Rybnik Blues Festival 2010
Rybnik Blues Festival 2010
Rybnik Blues Festival 2010
Photos from the The WRBS International Harmonica Showcase
April 11th, 2009
Photos from the The WRBS International Harmonica Showcase
April 11th, 2009
Photos from the The WRBS International Harmonica Showcase
April 11th, 2009
Photos from the The WRBS International Harmonica Showcase
April 11th, 2009
Photos from the The WRBS International Harmonica Showcase
April 11th, 2009
This is a song I wrote about life on the road
This is a song about what a man might turn to in the problems of a woman.
This is more rock blues with a strong beat emphasized by the reso guitar
added in the chorus. I also am pleased with my harmonica part on this
track and the way that the lyric/vocal build all the way through.
Southland Blues
It's been over ten years since 2000 Lbs of Blues released their first CD. As one of the Southland's top blues bands, they've found much success along the way. This latest album, the band's fourth, departs from the usual pattern with pleasant results. Along with their trademark jump blues, the band mixes this program with slow, soulful, moaning blues and genuine roots blues from way back. A dozen originals and one cover allow them quite a lot of freedom as they tackle a defining sound quite true to blues in general and roots music in particular.
CD Review
2000 LBS OF BLUES
Soul of a Sinner
Deep Groove Records
Led by Mike Arguello on lead vocals and guitar, the band includes pianist Rich Wenzel, guitarist Kirk Fletcher, guitarist Gonzalo Bergara, bassist Bobby Tsukamoto and drummer Tom Fillman. Harmonica masters Johnny Mastro and Eric Von Herzen sit in for several numbers, as does the horn section of trumpeter Andrew Carney, trombonist Walter Wagner and baritone saxophonist Scott Martin, who plays a mean tenor on "Real Bad Woman" to answer Arguello's strong vocal calls. Also, percussionist Oliver C. Brown adds an appropriate flavor to the Latin number "She's Right," and three background singers complement the program well.
Arguello sings this program with comfortable ease. He drives hard on searing songs such as "Bad Reputation" and "Belly of the Beast" and cools off soulfully on others, such as "Real Bad Woman" and "Big Empty House." Ironically, the band's lone jump blues is titled "Don't Jump," placing the band's more familiar sounds into perspective along with this outstanding program of spirited blues originals. - Jim Santella
CD REVIEW
ROOTSTIME BELGIUM
2000 LBS OF BLUES (US)
SOUL OF A SINNER
Michael "Pink" Arguello, writer, singer and guitarist of 2000 LBS of Blues with the fourth piece of tape also ensured to be their best to date. 'Soul Of A Sinner" is the result and it is a beauty of a blues CD. Almost obvious that Kirk Eli Fletcher, who we interviewed as Mannish Boy and who was indispensable to the Thunderbirds, shows up again at the party. Together with Mike he is also around the core in 2000 LBS.
This CD has a whole lineup of top musicians, in this issue of two thousand pounds there is still Rich Wenzel pianist Dave Mason, and an important man on this CD, because it led to the compilation of the band and was the co-producer with Arguello. Also Gonzola Bergara, maybe not be so well known to many, but a great guitarist who played mainly by Dan Hicks. Or even Bobby TsukaMoto known of John Trudell and Jesse Ed Davis. Also the drummer of Alejandro Escovedo, Tom Fillman, I think one of the best drummers of the moment. The guest list also includes Johnny Maestro and Eric Von Herzen on harmonica.
The result is something a little deeper and darker sounding than the three previous CDs, where uptempo jump party songs were their main show claim. The new CD is awhole lot less predictable, this is clearly deeper and the emotions are more pronounced. Of the thirteen songs, one cover: the Fleetwood Mac or should I say Peter Green better known "Need Your Love So Bad," a Little Willie John composition, with Kirk Fletcher in a starring role as expected. With two harmonica players, we obviously get a lot of that stuff in, but you do not hear us complain, because it remains within the bounds of being beautiful and very interesting. Very special song (Belly of the Beast) is the ode to New Orleans with a pulsing heartbeat rhythm and rapper Jesse MacLeod to the floor. Big Empty House "is my favorite song on this CD this song has it all, Mike and Kirk in top form, a lovely composition with super backing vocals.
The CD even has something Belgian, the picture on the cover was known to me. Indeed, the skull next to Michael is from the front of the facade of the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk in Antwerp, and at the back we see a photograph of the cathedral, probably taken the day of their show at the Crossroads Café. The man on the wall was very clear because their Myspace picture is this "Grim Reaper" as a logo.
But it's not all tough, mean and dirty "as the clock strikes: in "Devil's Got My Woman", an intimate acoustic blues number were Michael sounds reminiscent of an old Delta street singer, closing the set with the title track "Soul Of A Sinner" it sounds as if a barrelhouse blues shouter had stepped out of the thirties with a 100 percent authentic old-fashioned sound, Beautiful! As you hear, this CD is far from predictable and a Very Exciting Blues Release, This fourth CD features a solid group of top musicians around Michael and is 2000 LBS of Blues. By Ron