Live, Uncut & Uncensored Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know
MUSIC ON THE COUCH
Live, Uncut & Uncensored Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know"
SHOW ARCHIVES
OCTOBER 2012
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SHOW # 127 - 10/08/12
AMY HART
Amy Hart was born and raised in the Chicago Area. She began singing in blues bands in Chicago as a youngster and has opened for Koko Taylor, Junior Wells and James Cotton. She started her own blend of roots and blues in the 80's and has been going ever since. Amy and I discussed her career from teaching herself piano at the age of 3 to her being displaced after the BP Oil Rig disaster, to her finding a new life in Nashville. Amy shared her story with humor and humility while we listened to music from her wonderful album Congratulations.
BLUES411 REPORT - Segment Begins At The 43:33 Mark
Chefjimi brings his Blues411 Report to The Couch...letting you know the nitty gritty of what is happening at festivals and clubs around the world. Jimi discussed the untimely death of Nick Curran, his Anniversary trip to Toronto and the upcoming Blues Cruises.
STACY JONES - Segment Begins At The 51:05 Mark
Stacy Jonesbegan playing piano at 4. At 7 she learned the guitar and a year later her dad would bring her on stage with his band to sing Hank Williams tunes. She has been on stage ever since. Stacy and I explored the road that lead her to today. In all actuality it was more a super-highway than a road. Since she was 16, Stacy has had the chance to share the stage with the elite of the Seattle Blues scene and has led her own band for much of that time. Stacy discussed the people who guided her along the way, her first experience with the Blues Cruise in 2008 and her desires for her career moving forward.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
TOMMY TALTON - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 1:36:51 Mark
Back in May when Tommy Talton first sat on The Couch we discussed upcoming projects and Tommy said he would come back when he had new music. True to his word, Tommy returned with his latest album, Let's Get Outta Here, the day before it dropped! We talked about the album and the wonderful crew of musicians Tommy recruited for the recording. He also discussed the resurgence in his career & desires for the future.
SHOW # 128 - 10/15/12
JO HARMAN
Jo Harman’sevocative voice, and exciting stagecraft, has seen her dubbed one of the most compelling singers of her generation. Her latest, The 5 track EP Worthy Of Love contains both full and acoustic versions of the title track and Sweet Man Moses which garnered a British Blues Award Nomination. Jo and I sat and talked on a recent Saturday morning. Jo is a wonderful singer indeed, but her thoughts on life make her a wonderful human being also. She described her journey to this point and discussed her short term and long range goals. We even discussed the Olympics in London!
DAVE FIELDS - Segment Begins At The 49:50 Mark
Dave Fields is an Electrifying Rocker with a Blues Soul. His latest, Detonation, debuted at #8 on the RMR Blues Top 50. On May 20th, Dave was inducted into the NY chapter of the Blues Hall of Fame. Dave and I discussed his life and career. He spoke about the many influences his dad brought into his life, allowing Dave to continually learn instruments and the composing, arranging and production end of the business.
We also talked about the album Detonation and Dave's continual growth as a musician.
OMAR KENT DYKES - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 1:34:15 Mark
Omar Kent Dykes returns with new music! The album is Too Much Is Not Enough, another Jimmy Reed collection featuring Omar Dykes’ good friend, Gary Primich. The release includes Gary Clark, Jr., Jay Moeller (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Ronnie James (Jimmie Vaughan band), and Derek O’Brien. Also playing on several tracks are Barry Bihm on bass and drummer, Jon Hahn, who were the Howlers’ rhythm section at the time. Omar and I discussed the reasoning between releasing a second album of Jimmy Reed and the selection of songs. He also let us in on news about his next recording...another look back at a legend in the music business. February 2012 Appearance June 2012 Appearance
SHOW # 129 - 10/22/12
TIP OF THE TOP
Tip Of The Topare a San Francisco Bay Area band that has taken the blues scene by storm since 2009. The band's musical style is reminiscent of the 1950's. Their live show delivers all the primitive pulsating rhythms, repetitive chord changes and gritty amplification that defines early American Rock 'n' Roll. I was joined by founder and bassist for the band, Frank De Rose and we talked about his musical career and the thought process behind the sound he was looking for when he formed Tip Of The Top. Throughout we listened to cuts from the band's latest release, From Memphis To Greaseland.
SHAUN MURPHY - Segment Begins At The 49:45 Mark
Shaun Murphy (then known as Stoney) signed with Rare Earth Records in 1971 as a duo with Meatloaf! Shaun has also worked with Bob Segar, The Moody Blues, Eric Clapton, JJ Cale, Coco Montoya and many others. In 2009, Shaun decided to go out on her own and embrace the blues music that she has loved her whole life. Her latest album is Shaun Murphy Live At Callahan's Music Hall and on it Shaun pays homage to those blues artists she has admired. She and I talked about her incredible journey and where she is heading from here.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
ANA POPOVIC - Segment Begins At The 1:32:40 Mark
Ana Popovic found the guitar at age 15. She formed her first band back in 1995 and things have not slowed down since that time. Ana honored us by taking time from the recording of her upcoming album to discuss her incredible career. We discussed her beginnings in Serbia, through her time in Holland to her first impressions when she came to the US and Memphis for the first time in 2003. What you will come away with from my talk with Ana is her true devotion to the blues, it's history and her desire to both honor those who came before and mentor those on the way up. While we chatted, we heard cuts from the album Unconditional, which Ana recorded in new Orleans in 2011.
NICK BLACK - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 2:22:05 Mark
Nick Blackcurrently is lead guitarist and vocalist for Victor Wainwright & the Wildroots, but his musical background leans more toward the sounds of retro-soul. Nick originally joined me on The Couch back in November of 2011 and on this night he came back to premier his new album Soul Diaries, which will be dropping this coming Thursday. We talked about the recording of the album, which took about 4 years to complete, his touring with The Wildroots and how he is marketing himself while out on the road supporting Victor. We also Premiered two songs from the album during the interview.
SHOW # 130 - 10/29/12
PAUL ZUNNO
Paul Zunno grew up in East Northport, Long Island. Zunno has written songs for other artists and his music can be heard on radio, television and film. Paul Zunno held the distinct honor of playing lead guitar for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wilson Pickett and toured throughout the United States, Europe and Australia with Pickett for seven years until Wilson's passing in 2006. Hurricane Sandy did not dampen the mood as Paul called in from upper Manhattan. We discussed his growing up on Long Island, how he came to meet Wilson Pickett and get asked to join the touring band. Paul talked about the lessons he learned from Wilson and how he uses those lessons today. Paul also let us in on his next project, which should be something to hear.
DEBBIE DAVIES - Segment Begins At The 46:35 Mark
Debbie Davies is an award-winning singer, songwriter, guitar player of extraordinary talent. A professional musician since the early 1980s, Debbie ranks among the top blues artists in the country. She has received ten nominations for Blues Music Awards, and in 1997 and 2010 won the award for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist. We beat Hurricane Sandy for the second time this evening as Debbie was left with power and able to call into the show! We talked of her playing with Maggie Mayall (wife of John) and how that opened the door to her time playing on the road with Albert Collins and all that followed. Debbie has played with the most important blues artists and at the top venues and festivals around the globe, but she did tell us the two things she still has not done.
THE BLASTERS - Segment Begins At The 1:34:15 Mark
The Blastersformed in 1979 in Downey, CA by Phil Alvin(vocals/guitar), Dave Alvin (guitar) John Bazz (bass) and Bll Bateman (drums). Keith Wyatt has taken Dave's place in the band and this year they released Fun On A Saturday Night, a collection of wonderful rock and blues. Phil called in from LA and enthralled us with his history of growing up in the LA area, getting harmonica lessons from Sonny Terry, forming The Blasters and their years of entertaining audiences. Phil also spoke passionately about music, the music industry, music labels and his philosophy on the subject of musical genres. We also listened to songs from Fun On A Saturday Night.