Friday Blues Picks (9/25/26)

Here's another great batch of new releases, plus one you might have missed the first time around.  This has been a great summer for new blues.  I know it's not officially summer anymore, but trust me, it certainly feels that way here with temps still in the low 90's.....hopefully, we will get some relief in the next couple of weeks.  It certainly looks like we will getting top notch new material through the end of the year.  Let's look at a few more new ones that are well worth any blues fan's time.

As always, most of these albums have already or will be reviewed in much more detail at the site where I usually contribute, Blues Bytes, so be sure to check those out when you get a chance.  Bill Mitchell has done an outstanding job on the site for nearly 30 years.  He also does a weekly blues show on various stations, a mix of new and classic blues, that is a great listen for any blues fan, so check it out.  Stations are listed at Blues Bytes' website. 

Also, whenever you can, please buy physical product by your favorite blues artists.  These folks work hard and sometimes the streaming process leaves them out in the cold.  It's a hard enough row to hoe, so if it puts a little more change in their pockets, please consider doing so.

Jovin Webb first gained attention as a contestant on American Idol in 2020 and his voice led judge Lionel Richie to proclaim "this is what barbecue sauce sounds like" and Luke Bryan said that he could "sit and drink a lot of bourbon listening to that voice."  Of course, he didn't win 😑, but he gained a lot of attention from blues fans.  That voice, shaped by blues, soul, and gospel can raise goose bumps and was been heard regularly around his native Baton Rouge and the Gulf Coast.  Webb signed with Blind Pig Records, who released his first album, Drifter in 2024.  I wasn't blogging regularly at the time, but it was one of my favorite albums of the year, certainly in the Top 5.

Webb recently released his follow-up release, Son of a Sinner, also on Blind Pig Records.  Like it's predecessor, this release was produced by Tom Hambridge, who's produced releases from Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Kingfish, George Thorogood, Mike Zito, Wayne Baker Brooks, James Cotton, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, and Joe Louis Walker to name just a few.  Hambridge also played drums and percussion, provided background vocals, co-authored four of the songs, and probably validated parking at the studio. 

Webb also wrote five of the songs, co-writing one with Hambridge and Richard Fleming and while he's a hurricane force of nature on the hard blues rockers, he's equally powerful on the more soulful tracks.  He has a most amazing voice that demands your attention from start to finish.  He's also a talented harmonica player, as shown on his cover of "Every Time I Roll The Dice," a tune associated with Delbert McClinton.  Along with  Hambridge, the backing band (Kenny Greenberg - guitar, Mike Rojas - keyboards, Tommy MacDonald - bass) are first-rate throughout.  Be sure to stick around for the strong cover of "Whipping Post," which concludes Son of a Sinner, which seems destined for my Top 10 list this year.

For a couple of years now, I've been tuning in to Rosa's Lounge's live weekend shows, where blues fans get to hear some of the best of Chicago's current blues scene.  They have great shows every week, so if you're on Facebook, join up to Rosa's homepage.  You can thank me later.  That said, one of the more exciting artists that I've seen on Rosa's stage is Jamiah Rogers and his band, Dirty Chxuch (Isaiah "Zay" Horne - bass, and Tyvon "Tank" Rice - drums).

Rogers has released a couple of albums independently, but Chicago Cowboy is his first effort for Delmark Records and it's a monster, loaded with intensity, energy, and a ton of  heart and soul.  The guitarist rips through a strong set of original tunes that mix blues, rock, soul, funk, and even a bit of reggae.  He also displays a soulful touch on the vocal side as well when needed, but this is a tough and intense ride through modern blues for the most part.

Rogers closes the disc with a pair of "Bonus Cuts," which are covers of Buddy Guy and Ray Charles standards and he makes some interesting adjustments to both songs that work really well and offer him an opportunity to bring both up to date with some sizzling guitar pyrotechnics that will leave listeners anxiously awaiting what's next for this exceptionally talented young man.

For ten years, Iowa singer Jeni Grouws has fronted the Avey-Grouws Band, who released several fine releases during that time and advanced twice to the I.B.C. semi-finals (2018 and 2020).  Recently, Grouws stepped out on her own as a solo artist with her debut release, Music House (Navy House Productions).  Grouws has a marvelous voice that is a great fit in a variety of music styles and her backing band consists of Johnny Duke - guitar, Brian Allen - bass, Mike Hicks - keyboards, and Grammy-winning producer Casey Wasner - drums.

There are a host of guest stars on these eleven tracks written or co-written by Grouws (with Wasnder and David Abdo), including slide guitarist Drew Smithers, violinist Anne Harris, guitarist Matt Fuller, Avey Grouws keyboardist Nick Vasquez, backing vocalist Kyshona and a horn section that includes Emmanuel Echem, Roy Agee, and Evan Cobb.  However, the spotlight is appropriately on Ms. Grouws and her charming vocals.

These songs cover a variety of genres.....rock, pop, soul, roots, and southern rock.....but it's all planted firmly in the blues and Music House will truly satisfy fans of any of these genres.  Jeni Grouws has a wonderful voice that listeners won't be able to get enough of.

You might remember Moreland & Arbuckle from several years back.  They were a formidable band for about 15 years, releasing several albums for Northern Blues, Alligator, and Telarc Records and making the finals at the I.B.C., while also winning numerous awards and nominations.  The band broke up in 2017 because Moreland got tired of life on the road and Arbuckle soon formed Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations.  The band consists of Arbuckle (vocals/harmonica), Brandon Hudspeth (guitars), Caleb Drummond (bass), Colby Aiken (drums) and they've released three full-length albums and a pair of EP's.

Their latest release is Fight Like The Devil (Or Run Like Hell), and it's a gritty mix of blues, rock, roots, and soul.  Arbuckle is an energetic and soulful singer and blows harp like a force of nature, while guitarist Hudspeth (who also plays with Levee Town and Hudspeth & Taylor) is a superb guitarist who seamlessly fits all of those styles and Drummond and Aiken are a rock-solid rhythm section.  There are eleven tracks, seven by the band, two by Ryan Taylor of The Rounders, and covers from Bob Dylan and Gillian Welch, so obviously this is a diverse set of tunes.

I've enjoyed everything that I've heard from Dustin Arbuckle, whether with this band or his previous band, because of his boundless energy and enthusiasm.  He plays the music like his life depends on it and Hudspeth compliments him perfectly.  To be honest, I enjoy everything I've heard from Brandon Hudspeth as well.  This is a potent set that stays with you for a while.

Our Blast From The Past this week ventures over to the soul side of the blues, via Bobby King and Terry Evans.  The duo began performing together in the 70's, playing the chitlin circuit and specializing in Stax-flavored soul and gospel.  At the same time, they appeared on multiple albums for Ry Cooder, beginning with Paradise and Lunch, and also toured with him for a number of years.  They also appeared on Cooder's Crossroads soundtrack in the mid 80's, with Evans singing lead vocals on the title track. 

In 1988, King and Evans released Live and Let Live! (Rounder Records), which was produced by Cooder, who also played his inimitable slide guitar throughout.  I actually bought this one when it was originally released, not really being familiar with them, other than their vocals on the Crossroads soundtrack and a couple of Ry Cooder albums, but I was pleasantly surprised with this album.  Even though there are only nine tracks, five written by the duo and Cooder, the quality of the music is just spectacular.

King and Evans share lead vocals with spirit and soul, not unlike Sam & Dave a couple of decades before them.  In addition to Cooder, the backing band includes Darryl Johnson (bass), Jim Dickinson (piano), Jorge Calderon (bass), Jim Keltner (drums), and Spooner Oldham (keyboards), while fellow Cooder backing vocalist Willie Green, Jr. also lends a hand.  The pair released a solid second disc in 1990, but Evans embarked on a successful solo career, eventually teaming up with Dutch blues artist Hans Theessink for several excellent albums before passing away in 2018.  King continued to provide backing vocals for other artists, including Cooder, Aaron Neville, Colin James, John Lee Hooker, Richard Thomspon, and Bruce Springsteen.  Live and Let Live! is a release that deserves to be heard if you missed it the first time around.

There's even more reviews of great new releases coming up, so check back with Friday Blues Fix next week!