Essential Concerts Films, Blues Album Make for Rockin' October

A trio of wonderful concert films are available on DVD and/or blu-ray, while a celebrated blues troupe is back with a joyful celebration of the genre.

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Title: From The Vault: Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones
Tell me more: On May 20, 2015, a fortunate group of lucky fans were treated to an intimate concert featuring the Rolling Stones at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. Now that already-legendary live event has been released as part of the Rolling Stones' "From The Vault" series. Available in a variety of formats, the terrific Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015 marked the first time in the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' career that the Rolling Stones performed the entire 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Additionally, this concert marked the official kick-off of the band's North American Zip Code Tour. The audience is treated to terrific versions of many classics including the Americana-styled "Dead Flowers" and "Wild Horses," the fiery rocker "Bitch," jazz-tinged blues rocker "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," and a Chicago blues romp through B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" featuring a lively harmonica solo courtesy of Mick Jagger. Bonus tracks include "All Down The Line," "When The Whip Comes Down" and "I Can't Turn You Loose." In addition to the top-tier performances of many of the Stones' best songs, the DVD includes insightful interviews positioned before the band performances.  For example, in one of the most revealing segments, guitarist Ronnie Wood discusses his respect for guitarist Mick Taylor (whom Wood replaced in the band). A must have film for Stones fans, From The Vault: Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015 is available on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, DVD+3LP and digital formats. Information: eagle-rock.com.

Artists: Steve Lukather, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Satriani, Slash, more
Title: A Tribute to Les Paul (MVD Visual)
You might like if you enjoy: Les Paul, Slash, Steve Lukather, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Tell me more: Originally broadcast on AXS TV and staged as a live celebration for Les Paul's 90th birthday in 2006 at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, the special event (now available as A Tribute to Les Paul) featured performances by a number of the world's greatest electric guitarists as they paid tribute to the legacy of the so-called "father of modern music." Standout performances abound on this concert film including Steve Lukather's version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Little Wing," Joe Satriani tearing up on "Watch Boogie" and an amazing finale featuring a take on the early '70s hit "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" with Lukather and Kenny Wayne Shepherd trading some fiery guitar work while Edgar Winter provides lead vocals and stellar work with his saxophone. Other artists featured on the title include Slash, Joe Perry, Neal Schon, Buddy Guy and Robben Ford. Bonus features include some vintage footage of Les Paul performing early in his career and in 2006, as well as interviews with the guitarist/inventor. Information: icontvmusic.com.

Artist: Jeff Beck
Title: Jeff Beck: Live At The Hollywood Bowl (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Jeff Beck, Billy F. Gibbons, Jan Hammer, Beth Hart
Tell me more: One of rock most original and influential electric guitar players, Jeff Beck's long and wide-ranging career was fully captured in the summer of 2016 when he headlined at the Hollywood Bowl. Now, that special performance is available to enjoy via Jeff Beck: Live At The Hollywood Bowl on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD and several other formats. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as both a member of England's Yardbirds and as a solo artist, the new concert film features live performances of material representing all eras of his 50-year career. In addition to rousing versions of Yardbirds cuts ("Heart Full Of Soul" and "For Your Love" thrill the crowd), he performs "The Revolution Will Be Televised" (off his then newly-released album "Loud Hailer") and everything in between. Beck is joined by a number of illustrious musical friends during the night including keyboard virtuoso Jan Hammer, Chicago blues guitar great Buddy Guy, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler and ZZ Top singer-guitarist Billy F. Gibbons. The concert concludes with a serious emotional one-two wallop — an instrumental version of the Fab Four's "A Day in the Life" and fitting tribute to Prince (who had recently passed away) via a potent "Purple Rain." Information: eagle-rock.com.

Artist: Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Title: Groovin' In Greaseland (Alligator Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Kid Ramos, Little Walter
Tell me more: The latest disc from Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Groovin' In Greaseland is full of infectious, dance-minded blues songs delivered with an exuberant groove sure to please both casual and hardcore blues fans. With singer-harmonica player Rick Estrin at the helm, the surrounding group of strong players includes lead guitarist Kid Andersen, keyboardist Lorenzo Farrell and drummer Alex Petersen. The far-flung material includes the moody "Tender Hearted" and "Another Lonesome Day," the Chicago-styled blues romps "I Ain't All That" and "Hands Of Time," and pedal-to-the-medal instrumental "Mwah!" Rick Estrin & The Nightcats will celebrate the release of Groovin' In Greaseland with a performance at the Riverside West Coast Blues Festival in Riverside, CA, on Oct. 14, 2017. For specific information on that day-long event, visit riversidebluesfestival.bpt.me. For more information on the artist's new album, visit rickestrin.com or alligator.com.

Robert Kinsler

Last-minute gift guide for music lovers

With Christmas and Hanukkah less than a week away, here are some fantastic last-minute gift ideas for that favorite music lover in your life.

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Title: Blue & Lonesome (Interscope Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon
Tell me more: While 2016 has seen more than it's fair share of loss in the music world (David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Prince, Merle Haggard, Sharon Jones and Leonard Cohen for starters), there were also several stellar returns to celebrate. Chief among those was a new Rolling Stones studio album, the aptly-pegged Blue & Lonesome, a top-flight effort recorded over a mere three days that features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and friends (including Eric Clapton on two of the songs) dishing out a dozen reworked classics from the likes of Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Willie Dixon. The slow-burning "All Of Your Love," fierce harmonica-anchored "I Gotta Go" and sassy "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" are among the notable delights here. Information: RollingStones.com.

Artist: The Blind Boys of Alabama
Title: Go Tell It On The Mountain (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke
Tell me more: Despite the group's obvious ties with Christianity and gospel dating back to the late 1930s, the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama didn't get around to recording a Christmas album until 2003. Now, the stunning Go Tell It On the Mountain has been reissued as a deluxe edition that includes additional tracks. Among the stellar lineup of special guests who joined the Blind Boys of Alabama on the Grammy-winning Christmas album were Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staples and George Clinton. Also recently released is the group's 2005 album Atom Bomb, which includes a winning mix of gospel standards and contemporary songs including Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord" and Norman Joel Greenbaum's 1969 classic "Spirit in the Sky." The line-up of guest musicians joining in included keyboardist Billy Preston in one of his final recorded performances. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Artist: The Pretenders
Title: Alone (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: The Pretenders, Garbage, The Black Keys
Tell me more: I somehow missed the Pretenders' return with Alone when the album was released several months ago, but after getting the disc earlier this month and catching the Pretenders in an opening stint for Stevie Nicks at the Forum in Inglewood, CA recently, I was sold on Chrissie Hynde and company's widely-praised 12-song collection produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Studio in Nashville. Highlights on Alone include the yearning "Let's Get Lost," the rollicking "Holy Commotion," wistful "Never Be Together" (featuring guest guitar great Duane Eddy) and raw "I Hate Myself." Information: ThePretenders.com.

Artists: Soprano Ana Maria Martinez, tenor Placido Domingo, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, others
Title: Mozart in the Jungle - Season 3 (Sony Classical)
You might like if you enjoy: the Amazon series "Mozart in the Jungle," classical music
Tell me more: Regular viewers of the Golden Globe-winning Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle are fans of the show's original blend of comedy, drama and great music. But even those who have yet to catch an episode of the series would love the soundtrack for Season 3 of "Mozart in the Jungle." The 12-track title features a mix of strong operatic and instrumental selections including the beautiful "Les Filles des Cadix" featuring soprano Ana Maria Martinez, a new recording of "Impromptu (Thomas's piece)" showcasing violinist Joshua Bell, and a new recording of the duet "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" featuring Martinez and legendary tenor Placido Domingo. Information: sonymusicmasterworks.com. 

Title: Hairspray Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event (Epic Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Hairspray, Ariana Grande
Tell me more: Earlier this month, NBC-TV broadcast "Hairspray Live!," and now the official companion release "Hairspray Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event" is available on audio CD, via streaming and digital formats. The musical's timeless story of teenage dreams is played out via colorful characters and catchy musical numbers. Among the highlights on "Hairspray Live" is the old time rock 'n' roll ensemble piece "The Nicest Kids in Town," the soulful "Run and Tell That" (featuring singer Ephraim Sykes) and the bouncy "You Can't Stop the Beat." The musical's featured singers include Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short and aforementioned Ephraim Sykes. Information: masterworksbroadway.com.

Robert Kinsler

Doheny Blues Fest 2013 blends old and new

This article was originally published on The Orange County Register site on Tuesday, May 14, 2013.

Cutting-edge guitarist Joe Bonamassa and a tribute to harmonica legend Little Walter are among the offerings.


Who: Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, James Hunter Six, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mark Hummel's Blues Harp Blowout Tribute to Little Walter, Jimmie Vaughan and others perform on Saturday; George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Janiva Magness with special guest Kid Ramos, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball, Sonny Landreth and others perform Sunday


Where: Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point


When: Saturday and Sunday (May 18-19, 2013). Gates open at 11 a.m. (for general admission ticket holders) on Saturday and Sunday. The music ends at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday


How much: At press time, available tickets included $60 for single-day general admission and $110 general admission weekend passes. All VIP and Gold tickets are sold out. Visit Omega Events' Web site at www.DohenyBluesFestival.com for the full details on which tickets are available.

Joe Bonamassa at Doheny in 2008. Photo: Bob Steshetz

There is a good chance – say 100 percent – that Joe Bonamassa will be singing and playing the blues this weekend in Dana Point. So will Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Susan Tedeschi, James Hunter, George Thorogood, Marcia Ball and more than a dozen other notables in the genre when they perform at the 2013 Doheny Blues Festival.


Looking at the 16-year history of the event, this weekend's upcoming festival brings one of the most diverse line-ups in memory. British soul singer Hunter and guitar virtuoso Bonamassa are "must see" sets, as is the tribute to the late Little Walter, who brought the kind of revolutionary playing to the blues harmonica that Jimi Hendrix unleashed with his electric guitar. And on the heels of the release of the concept album "Get Up!" in January, singer-guitarist Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite will bring their winning collaboration to the concert stage.

"Creativity is in our blood, and we hope that the festival reflects that in every area, including the band bookings," explained Rich Sherman, president of Omega Events, the Lake Forest-based company that has staged the annual event since the late 1990s.

"We always seek to introduce new artists like J.D. McPherson, or bring in foreign-based artists like Joanne Shaw Taylor and James Hunter, but the Ben (Harper) and Charlie (Musselwhite) booking was crucial this year; their new record (Get Up!) has received top reviews and garnered tons of press coverage, and Ben is a major act worldwide as well as in Southern California. We are pretty stoked on the lineup."

Bonamassa is performing three sold-out nights (Thursday-Saturday) at the Beacon Theatre in New York, and then flying back to Southern California on a chartered jet to perform at the Doheny Blues Fest on Sunday.

"We are proud to have grown up with Joe Bonamassa, because just as Doheny Blues has matured and gained in popularity, so has Joe B," Sherman said.

"He has an interesting business plan, in that he books all his shows by himself, rents the theater, buys the advertising ... essentially he has eliminated the need for the promoter, and therefore never plays festivals; this will be Joe's only festival in North America this year. But as the top selling artist in the blues genre, and the most requested act by the Doheny Blues fans, it was our goal to bring Joe back to Doheny this May."

In a recent telephone interview, Bonamassa praised the Doheny Blues Festival. He is also thrilled to be opening for Thorogood and the Destroyers on Sunday.

"I'll tell you what. George is a good friend of mine from a long time ago; a lot of people know my name because of George Thorogood's generosity," Bonamassa said.

"In the early days of my career he was giving me a stage, aka an opening act slot for his band, over and over, tour after tour. I haven't seen him probably in four years; I am very much looking forward to saying 'Hey' and reacquainting with an old friend because without George Thorogood I doubt that you and I would be having this conversation."

Bonamassa, 36, is one of modern music's busiest and most exciting performers. In addition to his recent solo efforts (notably 2012's Driving Towards the Daylight and 2011's Dust Bowl), he has been a part of both the British hard rock project Black Country Communion and funk troupe Rock Candy Funk Party. In his spare time Bonamassa has recorded an album with singer Beth Hart (2011's Don't Explain) and issued several live recordings (2013's An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House and 2012's Beacon Theatre: Live From New York). He will play close to 100 live dates in 2013.

"The challenge is more so than anything; you never want to be a jukebox," Bonamassa said. "I could easily just do my spring tour (or) my fall tour with the solo band and be done for the year. That's a great place to be in life. But musically you want to challenge yourself and get outside of your comfort zone. So in terms of Black Country Communion or Rock Candy Funk Party it's just something that I don't get to do every day and that's something that's very valuable to me."

Mark Hummel will lead tribute to Little Walter on Saturday.

Bonamassa is among blues' most groundbreaking new names and represents one part of the blues scene; Mark Hummel brings that same kind of passion and energy to celebrating the genre's early heroes. He will join fellow harmonica greats Billy Boy Arnold, Little Charlie Baty and Sugar Ray Norcia in celebrating the legacy of the late Little Walter in a special 90-minute performance on the intimate Backporch Stage on Saturday (May 18) afternoon.

"Well, I got into Little Walter fairly early on when I first started playing the harmonica. He was my number one inspiration on the harmonica," recalled Hummel, who began playing the blues harp while he was in his early teens. He and several of the others harmonica stars playing at Doheny Beach are featured on the newly-issued Remembering Little Walter collection issued by Blind Pig Records on May 7.

"When I heard that (Little Walter) I kinda realized right out the gate that was the sound I was looking for, and I just got a hold of every Little Walter record I could and copied as closely as I could. I pretty much put the needle on the record and wore out the record (getting the sound and notes right)."

Sherman noted that whether fans come to check out the classic sounds of '50s Chicago blues, powerful soul singers or dazzling guitar work of Bonamassa, Robert Randolph or Derek Trucks, there is a unified spirit at the festival.

"We are truly thankful that the die-hard blues fans in SoCal continue to support the Doheny Blues Festival, and that for many of them Doheny has become the meeting place for their annual family reunion. The long-time fans are the first to offer their ideas on new acts or ways to improve the festival, so we always value the feedback," Sherman said. "And we also realize that if we don't strive to improve the festival each and every year, that this support could wane – we wouldn't have a business without their love of music, so that's something we never take for granted."