Regular readers know that we favor Blues Rock around here.

Blues Rock Review was founded in 2010 and launched full time in May, 2011.

Based in the United States with writers across the globe, their purpose is to promote the top acts in the Blues Rock genre. Check out their site for reviews, interviews, videos, and more about the best in Blues Rock.

Volume 2 of their Blues Rock Review Album Sampler will be available for free download on April 2.

Volume 1 was released last June and can be downloaded for free here.

Guitar Center Battle of the Blues, Boscoe France’s, winning performance from the GC Battle of the Blues Grand FInals – August. 18th, 2012 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.

Guitar Center is once again searching for our Nation’s top undiscovered blues guitar players.

Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues

In help with their search they have asked Joe Bonamassa and Dr. John to perform after the contest at the event and don’t be surprised if there are more Special guest appearances.

Back in 2009, Joe was asked to perform and since then Joe has been a part of the Competition in one way or another as the performer, Judge and Emcee the last few years.

The Final competition will be held on August 18th in Los Angeles at Club Nokia.

The Finalist will “battle” it out with each other before a panel of Guest Judges as they try to claim the title of “King of the Blues” for 2012. Each contestant will receive 5 minutes to set up and will perform live to an original backing track, developed by Grammy Award winning producer, Pete Anderson. The Grand Prize winner will receive:

• $25,000 Cash
• Studio Session with Grammy Award Winning Producer Pete Anderson
• Gibson Custom Les Paul ’59 Reissue or 335 ’59 Reissue (winner’s choice)
• Epiphone 1965 Elitist Casino
• Egnater Full Stack {winner’s choice of Egnater Head plus two matching
• cabinets: Renegade, Tourmaster, Vengenance, or Armageddon}
• Egnater Rebel-30 112 HG Combo
• Boss GT-10 Guitar Multi-Effects Processor
• Winner’s Choice of 2 Boss Single Stomp Pedals
• Endorsement Deals from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Boss, Shure, and Egnater
• Feature in Guitar World Magazine
• $1,000 in gear from Fret Rest, Road Runner, and Live Wire {winner’s choice}
• Shure Artist Package {includes a Shure ULXD14 Digital Wireless Guitar
• System and Shure 520DX ‘Green Bullet’ Harmonica Microphone}

Joe Bonamassa stops by the vintage room of our Hollywood store to talk blues. As a judge, emcee, and performer for this year’s Grand Finals Joe has some keen insight.

Check out his advice on blues guitar playing including vibrato and tone.

A while back I wrote a post about “Guitar Artistry” and asked the question: If I can copy (insert your favorite guitar player’s name) licks, does that make me a guitar artist?

That thought jumped back to the front of my mind when I visited the web site of Hamilton Loomis and saw the words: “Innovate, Don’t Imitate”… a phrase coined by the late Bo Diddley and used to inspire Hamilton Loomis to re-define the blues.

Hamilton Loomis - LIVE in England

Loomis is one of the young artists at the forefront of bringing blues based American music into the 21st century and redefining it for a contemporary audience.

Whereas similar aged acts like Black Keys, Robert Randolph and White Stripes play American rock music with heavy blues influences, Loomis plays the inverse.

His is an undeniably blues based artist escalating into what All Music Guide calls “…a mixed bag of modern blues, modern funk, and slick soul.”

Born and raised in Galveston, Texas, Loomis was first hooked on music through his parents’ extensive collection of blues, rock, and soul records.

Loomis honed his multi-instrumental chops early, learning drums, piano, guitar, bass and harmonica by his early teens.  At age sixteen he went backstage to meet Bo Diddley, and before the night was over Loomis was onstage playing alongside the legend.

Since that meeting, Diddley quickly became a friend, mentor, and supporter.

“INNOVATE, DON’T IMITATE”…are Diddley’s words and they continue to inspire Loomis and fuel his desire for creativity and originality.

Hamilton Loomis’ “Live In England” release captures his masterfull blending of his myriad of influences into a live performance.

[Click the Arrow to play a sample of "Get My Blues On" by Hamilton Loomis]

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“Hamilton is the future of the electric blues.”
-Malcolm Walls, Delta Blues Festival

“Contemporary blues revivalist and guitar whiz…”
-Larry Nager, Memphis Commercial Appeal

“More than a triple threat man, he’s a singer, musician, composer. actor, and all-around high-powered entertainer who puts his own personal stamp on blues.”
-Kevin Wildman, Music News, Houston TX

“Hamilton is one bad white boy!”
-Lee Parker, North Alabama Blues Festival

I like many different styles of music (as long as the guitar is the featured instrument!)

If you take a look at my iPod you will find an eclectic assortment of Classic Rock, Smooth Jazz, Contemporary Christian, New Age, R&B and an eclectic variety of tunes that fall into several genres — according to my ears.

But without a doubt, there is nothing I love to listen to more than a warm, classic, slow brooding BLUES SOLO that drips with emotion. Slow blues is by far my personal preference as I love to “feel” a song even more than I like to “listen” to a song.

Duke Robillard

To give you an example of what I mean, I have embedded a video of Duke Robillard’s “Blues for T-Bone”. This is one of the most masterful slow blues recordings I know of.

Robillard calls this “Duke’s Mood” and how powerful and moody it is! If you can, turn the lights low and close the door before you click the play button. The less distraction you have, the more you will truly “feel” the music.

Don’t close your eyes because there is a lot to see as Duke shares some masterful, innovative fingering.

Watch and listen as Duke takes you on an emotional journey. It’s 7-1/2 minutes of slow blues ecstasy. If you’re like me, you will watch this video several times. If you’re really like me, you will share this with your guitar loving friends!

One more thing… be sure to catch the train at 2:28… and enjoy the ride.

Jimmy Witherspoon & Duke Robillard

I love the Blues.

I really love Slow Blues.

I know, it’s simple and basic and all of the shredders can play twenty notes for every single note in a slow blues song.

But the slow blues moves me. It moves me like no other music. Ronnie Earl, Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duke Robillard and so many many others made careers out of mastering the slow blues.

13 years ago today, September 18, 1997, we lost Jimmy Witherspoon. He was 77.

Jimmy was not a guitar player. He was a singer. A blues singer. And in this case, a slow blues singer.

This recording is Jimmy Witherspoon’s last before he passed away, leaving behind a long legacy of great blues recordings. Jimmy died of throat cancer, which is evident in this recording as his voice is quite weak.

Enjoy this soulful rendition of “Going Down Slow” with Duke Robillard providing backup on guitar.

[Listen to "Goin' Down Slow"]

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I have been a Ronnie Earl fan for a long, long time.

I had the opportunity to meet him personally and hang out backstage before a concert a few years ago. He is a gracious man who understands the value of giving to others.

Ronnie Earl at The Narrows

For those who do not know, Ronnie is now in his mid-50s and has been part of the blues music scene for many years.

Deeply inspired by Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker and Otis Rush, he started to play guitar in the 1970′s. He left the first major group he worked with in 1988, and moved on to build a solo career with his own band, The Broadcasters.

Along the way, he went on to tour the world with Santana, sometimes playing for audiences of as many as 40,000 people.

Recent years, however, found his career sidelined by a variety of health problems, which are thankfully, today, under control. When he says he’s feeling fine, he is, thanks, but the idea of touring again is as far from his mind as it can be.

“I did that for more than 25 years,” he says, “and nothing is better than one’s own home and one’s own family and friends. It makes me feel grounded. I have a wonderful wife, I’m close to our church, I live in the country and I want to be in my own home, every day.”

These days Ronnie is healthy, happily married and playing with the Broadcasters in the New England area and if you are fortunate to live in that area you still have a chance to see one of the finest blues guitar players — ever.

Visit Ronnie’s web site and follow his tour schedule by CLICKING HERE.

The video below was posted a few days ago on YouTube (thank you ZigBlues) from a concert Ronnie played last month at The Narrows in Fall River, MA.

On that night, Ronnie invited 16 year old guitarist Julie Melucci to join him on stage for a blues jam she will never forget!

My favorite part of the video comes at 5:30 when Ronnie motions that he is going to step back and let Julie showcase her chops!

By the way, a new recording from the Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters titled: “Spread the Love” is set to be released on August 24th, 2010 by Stoney Plains Records. Stay tuned to TheGuitarBuzz.com for more details and a full review as soon as the CD becomes available.

I Love Ronnie Earl, and Ronnie Earl Loves me! When I traveled to Boston last year to see Ronnie play live, he invited me backstage and gave me a guitar strap that he personally signed “Love & Blessings, Ronnie Earl”. That strap is hanging on the wall in my home studio. It is quite simply… too sacred for me to play with.

The real truth is, Ronnie Earl Loves everybody.

Ronnie is a long time virtuoso of the blues guitar. He plays (as he says) “with soul” and not only do you hear it with your ears, you see it in Ronnie’s face when he plays. Most photos you will find of Ronnie playing look a lot like the one to the left. Can’t ya just feel the blues dripping from that Strat!

Ronnie is a true anomaly in the music world. He doesn’t tour, he doesn’t show up on David Letterman, he doesn’t play at rock festivals, he doesn’t give interviews and he isn’t the slightest bit interested in being a “Star”. What Ronnie is intersted in is touching your heart (& Soul) with his music. If, after listening to Ronnie’s music, you feel a shot of love, warmth, healing and peace…Ronnie has accomplished what he set out to do.

Ronnie has just released “Living in the Light” from Stoney Plains Records. I was honored to receive a review copy.

I won’t go through a track-by-track review but I will say that in the space of one single 78-minute CD you will be treated to the most fiery Chicago style blues imaginable including a belated companion piece to the classic “Blues From The Westside” (from the “Still River” album). You will smile and shuffle your feet to Ronnie’s patented brand of lively guitar-and-Hammond fueled jazz-blues, you’ll be taken down to the Delta with acoustic blues, you’ll be uplifted by a beautiful Bob Dylan gospel cover including a choir and you will be soothed by the most serene Sunday morning blues you’ll ever hear.

Then there is the centerpiece track, “Child Of A Survivor”, which serves both as Ronnie’s tribute to victims of the Holocaust (which included members of his own family) and a reminder that we must never forget what humans are capable of doing to each other. This heartbreaking sentiment is expressed through the unusual but incredibly effective and entirely appropriate slow brooding blues featuring a heartfelt vocal from Kim Wilson.

If you’ve not had the pleasure (actually the privilege) of hearing Ronnie Earl play live, this CD will serve as the best possible introduction to the man. If you are like me, and have followed Ronnie’s profound career for many years, then this is a CD you will surely want to own.

Reverand Keith Gordon (About.com) said: There really aren’t words sufficient to describe Ronnie Earl’s incredible six-string talents. Just when you think that you have the man figured out, he pulls out a musical triumph like Living In The Light. It’s not that the album defies expectations (Earl’s skills are such that you’re always guaranteed a great time) but that Earl manages to set the bar higher with each musical outing, and then clear it with ease.

We all love you Ronnie! Keep the Blues coming our way!

NOTE: Information in this post is courtesy of MASCOT RECORDS.

Joe Bonamassa: Live From The Royal Albert Hall on DVD!

When Joe Bonamassa took the stage at Royal Albert Hall in May 2009, he fulfilled a dream he’d held since first picking up a guitar as a kid in upstate New York. The sold-out concert—fresh off the release of his album The Ballad Of John Henry—marked Bonamassa’s headlining debut at arguably the most prestigious concert venue in the world. “May 4, 2009 was a day 20 years in the making,” says Bonamassa. “I have never been so honored in my life. It was truly larger than the sum of its parts.”

The two decades he’s referring to began when—at age 12—he first opened for blues icon B.B. King, who said, “this kid’s potential is unbelievable.” King’s words are as fitting today as they were then. Bonamassa averages 200 shows every year, and with each gig, he comes more into his own as a virtuoso and a vocalist. At the Hall, Bonamassa had the added honor of being joined onstage by the legendary Eric Clapton. The Times of London cited Joe’s “searing excellence and showmanship,” and Planet Rock said, “The sight of two of the world’s best guitarists trading solos was more than a little thrilling.”

This two disc digipack DVD, which also features an exclusive interview with Bonamassa, presents that magical night in full—for posterity, and for all the fans that couldn’t be among the roughly 4,000 concertgoers filling the seats. The twelve-camera high definition, surround sound shoot was produced by Bonamassa’s longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley.

“Joe Bonamassa is a big star amongst his peers,” says Shirley, “garnering awards and magazine covers all around the globe. While he has a devoted audience that’s growing worldwide, his rejection of major label deals in favor of paving his own musical path has left the mainstream largely unfamiliar with his extensive repertoire and skill. Hopefully, this incredible performance—featuring Joe accompanied by an incredible band in addition to a guest appearance by Eric Clapton—will put an end to that. Directed by groundbreaking filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, this concert experience will become the benchmark for the genre. But pigeonhole Bonamassa at your peril—sure, the blues is the anchor, but this virtuoso refuses to play inside the box. Any box. Enjoy!”

The DVD is expected to be released on September 21, 2009. You can pre-order the DVD from Mascot Records HERE

The official trailer from the DVD has been posted on YouTube:

The Search For The Nation’s Greatest Undiscovered Blues Guitar Player is Back!

Guitar Center is pleased to announce the return of King of the Blues, the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. With Sign-ups launching July 1, Guitar Center’s King of the Blues will feature competitions in over 200 Guitar Center locations across the country, culminating with the Grand Finals in Los Angeles this November.

In addition to showcasing the top five finalists, the King of the Blues Grand Finals will also feature performances by renowned blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa and Grammy award winner Pete Anderson.

Introduced in 2006, Guitar Center’s King of the Blues is more than just a competition to find the most technically skilled players. King of the Blues is designed to seek out the most passionate, innovative and authentic undiscovered guitar players and give them a shot at stardom. Some of today’s most iconic and groundbreaking artists, including BB King, John Mayer, The Black Crowes and Kenny Wayne Shepherd have participated at past King of the Blues events, and the winner of Guitar Center’s 2007 King of the Blues, Aaron Loesch, was invited to perform at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in front of over 25,000 attendees.

With “the Blues” being the foundation for nearly all of today’s popular music, the search for the nation’s greatest undiscovered blues guitarist is expected to unearth a goldmine of unsigned talent, some of whom are destined to become tomorrow’s legends.

Guitar Center’s King of the Blues champion will win an impressive package of prizes, including $25,000 cash, a featured spot in a Guitar Center ad campaign, along with a Gibson ’59 Les Paul reissue guitar, a $2,500 Levis shopping spree, a Marshall Vintage Modern 50 watt half stack, a Boss GT-10 Guitar Multi Effects Pedal, a feature in Guitar World magazine, worldwide distribution of their music in iTunes and more, plus endorsement deals from Ernie Ball, Marshall, Vox and Gibson. The five finalists will perform live at the grand finals featuring Joe Bonamassa. Additional regional, district and local prize packages will also be awarded, thanks to the generous support of Gibson , Levi’s, Ernie Ball, Marshall, Boss, Vox , Guitar World and Tunecore, all of whom are proud supporters of Guitar Center’s King of the Blues.