Video: "Juice" by Andy Gabbard

Andy Gabbard of The Buffalo Killers has just released his video for Juice off of his upcoming solo record on Alive-Natural Sound.

Check it out!

LP Review: "Claw Machine Wizard" by Left Lane Cruiser

Claw Machine Wizard

Years ago, I faced one of the most awkward tests of my young life.

After my relationship of twelve years came to an end it was hard. Naturally it was a difficult situation for me as it would be for anyone.

It got hard when it was time to head over to the family's house for the holidays.

For years and years, there was always a second person by my side. Someone who helped me get through these gatherings and keep me company. I was also kept safe because it always took an ungodly amount of booze to make it through these celebrations.

So, here I was feeling young, exposed, and like a failure at life. In the end, it was easier than I thought. There was no surprise as to why I arrived and left alone.

LP Review: Self-Titled by Heath Green and the Makeshifters

Heath Green and the Makeshifters

In 2017 is the art of making an album dead?

Many times it appears to me that there are major artists that simply do not care about making an album.

James Leg sees his records as sides of albums...so he makes two mini albums each time I suppose.

Far more often than should be allowed, listening to forty five minutes of music by a single artist instead of being a seven course meal, ends up being a trip to the buffet at the casino.

Don't get me wrong, the casino buffet in my hometown here...you can get sashimi and steak and all you can eat at that. So, I'm a big fan of buffets, but there's a difference between eating a meal of wholly disconnected courses and having a proper meal.

LP Review: "Let It Slide" by Mark Porkchop Holder

Let It Slide

May I be candid with you for a moment?

My earliest memories are living in the, then uncivilized, suburbs with a man I knew as my father. As my age increased, I could no longer escape that this man was my step-father, but there was never any question in my mind about my place in my family.

Well, fast forward about a decade and this man and an old woman were sitting on the couch in my living room telling me how much they loved and missed me.

Well, that's a kind of a strange thing from two complete strangers to me. In a couple years' time my home was living with them and my time in Illinois began with my father's family.

They were blood, but for the most part, they were never family. The experience that I'd been hoping for never happened, except for with one small segment of this family. My aunt and her husband. These two people, upon meeting them, we had that moment, That feeling of knowing where I came from. On both sides of my family, I'm the black sheep, and not to say that in a disparaging way, but I've always been different even in my own home.

LP Review: "Hairy Mountain" by Datura4

Hairy Mountain

Recently, a music industry friend of mine and I were talking about the state of music in the world.

Many times, I've railed against paint by numbers music, because it's boring and repetitive, but my buddy said that sometimes repetitive is good.

A great example of good repetitiveness is 12 Bar Blues.

With just three chords and about 12 lines of lyrics, a guitarist and singer of questionable abilities can write at least 17,982 songs. On stage Billy Gibbons made reference to that when he said, same three guys, same three chords.

But, of course there's far more to a quality 12 bar blues tune than just the I-III-IV progression and the turn around chords. It's the story, the emotion, the feeling, and the kick ass guitar solos!

LP Review: "Blood On The Keys" by James Leg

Blood On The Keys

My favorite guitarist in the world is Ace Frehley.

He serves as an inspiration to me. His ear for melody is far greater than that of mortal man. It greatly surpasses his drive to create music.

Aside from a few little jaunts into expressive and synths, his playing has been the same for the past four decades plus, and yes I have all his records.

But not everybody can get that sort of deal. It has to be an artist that was popular when you were a kid I think.

James Leg...

This is his sixth studio album and aside from Painkillers, it's largely been him, his electric piano, and a drummer. It would seem that musical growth would be at a premium and stagnation would be abundant.

LP Review: "Beck In Black" by Left Lane Cruiser

Beck In Black

Left Lane Cruiser was discovered by this author around the release of their third record, Junkyard Speedball, and there was no going back.

Since then, every single one of their following albums has been reviewed.

Beck In Black marks the sixth time they've been featured on these pages.

What some folks might not know is that between Rock Them Back To Hell! and Dirty Spliff Blues, the original drummer and occasional washboard player, Brenn "Sausage Paw" Beck decided to retire from Left Lane Cruiser and Pete Dio, of White Trash Blues Revival, took over.

Beck In Black was originally a 2016 Record Store Day release by Alive-Natural Sound, but as has happened before, it just got too popular. So here we have this retrospective on CD and digital as well.

Double LP Review: "Live! In California" by Radio Moscow

Live! In California

The double live album.

That is about the most beautiful phrase in the whole world of music to me.

Over the course of my life, there have been hundreds of these records in my collections. Rory Gallagher, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Slash, Metallica, and countless others.

Think of how many bands have made their name on their live shows and how so few have put out the double live LP at just the right time.

Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains The Same remains the one to me that was such a disappointment, until the rest of the album was put into context making it a triple live LP. Metallica waited until 30+ years into their career to do one. Black Sabbath's first with Ozzy was actually their second, though Live Evil was amazing.

Album Review: "Talking Loud" by Sulfur City

Talking Loud

This blog is a monument to all the great music being released in the modern era and a memorial to all the amazing music that we just don't have the time to review.

My personal journey back into the world of modern music took place in 2008. Until that point, old music was the only thing that played in my car, house, etc.

At the Schlafly Tap Room, there was a Camel Cigarettes show that featured somebody, The Black Diamond Heavies, and Exene Cervanka & The Original Sinners.

You may recall my many posts on James Leg...

A few fairly important things happened that night, though it hadn't occurred to your friend and humble narrator yet. My mind was now open to new music. The Blues bug had bitten me.

And Alive-Natural Sound is a thing.

Album Review: "Victory Motel Sessions" by King Mud

Victory Motel Sessions

An old friend of mine told me about another circle of friends that he was a part of, at least tangentially speaking.

If I recall correctly, there was a girl in that circle of friends who interested me greatly.

Isn't that always the way?

Of course, it was in another part of St. Louis and here, if you're 15 miles outside of the city limits, you're basically in a very different world.

What I was told by my friend however, is what gave me pause.

This circle of friends had known each other from kindergarten, but more than that, they had been swapping partners among themselves for as long as they had been dating. How in the world was I supposed to walk into that setup?

Album Review: "Below The Belt" by James Leg

Below The Belt

I'm not sure how honest I should be here, but oh, well you know I stand by my words.

This is a very hard review for me. It's hard because I want to be objective, but when you're reviewing someone whose work you just really love...

I mean I don't want to hit Joe Buck territory here! My St. Louis people know what that's all about right. Joe Buck on a national broadcast when the Cards are playing....

You know.

James Leg AKA The Reverend AKA John Wesley Myers of The Black Diamond Heavies, and he's probably got another four or five more aliases...Well we all know what his deal is. If you don't...

Keep reading.

Album Review: "Demon Blues" by Datura4

Demon Blues

Let's talk debut records.

Today we're talking about a band from Australia. Frankly, it's been a long time since we've talked about anyone from that side of the earth.

Too long.

We're looking a group of players who've been around the block a bit in other bands....The Stems, You Am I, etc. Honestly, I wasn't familiar with any of those acts.

They were described as fuzzy, lo-fi, garage rock, etc. You know the stuff that real rock'n'roll is made of.

Nowadays, these fellows have created a new band that focuses on lo-fi rock and psychedelic blues, as I think evidenced by the title of the album. It's also worth mentioning that we're looking at another title from Alive-Natural Sound....such a great label.

Album Review: "Dirty Spliff Blues" by Left Lane Cruiser

Dirty Spliff Blues

I'm often surprised at how long I've been writing these reviews. These started  nearly 3  years ago in 2012.

It's now gotten to the point where I've reviewed some bands multiple times and for Left Lane Cruiser, this is their third album to be reviewed on these pages.

For the new rhythm section, it's their second time.

So, something happened. In the two years since the last Left Lane Cruiser album, drummer/vocalist Sausage Paw Beck decided to leave the group.

In his stead, half of his side project joined Left Lane Cruiser.

I'm a bit shamed to admit that I hadn't heard about this changing of the guard, but I was certainly interested to see what it would do to the sound of the band I've known so well.

Album Review: "Fluff" by Andy Gabbard

Fluff 

I'll admit that things have been a little nutty around here lately.

To this author, that's a very good thing, but as someone who's trying to spread the gospel that music is still great, still awesome, and that no one generation has any claim to the best era of music ever, let's get back to something a bit more palatable for the wider world.

I'm considering the first solo album from Andy Gabbard of the Buffalo Killers.

I can't tell you how  many times the Buffalo Killers have appeared in my Amazon.com recommendations. I think that's because I've purchased at least 15 albums from their label, Alive-Natural Sound. James Leg, Left Lane Cruiser, Radio Moscow, Black Joe & The Honey Bears, The Black Keys, and more.

It's a label dedicated to blues, garage rock, punk, and just about anything else. The only real thing that all these artists have in common is that they're all quality.

Album Review: "Feel The Noise" by Paul Collins

Feel The Noise

Paul Collins is back and better than ever.

Honestly, allow me to display my ignorance to all of you. I am not familiar with the work of Paul Collins. It's a lot like Mitch Hedberg and Peter Frampton I think.

For the rest of us who aren't sure....

Paul's been a professional musician since 1974 and has played in some important bands: The Nerves, The Breakaways, The Beat, and his solo career.

Aside from the list of bands, it could also be said that he has a laundry list of styles and even instruments. Like Dave Grohl, he started off as a drummer and switched to guitar and vocals. Like Dave Grohl, he could actually pull it off....but let's move on to the album review....

Album Review: "Magical Dirt" by Radio Moscow

Magical Dirt by Radio Moscow

Please set your Wayback Machines for 1967.

For today's album review, we have the latest release by Radio Moscow.

Formed in 2003 in Story City, Iowa, of all places. They have been writing and recording for over ten years now.

Magical Dirt is their fifth studio album and their first release since 2012's 3 X 3.

For people who have grown up in this day and age, millennials, this record might seem very strange upon the first listen. Radio Moscow are delightfully retro in 2014, as they were in 2011 when I discovered their release, The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz. Based on this album, not much has changed....

"More Primitive" by Lonesome Shack

 There are record labels that when I hear that they have an album coming that I know that I'm already interested in what it is.

Alive Natural Sound fits that bill.

Lonesome Shack is a blues trio based out of Seattle, Wash., but it would never be apparent to anyone listening.

In some ways, it's very nice when things do not change. When a style of music remains rooted in its past and holds onto the feeling, the power, and the structure, then you have tradition.

They tow the lines between 12 bar blues, boogie blues, and country blues, and all points within. Blues has had a bit of a renaissance over the last few years, but mostly Chicago blues with long solos, but this is very different than that.

"Gets Loaded " by Hollis Brown

Hollis Brown is a roots-rock band based out of NYC.

They have been described as playing rock music that would have sounded fresh in 1966.

As they are on the Alive-Natural Sound roster, one could expect them to be a bit bluesy, a bit retro, and pretty rocking.

This is their sophomore album to their debut which was released last year. There is a story behind this record.

Originally this started off as a live tribute to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground in November of 2013. Hollis Brown was invited to the show to play The Velvet Underground's Loaded in its entirety. Originally it was released as a Record Store Day limited edition, it's now getting its own proper release a month later...

"Get Pure" by Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel is new to my ears, but I heard the buzz they were getting about their new album and frankly, I am really glad and grateful to have the opportunity to review this record.

What I know about these boys is pretty basic. They hail from Columbus, OH. If they're Crew or Blue Jackets fans, that's an unknown, but a known unknown.

"Get Pure" is their third record.

See? I really don't know much about these guys at all and the vast majority of the unknowns are unknown unknowns, but after listening to the record, there were a few things learned. They play a simple, blues based rock'n'roll that's long been missing in the world of rock and they really do know how to rock.

"The Good Life" by John the Conqueror

John the Conqueror is a blues band based out of Mississippi or Philadelphia, depending on your concept of time and space.

Either way, this group has only been together since 2010 and the Michael Gardner's only been playing drums since that time just as Pierre Moore started singing at the same time by plugging a microphone into a practice amp. Along the way they started belting out blues and bassist, Ryan Lynn was brought into the fold. This rounded out their duo into a full band which they named after the folkloric slave hero.

The Good Life is the sophomore record of this very young band. What is truly amazing is how quickly this whole thing has come together for this band of friends. Pierre and Michael have been friends since childhood, and the quickly brewed friendship with Ryan is what got him into the band as it were.