The Blues Room # 318

Photo credit: Dragan Tasic

Episode 318, 22 February 2012

I spotlight some of Little Freddie King's new music from his album 'Chasin' the Blues' (2012). I like his honest, laid back, 'gimmie a bucket o' blood' approach to the blues.

Check him out here: http://www.littlefreddieking.com/

1. James Cotton - How Blue Can You Get?
2. Harpdog Brown - 9 Below Zero 3. Big Pete feat. Shawn Pittman - I Was Fooled
4. John Hiatt - What Kind Of Man
5. Trombone Shorty - Mrs. Orleans
6. Little Freddie King - Back In New Orleans
7. Little Freddie King - Born Dead
8. Little Freddie King - Great Great Bamboozle
9. Little Freddie King - Mixed Bucket Of Blood
10. The Blues Buffet - Blues Is My Business

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The Blues # 317

Episode 317, 15 February 2012

New music from Grant Haua and Mike Garner on this episode plus details about the Summertime Blues FREE event happening this Saturday.

1. Brilleaux - This Ain't Rock n Roll [NZ]
2. Mike Garner - When I was a Boy [NZ]
3. The Flaming Mudcats - Devil Chasing Me [NZ]
4. Johnny Stash - Long Black Train [NZ]
5. Jimmie Vaughan - I'm A Love You
6. Jeff Beck with Joss Stone - I Put A Spell On You
7. Stringbean - Live Till Tomorrow
8. Grant Haua - Heart Attack [NZ]
9. Grant Haua - Knucklehead [NZ]
10. Candye Kane - Crazy Little Thing
11. Charlie Musselwhite - Sonny Payne Special
12. Mitch Kashmar and the Pontiax - The Petroleum Blues

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Summertime Blues returns to Hamilton’s blooming Rogers Rose Gardens on the first festival Saturday, and features a collection the best blues musicians in the country. Bring a picnic and bottle of wine and chill out amongst the Roses for some guaranteed summertime bliss.
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Chris & Johnny Maydon
11:40 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Neil Finlay & Peter Parnham
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mike Garner & Steve Evans
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Torch Songs
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Flaming Mudcats
4:00 p.m. Brilleaux

Chris and Johnny Maydon
Hamilton husband and wife team Chris and Johnny Maydon offer a rootsy blend across their repertoires from rock n roll through to jazz and all point in-between.

Neil Finlay & Peter Parnham
Neil Finlay has been playing blues since he was a teenager when he discovered the harmonica and then guitar. Neil has played support for many international bluesmen and had the ultimate honour of touring with Brownie McGhee. Neil and Peter teamed up in 2008 and since then have been gaining a reputation as a foot stomping blues duo specialising in old time blues.

Mike Garner and Steve Evans
An exciting pairing two of NZ's finest acoustic blues players, with Mike Garner on guitar and harmonica and Steve Evans on mandolin and guitar delivering a mix of old time blues and Garner's original songs. Garner has performed from Europe to Kathmandu, and Evans is a veteran of jug ands and blues ensembles both here and in the UK.

Torch Songs Band
With a repertoire grounded in jazz-tinged contemporary blues, Torch Songs Band delivers a range of styles from soaring flights of improvisation with guitarist Dave Maybee and keyboardist Liam Ryan, to more atmospheric torch songs featuring vocalist Carol Storey. Long time rhythm section collaborators Neil Reynolds and Wayne Melville anchor the band.

The Flaming Mudcats
A firm favourite in Blues scene, The Flaming Mudcats are well versed on what it takes to please a crowd. Harmonica ricochets through the mix, incorporated with Jimmie Vaughan and Ike Turner-inspired guitar licks and backed by the band’s hard working rhythm section. Move with them through the spectrum of blues; shuffles, soul, funk, four on the floor rock and roll and low down blues.

Brilleaux
High-energy, hard, driving, British-style rhythm and blues in the style of bands such as Dr Feelgood and Wilko Johnson. Brilleaux’s strong stage performance is led by Graham Clark who blows a great blues harmonica. This Tauranga band is sure to have the crowd up dancing

The Blues Room # 316

Episode 316, 8 February 2012

I'm joined by President of Hamilton Blues Society, Tony Kaye, once again to hear 'wassup' regarding the blues society and happenings in and around Hamilton. Plus we phone Diana Harris (USA) to catch up with her about her up coming shows and get to sample some of her sweet blues. We hear some awesome new blues from Richard Carr, a French-Canadian singer-guitarist, who is truly outstanding. PLEASE check him out here. And it was nice to have Dave in the studio with Tony and I too, check out his project online here and see what he had to say about The Blues room airing for the 300th time. Hope you enjoy the show.

1. Richard Carr - Tell Everybody
2. Diana Harris - Make Me Shake
3. Diana Harris - Hate To Say Goodbye
4. Richard Carr - Toughen Up
5. Son Roberts - Brakeman
6. Tony Kaye and Nate Taiapa - Yo Yo Mac (LIVE in The Blues Room)
7. Richard Carr - Blues For Ronnie

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The Blues Room # 315

Epiosde 315, 1 February 2012

1. Mike Garner - Devil Played The Harp [NZ]

2. Dr. John & the Lower 911 with Eric Clapton - Time for a Change

3. Bryan Lee - Too Many Wolves

4. Charlie Musselwhite - Where Hwy 61 Runs

5. Alan Black - 3 Kinds of Fool

6. George Harmonica Smith - Goin' Down Slow

7. James Brown - Everyday I Have The Blues

8. Fiona Boyes - Pony Ride

9. Mark Hummel - Learned My Lesson (Changed My Ways)

10. Buddy Guy - Forty Days and Forty Nights

11. James Hunter - Believe My Baby

12. John Fogerty - Down on the Bayou

13. The Blues Buffet - Aftershock [NZ]

14. Thomas Oliver - Cocaine Blues [NZ]

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The Blues Room # 314 Blues Leaf Records

This episode features some truly amazing blues from Blues Leaf Records. If you haven't heard of Blues Leaf yet you are about to! Download this episode, plug in your headphones and turn it up baby! Thanks to Rick Lusher for keeping us updated on Blues Leaf Records.

Episode 314, 25 January 2012

1. Steve Guyger - Sometimes I Wonder
2. Paul Oscher - All Night
3. Killer Blues Band - Don and Dewey
4. Sandy Mack - Keep Holding On Baby
5. Janiva Magness - Nobody Loves You Like I Do
6. Stringbean and the Stalkers - Back On The Horse
7. Red Young - Organ Grind Blues
8. George Friend - Whole Lotta Trouble
9. The Tonemasters - Goin' With The Flow
10. Etta James - Let Me Down Easy

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For more Blues Leaf tunes, go to their website: http://www.bluesleaf.com/music.htm

The Blues Room # 313 ETTA JAMES SPECIAL

Etta James Special
Episode 313, 18 January 2012

During my Christmas holiday in sunny Gisborne (NZ) I had the distinct feeling to get my A into G and put an Etta James spotlight show together. I've been meaning to do this for a few years now. Its strange how things turn out sometimes. I didn't know how bad Etta's recent health condition had become. I knew she was unwell and diagnosed with terminal leukemia but I didn't realise she had declined so rapidly. Then during my holiday I heard she had been released from hospital and was recovering at home. This made me determined to get a spotlight on her music together to play on air as soon as I returned from holiday. This episode is that spotlight.

Unfortunately, Etta passed away yesterday, Friday 20 January 2012. I'm glad I got to play and enjoy her music while she was still alive. I'll continue to play Etta James music now that she has passed but it just won't be the same, it'll be more meaningful.

Let's treasure the 'older' stalwarts of classic blues / soul / R n B / funk etc, for they too, will one day, pass on leaving only memories for us to hold on to.

We love you Etta! Thank you!

1. Etta James - The Wallflower (aka Roll With Me Henry)
2. Etta James - Somethings Got A Hold On Me
3. Etta James - Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Live)
4. Etta James - Tell Mama
5. Chuck Berry - Almost Grown
6. Etta James - The Blues Is My Business
7. Etta James - The Sky Is Crying
8. Etta James - At Last
9. Etta James with Sugar Pie DeSanto - I'd Rather Go Blind (Part One)
10. Etta James with Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson - Please Send Me Someone To Love (Live)
11. Etta James with BB King - Theres Something On Your Mind

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Etta James's Son Describes Her Final Moments
By Howard Breuer
Friday January 20, 2012

Recalling his mother, R&B legend Etta James, and her final moments, son Donto James tells PEOPLE he's happy he and his brother, Sametto, got to hold her in their arms and say goodbye.

"It's been quite a day, Donto, 43, said Friday, the day Etta, 73, died from complications of leukemia, "but I'm very grateful. She basically passed in my arms, and I was able to share everything I needed to say to her, from praying to listing her accomplishments as a mother."

The goodbyes were delivered at a Riverside, Calif. hospital, where Etta James was taken Thursday night. Donto says his mother couldn't speak but seemed to understand what he was telling her.

"I asked her if she heard what I said, and she'd flutter her eyes and look at me very quickly. And she had been nonreactive before that," he says.

Donto describes the moment as "spiritual," and although he'd long dreaded seeing his mother die, he now believes "it was a true gift to be with her when it happened. I wouldn't want it any other way than for her to go in our arms."

He adds, "I told her that I loved her. I said, 'You were a wonderful mother, you did a wonderful job, your seven grandchildren love you, and they will be okay.' "

In a final tribute, he also says, "For sure, the world lost a legend today. I am very proud of her, and very thankful."

The Blues Room # 309 Blue Before Christmas

Episode 309, 21 December 2011

1. The Soul of John Black - Santa Claus Needs Some Lovin'
2. The Blues Buffet - Cold Turkey for Christmas [NZ]
3. The Flaming Mudcats - I Wait For You [NZ]
4. Seasick Steve - Christmas Prison Blues
5. The Thomas Oliver Band - No Sign Of You [NZ]
6. Mark Hummel - I Just Keep Lovin Her
7. Tip of the Top - One Way Out
8. Tip of the Top - She's Fine
9. Tip of the Top - Slidin' Home
10. Tip of the Top - My Babys Gone (And I Feel Good)
11. Keb Mo - The Christmas Song

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The Blues Room # 308 Counting Down 2011

The Blues Room#308, 14 December 2011

Music released during 2011. Part 1 of 3.

1. Seasick Steve - Levee Camp Blues
2. Mixndorp - Fee Fi Fo Fam
3. Booker T Jones - Down In Memphis
4. Memphis Gold - Pickin in High Cotton
5. Grana' Louise - Learning How to Cheat On You
6. Big Pete feat. Kim Wilson - Act Like You Love Me
7. Keb Mo - We Call It Christmas
8. Big Daddy Wilson - Way Back When
9. Tracy Nelson - Stranger In My Home Town
10. JP Blues - Love Her With a Feeling
11. George Thorogood - Chicago Bound

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The Blues Room # 307 Keb Mo

New music from Keb Mo blended with some of his older stuff in this epiosde. Done your Christmas shopping yet? Nah, me neither! Releases from 2011 over the next few episodes.

... RIP Hubert Sumlin ...

The Blues Room # 307, 7 December 2011

1. Hubert Sumlin - The Last Boogie
2. Hubert Sumlin - I'll Be Home On Tuesday
3. Keb Mo - The Whole Enchilada
4. Keb Mo -, Lee Ritenour & Taj Mahal - Am I Wrong
5. The Dixie Chicks with Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt and John Mayer - I Hope
6. Keb Mo - It Hurts Me Too
7. Keb Mo - Crush On You
8. Keb Mo - Something Within
9. Keb Mo narrates the acclaimed 2003 PBS series Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues
10. Keb Mo - Shopping On Christmas Eve

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The Blues Room # 306

http://www.fionaboyes.com/

"Go get yourself a copy of Fiona Boyes newest album, 'Blues For Hard Times'. It will lighten any heavy load you might be called to bear AND it will confirm that she is one hell of a blues woman. I love it!" - Nate Taiapa, The Blues Room

"I ain’t never heard a woman finger-pick a guitar like that since Memphis Minnie.She’s the best gal guitar player I heard in more than 35 years."
- Delta pianist & Blues Hall of Fame Legend, ‘Pinetop’ Perkins

'She’s got it …. you know what I’m talkin’ about, she’s got it! I’ve played with all the great players, and she’s got it! '- Legendary guitarist with Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin

Epiosde 306, 30 November 2011
1. Seasick Steve - Write Me A Few Lines
2. Eddie Turner - Booty Bumpin'
3. William Clarke - Drinkin' Straight Whiskey
4. Champion Jack Dupree - When I'm Drinkin'
5. Jimmy Rogers with Kim Wilson - Sloppy Drunk
6. Fiona Boyes - She Could Play That Thing
7. Fiona Boyes - High Time
8. Fiona Boyes - Grandma's Advice
9. Fiona Boyes - I Let The Blues In
10. Keb Mo' - Jingle Bell Jamboree
11. Daisy Kitty and Lewis - Paan Man Boogie < HOT!

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