Billy D and the Hoodoos

One of my favorite things is discovering a new artist on YouTube that I have never heard of before and finding that their music resonates perfectly with my musical passions.

My latest find is Billy D and The Hoodoos.

But it’s not just me that’s finding this Oregon based blues band. Their newest CD/DVD titled “Somethin’s Wrong” has really taken off on YouTube. The 12 videos from the DVD are combining for over 2,000 views per day on YouTube and online sales and downloads in the US and Europe have increased dramatically as a result.

Soon after moving to Portland,OR, a city with a true “Blues Community” in 2010 (just after the release of Somethin’s Wrong) Billy D and the Hoodoos were awarded “Best New Act” by the Cascade Blues Association and that same weekend opened for the great Robert Cray at The University of Missouri. In October 2011, one of Billy’s tunes Bye Now from his new acoustic CD was licensed by the new hit TV series Hart of Dixie.

Billy D’s life experience has given him the strength to write the Blues with a passion that only comes from living it. He is heavily influenced by Chicago’s blues, but Billy isn’t just a typical blues man. His writing and musical talents create a “Backbeat Roots” style that goes way past traditional blues music. His songs reflect the tough lessons of his past and show his love for Mother Blues and her first-born, Rock & Roll.

Born on the south side of Chicago, Billy grew up surrounded by the Blues and early Rock & Roll — a powerful attraction. He started playing professionally at teen dances and parties at the age of fourteen, and by eighteen he was sneaking into the blues clubs of Chicago to hear greats like Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and James Cotton. Over the next ten years, Billy played for Junior Wells, Big Time Sarah, and Detroit Junior.

By the mid ’70s he had formed his first band, Skid City Blues Band, as singer, guitarist, and songwriter. After years of touring, Billy moved to Los Angeles in 1988, studying with Blues great Tony Matthews, guitarist for Little Richard and Ray Charles and spending half of the next year playing behind Don “Sugar Cane” Harris, perhaps the worlds greatest blues violinist. In the mid ’90s Billy moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and began playing his original songs at local clubs and concerts. Within the year, Billy D and the Hoodoos were formed.

In 2003, KTAO voted She’s The One the number one song by a regional artist. KTAO hosts the Annual Solar Fest in New Mexico where that year Billy and the band opened for Los Lonely Boys and Robert Cray. After releasing his second CD, Rokdablu!, and several more successful years in New Mexico, Billy left the Southwest for Oregon in early 2010. His newest CD, Somethin’s Wrong, has been embraced by the Portland music community and received outstanding reviews.

Listen to a “Fifty” to see what all the hype is about:

Check out their official web site at: http://billydandthehoodoos.com

George Harrison and Eric Clapton

This video (audio) was uploaded to YouTube a while ago, but somehow it escaped me… until now.

It’s the isolated track of Eric Clapton’s guitar from George Harrison’s classic (and my favorite guitar song of all time) “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” off the The Beatles White Album.

George Harrison wrote the song but he asked Eric to play the solo on the studio version.

As a result, this is one of the few times you will hear a “non-Beatle” on a “Beatles” recording.

Eric Clapton Print

Are you an Eric Clapton fan?

Without a doubt, Eric Clapton is one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.

Eric Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Be sure to check out Creative Bone Artworks,: “Art That Rocks” Collection of Limited Edition prints – specifically the Eric Clapton print from artist Tom Noll!

Tom’s “Art That Rocks” print collection includes Limited Edition prints from original oil paintings of many famous Blues and Rock guitarists and bands – all available for immediate purchase and shipment!

Limited Edition prints are still available of this amazing Eric Clapton artwork! Contact Tom Noll directly to inquire about ALL art prints for sale.

Note: GuitarDaddy owns several of Tom’s prints and recommends them highly!

A promotional copy of Black Country Communion’s CD arrived in my mailbox on Saturday.

Black Country Communion Promo CD

After completing my first listen-through, I have to say that this is one kick-ass rock-n-roll collaboration of some great musical talent!

Black Country Communion is comprised of legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple Black Sabbath, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa.

“Black Country Communion is a devastating head-on collision between American and British rock influences-a true supergroup that delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of its supremely talented parts.”

Black Country Communion Track List

Black Country Communion is the brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin). The band initially came to fruition when Shirley saw Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa join forces on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center’s King of the Blues event. Shirley then recruited Bonham and Sherinian to complete the group.

Named after the industrial area in Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised, BCC began rehearsing and recording tracks written by both Bonamassa and Hughes at Shangri¬La Studios with producer Kevin Shirley in early 2010.

The result is a recording masterpiece with 12 tracks of superbly mixed rock n’ roll that includes enough bluesy grit to rip your ears off!

[CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO A PREVIEW OF: "THE REVOLUTION IN ME"]

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“It sounds simple really. Make a record of the type of music you love to listen to. But after almost thirty busy, passionate years making records, there are only a handful I love.

My first loves are those that I, like so many, grew up with -Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Bad Company (I actually didn’t hear Free until much later) – so when I heard Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa tearing through an impromptu jam on Glenn’s song “Medusa”, a light bulb went off. Joe’s manager, Roy Weisman, was standing next to me at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, grinning like a stoned Cheshire Cat. saying “we got something here” – so I said “lets go!

Imagine putting together YOUR dream band! Here’s mine … ”

-Kevin Shirley, Producer

The official release date is September 21, 2010.

Renegade Creation CD Cover

Renegade Creation is the new record by veteran musical giants, Michael Landau, Robben Ford, Jimmy Haslip and Gary Novak.

Blending together to create a blues-driven sound that not only will satisfy their individual fans but is fresh enough to attract a legion of new fans as well.

Delivering bothrootsy, blues/rock vocal tunes and fiery instrumentals, the band draws on the unique guitar interplay between guitar giants Robben Ford and Michael Landau who inspire each other to new personal bests.

From the American Blues News review:

Ford and Landau each sing four of the album’s tracks. And though there is no shortage of guitar from either of these gifted players, the album never feels like a vehicle for showboating.

The chemistry between Ford and Landau is impeccable. As they gently push one another to new levels of guitar greatness, they do so with poise and grace; never getting in each other’s way and never hogging the spotlight.

Vocally the two artists’ styles differ greatly. Ford delivers his four vocal tracks with passionate clarity, as Landau does so with a gritty Knopfler-esque swagger. This contrast from track to track keeps things fresh and interesting, in a way that a sole front-man can never achieve. Because Ford and Landau also split the bulk of the writing duties, the tracks that feature them on vocals are catered to their strengths and styles, providing the album with a diverse combination of flavors that manages to highlight each of their individual sensibilities, while never seeming out of place on the album as a whole.

When an album is released featuring such extraordinary talent like this, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that “jazz-rock fusion” will be on the menu… but when the guitar virtuoso Michael Landau is added to the mix, music fans are treated to a heaping helping of expertly executed guitar-driven blues-rock…with a complimentary serving of “fusion” on the side. - J. Blake – American Blues News

With RENEGADE CREATION the members of this super-group have returned to their bluesy roots, while staying true to their artistry. They’re taking blues-rock to new levels of sophistication.

One on my favorite tracks is called “The Darkness”. It’s a song credited to the entire band and features Ford and Landau working in the style I love to hear most… slow minor blues.

[Click the Arrow to play a sample of "The Darkness" from Renegrade Creation]

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Black Country Communion

What’s in a name? A lot of problems if you don’t have the legal right to use it.

So it was for Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian and Joe Bonamassa… until now.

The band they formed was originally announced as “Black Country” until they learned that the name was already being used.

Apparently the problem has been resolved… Meet “Black Country Communion“:

The bands official web site is up. Check it out by clicking HERE.

Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian and Joe Bonamassa have formed a new super group calling themselves Black Country.

They are in the studio NOW with legendary producer Kevin Shirley.

My initial thought was… “is Joe breaking up the current band?”  Joe responded to that question on his own forum saying “…My solo band has about 140 shows booked this year.. So the answer is nothing will happen with my current lineup.  It means a bit more work for me but I am very happy with the way everything is going on…”

Shirley made the announcement on his website:

“So there it is folks – the cat is out the bag! This is Black Country.

The songs are all original and what a lineup. They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!”

Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) is super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze) plays bass and sings with a range VERY, VERY few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best Blues guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn.

“You’ll just have to wait – we’re planning to get this out late summer, and it’s promising to be phenomenal!”, said Shirley.

Well Kevin… we can hardly wait!

(note: the photo is a compilation courtesy of GuitarDaddy and TheGuitarBuzz.com and is NOT an official band photo…)

I returned from NAMM last night with a massive backlog of things to write about on the BUZZ.  I also recorded several videos that I will upload over the next few days.

One of the highlights was a 3rd row seat for The Gary Hoey Band at the Fender booth. Gary has been with Fender for 14 years and showed his appreciation by putting on a free (and killer) 30-minute set which included the title track of his upcoming cd… UTOPIA.

Note: More Gary Hoey Band videos can be viewed on my “YouTube Channel”…

Check this out:

The NFL made the OFFICIAL announcement!

With singer Roger Daltrey, and songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend, the band is known for their big hits in “Pinball Wizard, “Baba O’Riley,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Who Are You,” and, “You Better You Bet.”

More than 151 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s show. The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide in more than 230 countries and territories. The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Those are some VERY BIG numbers!

Past performances at the Super Bowl have included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Paul McCartney and U2.

Gotta love the NFL for rockin’ out the big bowl game!