Laurence Jones reaches a new milestone with powerful acoustic album On My Own
Laurence Jones released his first album in 2010 and has since built an impressive career filled with awards and recognition. From leading his own band in his mid-teens to becoming a respected solo artist, he has carved out a strong path through blues and blues-rock for more than a decade. On My Own is his […]
The Karma Effect hit hard with swaggering new album Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is the band’s third album, and it does not hold back. If you are a strict blues purist, this may not be the record for you. But if you enjoy good old rock and roll with a serious streak of attitude, this could be right up your street. Ride Or Die kicks the […]
Philip Sayce scorches the stage on explosive new live album review
Philip Sayce’s new live album, Scorched Earth: Volume 2 Live in LA/London, is a full-throttle statement of why he remains one of blues-rock’s most electrifying live guitarists. Recorded across sold-out nights at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles and The Garage in London, the album delivers eight tracks packed with raw energy, fearless improvisation, and […]
Ed Alstrom – This Idea of Humanity: album review
Ed Alstrom is not easy to pin down, and that is very much the point of This Idea of Humanity. Imagine the musical DNA of Georgie Fame, Jon Cleary, Ray Charles and Dr John stirred together, with a touch of baseball stadium atmosphere and late-night cocktail lounge energy. Somewhere in that mix you begin to […]
LAURA CHAVEZ – MY VOICE: album review
Laura Chavez wastes no time declaring her purpose on My Voice, a ten-track instrumental statement that lets the guitar do all the talking. With no vocals to lean on, Chavez leans into tone, phrasing, and feel, crafting a record that’s as personal as it is assured. This is blues storytelling in its purest form, strings, […]
Ben Brandt – Solid Ground : Album review
Ben Brandt’s Solid Ground is more than a debut solo release. It feels like a defining statement from a songwriter stepping fully into his own space. Recorded live at Nashville’s Greasy Time Studio with producer J.D. Simo and a band that plays with road-tested instinct, the album carries the unvarnished electricity of classic 1970s rock […]
Gabe Stillman – What Happens Next : Album review
This is the first time I’ve come across Gabe Stillman, and what an introduction it is. Recently signed to Gulf Coast Records, he arrives with the confidence of someone who sounds as though he has been making records for decades. In reality, Stillman has spent the last ten years honing his craft, and What Happens […]
GA-20 – Orphans : Album review
GA-20 return with Orphans, an eight-track collection of covers bringing together previous single releases, live favourites and tracks the band have long wanted to record but that did not fit on earlier albums. It also marks a new chapter, introducing Cody Nilsen on vocals and guitar and Josh Kiggans on drums to the band’s growing […]
JONATHON BOOGIE LONG, COURAGE IN THE CHAOS – album review
With his newest release, Jonathon “Boogie” Long delivers what may well be the most fully realised statement of his career to date. This is a collection steeped in hard-earned wisdom, where every note feels wrung from experience and every lyric carries the weight of miles travelled. Across twelve tracks, he moves beyond the tag of […]
PAUL FILIPOWICZ, BREAKWATER: Album review
Filipowicz is something of a throwback. He grew up in the Chicago of the mid-sixties and early seventies rubbing shoulders with Jimmy Dawkins, Son Seals, Otis Rush and Hound Dog Taylor. He lived and played in Texas as well and played extensively with Luther Allison. He has a long and successful solo career playing and […]