Have a happy 4th, and if you do the splody things, may you have the same number of fingers tomorrow – your hair will grow back, but they won’t. For those in the BBQ and beer crowd, here are some random tunes from the archives in no particular order.
[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of the recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]
A couple readies a remote Australian town for visitors who might never arrive. The pair are the sole occupants of Forrest, a former railway town that’s home to an emergency airport, which serves as an essential stop for planes needing to fill up mid-journey. More about them here.
The song featured in the short documentary is Heaven and Paradise by Don Julian and The Meadowlarks (1955).
Jesse Dayton has been around for a while, playing a mixture of Texas blues, outlaw country, and punk, while collaborating with the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Rob Zombie, John Doe, and more recently, Samantha Fish.
From Devizes, Wiltshire, England, The Hoax is/was a blues band who got a lot of attention in the 1990s. Their debut album Sound Like This was named Best British Blues Album of the Year at the British Blues Connection Awards in 1994 and they’ve recorded several more since. [Their website appears to be defunct, but they have a FB page.]
What a week. First that, then the other thing, and now we have to deal with this. We definitely need some serious porch time tomorrow, and I’ll be there when you are.
Leon Atkins, better known as Lil’ Jimmy Reed, is one of the last original Louisiana bluesmen. Born in the late 1930s in a small sawmill town on the Mississippi, he was playing a cigar box guitar at six years old; by the time he was a teen he was playing guitar and harmonica in local clubs around Baton Rouge. Atkins earned his nickname the night he filled in for local bluesman Jimmy Reed.
Formed in Athens, Greece, in 2015, Bag of Nails describe themselves as a psychedelic blues/soul/rock trio inspired by classic music of the 1960s and ‘70s.
Blackburn Brothers were described by Living Blues magazine as a “generational family band [that] plays traditional blues and R&B with a contemporary take.” The heart of the group are the sons of Toronto R&B great Bobby Dean Blackburn.
Getting serious news overload these days, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to let up. So many topics will be up for discussion when the porch opens tomorrow at, um, you know, porch time. See you there.
“Nicole brings it, bakes it, and serves it up blazing on a silver soul-rocking platter.” –Blues Music Magazine
From Kansas City, Missouri, southpaw bass player Danielle Nicole has some pipes. She was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of Eight Blues Music Awards.
Blues, funk/soul and roots rock group from Gary, Indiana, Funky Mojo Daddy‘s cover of Robert Johnson is a good ‘un.
Laurie Wright went from an alcoholic crackhead street bum to a sober rocker. If Johnny Rotten could shred guitar and had a tight backup band, this is him. (The Beeb covered Wright’s recovery in April 2020 during the covid lockdowns.)
[h/t Chuck S.]
Let’s see… what’s on the itinerary for tomorrow… oh yeah. Porch Time. We can sit and discuss the latest Xwitter soap opera, or we can just sit. See you at sometime o’clock.
The Seatsniffers are a Belgian roots rock band with a large following throughout Europe. Unfortunately they don’t seem to have a website. [h/t Chuck S.]
They’re part rock, part psychedelia, part R&B and part soul, but mostly Seratones is lead singer and guitar player A.J. Haynes. When asked what inspires her, she responded, “Afrofuturism.”
Eliza Stark & The Dappers:
“The only rockabilly band based in Montenegro. A classic trio of guitar, drums and hot chick slapping double bass and regular guests of national TV and festivals, they also well-known for their true and original music far beyond the borders of Montenegro.” – ES & The D Facebook Page
Sue Foley covers Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s classic Okie Dokie Stomp with style (and her trademark pink paisley Stratocaster). She’s been performing and recording since she was 21, has won many awards since [bio here].
For those of you in the Memorial Day BBQ crowd, wrapping up your roadtrips, or just chillin’ on the porch, here are some random unrelated tunes posted in May of the years 2020 – 2025, ordered by year of release.
[Caveat: I don’t own the copyrights to any of the recordings. They are presented here for entertainment purposes only.]
R.L. Burnside was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi, learned from Mississippi Fred McDowell who lived in the next county over. Burnside and his family, tired of the life of sharecroppers, moved to Chicago in the early 50s. Subsequently his father, two uncles and two brothers were murdered there. In 1959 he returned to Mississippi, was convicted of murder himself, and served time at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, aka Parchman Farm.
Australian guitarist, singer-songwriter Ray Beadle, with Jonathan Zwartz on double bass and Andrew Dickeson on snare play Diamonds At Your Feet, a 1956 Muddy Waters tune. A former member of The Foreday Riders, Beadle plays original compositions and covers of blues and jazz standards in his own style.
Formed in 2011 in southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck has earned a following playing southern rock with a 1970s flavor. They decided to visit Pioneertown for this recording session.
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. Somewhere in between road trips, BBQ (and Porch Time), pause to remember the meaning of the holiday and give thanks to the fallen soldiers who gave up everything for the people of this Great Nation.
Sam Redbreast Wilson (with the Mad Dog Margaritas) rolls a nice 2-way highway roadtrip vibe.
Pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph did an amazing interpretation of Blind Lemon Jefferson‘s That Black Snake Moan (1927). In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked Randolph at 97 in their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Unfortunately the videos from this session don’t give credit to his partner (I’m guessing that’s his brother).
What if SRV had a younger step brother in the UK?
The Zac Schulze Gang cranks out some serious speed blues/rock.
Bad news: I didn’t trap the skunk that’s been roaming the back yard. Good news: Haven’t seen or heard the skunk in two weeks. Better news: porch time happens tomorrow. See you then.
Lionel Richie once described his voice as “the sound of barbecue sauce.” Luke Bryan remarked, “I could sit and drink a lot of bourbon listening to that voice.” Louisiana blues and soul singer Jovin Webb made it to the final ten performers on the 2020 season of American Idol and moved on from there.
Singer, songwriter and keyboardist Kevin ‘Sonny’ Gullage has earned much acclaim despite his young age (26 years old this year), and combines the sounds of New Orleans roots blues, boogiewoogie and gospel with modern styles.
The Melbourne Ska Orchestra covers a tune from the 1927 Broadway show Good News.
Been pretty busy this week. A lot of time and effort goes into pretending to be busy, and I’m definitely getting better at it. Free lessons tomorrow on the porch. See you there.
The Lowdown Saints, formed in 2020 in the Old Town of Stsh(?), Sweden, and consists of Tommy Moberg / drummer & vocals, Hannes Mellberg / lead guitar, Félix Matthiessen / 2nd guitar, Karl Ivert / upright bass, and Torbjörn Eliasson / piano & scissors.
Brazilian guitarist Artur Menezes discovered the blues as a teenager, headed off to Chicago and jammed with the bar bands. He’s now an international performer, touring South America, the UK and the US. Unfortunately his website (www.arturmenezes.com) triggers a not secure warning.
The Pat McManus Band are Celtic rockers from Northern Ireland, described as an “Irish Power Trio led by former Mama’s Boys and Celtus guitarist/violinist, singer and songwriter Pat McManus.”
Anything burn down this week that I missed? Stop by tomorrow and we’ll talk about skunk bait options. Meet you on the porch at half past whenever.
