Electronica, blues, rock, country celebrated on September releases

By Robert Kinsler

Outstanding albums from synthpop pioneer Erasure, bluesman Joe Bonamassa, country singer Tim McGraw and genre-defying singer-guitarist Gary Clark Jr. are among the wonderful new releases out this month.

Artist: Erasure

Title: The Violet Flame (Mute)

You might like if you enjoy: Depeche Mode, Moby, Arcade Fire

Tell me more: As they prove on their wonderful 16th studio album The Violet Flame, Erasure's singer-songwriter Andy Bell and songwriter-keyboardist Vince Clarke still have plenty of fresh musical ideas and thrilling songs to share. The duo's latest disc is designed to get music lovers out on the dance floor, but works equally well as a sonic companion on a lonely long-distance drive. Highlights abound on The Violet Flame, as evidenced by the joyful "Reason," intoxicating "Dead Of Night" and driving "Promises."  Information: erasureinfo.com.

Purchase 'The Violet Flame' now

Artist: Joe Bonamassa

Title: Different Shades of Blue (J&R Adventures)

You might like if you enjoy: Walter Trout, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Gary Moore

Tell me more: Sonic shadows of Led Zeppelin, Bad Company and Gary Moore abound across Joe Bonamassa's aptly-titled Different Shades of Blue. There is little doubt that fans of the talented singer-songwriter-guitarist will love this 11-track collection of hard-hitting blues-anchored rock, soul and funk. The grooving "Love Ain't a Love Song" and "Living on the Moon" take the New York native into R&B territory, while the electric power ballad "Never Give All Your Heart" conjures up vintage Bad Company. The lush title track showcases Bonamassa's power as a lead vocalist even while he simultaneously unleashes dazzling fret work. Information: jbonamassa.com.

Buy 'Different Shades Of Blue' here

Artist: Gary Clark Jr.

Title: Gary Clark Jr. Live (Warner Bros. Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Gary Moore

Tell me more: Since the death of Jimi Hendrix in September 1970, no singer-guitarist has captured the genre-defying approach of the late legend like Austin's Gary Clark Jr. On his first ever live album (Gary Clark Jr. Live), the freewheeling spirit that has helped Clark capture legions of fans is fully on display. Whether exploring traditional blues ("Next Door Neighbor Blues," "Numb"), Chuck Berry-styled rock 'n' roll ("Travis County"), tender soul ("Please Come Home") or guitar-fueled rock ("When My Train Pulls In," "Bright Lights"), Clark's musical personality and songwriting are never less than enthralling. Information: GaryClarkJr.com.

Buy 'Gary Clark Jr. Live (2-LP Set)'

Artist: Tim McGraw

Title: Sundown Heaven Town (Big Machine Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Gary Allan, Zac Brown Band, Faith Hill

Tell me more: Each and every song on Tim McGraw's latest album Sundown Heaven Town is infectious enough to chart on modern country radio. What's more, the songs are delivered with a potency that brings emotional resonance to material that usually lures with sing along-ready choruses and big guitar solos. The beautiful "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" (a duet with Catherine Dunn) will appeal to lovers of traditional country, while the accessible "City Lights," "Dust" and "Lookin' for That Girl" are among the upbeat tunes that grab at first listen. Information: TimMcGraw.com.

Purchase 'Sundown Heaven Town [Deluxe Edition]' here

Artist: Mark Hummel 

Title: The Hustle Is Really On (Electro-Fi)

You might like if you enjoy: Little Walter, James Cotton, Snooky Pryor

Tell me more: Ace blues harp player Mark Hummel has joined forces with guitar greats Little Charlie Baty, Anson Funderburgh and Kid Andersen on the traditional blues celebration The Hustle Is Really On. The rollicking "Blues Stop Knockin'," slow Chicago blues burner "I'm Gonna Ruin You" and fiery "What Is That She Got" celebrate early genre heroes such as the late Little Walter and Snooky Pryor. Hummel is a terrific harmonica player, bringing virtuoso play and feeling to the proceedings; his approach brings the style alive for modern-day audiences while honoring the blues' rich and enduring legacy.  Hummel has a number of dates in the West this fall, including at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. Information: MarkHummel.com.

Purchase 'The Hustle Is Really On' today

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."

NAMM week brings wealth of shows to The Coach House and other area venues

Since NAMM is the world's largest music trade show on the planet, it's no surprise that the annual event's arrival at the Anaheim Convention Center (Jan. 19-22, 2012 this year) brings with it a wealth of area concert events.

Indeed, beginning with shows this weekend, venues such as The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, House of Blues Anaheim , the Gypsy Den and The Observatory (both in Santa Ana) all have strong bills reflecting a wide-range of genres. So even those musicians and music fans who can't get into NAMM, there is no excuse to sit out in the cold with so many celebrated players in town performing at everybody-welcome showcases.

The Coach House is offering a full slate of shows NAMM week. Bow Wow Wow kicks things off on Saturday night, Jan. 14. The week gets even better from there with the arrival of rocker Pat Travers and Orange County's own Union of Saints on Sunday, Jan. 15. Americana fans can rejoice when singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams performs on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

One of the world's most celebrated rock guitarists, Steve Morse (of Deep Purple fame pictured on the left), will headline at The Coach House on Friday night, Jan. 20. Morse will be performing with his own band in San Juan Capistrano and this is a rare chance to see the amazing guitarist in such an intimate setting.

Jumping ahead to the final day of NAMM, a so-called "Blues Harp Blowout" featuring Mark Hummel, John Mayall, Billy Boy Arnold, Curtis Salgado (former frontman for The Robert Cray Band) and Sugar Ray Norcia (founder of The Bluetones) will share the stage on Jan. 22. Fans of the blues and harmonica won't want to miss this one!

All Coach House shows start at 8 p.m., except the Sunday night events featuring Pat Travers and the "Blues Harp Blowout." Call the venue at 949-496-8930 or visit the venue's Web site for more details.

Those looking to catch a show closer to Anaheim Convention Center are in luck. On the eve of the event comes virtuoso guitarist Eric Johnson (pictured on left), who will be performing at House of Blues in Anaheim on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

I've caught Johnson in previous appearances at the aforementioned Coach House and at the Doheny Blues Fest in Dana Point, and he truly is an amazing guitarist. He is touring in support of his latest album, Up Close, and will be backed by bassist Chris Maresh and drummer Wayne Salzmann. Opening will be acoustic guitarist Andy McKee (who amazed when I saw him open for Dream Theater a few months ago in San Diego).

According to a media release that recently landed in my inbox, "Johnson will be performing on a variety of stellar equipment that he fully endorses, including a newly released “Signature Series” speaker by Eminence and” “Fuzz Face” by Dunlop (distortion pedal) retro'd back to Hendrix model."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
www.ericjohnson.com

Another recommended show coming to House of Blues is a bill featuring Augustana and Graffiti 6 a day earlier (Tuesday, Jan. 17).

Visit the House of Blues site for more details.

On Friday night, Jan. 20, there will be a Benefit for Sweet Relief show featuring The Fallen Stars at Gypsy Den in Santa Ana. This venue is one of my favorites in O.C., featuring great food and drinks, and a wonderful vibe. The Fallen Stars recently released their latest album, the outstanding Heart Like Mine and concertgoers will definitely hear loads of great material from that disc at the show. Visit The Fallen Stars' official site for more details.

Another area concert venue offering shows throughout NAMM is The Observatory in Santa Ana. That site is located just off Harbor Boulevard a few miles south of the Anaheim Convention Center.