Tag: Blues

Happy New Year’s Eve 2023 – End of Year Playlist

Thought I might do something different this New Years Eve. Buried in the Archives are over 100 tunes that deserve a replay, at least in my opinion. Some are pure awesome, others are eye-rollers, but all are songs that pleased my earballs in 2023. Each set is in no particular order, one click and you’re off to the races. Have at it.

Set 1 – January, February, March

Set 2 – April, May, June, July

Set 3 – August, September, October, November & December

And one more thing: Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne Boogie, Freddie Mitchell Orchestra (1949)

[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of these recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only. Apologies for the typo in the first track – That’s Stéphane Grappelli.]

Saturday Matinee – Tuba Skinny, Lucky Chops, Timo Gross & Skatune Network

Tuba Skinny, featuring bandleader Shaye Cohn on cornet. Although we were in NOLA last May, I didn’t get a chance to see them because I was too busy chillin’ on a balcony with the dogs.

Formed in 2016, Lucky Chops  began as a group of subway buskers from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, New York City, and now they perform world-wide.

German bluesman Timo Gross  has been around for a while but he’s relatively unknown in the US; I had to run his Wikipedia entry through Google Translate.

One man ska band JER / Skatune Network rang in the New Year in 2016 and somehow I missed it. Turnitup!

Yep, it’s almost time to turn the calendar ahead again, but before we do, we have a porch that needs sitting on. See you there.

The Christmas that C.H. met A. & the C’s

From the Utoobage:
This collaboration by Los Angeles Blues-Rock band Canned Heat and Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian Sr. was released in November 1968 as the A-side of Liberty 56079 in time for the holiday shopping season. Though some pressings credit Canned Heat & The Chipmunks on both sides of the disc, the 30 i.p.s. rodents are not present on the reverse, “Christmas Blues”.

[h/t Marc “Savage” D. for enlightening me.]

Saturday Matinee – Pays D’en Haut, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band & Joanna Connor

Pays D’en Haut & friends.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band in 2012: “The video was shot in one day in Brown County, IN on the hottest day in Southern Indiana history.”

The amazing Joanna Connor, from an unknown performance, possibly late 1990s.

I caught up on my missed naps today and ran out of time to do much Utoob mining or write up. Not quite ready for Christmas music either. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here tomorrow.

Saturday Matinee – 16 Horsepower, Véronique Gayot & Delbert McClinton

16 Horsepower was a Denver-based group that mixed rock, bluegrass and Appalachian gospel. They released four studio albums before egos got in the way: they disbanded in 2005, citing “mostly political and spiritual” differences.

French blues rock singer and guitarist Véronique Gayot is a vocal powerhouse. Although she’s got two albums out and another soon to be released, I couldn’t find much background except for an interview.
Véronique Gayot: vocals
Yannick Eichert: guitar, vocals
Jerome Wolf: bass
Jérome Spieldenner: drums

Delbert McClinton has been performing on stage since 1957, has been called the sound of Texas soul, and has backed Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. Eventually he had a national hit, playing harmonica on Bruce Channel‘s “Hey! Baby” in 1962. His biggest hit came in 1980 with Giving It Up for Your Love, which scored No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It’s almost time, and I’m not ready for it, so we’ll put off the Christmas cheer until it becomes mandatory. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here tomorrow.

Saturday Matinee – The Pogues, Chelsea Williams & Johnny Winter

The Pogues lost one. RIP Shane MacGowan.

Nice bluesy cover of a Tom Waits song sung by Chelsea Williams, with John Schroeder / guitar, Vikram Devasthali / trombone, and husband Ross Garren / harmonetta. Should have been filmed in 16mm b&w – in 1927.

Too soon for Christmas music, so how about some Winter? Fire it up!

Another week gone in a blink and the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. Nothing to do but be back here tomorrow and think thoughts while we still have time. See you then.

Saturday Matinee – Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang & Joe Louis Walker w/ Nasta Súper

Cajun party fun with Tab Benoit, Corey Duplechin on bass, Doug Gay on drums. Ain’t nobody sittin’ down at that show.

Straight outta Fargo: Jonny Lang had an early start in the blues business, earning a platinum record by the time he was 15 years old. To date, Lang has scored five albums in the top 50 of Billboard’s Top 200.

Blues Hall of Fame inductee and six-time Blues Music Award winner Joe Louis Walker teamed up with Nasta Súper, an Argentinian blues band lead by guitarist Rafael “Rafa” Nasta.

Seems it was just Halloween a few days ago and yesterday was Monday…  I gotta to find a way to slow down the calendar. See you tomorrow (unless it’s Christmas).

Saturday Matinee – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Albert Castiglia w/ John Ginty, and Larkin Poe

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is nominated for a 2024 Grammy for his album Live In London. Pretty good for a guy only halfway into his 20s, and I hope someone helps him shed some kgs so he can stay around a while.

Albert Castiglia is vicious, sort of a Negan Smith of blues rock, and there’s the proof. That’s John Ginty on the Hammond B-3 organism.

Larkin Poe pulls off some fine surf rock blues. They are also nominated for a 2024 Grammy for their album Blood Harmony.

Used to be only the days, but now the weeks are flying by.  The accelerator’s stuck, the brakes are shot and we’re about to slam right into the holidays. Maybe I’ll pretend it’s not happening, at least for now, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.

Saturday Matinee – The Flying Sailor, Swamp Ratz & Lonnie Brooks

The Flying Sailor (2022) is a short film by Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby:
“In 1917 two ships collided in the Halifax Harbour, causing the largest accidental explosion in history. Among the tragic stories of the disaster is the remarkable account of a sailor who, blown skyward from the docks, flew a distance of 2 kilometres before landing uphill, naked and unharmed. The Flying Sailor is a contemplation of his journey.”

Watch in full screen, sound up. [h/t Mme. Jujujive]

From Tokyo, these Swamp Ratz got the triple slap back style.
Frantic Pickin’ Guitar, Backing Vocals – Yu Fukuhar
Rockin’ Piratez Drum, Backing Vocals – Yoshimasa Ohishi
Slap Back Bass, Lead Vocals – Daisuke Ohishi

Lee Baker Jr., aka Lonnie Brooks, did Chicago blues right.

Have a great weekend, see you in the early hours of the late afternoon.

Saturday Matinee – The Creepshow, Messer Chups, Paulie Martin & Blues Confidential, and The Reverend Horton Heat

The Creepshow has been blasting psychopunkabilly for a while. Zombies Ate Her Brain was from their debut album, Sell Your Soul (2006).

From St. Petersburg, Russia,  Messer Chups is listed under vampire space zombie surf rock. “Messer” is German for “knife” and “Chups” is from Chupa Chups lollipops.

Decent cover of Freddie King‘s classic Boogie Man performed by Paulie Martin & Blues Confidential of Ireland. According to the band’s website, Martin has moved on to other ventures..

Gretchmaster The Reverend Horton Heat has a tailgater to deal with.

Just a few days to go before the little spooky ones come a-knockin’.  We had maybe a half dozen last year, and that includes the one who showed up twice. In any case, pumpkin vivisection is scheduled for Monday.

See you tomorrow, you know where to find me.