Live, Uncut & Unscripted Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know
MUSIC ON THE COUCH
Live, Uncut & Uncensored Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know"
SHOW ARCHIVES
OCTOBER 2014
Click On Image To Listen To Show
SHOW # 237 - 10/06/14
TERRY HANCK
Terry Hanck fell in love with California in the early 60's and also found his love of music there. He has has been nominated Best Instrumentalist Saxophone in the BMAs, winning once and has won numerous other awards. Terry's latest album is entitled Gotta Bring It On Home To You, and he joined me on this evening to talk about his journey from those days in California until today. We spoke about what he learned playing with Elvin Bishop, his songwriting, his travels around the globe and his bringing Chris "The Kid" Andersen to the USA. Terry also talked about the difficulties even someone with his pedigree deals with traveling and booking shows.
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LIZ MANDEVILLE - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 51:00 Mark
Liz Mandeville returns with her new album, Heart 'O' Chicago and we talked about what she has been doing since she last sat here in August of 2012. We talked about the new album and all the special guests Liz brought in. Liz talked about the honor of being inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame and also about being a woman in the Blues and the many people who told her she did not belong. She also talked about her connection to the South, it's people, the music, the culture and the food.
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KIRBY SEWELL - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 1:46:00
Kirby Sewell returns with his new album, which dropped this past week. Entitled Girl With A New Tattoo it is a sure fire winner. I spoke with Kirby about all that has happened in his life and career since he took his Seat On the Couch back in July of 2012. Kirby talked abut the struggles of being on the road, specifically their last trip where they had to deal with an unscrupulous club owner and had their van broken into...and the good side, where people at a festival, helped to make things better. We also discussed his plans for 2015 and listened to cuts from the new album.
SHOW # 238 - 10/13/14
KEATON SIMONS - COUCH KID NEWS
Couch Kid Keaton Simons came by to talk about a new project he is promoting. The Noise Beneath The Apple is a book by Heather Jacks featuring profiles on 35 Buskers in New York City. Keaton helped produce the Billy Joel song New York State of Mind, mixing their versions together to make a fantastic version of the song. All proceeds will go to support Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Keaton's past visits were in June 2012 and May 2013.
MACKENZIE BLUES BAND - Segment Begins At The 10:40 Mark
Out of Ontario, Canada comes the MacKenzie Blues Band. Consisting of classically trained vocalist, Tara MacKenzie, guitarist Trevor MacKenzie, bassist Joel Dawson & drummer Mike Weir, they have just released their sophomore album Slam! Bam!, containing 12 originals.
The band and I spoke about their earlier influences, how Tara & Trevor met and how their musical partnership began, the life of the band and where they are heading.
GENERATION BLUES EXPERIENCE - Segment Begins At The 51:28 Mark
Generation Blues Experience is the joining of 14-year old Ray Goren, who has played guitar at the Chicago Blues Festival and with Buddy Guy and more. He was introduced to 80-year old bluesman, Jamie Bluesboy Powell and septuangenerian harpist Sammy Lee. The three were introduced a few years ago and their musical talents meshed, and Generation Blues Experience was formed. We got to speak with Ray and Jamie about their finding the music in their lives and then meeting each other and how the experience changed their outlooks.
They told stories of going out to jams and blowing the roof off the clubs and how some of their songs came to be. We also heard music from their album Private Angel.
BOB CORRITORE - Segment Begins At The 1:30:10 Mark
Bob Corritore needs no introduction. Maybe an explanation as to why it has taken so long to bring Bob on the show; well I interviewed him for American Blues News a number of years ago, he has visited during my IBC shows and somehow, my brain turned that into him having appeared on a Monday show! When I realized my mistake, I reached out and Bob accepted.
We talked about how the Blues came into his world and how he ended up in Phoenix and some of the work he has produced. We also talked about the state of the Blues and Bob expressed his feelings on the culture around the blues. We heard music from Taboo and Knockin' Around The Blues, his album with John Primer. Just a superb interview.
SENA EHRHARDT - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 2:24:50 Mark
Sena Ehrhardt returns with her new album, Live My Life. Sena originally sat on The Couch back in May 2013, and we talked about what her life has been since then, including her dad leaving the band and her joining forces with Cole Allen in her new lineup. Sena spoke about her upcoming tour to Germany, her first international trip and how she was going to deal with getting her shoe collection over there with her. At one point, I made a suggestion which Sena thought was a great one!
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SHOW # 239 - 10/20/14
LOW SOCIETY
Mandy Lemons and Sturgis Nikides stopped on by to talk about their band, Low Society and the new album You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down. Sturgis Nikides plays the blues but does it with a flavor of rock and roll, from its origins in delta blues to its far dark alternative edge. Together with Mandy's, their music cuts deeply, while retaining the origins of the genre. We sat and talked about Sturgis' development in New York City and why he strayed from the Blues for a while. Mandy discussed growing up in Houston and the music she performed there before moving to New York, where they met and partnered in music and life.
We also talked about and played music from the new album. These two are not shy and are a lot of fun!
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HURRICANE RUTH - Segment Begins At The 50:45 Mark
The band Hurricane Ruth consists of Hurricane Ruth LeMaster on vocals, Dave Lumsden on guitar, Gary Davis on bass and Jim Engle on drums. They originate from central/southern Illinois, packing venues throughout the region. Critics and fans hail their shows as powerful, raw, emotional and dynamic. Their new album, Born On The River, consists of 11 originals that prove their reputation as tthe Ultimate Blues Rock Experience. Hurricane Ruth joined me to talk about her early years, growing up in Illinois, how music grabbed her and how Blues finally found her. We chatted about how the current band came together and the making of this new album.
RORY BLOCK - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 1:34:19 Mark
Ms Rory Block first Sat on the Couch in June 0f 2013 and tonight she returns with her latest gem, Hard Luck Child - A Tribute To Skip James, a full week before it releases! Rory and I talked about what she has been doing since her last visit on June 17th of last year and explored her new album, the fifth in her Mentor Series. Rory is just fascinating to speak with and adds so much detail to her music.
GRADY CHAMPION - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC
Segment Begins At The 2:27:23 Mark
Grady Champion returned to The Couch to talk about his new album, Bootleg Whiskey which dropped last month. Grady originally took a Seat On The Couch way back in January of 2012.
We explored what he has been up to and I asked a question I asked in his first interview, "If you had not won the IBC, would your career be the same?" ... did Grady answer in the same way? Listen in to find out!
SHOW # 240 - 10/27/14
HOWARD GLAZER
Howard Glazer is a masterful guitarist whose deep-voice vocals are expressive and solidly delivered. He draws from a wide musical background to create a powerful blend of serious blues, rock and acoustic compositions, yielding an uncompromising sound. His fifth album, Looking In The Mirror, was released on October 21st, and Howard joined me and shared some incredible stories. The chat room was a buzz with comments about what a great story-teller Howard is and he has met and performed with so many people, he has the stories!
MARCIA BALL - Segment Begins At The 49:07 Mark
Marcia Ball is a word-class keyboard player with an incredible vocal talent and has performed at festivals and clubs around the globe. The singer/pianist has been blending Texas blues, Louisiana swamp ballads and New Orleans second-line rhythms into her distinctive roadhouse roots-rock for 30 years. Now her 13th album, The Tattooed Lady & The Alligator Man has been released and Marcia is creating a stir all over again. She and I sat and discussed her long career, her early influences and how they impacted her musical choices, her thoughts bend being with only two labels for her entire career and the new album.
DAVE SPECTER - Segment Begins At The 1:36:55 Mark
Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago blues scene and around the globe. His latest album, Message In Blue was released this past May and has received wonderful reviews across the board. Dave and I spoke about his teen years in Chicago, the late age he picked up a guitar and the incredible mentors he found along the way. We also discussed the music on the new album and his the vocalists he has worked with over the years.
KELLY'S LOT - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 2:23:00 Mark
Kelly Zirbes returned with the Kelly's Lot new album, Don't Give My Blues Away for the Couch kid New Music Segment this week. We spoke about what she has been up to since she first sat On The Couch back on July 15, 2013, the places she's been and we listened to cuts from the album.