Rogers, “Big Bill Broonzy’s “Big Bill Blues,” “Let’s Turn Bac the Years” by Hank Williams, and “Saint Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, this recording is a virtual history lesson in great music of the early 20th Century, Of course, Duke tosses in a few of his own compositions which fit the theme perfectly. Classic songs delivered as only Duke Robillard can deliver them...Walter Trout knows the blues. After coming way to close to shuffling off this mor- tal coil a few years ago, Trout returns stronger and better than ever, kicking ass and taking names with Battle Scars (Provogue). The album kicks off with a true story set to a rockin,’ harp laden blues called “Almost Gone,” speaking directly about his near death. Bookending the song is “Gonna Live Again,” an acoustic-folk-Americana testament to sec- ond chances. In between those two are a set of great songs including choice cuts such as “Cold, Cold Ground,” another song about standing face to face with the grim reaper, telling the angels that he just isn’t ready for that “cold, cold ground.” The music is straight up electric blues and Trout tears the guitar up Stevie Ray style, if you get my drift. Battle Scars is filled with emotionally charged songs that paint a clear picture of the artist and his fight to live. A simply amazingly good album...I have been a fan of Nashville blues man R.B. Stone since I first had him as a guest on The KUDZOO Radio Hour a few years ago, and I was very happy to see his lat- est CD dropped into my in-box. Some Call it Freedom (Some Call it the Blues) (Middle Mountain Music) comes out of the chute kickin’ with some boogie rock called “Hill Country Stomp,” finding Stone rocking the guitar and the blues harp, both with great style. The record is chock full of gold nuggets, from the title track to the awesome “Weapons of Mass Persuasion,” and the rockin’ instru- mental groove of “Nickajack.” “Won’t Stop Rockin’” is a personal favorite, but truth be told, all of the tracks are good. My recom- mendation is pick up a copy of Some Call it
Freedom, grab an adult beverage, get com- fortable and get STONED!.....Long time drummer for David Letterman’s “World’s Most Dangerous Band,” Anton Fig runs through a variety of musical styles with a lot of help from his friends on Figments (Plan- ula). I remember when Anton was the drum- mer for Ace Frehley’s first post-KISS band, Frehley’s Comet, so it was only fitting Fig would enlist Frehley to smoke the guitar on “Know Where You Go,” a rocking groove that features Sebastian Bach on lead vocals. The album is filled with an A-List of players, in- cluding at least two other Letterman alumni, bandleader Paul Schaffer and bassist Will Lee. Blondie Chaplin pulls out the chops on lead vocals on several cuts, as does Ivan Neville on “Inside Out.” One of the best vocals on the record though, came by way of Wood- stock hero, the late Richie Havens singing “More Than Friends.” Obviously, the record has been in production for a while, because another great artist that is no longer with us is on the album, the legendary bassist for Booker T & The MG’s, Donald “Duck” Dunn. Al Kooper sits in, as does Jimmy Vivino, Chip Taylor, Richie Scarlett, Randy Brecker, and even Brian Wilson, along with a list of others. Like a said, “a little help from my friends” was never a truer statement. Great songs, great vocals , rocking guitar, and obviously, damn near perfect drumming...A lot of folks only know Nils Lofgren as a guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, but I remember his band Grin. I loved that band, and I love his solo work as well. On his latest, UK 2015 Face The Music Tour, Nils is joined by Greg Varlotta, pulling out all the stops on a 15-song live set that collects many of his best songs like “New Holes in Old Shoes,” “Goin’ Back,” and “Like Rain.” The guitarist is in top form, having just come off of a world tour with Springsteen and stepping right back onto the plane for a bit of British magic. If you one of those who hasn’t experienced Lofgren per- forming his own music, this one will serve as
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