Blues scene veteran Bobby Leger scores big with impressive debut CD Imaginary Dream
Bobby Leger’s debut CD Imaginary Dream is loaded with fantastic blues songs and some fine songs influenced by the blues. Leger’s voice is often a plaintive scream. At other times it’s a drawling lead vocal over a slow boil build up. His flair for writing and co-writing the music that best serves his voice is on full display in these ten knock out, drag out original numbers.
Ruby Rose Fox seduced a first time audience in Portsmouth NH
Ruby Rose Fox band won over several new fans at Portsmouth Music Hall Loft last Saturday night. Playing to an enthusiastic listening room crowd, Ruby Rose Fox and her backing singers, known as the Gloria Steinhams, and her five piece band had audience members expressing mucho applause before receiving standing ovations after the end of the second set as well as at the end of their encore. This wasn’t her four year old Boston fan base giving her mad love. These were music fans in another city an hour away from Boston who were seeing her for the first time.
After 30 years in the business, the blues have still got Cheryl Arena
Cheryl Arena just got back from one of her teaching camps and was in a very good mood during this interview. “I think too many people in this world spend a lot of their time complaining about things they don’t have or they don’t get or bitching about something somebody didn’t do,” Arena said. “I like to appreciate the good things in life and look on the bright side and give credit and thanks where it’s due. Where people have helped me, I’d like to acknowledge that.”
Young Frontier offer impressive debut album
Young Frontier is a soulful folk-rock outfit with a good amount of dramatic tension in their songs. Actually, “soulful folk rock” might not even be the best terminology to describe their music. It’s hard to pigeonhole what this trio and their guest musicians are doing here. Vocalist Joe Young, guitarist Daniel King, and cellist Bethany Weiman are doing their own thing, regardless of the number of roots elements they incorporate here. Besides, how often does a roots combo or folk band utilize a cello?
Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio offers sweeping Celtic beauty on Return To The Castle
The Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio first release as a musical combo, Return To The Castle, brings a fresh perspective to Celtic music. Instead of the usual rambunctious party music played on acoustic instruments, the JTW trio play wide, sweeping ballads that immerse the listener in the gentler, softer side of this centuries old folk music from the other side of the pond.
Ilana Katz Katz is taking blues fiddle to new places; playing Nelson’s Candies on October 22
Ilana Katz Katz has been on the greater-Boston blues scene for only a short while. But, she’s already turning heads with her Appalachian folk influenced fiddle playing and she’s also been teaching people that fiddle was once an important instrument in blues music. As for her name, Katz Katz, she put her original family name Katz next to her husband’s name, which also happened to be Katz.
Spiritual Rez offer a fun party vibe with Setting In The West
Spiritual Rez’s latest release Setting In The West offers a lot of fun reggae/ska material that keeps the toes tapping, the heads bobbing, and the hearts singing. Nothing beats good musicians who can make their fans feel good, like they’re having a nonstop party on an eternal beach.
KISS Forever rock and rolled all nite
There is nothing in rock and roll quite like a Kiss concert. There’s nothing quite like a Kiss concert but a few good tribute bands have come somewhat close to approximating the experience. Malden, Massachusetts based KISS Forever performed a fundraising concert at that city’s high school auditorium last Saturday night. The band offered plenty of lights, flash, and good costuming. More importantly, KISS Forever had the Kiss sound down pat. Aside from the show, they’re also good musicians who know what they’re doing, melodically and rhythmic.
Steve Morgan And The Kingfish offer a lot on Blues In Paradise, a must have local CD
Steve Morgan And The Kingfish have been gaining more attention this past year in greater-Boston/New England blues scene. After winning a Cape Cod talent contest and winning the Boston Blues Society’s Blues Challenge , Morgan and his Kingfish earned larger press coverage as well as the opening slots at major area blues festivals. Their 2013 CD Blues In Paradise gives a taste of what local blues fans have been missing from Cape Cod’s best kept secret.
The Wildcat O’Halloran Band offer interesting blues arrangements of familiar songs on That Boy Don’t Play No Blues
Wildcat O’Halloran has come up with an interesting blues album. His That Boy Don’t Play No Blues disc features blues renditions of classic rock, oldies, and R&B numbers. O’Halloran defies expectations in that he has come up with authentic blues renditions of these all so familiar numbers. This isn’t “blues rock” and these players are not dabblers. This is real blues.
