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.
Dubbed The World’s Greatest Two Person Rock ‘N’ Roll Ensemble, Flavia & Martin Couri, aka The Fabulous Courettes, are proof that Phil Spector lives.
The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (aka DLO3) grooves it
Delvon Lamarr – Hammond B3 organ
Jabrille “Jimmy James” Williams – guitar
– drums
Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Mia Dyson was raised in a musical family near Daylesford and later Torquay. Influenced by her father, Jim Dyson, a blues guitarist and luthier who crafted her first guitar, she’s now considered one of Australia’s top 25 guitarists.
Got some unexpected good news this week, but you gotta wait a bit. I’ll do a brief write up soonish, or you can stop by the porch tomorrow and I’ll bring you up to speed. See you whenever.
Award winning Ukranian pianist and instructor Viktoriya Yermolyeva, aka Vkgoeswild covers The Ramones’ classic. She’s written piano arrangements for many other rock/metal hits that she performs in live concerts and on her Youtube channel.
Japanese psychobilly trio The Radios has been playing rock and roll for three decades, and no, I can’t explain the hunchback zombie monkey bass slapper.
The Mississippi Blues Band formed in Buenos Aires in 1989. Renamed La Mississippi, they released their debut recording, Mbugi in 1993.
Happy Mothers Day.
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.
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.
Ginger St. James began her career singing in small town Ontario bars and now headlines shows as one of Canada’s top roots rock / rockabilly / country artists. Good stuff.
Hollow Souls is a spinoff project created by British blues rock guitarist and former pro MMA fighter Kris Barras. Their debut single features yankee guitarist Jared James Nichols and the vocals of Phoebe Jane.
An original member of Amfibian, former Spin Doctors lead guitarist and owner of Sonic Boom Studios, Anthony Krizan runs his own show now.
Egg shortage. Signal group chat leak. Retaliatory tariffs. Wall Street. Space meebas. Porch time. Tomorrow. Be there.
Elmer Bernstein‘s theme to Walk On The Wild Side (1962) as performed by The Peddlers in 1971. Tight jazz rock from the UK, with Roy Phillips on Hammond organ & vocals, Tab Martin on bass, and the amazing Trevor Morais on drums.
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.
“David is a great blues player. I like his style!” – Johnny Winter
Canadian singer, songwriter and bluesman David Gogo began playing guitar at the age of five; at 15 he met and was encouraged by Stevie Ray Vaughan; a year later he formed his first band. He’s won numerous awards, including three JUNOs (despite EMI spiking his solo album in the US).
Been watching a lot of police body cam videos lately, and after a while I began noticing behavioral patterns of those who eventually get hauled off to the hoosegow. The ones who squeal the loudest are usually guilty of more egregious crimes than just expired license plate tags.
I also notice that the same applies to politicians when they’re exposed as unethical grifting frauds. Keep that in mind as you watch current events unfold.
Porch time tomorrow? Yup. See you there.
Any Way The Wind Blows, Los Brujos (1996)
From Unmatched – Tributo A Zappa Vol. 1, a collection of covers of Frank Zappa songs, de grupos y artistas españoles. There are 9 such compilations in the series.
No.
The Anti-Social Media Project.
Something completely different.
A stacka ‘eaters [via Bunkerville].
Operation Wrong Exit [via Xenophilic].
First there was Radio Garden. Now there’s TV Garden
[via Memo Of The Air].
R.I.P. Kenneth Pluhar (1961-2023) [via Feral Irishman].
Walking in Havana. Many other cities to choose from, with walking, driving and flying options. Sound up. [h/t Everlasting Blört].
[Top image found here.]
From the Archives: 1 year ago. 5 years ago. 10 years ago. 15 years ago.
OK Go outdid Rube Goldberg in this sequence from 2010, all filmed in one take. Their website features behind-the-scenes clips of the set ups.
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix was founded by frontman Alan Hurwitz: “While performing as a duo with Rick Danko on stage, Rick would start calling me Professor Louie, and it was really a great honor.” Hurwitz produced three studio albums for The Band, and went on to form Woodstock Records.
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse is a roots rock blues Americana country soul band from California, featuring vocals by documentary filmmaker, television producer, business entrepreneur and Louisiana native Greta Valenti.
The Terraplanes Blues Band is a relative newcomer to the scene. Having released their debut EP in 2020, they’ve already won recognition as “Emerging Blues Act of the Year” at the UK Blues Awards 2023.
Have a reverent Easter, an irreverent egg hunt, and stop in if you’re passing by – the porch is never closed.
Tacky Raccoons 