#499 Laura Collins Interview

The Blues Room, 19 August 2015

Episode #499

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Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band play Hamilton's Nivara Lounge tonight (20th August), they'll be delivering their back porch blend of acoustic blues.

You can expect to hear a little BB, a little Koko, some Muddy Waters and many more with soulful vocals, sweet guitar solos, honky tonk style piano, warm upright bass and percussive drums.

The Back Porch Boys are all journeymen who have played many juke joints in their time. One of those talents is Wayne Mason, a well-known Kiwi songwriter in his other life, also one hell of a stonkin’ boogie blues piano player. So look out for 'Mad Professor' style wild solos with a wonderful sense of abandon. John O'Connor on guitar has worked with many of New Zealand’s well-known musicians and is considered one of New Zealand’s guitar legends. He has played and recorded with many well known artists including the NZSO, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mark Williams, Ron Goodwin, BB King, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. In the engine room George Barris (long time NZ player, of early fame in the band 'Highway') on mellow upright bass and Pete Cogswell on Back Porch Drums.

In this episode we interview Laura and spin a few of her awesome tracks plus some tracks from Ann Cole, Bonnie Raitt, Lloyd Spiegel, King Leo, Luke Burnsright, C.W. Stoneking and more!! Enjoy!

1. Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band - Crazy Love 

2. Ann Cole - Got My Mojo Working

3. Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band - Wade In The Water 

4. Bonnie Raitt & Habib Koite - Back Around

5. Lloyd Spiegel - Mississippi Sun

6. Big Joe Turner - Lipstick, Powder and Paint

7. Ligthnin' Hopkins - Got To Move Your Baby

8. King Leo - Prisoner 

9. Luke Burnsright - Pallet On Your Floor

10. C.W. Stoneking - She's A Bread Baker

Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band at Nivara Lounge

Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band, 

Thursday 20th August, Nivara Lounge, Hamilton, 

show starts 8.00pm, $20 on the door.

Laura Collins and the Back Porch Blues Band are heading to the Nivara Lounge in Hamilton on Thursday 20th August ready to 'rock the joint'. Laura Collins, known for her soulful vocal delivery, on-stage energy and emphasis on entertainment says “I’m all about putting on a show. I’m lucky enough to be playing with some men who are huge talents, they've all played many a juke joint in their time".

One of those talents is Wayne Mason, a well-known Kiwi songwriter in his other life, also one hell of a stonkin’ boogie blues piano player. So look out for 'Mad Professor' style wild solos with a wonderful sense of abandon. John O'Connor on guitar has worked with many of New Zealand’s well-known musicians and is considered one of New Zealand’s guitar legends. He has played and recorded with many well known artists including the NZSO, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mark Williams, Ron Goodwin, BB King, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

In the engine room George Barris (long time NZ player, of early fame in the band 'Highway') on mellow upright bass and Pete Cogswell on Back Porch Drums.

Laura says having a more acoustic rhythm section allows the band to stay at an easy volume “It doesn’t need to be loud to groove, this is a vocals led band and I’m all about finding the heart of the song. We’re about keeping it mellow, easy on the ears, but we’ll still make you want to dance. I'm ready to celebrate Summer and I'm bringing my favourite bluesmen and I know they will make the house jump."

You can expect a little Etta James, some Bonnie Raitt, some Muddy Waters and many more favourites, a whole lot of cheek, some fine playing and a good old southern time on the back porch.

Quote from Review from Manawatu Standard June 2nd, 2014

"The Back Porch Band had a great feel about it ranging from solidly funky to gloriously gospel, their backing vocals superbly supporting this sassy songstress. With each number given a highly original blues sound, this band fairly rocked the joint..."

#498

The Blues Room, 12 August 2015

Episode #498

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Sonny Boy Williamson 2 stays in my top five all time harmonica players list. Heres a tribute to him from many seasoned players/musicians, the list could be a hell of a lot longer but this is a good start ... part 2 & 3 in the making now. Enjoy!

1. Lloyd Spiegel - Stateboro Blues

2. Big Daddy Wilson - Baby Don't Like

3. Laura Collin and the Back Porch Blues Band - Hound Dog

4. Paul Orta & The Kingpins - Checkin' Up On My Baby

5. Red Devils - Cross My Heart

6. James Cotton - Dealin' With The Devil

7. The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out

8. Sugar Ray & The Bluetones - Ninety Nine

9. Little Charlie & The Night Cats - Too Close Together

10. New York Dolls - Don't Start Me Talkin'

11. Jonny Lang - Good Morning Little School Girl

12. Muddy Waters - Nine Below Zero

13. Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - My Younger Days

14. John Hammond - Your Funeral and My Trial

15. B.B. King - Eyesight To The Blind

16. Howlin' Wolf - Decoration Day

17. Sonny Boy Williamson II - Fattening Frogs For Snakes

Brian Glamuzina & Stingray Perform Christo Redemptor

Brian Glamuzina & Stingray perform Christo Redemptor on International Blues Music Day 2015, August 1st, The Thirsty Dog, Auckland, NZ.

#497

The Blues Room, 5 August 2015

Episode #497

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Darcy Perry returns for another hour of blues power. 

1. Elvin Bishop - Can’t Even Do Wrong Right

2. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Sitting On Top Of The World 

3. The Staple Singers - Sit Down Servant

4. Double Shot Blues Band - Red House 

5. Rick Estrin & The Nightcats - New Old Lady 

6. Mississippi John Hurt - Stack O’Lee 

7. Jarekus Singleton - I Refuse To Lose

8. Lonnie Johnson - Another Night To Cry 

9. Uber Station - Rock Candy Funk Party (feat. Joe Bonamassa) 

10. Selwyn Birchwood - Don’t Call No Ambulance 

11. The Kentucky Head Hunters - Superman Blues

12. Pink Floyd - Bike

International Blues Music Day :: 1st August 2015

Hamilton Blues Society

To celebrate, promote and preserve the rich legacy, tradition and future of the great American art form and international language known as Blues Music.
http://www.internationalbluesmusicday.com/

Auckland Blues Club

#496 :: Happy 79th Birthday Buddy Guy

The Blues Room, 29 July 2015

Episode #496

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Happy 79th Birthday Buddy Guy!!

1. Buddy Guy - First Time I Heard The Blues

2. Buddy Guy - DJ Play My Blues

3. Buddy Guy with Robert Randolph & Quinn Sullivan - Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

4. Mike Bloomfield - Eyesight to the Blind

5. Junior Kimbrough - I Gotta Try You Girl

6. North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osbourne - Brush Up Against You

7. The Flaming Mudcats - Double Ds

8. Tedeschi Trucks - Band Sweet and Low

9. Janiva Magness - Twice As Strong

#495 :: Acoustic Goodness

The Blues Room, 22 July 2015

Episode #495

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Acoustic cuts of music goodness on this episode. Check out those Suitcase Brothers ... WOW!

1. Johnny Winter - Evil On My Mind

2. Gerry Hundt - Make Me A Pallet

3. Cephas & Wiggins - Trouble In Mind

4. Big Daddy Wilson - Mississippi John

5. John Jackson - Railroad Bill

6. Champion Jack Dupree - Driving Me Mad

7. James Cotton with Dave Maxwell - Worried Life Blues

8. Koko Taylor with Keb' Mo' - Man Next Door

9. Cotton Roots - They're Red Hot

10. The Suitcase Brothers - Preaching Blues (Up Jumped The Devil​)​ 

11. The Suitcase Brothers - Talk to Your Daughter (Live at The Daytona Blues Festival, 2014)

#494 :: Interview with John Thomson of Holly & The Bluebenders

The Blues Room, 15 July 2015

Episode #494

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I catch up with John Thomson of Holly & The Bluebenders prior to them coming to Hamilton's Nivara Lounge this Saturday 18th July. Door sales at only $10 is worth a night out in the Tron!

1. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - Sitting In The Rain

2. Charlie Musselwhite - I Ain't Lying

3. Holly & The Bluebenders - Leave Me Alone

4. Holly & The Bluebenders - When A Woman's Had Enough

5. Norah Jones - Bessie Smith

6. Janis Joplin - Turtle Blues

7. Gary Smith, David Barrett, & Aki Kumar - It Takes Three

8. Jack Broadbent - On The Road Again

#493

The Blues Room, 8 July 2015

Episode #493

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Happy birthday to one of the coolest cats around. The man that reminded us that, 'it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!' The late great Louis Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975). Plus some classics from Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, James Cotton, J.B. Hutto and Otis Span. Some NZ blues from Mike Garner, Kokomo and Darren Watson and some new blues from a tribute project by John Primer and friends, and The Betty Fox Band. Enjoy!

1. Buddy Guy - (You Give Me) Fever

2. Big Mama Thornton - Ball And Chain

3. James Cotton - Cotton Crop Blues

4. J.B. Hutto & His Hawks - Too Much Alcohol

5. Mike Garner - Cool Town Woman

6. Kokomo - I'll Do Anything

7. Darren Watson - Slow Cooker

8. Louis Jordan - I Want You To Be My Baby

9. Otis Span - Blues Is A Botheration

10. John Primer feat. Shemekia Copeland - Got My Mojo Working

11. The Betty Fox Band - Solid Ground