The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Bridge Street Live welcomes the Beehive Queen
The state continues with its full selection of blues. Both indoors and out, the choices abound. Black-Eyed Sally’s has a full weekend. Friday, Tom “The Suit” Forst Band and the Jason Gisser Band play on Friday, and on Saturday, Bad News Barnes hosts a CD release party.
Friday it is two bands for the price of one. Forst continues to gain acclaim as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He continues to perform and record with well known musicians. Tom “The Suit” Forst has a debut solo CD “On Fire.”
Produced by Grammywinner Paul Nelson, sideman guitarist to Johnny Winter, the blues-based rock album is comprised of eight highly personal originals and three classic covers.
Saturday is just as big, with Bad News Barnes hosting a CD release party. Chris Barnes plays his blues with tongue firmly planted in cheek, and then biting that tongue with heaping sarcasm and wit. Add in a dash of topical social commentary, alongside the funky grooves and thunderous rhythmic assault and you’ve got the foundations of one of the most entertaining, if not pertinent, blues/roots artists around.
Bad News Barnes & The Brethren of the Blues Band hit you hard. When Blues Beat first saw him, I said, “He is kinda loud, kinda brash, and over the top entertaining. Every time his show captures the audience. He has a dynamite CD to introduce and a band to back it up.”
41 Bridge Street Live is thrilled to welcome back the one and only Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez along with special guests, Americana duo Lovelace &Stoltz, on Saturday.
This queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul, is sure to provide a hip-shakin’ evening. With a love for the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, she captures the audience. Her teased blonde beehive hairdo is a familiar sight to music fans and the Saturday Night Live audience.
Ohlman tours relentlessly, torching clubs up and down the Eastern Seaboard with her band Rebel Montez, featuring Michael Colbath on bass, Cliff Goodwin on guitar, and Larry Donahue on drums. Ohlman is a lady to be reckoned with and an entertainer to thoroughly enjoy.
Infinity Music Hall Norfolk brings in Walter Trout on Friday.
If you haven’t seen Walter Trout don’t miss this chance. Trout is considered to be one of the finest blues guitarists in the world. He has been the lead guitarist for Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Trout formed his own band in 1989 and has since become a global mega-star. It is a must if you’re a blues/rock fan — don’t miss this opportunity! He is truly amazing. Trout is keeping busy with club and festival dates. He will be back for 2 Left Feet in late August.
On Saturday in the Music Hall is “Satisfaction” an international touring tribute to The Rolling Stones. Now celebrating over 10 years in production with over 1600 performances listed to their credit, this musical production showcases the most authentic cast and costuming of its kind.
The Mystic River Park concert series continues on Monday with Kenny Neal. One of the Neal family from Baton Rouge, he began playing music at a young age. Learning the basics from his father, singer and Blues harmonica master, Raful Neal. Today, he occupies a position as a modern swamp-blues performer and multi-instrumentalist. Neal draws from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana.
One of the strongest modern proponents of Baton Rouge swamp blues, Neal is a second-generation southern Louisiana bluesman who is cognizant of the region’s venerable blues tradition and imaginative enough to steer it in fresh directions.
FTC Stage One has a Saturday show with Roomful of Blues. It is pretty easy to describe them — they are a tour de force of horn-fired blues. So tight, and so right: a masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B.
Since 1967, the group’s deeply rooted blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. These guys are a non-stop, get up on your feet party.
On Thursday, Amy Helm is at FTC. She is the daughter of music legend Levon Helm and a founder of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band. Helm wields a powerful voice that can both stir and soothe, whether she is singing traditional gospel, blues standards or her own heartfelt compositions. She is a gifted musician on both mandolin and drums.
The Spaceland Ballroom welcomes Dylan Doyle Band & Fresh Paint on Friday.
As happens in the summer, various venues have the blues. The Kathy Thompson Band will be playing Monday, part of the New Britain Summer Concert series at Walnut Hill Park at 7 p.m.
Smokin’ With Chris has The Coffee Grinders on Saturday. As part of Collinsville Hot 2017, Wilson’s: Pub has the Orb Mellon Trio at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Jake Kulak & the LowDown will be at Dunkin’ Donuts Stadium Friday for a Yardgoats game.
Wednesday, Grayson Hugh & The Moon Hawks will be bringing their special blend of soul, funky roots rock and good-time music to The Madison Beach Hotel, part of the 2017 Grassy Strip Summer Music Series.