Walter Trout at Callahan's

Walter Trout

Walter Trout & The Radicals return to Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills, for another evening of scorching blues tonight (March 24). Trout first earned fame during a five-year stint as guitarist with Canned Heat. He was then invited to join John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, where he shared the stage with fellow six-string warrior Coco Montoya.

Since his stint with the Bluesbreakers, Trout has enjoyed a 20-plus year career as a solo artist.

Mark "Pazman" Pasman

“He’s incredibly sincere and very ‘un-rock star-ish,’” said Mark “Pazman” Pasman, who will open the show with one of his Supersessions. “He’s very down-to-earth and a good man. I’m looking forward to hanging out with him.”

Pazman, on-air host of the "Motor City Blues Project" show on WCSX (94.7 FM) on Sunday evenings, has performed in his popular Supersessions for many years. He’s always looking for new musicians to perform with and new musical genres to explore.

Billy Brandt and Sarana VerLin

This Supersession will feature singer-songwriters Billy Brandt (guitar, mandolin) and Sarana Verlin (guitar, violin), along with longtime Pazman cohort Jimmy “Pickles” Nicholls on vocals and harmonica.

“We’ll do a sort of unplugged set to get things going for Mr. Trout,” Pazman said.

“We’re going to get Pazman to twang a little,” said Brandt, whose musical collaborations with VerLin show influences of Americana and Celtic music. “We came up with six or seven cool grooves and we’re going to do some of our bluesier numbers, such as ‘Mexico’ and ‘Hogback Road.’”

Tickets are $22-$35. The show starts at 8 p.m.

For information on Walter Trout, click www.myspace.com/waltertrout. For information on Callahan’s, click www.atcallahans.com. For information on Billy Brandt and Sarana VerLin, click www.drumdancerecords.com

To send info to JB Blues, please e-mail Joe.ballor@dailytribune.com

Pete Anderson's 'Even Things Up' tops roots chart

Detroit native Pete Anderson’s new release, “Even Things Up – Deluxe Edition” (Little Dog/Vizztone) is tops on the Michigan: Roots Radio Report compiled by Roots Music Report.

Anderson, a Grammy award-winning  producer-guitarist, is perhaps best known for his 15-year run as country star Dwight Yoakam’s musical partner. Anderson, a pioneer of the roots-rock movement, also had a hand in introducing artists such as Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Michelle Shocked, Rosie Flores, and, more recently, Adam Hood.

While he has worked in many genres, his solo career has focused on his first love – the blues. “Even Things Up” is his fifth solo recording.

Howard Glazer and the EL 34s’ fine “Wired For Sound” (Lazy Brothers/Blue Skunk Music) is currently second on the Michigan: Roots Radio Report. Other blues albums charting include Shari Kane and Dave Steele’s “Four Hands Blues” (Big Bones Music) at No. 5, Planet D Nonet’s “Blowin’ the Blues Away Vol. 2” (Eastlawn) at No. 6, Johnnie Bassett’s “The Gentleman is Back” (Sly Dog Records) at No. 7, Kim Wilson’s “Lookin’ For Trouble” (M.C.) at No. 9, Sweet Claudette’s “That Man’s Got to Go – Live in the Studio” (No Cover) at No. 10, David Gerald’s  “Hell and Back” (David Gerald Enterprises) at No. 11, and Paul Shonk’s “No Time for Sleepin’” (Swim at Your Own Risk Records) at No. 13.

Many of these artists perform regularly in the Detroit area. If you can, check out one of their live shows, and purchase a CD to take home and enjoy later.

To see the Michigan: Roots Radio Report, click here.

 

To see Pete Anderson performing the song “Even Things Up,” click on the video link below.

 To send info to JB Blues, please e-mail Joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Lifetime Achievement Award winners honored at blues jam

The Detroit Blues Society will present its Lifetime Achievement Awards Saturday at the DBS Monthly Meeting and Jam at Shelly Kelly’s, 18339 E. 14 Mile Road in Fraser.
Lifetime Achievement Awards will go to guitarist Bobby Murray and the late Willie D. Warren. Also, Zerapath will be recognized with the James S. Henry Award, which honors young blues musicians.
Murray and Zerapath are expected to perform. Host band will be the Dirty Pirate Hookers (vocalist-guitarist Pat Shanley, bassist Chris Rumel and drummer Joe Pistorio), who have a CD titled "Live Anywhere," recorded at the now-closed Memphis Smoke.
For more on the Lifetime Achievement Award winners, click here.
To send info to JB Blues, e-mail Joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Paul Miles receives six Detroit Music Awards nominations

Paul Miles

Paul “The Blues Man” Miles has received so many Detroit Music Awards nominations that he’s lost count.

“Oh man, it must be in the 20s,” he said during a telephone interview from Scottsdale, Arizona, where he is spending the winter.  The winner of six previous Detroit Music Awards, Miles is nominated in six categories in the 2011 competition (see below).

 “I’m totally blessed, absolutely,” Miles said. “You roll the dice and do the best you can, but life can be topsy turvy, with  twists and turns and all that. One of the things I consistently call on is my music, to keep pushing me ahead.

“Everybody would like to win, but just to be acknowledged as a finalist, you’ve already won, because there are so many talented people in Detroit.”

Miles, who can often be found busking during the warmer weather in Detroit, is enjoying his time in the Arizona sun.

 “I’m having a ball, getting healthier and working my new musical, ‘Motown – Still Our Town,’ which is based on the video that won (a DMA) last year. I’m also writing songs for my new album and my technique is getting much better.”

Miles is returning to the Motor City soon and has a showcase performance scheduled at 9 p.m. March 23 at AJ’s Music Café in Ferndale. He’ll be performing some of his new music, including a tribute to Aretha Franklin titled “The Queen of Soul.”

To see a video of Miles performing the song “Sister to the Blues,” click here.

The Detroit Music Awards will be presented April 15 by the Detroit Music Awards Foundation at The Fillmore Detroit.

Nominations in the Outstanding Blues Artist/Group category include: Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents, Motor City Josh & The Big 3, Howard Glazer & the EL 34’s, The Sun Messengers, Eliza Neals and Paul Miles.

Nominees in the Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist category include guitarists Motor City Josh, Johnnie Bassett, Paul Miles, Howard Glazer, and Al Carmichael; guitarist/bassist Pete Peltier; trombonist-flutist bugs Beddow; and drummer RJ Spangler.

The Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording category features these nominated recordings: Motor City Josh & The Big 3 ("It's a Good Life"), The Alligators (“Down at Big Kadies”), Planet D Nonet ("Blowin' Away The Blues"), Eliza Neals ("Misery"), Luther “Badman” Keith (“Blues Nation”) and Tracy Kash Thomas ("Sound Truth").

Nominated as Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter are Tracy Kash Thomas, Howard Glazer, John Latini, Luther “Badman” Keith, Motor City Josh and Paul Miles.

Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist nominees include: Thornetta Davis, Kathleen Murray, Eliza Neals, Motor City Josh, Paul Miles and Detroit’s “Queen of the Blues” Alberta Adams.

In addition, Miles received nominations in the Outstanding Acoustic Artist/Group and Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist categories.

John Latini is nominated in the Outstanding Folk Artist/Group and Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist categories and also received a nomination in the Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Recording category for “Lake Of My Dreams,” a re-issue with bonus tracks.

Mike Boulan’s No Cover blues label is among the nominees for Outstanding Local Record Label. The Muggs received a nomination in the Outstanding Video/Independent Budget (Under $10,000) category for "Slow Curve."

 Only current (or newly registered) Detroit Music Awards voters are allowed to participate in the final voting phase. Tickets are still available for the show. For information, click www.detroitmusicawards.com.

To send info to JB Blues, please e-mail Joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Live blues music in Detroit

Rusty Wright Band

The Jazz and Blues Series at the Southfield Public Library consistently brings in some of the top talent in the area for intimate performances.

Next week’s featured performance certainly fits the bill. On Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m., Flint's Rusty Wright Band will bring its smokin’ hot blues to the library, which is at in the Southfield Municipal Complex, 26300 Evergreen Road.

The band, which won the recent Detroit Blues Challenge and represented the Detroit Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis,  features husband-and-wife team Rusty Wright (vocals, lead guitar) and Laurie LaCross-Wright (vocals, guitar). Other band members include Dave Brahce on keyboards, Andy Barancik on bass, and Pete Haist on drums and vocals.

Admission is only $3, and free for ages 11-under. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to live blues. For information, call (248) 796-4224 or click www.southfieldlibrary.org.

On April 20, the Rusty Wright Band will be filming an episode of "Backstage Pass," WKAR public broadcasting’s nationally syndicated TV show.  A limited number of free tickets for this filming at WKAR’s Studio A on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing (as well as other shows being taped this season) are available and can be reserved here: https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashnetg/selfserve/storehome.aspx. The concert will air in early 2012.

Here are some other recommended live blues options in the Detroit area this week.

Tonight (March 3), the Luther “Badman” Keith Band will perform songs from Badman’s new release “Blues Nation” at legendary jazz club Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. There’s no better small club atmosphere and sightlines than at Baker’s and Badman is there every Thursday.

On Friday, Carl Henry performs at The Treehouse in Taylor, The Delta Five Blues Band is at All That Jazz River Club in Detroit, and Howard Glazer and the EL 34’s are at The Halligan Bar in Detroit.

On Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., Henry is at Butcher's Inn in Detroit. On Saturday night, The Back Door Blues Band is at Baker’s, and Champagne and The Motor City Blues Crew are at Bert’s in Detroit.

Johnnie Bassett

Also on Saturday, it will be a Mardi Gras Party with Paul Carey's Rhythm and Blues Krewe at Dylan’s in Grosse Pointe.  The Krewe features Paul Carey on guitar,  Mike Marshall on bass, Shawn McDonald on keys and vocals, RJ Spangler on drums, James O'Donnell on trumpet and vocals, John "t-Bone" Paxton on trombone and vocals, and "Big Foot" Bob Schultz on sax and vocals.

Many of the same gents will be celebrating Fat Tuesday on March 8 as RJ's Rhythm Rockers perform at the Rochester Mills Beer Co.

Celebrate “Blue Monday” with the incomparable Johnnie Bassett at Third Bar in Detroit. Also Monday, Christopher Leigh hosts the Monday Night Stone Jam at Pepper Bottoms in Warren.

Tuesdays are always smokin’ at the Phil DeVoid Blues Jam at the Blue Goose Inn in St. Clair Shores. The Phil Devoid jam is the longest running blues jam in the Motor City.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.