New music: Collective Soul, GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite, Brad "Guitar" Wilson

In this column I preview highly-anticipated albums from Collective Soul and a collaboration between GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite both due Friday, July 31, as well as the newly-released Brad "Guitar" Wilson LP Boundless.

Artist: Collective Soul

Title: Touch and Go (Fuzze-Flex Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Cars, Collective Soul, Devo

Tell me more: Collective Soul is back with another masterful album, Touch and Go (due July 31), loaded with winning original material that is bolstered by undeniable choruses, tight arrangements, lead vocalist Ed Roland's signature vocals and strong performances. Inspired by groundbreaking New Wave rock, notably The Cars, this album blends the best of the late 1970s and early '80s with Collective Soul's masterful modern rock touch. Catchy material to be sure, Touch and Go's standouts include the Cars-flavored opener "Rainbow," wistful synth-swept "Eye On You," dance-minded new wave rocker "Uh Oh," delightfully Devo-ish "Fun," dreamy "Feel" and anthemic album closer "Love Your Way." My favorite track is the sumptuous "All My Days On Thru," which soars and captures the euphoria of romantic bliss perfectly. 

Originally released earlier this spring as part of Record Store Day, Touch and Go will now be available globally via all digital outlets, as well on CD and 180-gram teal-marble colored vinyl. Collective Soul is currently on tour, and is scheduled to perform at Humphreys Concerts By The Bay in San Diego on Sept. 25, and at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ on Sept. 26. Information: collectivesoul.com. 

Artists: GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite

Title: Blues  Now (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, James Harman

Tell me more: Now 82, beloved Mississippi blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite impresses on the three advance tracks from the 10-track disc Blues Now where the Grammy winner has joined forces with the stellar Boston-based trio GA-20. The strength of the album (set for release on Friday, July 31) may well be rooted in the straightforward recording of the album; in early 2025 GA-20 booked six days of studio time at Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA and collected some of their favorite songs originally recorded by Elmore James, Junior Wells, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed and even a couple of cuts off Musselwhite's own 1968 debut Stand Back! The idea was to record the songs quickly and capture the energy of Musselwhite's celebrated debut but with a contemporary spin. Listening to the initial trio of cuts from the Matthew Stubbs-produced Blues Now it's clear this was a mission fully accomplished. Indeed, blues lovers will want to hear the joyfully infectious Chicago blues cut "I Can't Hold Out," stylish take on Reed's 1962 ballad "I'll Change My Style" bolstered by Musselwhite's signature harmonica magic, and the fiery "Crazy Love." Blues Now is available across digital platforms, on audio CD, standard black vinyl and several limited edition color vinyl formats. GA-20 will perform at the Blues Heritage Festival in Tucson, AZ on Nov. 7, and at Tumbleroot Brewery in Santa Fe, NM on Nov. 8. Information: ga20band.com. 

Artist: Brad "Guitar" Wilson

Title: Boundless (Cali Bee Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Robert Cray, Tommy Castro, CCCCC

Tell me more: Singer-guitarist Brad "Guitar" Wilson showcases his distinctive style blending rock, blues, jazz and R&B on the newly-released Boundless. The songs were recorded in Hollywood, California's Musician's Institute Studios, Central California's Mondragon Studios, and at ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium. Highlights include a reworked reading of the Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell penned B.B. King classic "The Thrill Is Gone," blues-rock take on the 1961 Ray Charles hit "Hit the Road Jack," original Heartland-flavored rocker "Gonna Stay Or Go," a wonderful cover of Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (the latter enhanced by Wilson's sharp lead guitar playing), Americana sortie "Wild and Free," jazzy "San Francisco Nights" and smooth "Blues Magic." Information: bradwilsonlive.com. 

Robert Kinsler

New music: Walter Trout, Colin James, Johnny Marr

In this column I feature new audio releases featuring blues-rock greats Walter Trout and Colin James as well as a concert recording from Johnny Marr.

Artist: Walter Trout
Title: Sign of the Times (Provogue)
You might like if you enjoy: Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout
Tell me more: Acclaimed singer-songwriter/guitar virtuoso Walter Trout is back with his latest studio album, the forceful Sign of the Times. Although Trout is 74, the Southern California-based legend's signature vocals and fiery guitar work are as strong as ever. The artist has plenty to say lyrically, as evidenced by the introspective mid tempo sortie "I Remember," scorching Chicago blues original "Blood on my Pillow" showcasing his expressively stellar fret work, the heavy "Struggle To Believe," in sync with an increasingly crazy world, the timely "Hightech Woman" that playfully looks at the ever-increasing pace of technology. Other highlights include the confessional classic rock-mining "Hurt No More," the love-gone-bad blues foray "Too Bad" and beautiful country-tinged acoustic ballad "Mona Lisa Smile." Information: waltertrout.com.

Artist: Colin James
Title: Chasing the Sun (Stony Plain Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Charlie Musselwhite, Lucinda Williams, Nils Lofgren, Colin Linden
Tell me more: In a perfect world the lead-off track ("Perfection") from Colin James' 21st and latest album Chasing the Sun would be all over radio and streaming services. An infectious blues-rock track where James and Americana songstress Lucinda Williams share lead vocals, "Perfection" is one of the best new cuts of 2025. And that alluring cut is just one of the great songs on Chasing the Sun, an 11-track album that celebrates James' talents as singer, guitarist and songwriter. Other standouts on the disc include the gospel-tinged "I'm Still Alive," buoyant blues romp "Devilment" (the latter featuring harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite), the soulful "How It Feels To Be Loved" and "Too Far Gone," the bewitching roots gem "Star Studded Sky," haunting "Open Your Mind" and John Hammond-penned acoustic blues foray "Come To Find Out" — the latter showcasing the instrumental talents of James, Hammond and electric guitarist Colin Linden. Information: colinjames.com.

Artist: Johnny Marr
Title: Look Out Live! (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: The Smiths, Johnny Marr
Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/groundbreaking guitarist Johnny Marr is out today with a terrific two-disc concert recording that fully captures the power and energy of his live appearances. On the 22-track title — recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on the final date of his 2024 Spirit Power tour — Marr revisits some of his beloved material recorded when he was with '80s greats The Smiths as well as his brilliant solo work. Highlights include the captivating opener "Sensory Street," the propulsive "Generate! Generate!" and "Armatopia," the sweeping "Walk Into The Sea" and infectious "Easy Money." Marr delivers energetic and faithful takes on The Smiths' "Panic," "This Charming Man," "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want," "Bigmouth Strikes Again" and more. The concert was elevated by the appearance of Neil Tennant who reunited with Marr to perform '90s supergroup Electronic's hit "Getting Away With It" as well as a cover of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel." Information: johnnymarr.com.

Robert Kinsler 

Blues great Charlie Musselwhite's shares new single "Sad Eyes"

Listen to the emotive blues track "Sad Eyes" that debuts today. I am looking forward to hearing Charlie Musselwhite's new album Look Out Highway" when it is released next month...Robert Kinsler

Blues Icon Charlie Musselwhite Unveils New Single Listen to "Sad Eyes" Here Album 'Look Out Highway' Due May 16th via 40 Below Records  Pre-Save Album Here    Photo by Michael Weintrob CLARKSDALE, MS -  Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite is pleased to share "Sad Eyes", the latest single off of his new album, Look Out Highway, due May 16th via Forty Below Records. Glide Magazine has premiered the track which is out on all platforms today. Listen to "Sad Eyes" here. Pre-save the album Look Out Highway here.   What do you get when you mix Delta, Chicago and Memphis Blues? The American Blues icon Charlie Musselwhite. He's been writing classic songs for nearly six decades. He's a prolific songwriter who writes organic, compelling stories with ease. There is real emotional depth at the core of his songs.   When asked his "Sad Eyes" by Glide magazine, Mussewhite said, "Sad Eyes is about a lonely single guy in a club that sees a girl that looks lonely with sad eyes. They might not be all that attracted to each other, but why not enjoy each others company for awhile anyway? It's not love, but it's not bad. Check out the Glide article here.   More than any other harmonica player of his generation, Charlie Musselwhite can rightfully lay claim to inheriting the mantle of many of the great harp players that came before him with music as dark as Mississippi mud and uplifting as California's blue skies. In an era when the term legendary gets applied to auto-tuned pop stars, this singular blues harp player, singer, songwriter, and guitarist has earned and deserves to be honored as a true master of American classic vernacular music.   Recorded at Kid Andersen's Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California, and Clarksdale Sound Stage in Clarksdale, Mississippi, it's the first time Charlie has recorded with his long-time touring band, comprised of guitarist Matt Stubbs (GA-20), drummer June Core (Robert Lockwood Jr.) and bassist Randy Bermudes (James Cotton), along with Andersen who has been in and out of the band for many years. Their chemistry and command are abundantly clear from the opening notes. "We finished a gig at The Iridium in New York City and flew straight to California to record," Charlie effuses. Photo by Michael Weinstrob ABOUT CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE Charlie Musselwhite has received 13 Grammy nominations throughout his illustrious career, including his last release, Mississippi Son, and 33 Blues Music Awards. In 2014, his collaboration with Ben Harper Get Up won a Grammy, and in 2010, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Charlie's career took off quickly soon after arriving in Chicago in the early sixties, where he was an integral part of the blues renaissance along with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, both genuine proteges of Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. In 1967, at just 22 years of age, he released his debut album, Stand Back! , which garnered significant critical acclaim. On a whim, Musselwhite relocated to San Francisco that same year. Contemporaries like Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield followed suit and were welcomed into the counterculture scene around the Fillmore West as authentic purveyors of real-deal blues. Charlie has also collaborated with an eclectic list of incredible artists over the years, including Ben Harper, Cyndi Lauper, Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Gov't Mule, INXS, Mickey Hart, and Japan's Kodo Drummers, George Thorogood, Eliades Ochoa, Cat Stevens, Elvin Bishop and, close friend and best man at his wedding John Lee Hooker. In 2023, Musselwhite was cast in Martin Scorsese's film Killers of the Flower Moon in the role of Alvin Reynolds. Musselwhite's sixty-year journey has taken him from Mississippi to Memphis, Chicago, and California. He is living proof that great music only gets better with age. Sixty years of nonstop touring, 20 albums, 1 Grammy, and 33 Blues Music Awards later, his depth of expression as a singer and an instrumentalist grew more profound with each passing year. Forty Below Records, based in Los Angeles and helmed by Eric Corne, is proud to be Charlie's new home. Corne declared, "Working with an artist of Charlie's caliber is an honor and privilege. He's one of the most iconic Blues musicians working today. And we look forward to taking his legacy to the next level."

Listen to "Sad Eyes" Here CONNECT Website | Instagram | Facebook

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite to perform at Soka University in Aliso Viejo on Oct. 1, 2022

Wanted to share an update that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Elvin Bishop and Grammy Award-winning singer-harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite will be performing at the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo on Saturday night, Oct. 1. The venue is located at 1 University Dr., Aliso Viejo. Tickets are $22.50-$60.

Get the full details below...Robert Kinsler

Website: www.performingarts.soka.edu

Phone: 949-480-4278

Charlie Musselwhite
Photo: Daryl Weisser

100 YEARS OF BLUES is front-porch, down-home music with Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite trading licks and vocals on 12 rootsy, spirited songs, mixing nine originals with three reimagined classics. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. Although Bishop and Musselwhite have known each other since the early 1960s and recorded as guests with John Lee Hooker (and other friends), this is the first time that they ever teamed up to make a full record. According to Musselwhite, “This is us sitting down to play the music that we love and resonating together effortlessly because we’re 'coming from the same place.’” On June 3, 2022, Charlie Musselwhite released his new Alligator Records album, Mississippi Son.

 

Elvin Bishop
Photo: Daryl Weisser

The idea for the album came about in 2017 when the two musicians laid down the original version of the song 100 Years Of Blues for Bishop’s Big Fun Trio album. They realized then that they had a special musical chemistry between them. In 2019, Bishop and Musselwhite played a series of stripped-down shows – along with their mutual friend, pianist/guitarist Bob Welsh – swapping songs and telling stories. The audiences went wild, and Elvin and Charlie had so much fun they knew they had to capture the magic in the studio.

Charlie Musselwhite
Photo: Daryl Weisser

The album was recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios and Bishop’s Hog Heaven Studios in northern California. It was produced by Andersen and co-produced by Bishop, Musselwhite and Welsh. The laid-back, spontaneous nature of 100 YEARS OF BLUES highlights the heartfelt passion of each performance. Throughout the album, the interplay of guitar, vocals, harmonica and piano is virtually telepathic.

Bishop and Musselwhite have continued touring with their own bands and creating critically acclaimed, award-winning music, so this special performance featuring these two icons of the blues is not to be missed.

Photography courtesy of Daryl Weisser 

DarylWeisserPhotos.com

John Lee Hooker’s best-selling comeback album 'The Healer' set for reissue Oct. 28

Great to see a bona fide classic from John Lee Hooker set for reissue on both vinyl and audio CD next month...Robert Kinsler

JOHN LEE HOOKER’S BEST-SELLING COMEBACK ALBUM THE HEALER

SET FOR REISSUE ON 180-GRAM VINYL AND CD

OCTOBER 28^th

 

Out of print for more than a decade, the acclaimed 1989 album features guest appearances by Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, George Thorogood, and many others

 

Includes the GRAMMY®-winning hit “I’m in the Mood”

Los Angeles, CA (September 7, 2022)—Craft Recordings is pleased to reissue John Lee Hooker’s widely acclaimed album, The Healer, on vinyl and CD, after more than a decade of being out of print. The 1989 LP earned the then 73-year-old blues icon his first GRAMMY® Award (for the song “I’m in the Mood” with Bonnie Raitt) and features contributions from a star-studded collection of guest artists, which in addition to Raitt, includes Carlos Santana, George Thorogood, Los Lobos, Canned Heat, Charlie Musselwhite, and Robert Cray. Set for release on October 28 and available for pre-order beginning today, The Healer was pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Records Pressing (QRP), with lacquers cut by the award-winning engineer Bernie Grundman. 

 

Few artists have made such an explosive comeback as Hooker did when he released The Healer in 1989. The prolific singer-songwriter—also known as the “King of the Boogie”—rose to fame in 1948 with the chart-topping R&B hit, “Boogie Chillen’.” Over the next four decades, he worked tirelessly—recording dozens of albums, touring the world, and reinventing modern music along the way. As one of history’s greatest bluesmen, Hooker’s influence spread far and wide, inspiring a generation of musicians across multiple genres, including folk, rock, and blues. A handful of these artists are represented as guests on The Healer.

 

Recorded at San Francisco’s Russian Hill Recording Studios, the album was produced by guitarist Roy Rogers, who served as a member of Hooker’s Coast to Coast Band and would go on to helm three more records by the artist, including the GRAMMY®-nominated Mr. Lucky (1991) and the bestselling Chill Out (1995). Together, they invited some of the industry’s greatest talents to perform a selection of new and classic material in both stripped-down and full-band settings.

 

Among the high-profile guests was Bonnie Raitt—a blues star in her own right—who joined her musical hero for the languid “I’m in the Mood.” The single, which Hooker first made a hit in 1951, was reimagined as a sultry and sassy duet. The duo’s interplay was so effective, in fact, that it won them a GRAMMY® for Best Traditional Blues Performance at the following year’s award ceremony. Another disciple of Hooker’s, Carlos Santana, appeared on the airy opening title track. “The Healer,” which became a global hit, paired Santana’s electrifying guitar licks and Latin rhythms with Hooker’s deep, emotive vocals. This creative partnership would continue throughout the ’90s, with Santana appearing on—and producing—several of the elder musician’s biggest albums. 

 

Robert Cray, who represented a new generation of blues stars, would soon become a regular collaborator as well, following his appearance on the funky “Baby Lee.” Cray, who was a decade into his career at the time—having already played alongside the likes of Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton—joined Hooker on several subsequent albums, including Boom Boom (1992) and Mr. Lucky. The high-energy “Cuttin’ Out,” meanwhile, reunited Hooker with blues-rockers Canned Heat, with whom he recorded the acclaimed 1971 album, Hooker ’N Heat. 

 

Chart-busting artist George Thorogood, who rose to prominence in the late ’70s blues-rock scene, guested on “Sally Mae” (originally released in 1948 as the B-side to “Boogie Chillen’”), where he delivered an impassioned performance on the guitar. Also stopping by the studio was legendary harmonica player, Charlie Musselwhite, who accompanied his longtime friend on the track, “That’s Alright.” Rounding out the guest list were East Los Angeles rockers Los Lobos, who had recently scored a No.1 hit with “La Bamba” (a cover of the Richie Valens song, recorded for the blockbuster biopic of the same name). The versatile group backed Hooker on the zydeco-flavored “Think Twice Before You Go.”

 

Hooker also recorded three solo tracks for The Healer, including the stripped-down “Rockin’ Chair,” the wistful ballad, “My Dream,” and the album closer, “No Substitute.” For the latter track, the bluesman delivered startlingly intimate vocals, paired with a lush acoustic guitar and his signature foot tapping, as he declared, “there ain’t no substitute for love.”

 

While Hooker released several albums in the ’80s, The Healer marked a turning point in his career, marrying the classic style of his heyday with a strikingly modern sound. Critics paid attention as well, showering the artist and his guests with praise. Rolling Stonecalled the record “Brilliant, 100-proof blues,” adding “the spirit that animates this album is the ageless voice of John Lee Hooker and his boogie-man blues. He has conjured up a renewed world blues with the canniness of the hoodoo healers and root doctors who first gave birth to the Delta blues.” In addition to earning Hooker his first GRAMMY® win, the album was also a commercial triumph, peaking at No.62 on the Billboard 200 and selling more than a million copies worldwide.

 

The success of The Healer opened up a breadth of new opportunities for John Lee Hooker, including a host of eager collaborators and a string of popular releases. The busy bluesman was also able to bask in his status as a living icon. Just two years after the release of The Healer, Hooker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while in 1997, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was celebrated with a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. The Blues Hall of Famer was also a recipient of the highly prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts—the highest honor that can be bestowed upon those in the folk and traditional arts by the U.S. government. Today, 21 years after his passing, Hooker’s legacy continues to live on through his extensive catalog of recordings, as well as through the many artists whose music he inspired. His work can be heard frequently in films and TV shows, while many of his songs have found a second life through sampling by hip-hop and electronic music’s biggest acts.

 

Click here to pre-order The Healer and visit JohnLeeHooker.com for exclusive merchandise and more. 

 

 

Tracklist (vinyl):

 

Side A

1.   The Healer (with Carlos Santana & The Santana Band)

2.   I’m In The Mood (with Bonnie Raitt)

3.   Baby Lee (with Robert Cray)

4.   Cuttin’ Out (with Canned Heat)

5.   Think Twice Before You Go (with Los Lobos)

 

Side B

1.   Sally Mae (with George Thorogood)

2.   That’s Alright (with Charlie Musselwhite)

3.   Rockin’ Chair

4.   My Dream

5.   No Substitute

 

Tracklist (CD):

 

1.   The Healer (with Carlos Santana & The Santana Band)

2.   I’m In The Mood (with Bonnie Raitt)

3.   Baby Lee (with Robert Cray)

4.   Cuttin’ Out (with Canned Heat)

5.   Think Twice Before You Go (with Los Lobos)

6.   Sally Mae (with George Thorogood)

7.   That’s Alright (with Charlie Musselwhite)

8.   Rockin’ Chair

9.   My Dream

10. No Substitute

 

 

About Craft Recordings 

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. 

Icons explore roots via new collections

A wide range of talented artists are truly in their element using their roots in carving out great new recordings available now.

Artist: John Mellencamp
Title: Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Woody Guthrie
Tell me more: In Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre singer-songwriter John Mellencamp provides a deeper look into his craft via a mix of stunning musical performances and spoken word. In the digital release I reviewed, there was both a full-length concert film featuring Mellencamp and his terrific band, as well as that same concert film featuring a voice over from the artist offering a wealth of insights about the beginning of his career, his ability to observe and put those observations into song, and thoughts about the world about him. The performances range from the blues-flavored "Lawless Times" and Americana-draped "Troubled Man" to rocking takes of "Rain on the Scarecrow" and "Pink Houses." The work of fiddler Miriam Sturm and accordion player Troye Kinnett in particular enhances the performances. But it is the narration that will appeal to those looking for a deeper glimpse into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. "I've always been interested in other people," Mellencamp acknowledges early in the film. "And at the same time always found other people in my way." Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre is available on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD and via digital formats. Information: www.eagle-rock.com.

Artist: Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
Title: No Mercy In This Land (Anti)
You might like if you enjoy: Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite
Tell me more: Five years after teaming up for their Grammy-winning masterwork Get Up! Ben Harper (vocals, slide guitar, piano) and Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica, vocals) have joined forces again (Get Up! was one of my favorite albums of 2013. View my review of the album here). No Mercy In This Land finds the dynamic duo once again demonstrating there is plenty of new territory to explore in the blues. This is an album that explores the genre's richest traditions even as the approach here has a contemporary energy and relevance that astounds. The fleet "Bad Habits" finds Harper even tapping into a seemingly authentic early 20th century poetry while conjuring up the blues: "When a man gives you his hat / He's living on borrowed time." Musselwhite's potent blues harmonica spices up the track, as well as the original material across the disc (just listen to "Movin' On" later). The fiery Chicago blues "The Bottle Wins Again," yearning ballad "When Love Is Not Enough" and country blues "Trust You To Dig My Grave" demonstrate the range of the duo's approach. Musselwhite takes over lead vocal duties on the descriptive Delta foray "No Mercy In This Land," a Harper-penned tale whose probing lyrics could have been penned in the 1860s or 1960s and sound just as timely in 2018. Information: BenHarper.com.

Artur Menezes performing in
Dana Point, CA on May 19, 2018.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Artist: Artur Menezes
Title: Keep Pushing (independent)
You might like if you enjoy: Gary Clark Jr., Tommy Castro, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Tell me more: Armed with a powerful and soulful voice as well as top-tier talent on lead guitar, Brazil-born Artur Menezes shines across his new Josh Smith-produced album Keep Pushing. The 10 original songs are outstanding, and what's more Menezes is expert at mixing up a number of styles. For example on the heavy blues-rocker "Come With Me" his approach recalls a mix of vintage Bad Company and modern-day heroes Black Country Communion. He turns on a dime for the Texas blues of "Any Day, Anytime," here his voice equal parts Austin gale and Memphis soul. On the rockabilly-tinged "Love'n'Roll," he dips back into the sounds of the '50s for a spirited romp where his pleasing vocals and guitar work are positioned amidst horns. The lovely "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" is a ballad that fuses jazz chords into the blues sound, while the spirit of Hendrix creeps into the psychedelic blues rocker "Til The Day I Die." "Pull It Through" simply thrills with its power and style. Sure, Menezes' guitar work is thrilling; but just listen because his expressive solos always come in the service of the songs themselves. Information: www.arturmenezes.com.

Artist: Gene D. Plumber
Title: All the Pretty Girls (Bar/None Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard
Tell me more: There is a sense of bona fide fun while listening to Gene D. Plumber's All the Pretty Girls. Not many artists release a commercial debut album at age 72, but Plumber provides aspiring recording artists and roots music fans of all stripes a joyful listen thanks to a great collection mixing up his colorful originals and reworked covers that benefit from his style. Armed with a raspy but mellifluous voice, the lively spirit of the disc is bolstered by a far-flung mix of songs. The life-long Hoboken artist surprises on the absolutely tender original "A Breeze Blows Through the Palm Tree," an acoustic song that stirs via his vocal performance and Marc Jonson's subliminal organ. He mines similarly affecting emotional territory on a version of the George Jones hit "I Always Get Lucky with You." Uptempo standouts include his Cajun-flavored title track, the old time rock 'n' roll-styled "Let's Make a Deal - Marriage Proposal" and a New Orleans-flavored cover of the Chris Kenner & Allen Tousaint 1961 classic "I Like It Like That". Information: bar-none.com.

Artist: Curtis Salgado and Alan Hager
Title: Rough Cut (Alligator Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Little Walter, Kim Wilson
Tell me more: Lovers of traditional blues will love the new collaboration featuring award-winning vocalist and harmonica virtuoso Curtis Salgado and guitar great Alan Hager. On the duo's newly-released Rough Cut they explore the genre with a mix of potent originals and beloved covers. Among the great tracks on the set are the driving originals "So Near to Nowhere," "One Night Only" and warmhearted acoustic track "I Want My Dog to Live Longer (The Greatest Wish)." The two artists also take on a number of well-known classics, with the buoyant Muddy Waters standard "I Can't Be Satisfied" (featuring some sly slide work from Hager), biting Chicago blues nugget "Too Young to Die," a wonderfully vocals-anchored "Morning Train" and dance-minded take of Elmore James' "You Got to Move" among the essentials featured on the 13-track disc. Information: alligator.com.


Robert Kinsler

Walter Trout to return with new studio album, 'We're All In This Together'

Walter Trout is set to return with a new studio album. That is always reason to celebrate, but this time the celebration extends to a who's who of guest players including John Mayall, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sonny Landreth, and his son, guitarist Jon Trout. Here is the official media release...

WALTER TROUT RETURNS WITH BRAND NEW STUDIO ALBUM TITLED WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER FEATURING 14 FRIENDS

North American Release Date Set For August 25 With Europe To Follow On September 1

Album Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jH6CgiH07A&feature=youtu.be

Pre-Order Here: http://smarturl.it/walter-trout

Special Guests include John Mayall, Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sonny Landreth, Joe Louis Walker, Warren Haynes, Randy Bachman, Charlie Musselwhite, Edgar Winter, Eric Gales, Mike Zito, Robben Ford, John Nemeth, And His Son Jon Trout

Los Angeles, CA --- Walter Trout is the beating heart of the modern blues rock scene, respected by the old guard, revered by the young guns, and adored by the fans who shake his hand after the show each night. After five decades in the game, Trout is a talismanic figure and part of the glue that bonds the blues community together, at a time when the wider world has never been so divided. He’s also the only artist with the vision, talent and star-studded address book to pull off a project on the scale of We’re All In This Together. “It was quite a piece of work to get this record together,” he admits. “But I guess I have a lot of friends, y’know…?”

Before you even hear a note, We’re All In This Together has your attention. Drafting fourteen A-list stars – including Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Mayall and Randy Bachman – and writing an original song for each, Trout has made the most tantalizing album of the year, and found solace after a run of solo albums that chronicled his near-fatal liver disease of 2014. “Now was the right time for this record,” he says. “Battle Scars [2015] was such an intense piece of work, written with tears coming down my face. I needed a break from that, to do something fun and light-hearted. This album was joyous for me.”

Scan the credits of We’re All In This Together and you’ll find nods to every twist and turn of Trout’s electrifying backstory. There’s keys man and long-time friend Skip Edwards, who came up on the same early-’70s New Jersey circuit where Trout cut his teeth as the precocious lead guitarist for Wilmont Mews. There’s organ wizard Deacon Jones, the West Coast bandleader who brought a twenty-something Trout into the orbit of blues titans like John Lee Hooker and Big Mama Thornton. “Deacon sorta discovered me when I moved to LA in the ’70s,” reflects Trout. “So I owe him.”

Trout also welcomes a fistful of compadres from recent all-star project Supersonic Blues Machine, in the form of Warren Haynes, Robben Ford and Eric Gales. Then there’s John Mayall: the ageless British blues-boom godfather who hired a troubled Trout for the Bluesbreakers in 1985 and now blows harp on “Blues For Jimmy T.”  “Am I proud to call myself a former Bluesbreaker?” Trout reflects. “Yeah, of course. What a credential. That is a very exclusive club, and I know that when I’m gone, that’s gonna be one of the big things that they’ll remember me for: that I was a Bluesbreaker for five years.”

Since he struck out alone in 1989, Trout’s solo career has been every bit as celebrated. Touring tirelessly and spitting out classic albums that include 1990’s flag-planting Life In The Jungle, 1998’s breakthrough Walter Trout and 2012’s politically barbed Blues For The Modern Daze, he’s won international acclaim and enjoyed ever-growing sales in a notoriously fickle industry. Years on the road have also brought him tight friendships, as evidenced by 2006’s cameo-fuelled Full Circle album and this year’s unofficial sequel, We’re All In This Together. “The new album was originally gonna be called Full Circle Volume 2,” notes Trout, “but I wanted to make the title a positive statement in this time of madness.” 

In another departure, whereas Full Circle saw each guest visit the studio to track their part, the advance of recording technology in the intervening decade meant Trout’s collaborators on We’re All In This Together were able to supply their contributions from afar. “In the studio, it was the core band of me, Sammy Avila [keys], Mike Leasure [drums] and Johnny Griparic [bass] on every cut, with Eric Corne producing,” he explains, “and then, for most of the tracks, people sent us their parts. But it’s very hard to tell we’re not in the studio together. If you listen to the Warren Haynes track, when we get into that guitar conversation on the end – it sounds like we’re looking each other right in the face, y’know?”

They say you can judge a man by the company he keeps. If that’s the case, then We’re All In This Together is further proof of Walter Trout’s position at the hub of the blues scene. This is the sound of an artist not just getting by with a little help from his friends, but positively thriving, on an album that is sure to light another rocket under his blooming late career. “I’m 66 years old,” considers Trout, “but I feel like I’m in the best years of my life right now. I feel better than I have in years physically. I have more energy. I have a whole different appreciation of being alive, of the world, of my family, of my career. I want life to be exciting and celebratory. I want to dig in. I want to grab life by the balls and not let go, y’know…?”

Track Listing:

“Gonna Hurt Like Hell” featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd

“Ain’t Gpin’ Back” featuring Sonny Landreth

“The Other Side of The Pillow” featuring Charlie Musselwhite

“She Listens To The Blackbird Song” featuring Mike Zito

“Mr. Davis” featuring Robben Ford

“The Sky Is Crying” featuring Warren Haynes

“Somebody Goin’ Down” featuring Eric Gales

“She Steals My Heart Away” featuring Edgar Winter

“Crash And Burn” featuring Joe Louis Walker

“Too Much To Carry” featuring John Nemeth

“Do You Still See Me At All” featuring Jon Trout

“Got Nothin’ Left” featuring Randy Bachman

“Blues For Jimmy T.” Featuring John Mayall

“We’re All In This Together” featuring Joe Bonamassa

Planned appearances include:

6/30     Wichita, KS                                                     The Cotillion

7/01     Kansas City, MO                                            Knucklehead’s

7/02     St. Louis, MO                                                 Old Rock House

7/05     Syracuse, NY                                                  Hotel Syracuse

7/06     Sellersville, PA                                               Sellersville Theatre

7/07     Old Saybrook, CT                                           The Kate

7/08     Fall River, MA                                                Narrows Center for the Arts

7/09     Pawling, NY                                                   Daryl’s House

7/10     Hoboken, NJ                                                   Maxwell’s

7/12     New York, NY                                               B.B. King’s

7/13     Shirley, MA                                                    Bull Run

7/14     Norwalk, CT                                                   Infinity Music Hall

7/15     Derry, NH                                                       Tupelo Music Hall

7/16     Rockland, ME                                                 North Atlantic Blues Festival

7/19     Grand Rapids, MI                                           Blues On The Mall

7/20     Toledo, OH                                                     Club Soda

7/21     Chicago, IL                                                     Legends

7/22     Chicago, IL                                                     Legends

7/23     Milwaukee, WI                                               Shank Hall

7/26     Omaha, NE                                                     Chrome Lounge

7/27     Minneapolis, MN                                            Famous Dave’s

7/28     Fargo, ND                                                       Fargo Blues Fesival

7/29     Arnolds Park, IA                                            Arnolds Park Amusement Park

7/30     Des Moines, IA                                              Lefty’s Live Music

8/05     Mammoth Lakes, CA                                      Bluespalooza

8/06     Deming, WA                                                   Mt Baker R&B Festival

8/16     Annapolis, MD                                               Ram’s Head

8/17     Washington D.C.                                            The Hamilton

8/18     Somers Point, NJ                                            Somers Point Concert Series

8/19     Morristown, NJ                                              Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival

8/20     Lancaster, PA                                                  Long’s Park Concert Series

8/22     Gravenhurst, ON                                            Peter’s Players

8/23     Gravenhurst, ON                                            Peter’s Players

8/25     Trois Rivieres, QC                                          Trois Rivieres En Blues

8/26     Marshfield, MA                                              North River Blues Festival

8/27     Simsbury, CT                                                  2 Left Feet Blues Festival

8/30     Auburn Hills, MI                                            Callahan’s

8/31     Cleveland, OH                                                Beachland Ballroom

9/02     Peoria, IL                                                        Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival

9/07     Las Vegas, NV                                               Big Blues Bender

9/08     Las Vegas, NV                                               Big Blues Bender

October through November – European Dates – Detail posted on www.waltertrout.com