieved even greater success with the Grammy nominated “Low Country Blues” released in 2011. When Allman […]

Cassie Keenum & Rick Randlett Hauntings Fox Run Records Cassie Keenum hails from Alachua, Fl. sixteen miles outside of Gainesville. She is a singer songwriter with a soulful voice who performs in a duo with Rick Randlett. Randlett discovered the blues while in college. He listened to bands like Cream, The Yardbirds, and early Fleetwood […]

Chris “Bad News” Barnes Hokum Blues Vizztone Label Group Chris Barnes has been a writer and performer for The Carol Burnett Show, Saturday Night Live, Seinfield, 30 Rock, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He began his blues music career opening for acts at the legendary blues club, Tramps, where he would take audience suggestions and improvise […]

Corey Dennison Band Night After Night Delmark Records Corey Dennison hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He got his first guitar when he was six years old. He used to hang out with his harp playing uncle so his early influences were Junior Wells, Albert Collins and Albert King. Dennison also fell in love with the soul […]

Jimmy Carpenter Plays The Blues Vizztone Label Group Saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter began playing professionally in 1980. He toured with both Tinsley Ellis and Jimmy Thackery. In 2004 Carpenter played on “Whiskey Store Live” with Thackery and Tab Benoit. He settled in New Orleans shortly thereafter and found work with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Eric Lindell. […]

Benny Turner My Brother’s Blues Nola Blue Records Once Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie left Texas for Chicago his brother began to make a name for himself as Freddie King. Freddie became a guitar god while Turner backed him up on bass. Turner left for awhile to play with R n’ B singer […]

Wee Willie Walker And The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra After A While Blue Dot Records  Born in Hernando, Mississippi Wee Willie Walker’s career spans six decades as he is one of our last real soul singers. He recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. More recently between 2004 and 2011 Walker […]

Milligan-Vaughan Project Mark One Records Malford Milligan is a Texas based soul, blues and rock singer who attended the University of Texas. He started a local Monday night blues jam and wound up beginning a life in music. In 1994 Milligan helped form the band Storyville with David Grissom, David Holt and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s […]