Browsing Tag

Americana Blues

Dustin Dale Gaspard delivers Cajun blues soul food in ‘Good Lookin’ George Burton’

Posted on 23 February 2022

Taken from his debut album, Hoping Heaven Got a Kitchen, Dustin Dale Gaspard’s single, Good Lookin’ George Burton, has all the swagger of bourbon-soaked blues combined with a delectable sense of soul that won’t fail to pull you into the essence of the single which pays homage to the US singer-songwriter’s grandparents’ legacy and his Cajun heritage.

If ever there was an aural equivalent to soul food, you’ll find it in the warm, crunchy overdriven electric guitar tones, the layering of Dustin Dale Gaspard’s vocals with the almost celestial pitches of the female backing vocals and the organ notes that shimmer against the zeal in the blues piano keys. There is no understating how viscerally stunning this release is. Dustin Dale Gaspard’s resounding talent and passion for his heritage and upholding the memories of the one’s that he loves, is beyond beautiful. In 2022, he’s a diamond in the superficial rough.

Good Lookin’ George Burton is now available to stream on SoundCloud. The debut album is due for official release on February 28th, 2022.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

D. Marin Perez – Los Angeles: 60s psych pop-tinged blues

Posted on 27 February 2021

Through exposure to the Beatles and Mormon hymns in their formative years, Cuban-American singer-songwriter, D. Marin Perez’s signature sound is laden with soul so strident it practically shimmers.

“Los Angeles” is the first single to be released from their 2021 album ‘Change Is’. Their infusion of 60s psych pop, accordant Americana, blues and soul unravels as a burst of visceral sun-bleached optimistic-in-spite-of-awareness-suffering euphoria.

With vocals as tender as Elliott Smith’s and instrumentals which find their roots in old school blues, Los Angeles is a track which blossoms as a compassionate snapshot of the trials and tribulations of modern living without allowing you to be depressed by them. You may just find yourself with a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose to invoke positive change once Los Angeles has faded to a close.

You can hear by heading over to Bandcamp or the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bill E Daly gives us a soulful introduction to his music with ‘Hey Baby Hey’

Posted on 26 December 2020

Americana-tinged modern folk is the order of the day from Dublin’s Bill E Daly with this, from his new EP ‘Parachute & Oxygen’. ‘Hey Baby Hey’ is a gentle acoustic-guitar-and-vocal love song with a catchy little chord progression and Daly’s deep baritone voice. Tinged with country and modern rock overtones, this is mature, well-polished, and accomplished, little guitar flourishes on the ends of lines interplaying with Daly’s chilled vocal delivery.

Daly’s previous album, 2017’s ‘There Is A Time’, charted at number 2 in Google Play’s ‘Folk’ category, and there’s every chance that ‘Parachute & Oxygen’ will do similarly well. ‘Hey Baby Hey’ is the ideal introduction to Bill E Daly’s music.

Hear ‘Hey Baby Hey’ on Spotify; check out Daly’s website here.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Bigst Hands – Catch a Fist: Dive Bar Delta Blues

Posted on 6 November 2020

With slight gothic hues lingering in Americana Blues Folk sound, The Bigst Hands’ latest single Catch a Fist is as delectably dark as it is soulfully soothing. Any fans of Kurt Vile will definitely want to delve into the Chicago-born, Brooklyn-based artist’s Delta Blues sound.

The despondently sultry release will stick with you for long after it has faded to a close – especially considering that the track contains one of the most hauntingly cutting Blues guitar solos I’ve potentially ever heard. The Bigst Hands has a way of allowing you to feel like he’s playing the notes on your heartstrings.

The brashly booming drums, phantasmic quivers of the slide guitar and seductive melancholy offered vocally make Catch a Fist and unforgettable track. If Bukowski was still around, I could imagine he’d be an ardent fan of The Bigst Hands and their explorative lyrical style which makes no bones about dissecting the human condition – warts and wall.

You can check out Catch a Fist for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Justin Thomas has released their compassion-invoking Americana Country single “Just Let Me Breathe”

Posted on 26 June 2020

https://soundcloud.com/justin-thomas-199/just-let-me-breathe/s-DrrvJr0WkGr

Justin Thomas’ latest Americana Country single “Just Let Me Breathe” is a metaphorical masterpiece. After a three-year stint in releases, the American artist found inspiration in injustice. The incident of George Floyd’s death was used to illustrate the suffocating impact of systematic racial oppression.

Naturally, Just Let Me Breathe had a compassion-invoking resounding effect. Yes, the slightly psychedelically infused, angular guitar licks were absorbing and awe-inspiring. Yet, Justin Thomas’ compelling vocal style along with their ability to guide you into a contemplative empathetic state is why you’ll never forget Just Let Me Breathe.

We hope to hear plenty more from Justin Thomas in 2020 and beyond. Tracks such as Just Let Me Breathe are worth their weight in aural gold.

Just Let Me Breathe is available to stream via Soundcloud.

For more info head over to the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

California indie rock duo The Mulroys stimulate sadness with excellent ”I Don’t Want To Do This”

Posted on 18 June 2020

Splitsville by The Mulroys

With electrically shocked memories of previous relationships that ended like a beautiful summer. You sit back and remember the good times to see if they out way the bad elements. Like a skater falling off their board, you can’t stay on the ramp all the time. Sometimes, you know that you can’t do this for a minute further.

Formally known as Rollers, Singer-songwriter Erik Mullin and guitarist-songwriter TJ Royer are a formidable duo as The Mulroys and this new track is taken off 2020’s first full length album called Splitsville. Recorded at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco and Oakland, this is a band to turn up loud. They wanted something extra so grabbed good friend and veteran rocker Mark Maiggard from Louis XIV on drums and Michigan’s own Chris Diener as bassist for the recording. You can hear the extra grand touch on ”I Don’t Want To Do This”.

The Mulroys exude confidence and have a blues tingled indie rock style that is a pleasure to listen to. On their new single ”I Don’t Want To Do This” the duo are on top form. The vocals are smooth and the guitar background creates a warm feeling despite the sad topic. This is older Americana Kings Of Leon vibes soaked with some warm Californian sunshine.

Head to Bandcamp for this terrific single from the US band with lots to offer.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Scott Hayley – Reno: A Fitting Tribute to Americana Country Icon Doug Supernaw

Posted on 2 April 2020

For those unaware of Americana Country Pioneer Doug Supernaw, up and coming artist Scott Hayley offers the perfect introduction with his latest release “Reno”.

Doug Supernaw perceptibly isn’t the only one offering inspiring alchemic Americana Country mesmerism through their virtuosic talent. The guitar progressions in Reno are so soulful and sentimental they almost border on psychedelic. Either way, you’ll feel euphoric as it unravels.

The shimmering tones in the instrumentals find perfect synergy with Scott Hayley’s timelessly authentic Americana Country Folk vocals. You’ll be hooked in from the first verse of this deftly immersive track which depends on raw rhythmic talent and candid soul instead of frills and gimmicks.

There will always be space on the airwaves for tracks such as Reno which offer such welcoming catharsis.

You can check out Scott Hayley’s latest single which dropped on March 11^th via Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tofteberg – I Wanna Wake Up: Tight As You Like Americana Blues Rock

Posted on 26 January 2020

Americana Blues Rock doesn’t come much tighter than what you’ll find in up and coming artist Tofteberg’s debut album “Line Up Behind Me”.

While each of the singles is a masterfully polished aural treat, there’s no better introduction to Tofteberg’s sound than the standout single “I Wanna Wake Up”. Whether the sex-appeal was accidental or mindfully implanted in the bass licks, it was efficaciously captivating all the same.

I Wanna Wake Up shares similarities with bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, yet, under Tofteberg’s deft talent, the soundscape has an infinitely more mellifluous smooth-flowing feel. But that’s not to say that you won’t find a handful of mind-altering guitar riffs in the mix.

You can check out Tofteberg’s single I Wanna Wake Up for yourselves by heading over to Spotify where you’ll also find the rest of their provocatively rhythmic album.

Review by Amelia Vandergast