Kid Ramos - Strange Things Happening

Size: 144.2 MB
Time: 61:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. Strange Things Happening (Feat. Brian Templeton) (4:38)
02. How I Got Over (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:39)
03. I'm Working On A Building (Feat. Brian Templeton) (3:49)
04. Oh, What A Meeting (Feat. Johnny Ramos) (7:09)
05. Jesus Dropped The Charges (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:39)
06. An Answer For Issac (Feat. Brian Templeton) (4:56)
07. God Walks The Dark Hills (Feat. Johnny Ramos) (5:10)
08. Satan's Jeweled Crown (Feat. Brian Templeton & Johnny Ramos) (4:10)
09. Nobody But The Lord (Feat. Brian Templeton) (3:28)
10. Every Grain Of Sand (Feat. Brian Templeton) (6:20)
11. More Love, More Power (Feat. Johnny Ramos & Brian Templeton) (4:54)
12. I'm A Pilgrim (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:43)

Born on January 13, 1959, in Fullerton, CA, blues-rock guitarist David "Kid" Ramos inherited his love of music from his parents, who were both professional opera singers. When his father grew tired of life on the road, he settled down with his family, buying a gas station in Anaheim. One day, when Kid was eight, he bought his son an electric guitar and amplifier from a customer passing through. By his teenaged years, Ramos was playing friend's parties and nightclubs on a regular basis, joining harmonica expert James Harman's blues-based band in 1980 (all its members sported sharkskin suits), playing up and down California alongside such punk bands as X, Oingo Boingo, the Blasters, and the Plimsouls. Kid played with the Harman Band for most of the '80s, until his departure in 1988, and although he filled in as the guitarist for the outfit Roomful of Blues, decided to put his musical career on the backburner to focus on his home life and start a family (for the next seven years, Ramos was employed as a water delivery man).
Eventual
ly though, his desire to play music returned and Ramos formed the Big Rhythm Combo with singer Lynwood Slim (issuing The Big Rhythm Combo in 1994), in addition to releasing his first-ever solo album, Two Hands One Heart, in 1995. The same year, Ramos was invited to join one of his favorite all-time bands, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, at the personal request of their singer, Kim Wilson. Ramos promptly accepted and he returned back to the road. In addition to his work with the T-Birds, Ramos has continued to issue solo albums on a regular basis, including 1999's self-titled sophomore effort, 2000's West Coast House Party, and 2001's Greasy Kid's Stuff. ~Greg Prato

Strange Things Happening MP3
Strange Things Happening FLAC

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Brian Templeton - Live At Bluesiana Rock Cafe (2 CD)

Album: Live At Bluesiana Rock Cafe
Size: 157,0 + 158,7 MB
Time: 67:54 + 68:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front

CD 1:
1. Backstroke (5:47)
2. Oh Baby (6:02)
3. Bloozin' (3:24)
4. You've Gone (9:05)
5. The Reign (5:19)
6. Got Love If You Want It (5:32)
7. Stay Gone (4:31)
8. Sugar Girl (4:06)
9. Buzz Buzz Buzz (3:11)
10. Zing Zing (3:36)
11. Disturb Me (4:25)
12. Virginia (3:33)
13. Shame Shame Shame (5:18)
14. She's My Baby (3:58)

CD 2:
1. Evil Love (6:05)
2. Let Me Down Easy (7:12)
3. Money In Her Pocket (5:20)
4. I Don't Want No Woman (4:41)
5. The Shelf (5:46)
6. And Like That (4:36)
7. Learn To Treat Me Right (4:52)
8. Everything I Do Is Wrong (4:18)
9. My Baby's Gone (5:44)
10. Sick And Tired (5:15)
11. I Know You Know (5:47)
12. I Feel So Good (5:21)
13. Bluesiana Throwdown (3:39)

Sixteen years is probably about the length of time it takes to become an established artist in the blues world; for it is only now that Brian’s talent is being recognised by worldwide audiences and promoters and not solely by his fellow musicians, critics and reviewers. Brian’s career started in Boston in1989; with him joining local musicians at various harmonica jam sessions, it was after these events that he was first offered the chance to play alongside harmonica player Jake Jacobs in his band the Rollercoasters. After spending invaluable time with them he moved on to gain more experience with Little Frankie & the Premiers.

In 1991 he decided to front his own band, The Radio Kings; after entering and subsequently winning the Boston Blues Society ‘Battle of the Bands. The band, as a consequence of this victory, became known to the renowned harmonica player Jerry Portnoy who promptly employed them as his road band and they spent the whole of 1992 travelling across America with him; doing one night stands. In 1994 the band released an album on the Memphis based Icehouse label, on one of the numbers Brian shared vocals with Little Mitlon; this was the breakthrough into Europe that Brian and the band needed and they continued playing and recording until Brian went solo in 2000.

In the intervening years Brian has toured across the world with Otis Grand and Sonny Rhodes as well as releasing two solo albums. Now, with this his third release, a live double album recorded in Velden, Austria on the 18th and 19th of March 2007; He will, I have no doubt capture the musical hearts and minds of a greater number of music lovers. Brian’s harmonica style is never harsh or brash, his sweetly reassuring insistent blowing moves the tunes along at the particular pace they each need to be. His playing style also exhibits hints of Slim Harpo while at the same time exuding a great many examples of the old Chicago sound.

Brian’s vocal similarities to Kim Wilson, of the Fabulous Thunderbirds; contributes a somewhat Texan feel to the proceedings but, this I might add only further enhances the listening pleasure. He is backed throughout the two nights by Enrico Crivellaro; guitar, Luca Tonani; bass, and Lele Zamperini; drums. These gentlemen have backed Brian on most of his recent tours and they gell together so wonderfully, whether they are playing Chicago or Texas Shuffles, Jump, Rocking Blues, New Orleans Strolls, Slowburners or even Rock’n’Roll; they simply ooze class and ferociously burn rubber when required.

Of the twenty seven numbers here for your delectation not one single tune is a filler or throwaway instrumental all of them are serious foot-tappers! The two sets cover Brian’s entire career to date and provide a great insight into a man and his music. A thoroughly engrossing and entertaining album and you don’t hear the audience (except to show their appreciation) spoil your enjoyment once. /Brian Harma, Blues Art Studio

Live At Bluesiana Rock Cafe (2 CD) mc
Live At Bluesiana Rock Cafe (2 CD) zippy

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The Proven Ones - You Ain't Done

Size: 113,4 MB
Time: 48:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Get Love Intro (0:58)
02. Get Love (4:00)
03. Gone To Stay (3:32)
04. You Ain't Done (4:01)
05. Already Gone (4:11)
06. Whom My Soul Loves (5:01)
07. Milinda (4:09)
08. Nothing Left To Give (5:35)
09. She'll Never Know (4:32)
10. I Ain't Good For Nothin' (3:57)
11. Fallen (4:42)
12. Favorite Dress (3:28)

It’s one thing to claim you are “proven,” it’s quite another to have the credentials to back it up. Comprised of five of the most formidable musicians on the blues scene today — guitarist Kid Ramos, vocalist Brian Templeton, keyboardist Anthony Geraci, bassist Willie J. Campbell and drummer Jimi Bott — the band has collectively amassed a slew of accomplishments; dozens of awards won, decades of years playing top-notch music, hundreds of recordings, thousands of hours on the road, and millions of fans worldwide. These five musicians have proven their worth to the world over decades of hard work.

The Proven Ones upcoming album, You Ain’t Done, expands the blues-rock template initially established with their debut effort, Wild Again. The latter garnered a 2019 Blues Music Award Nomination from the Blues Foundation for Best Contemporary Blues Recording and also brought Campbell, Geraci, and Bott individual nominations as well.

The upcoming album finds the band expanding their musical limits and making an even bolder statement. Produced, mixed, and engineered by Bott, and co-produced by the equally legendary Mike Zito, it was recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice, LA (with additional recording at Roseleaf Recording in Portland, OR and Rear Window in Brookline, MA) and features songwriting contributions from each musician in the band.

“We wanted to stretch the boundaries for this record” Templeton explains. “For the most part we are all known as blues musicians, and rightly so, but we love many styles and naturally want to indulge in them as well. I think we’ve accomplished that with this record. There’s rock, soul, country, some Latin influence, a bit of pop, and, dare I say a punk vibe in parts as well. I believe it’s going to break down a few walls.”

That’s evident at the outset, the album starts with a needle drop and a psychedelic preamble to the rockin’ and robust song “Get Love.” The assertive stomp of “Gone to Stay,” “Already Gone,” and “You Ain’t Done” follow suit, with the latter recalling the rock steady groove of bands like Free and Bad Company. There are other, subtler, touches gracing the album as well: the heart-warming “Whom My Soul Loves,” which features a searing lead vocal from special guest Ruthie Foster, and the emphatic yet embracing ballad “Milinda.”

Still, the most touching tune on the album, and the one that resonates in particular with its songwriter, Jimi Bott, is “She’ll Never Know.” Based on a poem written by his sister to her infant daughter, it reflects a very personal perspective.

“When my sister died from substance abuse and mental illness in 2008, she and my niece had not spoken in years; they were estranged, and their rocky relationship was never resolved. The chorus I wrote was my hope of what my sister may have been feeling as she watched from the sidelines while her daughter grew up and became extremely successful. The song captures the melancholy that she was never able to share in or be a part of her daughter’s life. It is, for me, about a mother's love and regret but it can be about so many things to any parent who has been separated from their child for whatever reason.”

Members of TPO hail from bands such as The Fabulous Thunderbird's, The Radio Kings, The Mannish Boys, and Sugar Ray and the Bluetones. The Proven Ones can claim credits on literally hundreds of recordings. They have shared the spotlight with innumerable world class musicians at major music venues across the globe. Together, they make for a potent force all their own. Vivascene declared, “The familiarity between these musicians breeds a feeling of comfortability and a palpable camaraderie… that enhances each and every note they play.” Individually, their respective resumes place them in the upper echelon of contemporary blues players.

You Ain't Done

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The Radio Kings - Money Road

Year: 1998
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:05
Size: 103,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. I Can't Win (4:10)
2. Virginia (3:23)
3. The Shelf (5:06)
4. Leave A Light On (3:52)
5. Thirty Days (2:00)
6. Money In Her Pocket (5:26)
7. My Day Of Reckoning (Has Finally Come) (5:51)
8. Song Of Love (3:14)
9. Disturb Me Baby (3:42)
10. I Can't Let Go (5:18)
11. Money Road (1:58)

If the Radio Kings sound more than a little bit like the Fabulous Thunderbirds, it's more than just the similar instrumentation. T-Bird drummer Fran Christina's brother Bob is the drummer in this band, and singer/harmonica man Brian Templeton sounds so much like Kim Wilson, both vocally and instrumentally, that you have to keep checking the personnel credits in the CD booklet. The final nail in the coffin is Michael Dinallo's expert Jimmie Vaughan imitations on guitar, however unintentional. That said, they nonetheless turn in a disc full of original material that would probably be more impressive if there was an equally original approach applied in presenting it. High spots of the material include "Money In My Pocket", "Virginia", the Lazy Lester soundalike "Disturb Me Baby", "Song of Love" and the title track. /Cub Koda, AllMusic

Money Road mc
Money Road zippy

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Brian Templeton - Bloozin'

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:45
Size: 120.8 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:31] 1. Bloozin'
[4:08] 2. Stay Gone
[4:57] 3. The Reign
[4:02] 4. She's A Pleaser
[7:03] 5. Let Me Down Easy
[3:04] 6. Jean Nine Lives
[4:02] 7. Evil Love
[3:52] 8. Sugar Girl
[3:58] 9. Singin' In My Soul
[5:11] 10. You Aint Coming Home
[5:39] 11. He's A Mighty Good Leader
[4:13] 12. An Answer For Isaac

Well, after six years Brian Templeton has finally released his second CD. On this self-produced, self-released record entitled “Bloozin”, Templeton wanted to do a more solidly Blues based recording and put together what he called the “Dream Team” for the band on this powerhouse recording. The CD features Michael “Mudcat” Ward on Bass and Per Hanson on Drums. Collectively these two musicians have played on hundreds of Blues recordings, backing such legendary artists as James Cotton, Ronnie Earl and Hubert Sumlin, to name a few. On guitars, Templeton once again called on “Monster” Mike Welch and also recruited the great Kid Bangham (Fabulous Thunderbirds) for two guitar attack that really delivers the old school blues sound. Making special appearances are David Maxwell on Piano and Greg Piccolo, founding member and former front-man of the legendary Roomful of Blues on Tenor Sax. Scott Aruda on Trumpet and Travis Colby (of Roomful) on the Hammond B3 round out this killer ensemble.

The disc features 7 songs penned by Templeton and some interesting covers. These include a full out Gospel version of Skip James’ “He’s A Mighty Good Leader” and a take on “Singin In My Soul” made popular by Sister Rosetta Tharpe both of which feature the great backing vocals of Boston favorites “The Family Jewels”. Bloozin’ runs the gamut of a many Blues styles. From Rockin’ Blues to Jump and everything in between, Templeton’s new CD is sure to be a “must have” for Blues fans all over the world.

Bloozin'

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