Blues music has been making something of a resurgence recently, particularly when mixed with the hard rock genre. Because of this, I decided it would be a good time to reinvigorate my blues music series, with this being the second version of the review. There are a whole host of different artists and bands listed below that should take your fancy if you’re into the genre!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo of Emily Mac by Brendan Albert Photography
Emily Mac – Whiskey Like Me
Kicking this list off in style is Emily Mac with her new belter of a song, Whiskey Like Me. The track starts out with a killer of a guitar riff, making this more of a rock song than just a straight-up blues tune. The rhythm fits the guitars perfectly, seeing Emily belting the lyrics out over the music. You can really feel the passion and attitude in her voice as her vocals carry through the track, oozing cool throughout!
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Mr L J Kelly-Gee – Headphones
Headphones is a track that strays away from the blues template whilst also fitting it perfectly at times, making for a nice mix of sounds. The upbeat rhythm is positively infectious, seeing Mr L J Kelly-Gee playing some funky acoustic guitar melodies in the track. He’s also got a fantastic voice, singing across quite a wide range, as a gorgeous gospel choir sings occasionally in the background. The breakdown towards the end is also a nice touch.
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The Curse of K.K. Hammond – The Ballad of Lampshade Ed
The curiously titled The Ballad of Lampshade Ed starts out with the sound of birdsong, before the slow tempo kicks in. The guitars have a rhythmic quality, fitting the steady beat well. The Curse of K.K. Hammond have really created a fantastic tune here, sounding rather eerie at times! The chorus is particularly catchy – whilst it doesn’t stray too far from the main verse melody, the band change it up somewhat, adding a little more variety to this haunting number.
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Monroe Moon – ¡GET UP!
¡GET UP! adds some dream-pop and electronic vibes into the blues genre, being perhaps the most experimental tune on this entire list! The synths provide a nice texture in the background of the piece, as little electronic drumbeats play along. The vocals are low and slow, yet they serve the rest of Monroe Moon’s track suitably, creating a wonderful atmosphere. There isn’t that much variation here, but it’s fantastic as it is!
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Shady Oaks – Out Of Town
Out Of Town features an immense drum section as it opens, sounding incredibly tight, starting as Denver indie rockers Shady Oaks mean to go on! The rhythm mixes together garage rock and punk stylings, although the guitar licks are still really bluesy. This track just oozes attitude from the very beginning, also having a proper groove to it, working its way inside your head. The chorus explodes with energy, creating something that you can truly bang your head to!
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BAYWUD – Not Ready To Let Go
We actually reviewed BAYWUD’S EP Home back at the start of the year, so it’s great to welcome him back to these pages! Not Ready To Let Go is another banging song that mixes together folk, Americana, country and the blues, showing just why this artist is so fantastic! The verses are slow and steady, with some brilliant acoustic guitars mixing with what sounds like a bongo being played. The chorus turns the track into something more anthemic, as BAYWUD’s soulful vocals croon along nicely.
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Spyderhuff – Never Am I Full
Regular readers should be well aware of Spyderhuff’s music by now, as we’ve featured their bluesy rock and roll stylings a few times! Never Am I Full is more of the same, showcasing the band’s skills perfectly. The harmonica is a wonderful touch, adding an essence of cool to this Americana-infused track. The guitar licks have a spaghetti western quality, with their groovy goodness getting under your skin straight away. If you’ve not checked Spyderhuff out yet, this is the perfect opportunity!
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Derek Lee Goodreid – Beneath The Howlin’ Light
Derek Lee Goodreid is another artist we’ve featured somewhat recently, back with an amazing new tune called Beneath The Howlin’ Light. The track has quite a creepy feel, originally released as part of a Halloween collection, although it’s suitable listening for any time of year! The driving rhythm suits the guitar melodies well, as Derek’s raw vocals growl over the music, adding a great ambiance to this already atmospheric tune. Definitely one of my favourites on this list!
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Tom Murry – Lay Me Low
The thing that first struck me about Lay Me Low was the rhythm of the piece, starting out with some awesome percussion. The tempo is fairly fast, also hinting at the country movement. Tom Murry’s vocals are perfectly suited to the genre, having a raw quality that sounds like it’s been soaked in a good dose of whiskey. The slide guitars add to the overall atmosphere of the song, giving it a warm feel. This is a great track for those into their country and blues!
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Down South Pepper Band – Moving Down South
Down South Pepper Band are an act that we’ve featured before, so it’s great to welcome these guys back into these pages! Moving Down South is another country-infused blues song, having a proper stomp of a rhythm to it! The track is really catchy too, with the guitar melodies and beat getting stuck straight in your head! The vocals have a singalong quality as they roll their way through this amazing tune. It’ll make you want to tap your toes along in no time!
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Dez Rocksteady – Whitby Beach
Whitby Beach is a little different from the previous few songs, having a much quieter sound to it. The track sees Dez Rocksteady adding a folky flavour to this list, although the acoustic guitars still have that classic bluesy style contained within them. The guitar playing is really impressive, showing a technicality which sounds effortlessly easy when Dez plays. The vocals have a really nice tone too, with the sound effects in the background really giving you the impression of being by the seaside!
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Paul Byrne – FUH (I Can’t Stop Falling)
The main guitar lick that kicks off FUH (I Can’t Stop Falling) is very groovy, working well with the bass and beat of the music to create an irresistible rhythm. Paul Byrne’s vocals have a great range – on the verses they’re slow and sultry, whereas on the chorus they raise up to a higher pitch. The guitar solos have that classic bluesy sound that we’ve all come to know and love, lighting this track up the skies with a cool intensity that creeps under your skin after a while.
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Wayne Madder – First Time I Met You
First Time I Met You is another acoustic song, although there are some electric flourishes, such as the main clean guitar melody that carries through on the verses. Wayne Madder mixes together folk, Americana, country and the blues into one immense package here, with his low vocals suiting the style of music surprisingly well. It’s got a really cosy quality to it, with the lyrics only enhancing the positive vibes the song exudes as a whole!
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Geoff Gibbons – Execution Man
Singer-songwriter Geoff Gibbons is another acoustic writer, with his song Execution Man having more of an acoustic rock sound, with a little Americana thrown in for good measure. It’s not purely acoustic though, as Geoff’s song also features a full band. The little occasional electric guitar lines give the music a spectacular spaghetti western vibe. The music suits the main lyrical theme, sounding extremely evocative throughout with its eerie vibe.
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Onism E – It’s Not Over
Texas group Onism E are an indie rock band, however they also include moments of Southern rock, the blues and country within their music. The guitars have a lovely tone, sounding both clean and bluesy. The vocals drift through the song in lovely style, sounding very expansive as a whole on this amazing track. The production quality is a little raw, but it only adds more to the overall feel of the song, sounding very genuine throughout. For something a little different, check It’s Not Over out!
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