They’ve described their sound as ‘high-energy Psychedelic Blues Rock’ and I would have to say that is as close as you are likely to get to describing a sound that is, by it’s own nature, completely original. We’ve all heard stories of the woes of mis-categorization. Hell, even I locked horns with TreynWrek front man/guitarist/vocalist [...]
Archive for Category: "Abby Owen"
Kathy Murray – Relatively Blue – CD Review by Abby Owen
Kathy Murray’s voice is comforting and familiar. Bluesy and nostalgic, it gives the listener a feeling of home-grown reflection on life’s challenges that we’ve all faced at one time or another. It has the appeal and assurance of an older sister who has ‘been-there-felt-that’ and got the t-shirt and koozie. We all have known times [...]
Rebecca Laird Competes In Los Angeles
Rebecca Laird, only 20 yrs old, is about to compete in Los Angeles this weekend in the finals of the ‘Battle Of The Blues’ contest put on by Guitar Center. She won the regional finals and with that win picked up a couple of new guitars and some other equipment, but Saturday night she is hoping [...]
Mark May Band – CD/Tour Review by Abby Owen
Release My Soul – Mark May Band Mark May New CD, “Release My Soul” and 2012 Tour Mark May Band has been touring in Texas the whole month of January (2012) to promote his new CD ‘Release My Soul – Mark May Band‘, and his Texas fans have had a real treat to be sure. [...]
Rich DelGrosso Interview by Abby Owen
You are known as one of the top Blues Mandolin players on the scene, and have so many fans, new and old alike. Let me just ask you the most basic question. When did you first get into blues? When I was a teenager and I was in a rock band, in those days a [...]
Rory Gallagher – His Life by Abby Owen
My favorite Rory Gallagher quote is well known in music circles, but I will relate it here again, in case you haven’t heard. It was when a journalist asked Jimi Hendrix what it felt like to be the greatest guitarist in the world, and he replied, “I don’t know, ask Rory Gallagher.” Although much of [...]
Earl Gilliam’s life is ebbing, but the love is still flowing…
The Houston Blues community/and artists will come together Sunday to play musical homage to one of the godfathers of blues piano, Earl Gilliam ~ his life is ebbing, but the love still flowing. Earl will be watching from his hospital bed, and I’m sure he’ll be smiling to beat the band. Longtime friend and fellow jammer [...]
Brad Absher Interview by Abby Owen
When I asked Brad Absher if I could interview him, as he is one of my favorite players around Houston, he said he had to run up to Austin to lay down a guitar track, but I was welcome to ride along. It seemed like the perfect idea to me, to see some wide open spaces, [...]
Carolyn Wonderland Wed Yesterday!
After an engagement from October 2010, Funnyman A. Whitney Brown and blues singer Carolyn Wonderland urged guests to their upcoming nuptials to be punctual – they planned to be wed at precisely 4:44pm. Former Saturday Night Live star Brown married his musician fiancee on March 4 at a park in Austin, Texas, with former The Monkees star Michael Nesmith [...]
23 Yr Old Sparky Parker of MOJOFROMOPOLIS
It seems you can go to almost any Blues music function in Houston and find Sparky Parker ‘spiffy-riffin’ on his guitar and you instantly see why he is quickly becoming a Texas Bluesman to be reckoned with. He has a feel for it, and to my ears, a finesse and a technique beyond his young [...]
27 Year Old Dennis ‘Applehead’ Clapp of MOJOFROMOPOLIS
MOJOFROMOPOLIS. Funny name. Serious jams. They won the first round of the IBC semi-finals this year, (and to many fans, should have won the whole enchilada) only to be beaten out in the end by The Ezra Charles Band. Dennis ‘Applehead’ Clapp (27) is one of the TWO ‘under 30 years of age’ Houston artists in the [...]
Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins Historical Marker Unveiled On First Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins Day
Blues History in the making of the Sam “Lightnin’ Hopkins Historial Marker Unveiling. “I’m still overwhelmed by the whole situation and what has happened here. To know that there’s this much love for the music and for the man. I’m just happy to be a part of this…to be able to help make this happen.” Eric Davis said, after the ceremony was over.
Houston Loses Blues Icon Melvin ‘Magic’ Sheppard
Melvin “Magic” Sheppard B:9-24-49 D:11-11-10. Born in Lake Charles, LA. Moved to Houston in late 50′s ‘Magic’ played bass touring the country with many gospel, zydeco and blues groups during his long career. He joined gulf coast rhythm & blues band ‘Luther & The Healers’, a long-time staple of Houston’s Blues scene in 1991 and stayed [...]
The Mighty Orq Interview
To some, he might not look like he’s supposed to. No ‘Blues Brothers’ Raybans. No pork-pie hat. He’s not an old black man. He IS a snappy dresser. Perfection would be, for him, “To have a different suit for every day of the year.” Another thing he IS, as his status ‘2010 Best Guitarist’ by [...]
Carolyn Wonderland Engaged!
This happy news was announced on Carolyn Wonderland’s facebook fan-page on the afternoon of September 25th, 2010: “Carolyn Wonderland and A. Whitney Brown are in SF, CA and are now engaged. ♥ ♥ ♥” Mr Brown is of ‘Saturday Night Live’ fame and a comedy writer. American Blues News would like to extend our congratulations [...]
