Showing posts with label Omar & The Howlers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Omar & The Howlers. Show all posts

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Omar & The Howlers - It Came From The Swamp!

Album: It Came From The Swamp!
Size: 142,9 MB
Time: 61:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues/Roots/Rock mix
Art: Front

1. Mississippi Hoo Doo Man (6:00)
2. Pushin' Fire (4:54)
3. Born On The Bayou (5:53)
4. Party Girl (2:35)
5. Come On, Pretty Baby (2:44)
6. Bad Seed (3:30)
7. Mississippi Queen (4:16)
8. When Sugar Cane Was King (4:58)
9. Green River (3:44)
10. Stone Cold Blues (5:28)
11. Dancing In The Canebrake (4:18)
12. Sugar Ditch (4:59)
13. Dimestore Hoo Doo (Live) (4:08)
14. Gator Man (3:59)

Omar And The Howlers is a Texas based electric blues and blues rock band, and the original Howlers was formed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973. Three years later they moved to Austin, Texas. The band has regularly toured European countries. Led by singer/guitarist Omar Dykes, they are best known for the 1987 album Hard Times in the Land of Plenty which sold over half a million copies and whose title song was a top 20 hit in America.

Omar Kent Dykes grew up in McComb, Mississippi, began playing the guitar at age 12 and started his first band at 13. In his 20s, he gathered a group of musicians who started calling themselves 'The Howlers'. They specialized in frat parties and were a party band, playing music that included both R&B, rock & roll and even the occasional polka and western swing tune. Dykes has said he remembers these days fondly. It was around this time that he started calling himself Omar and developed his penchant for the blues.

In 1976, the Howlers relocated to Austin, Texas, at the time sporting a bustling music scene, home to such up-and-coming artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson. After a year of gigging in Austin, the rest of the band quit, feeling that they were not cut out to play music full-time. As they headed back to Mississippi, Dykes stayed and kept the name. He worked out a new lineup, and recorded the debut album Big Leg Beat for Amazing Records in 1980, just after fellow Austin band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The record was a local hit and was followed by I Told You So.

It was not until 1987, however, when Dykes signed a recording contract with Columbia, that the band would succeed. That year saw the release of Hard Times in the Land of Plenty, that went on to sell over 500,000 copies. The band now consisted of Dykes singing and playing guitar, Bruce Jones on bass, and Wes Starr on drums. Dykes and this rhythm section have been playing together off and on for over 30 years.

Since then, Omar And The Howlers has released around twenty-five albums on Amazing, Austin, Columbia, Antone's, Bullseye Blues, Watermelon, Black Top, Blind Pig, Provogue, Ruf Records, and their current record label, Big Guitar Music. /Wikipedia

It Came From The Swamp! mc
It Came From The Swamp! pixeldrain

Friday, August 22, 2025

Omar & The Howlers - Downtown Boogie

Size: 93.9 MB
Time: 39:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Hideaway (2:57)
02. If Walls Could Talk (1:58)
03. Slow Down (3:04)
04. Grits Ain't Groceries (3:34)
05. Geronimo's Rock (3:00)
06. I Hear You Knockin' (3:13)
07. Money (4:19)
08. Watermelon Man (4:54)
09. Mojo Boogie (4:04)
10. Rootin' And Tootin' (2:42)
11. Hello Operator (2:58)
12. Downtown Boogie (3:12)

Omar Dykes was born in McComb, MS, also the hometown of Bo Diddley, who is one of Omar’s musical heroes. In 1962, he decided he wanted to play the guitar. He started his first band in 1963 and has been playing the blues ever since. Omar joined a successful party band in the 70’s called the Howlers from Hattiesburg, MS, who all moved to Austin, TX in 1976. They played many iconic venues including Armadillo World Headquarters. Their zany performances and tremendous talent earned them the Sunshine Award for the best new band in town. The Howlers soon turned into Omar & the Howlers who became known for their electric blues rock and Omar’s distinct voice sounding like a grizzly bear on steroids. The band recorded their first album, Big Leg Beat in 1980. In 1987, Omar was inducted in the Texas Music Hall of Fame. His name appears on the Summit Street Blues Trail Marker as an artist who contributed to the preservation of the blues as a significant performing musician. Omar and the Howlers toured in 49 states in the USA and globally in over 25 countries from 1978 until 2013. Omar recorded 34 successful releases on various labels, including Big Guitar Music owned by Dykes. Omar has been writing original songs, playing the blues, and performing for 54 years. He is currently working on new studio recordings, following the successful release in 2023, What’s Buggin’ You?. Buggin’ You made the Billboard top 15 blues releases and top selling blues record on Amazon.

Downtown Boogie MP3
Downtown Boogie FLAC

Friday, January 10, 2025

Omar & The Howlers - Rhythm And Western

Album: Rhythm And Western
Size: 105,8 MB
Time: 45:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues/R&B/Rock
Art: Front

1. Can't Get No Grindin' (2:14)
2. Pipeline (2:42)
3. Long Distance Call (3:30)
4. Ida Red (2:34)
5. Happy Joe Philco (3:25)
6. On The Road Again (2:00)
7. Petticoat Junction (2:08)
8. Boom Boom Out Go The Lights (2:16)
9. Louisiana Woman (2:26)
10. I Got My Mojo Workin' (3:19)
11. Alabama Jubilee (1:54)
12. An RC Cola And A Moon Pie (3:06)
13. Linin' Track/Move Up To The Country (4:03)
14. Juke (4:01)
15. I Think I'll Start Walkin' (2:00)
16. Fraulein (2:06)
17. Rock & Roll Music (1:56)

With about 70 country music bands now living in Austin, it often is difficult to find space to pay tribute to talented newcomers. One band I've neglected is The Howlers. This group is so good that often I can't believe what I'm hearing is really true. The Howlers may be the best to move here since Asleep at the Wheel. They play every type of music exceptionally well and are so versatile they remind me of the old saying about Texas weather. If you don't like the type of music they are playing, just stick around for a few minutes, for it's bound to change.

They call it "rhythm and western" and "aggressive country". The Howlers, led by the antics of Kent Dykes, are energetic showmen. Each member is an exceptionally talented musician, and Tommy "Six Dollar" Conner is absolutely amazing when he leaves his piano to play with skill the saxophone, accordion, trombone, bass, steel guitar, or harmonica. However, the real strength of the group is in their intriguing musical arrangements. They are imaginative and tight, and The Howlers execute them superbly. /Townsend Miller, The Austin American Statesman June 30, 1976

Rhythm And Western mc
Rhythm And Western gofile

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Omar & The Howlers - Aggressive Country

Album: Aggressive Country
Size: 109,3 MB
Time: 46:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues/Country/R&B
Art: Front

1. Little Woman (2:01)
2. Last Of The Hub City Cowboys (1:55)
3. Brain Cloudy Blues (3:41)
4. Haunted House (2:40)
5. Black Mountain Rag (1:59)
6. I Can't Change It (3:02)
7. Sittin' On Top Of The World (3:48)
8. Bonanza (1:25)
9. Sunshine Collard Greens Commercial (0:44)
10. Saturday Night Fish Fry (2:29)
11. Beer Barrel Polka (1:43)
12. Deep River Blues (3:14)
13. Mama Don't Allow (3:27)
14. Promised Land (2:57)
15. Chicken Fried Joe (3:40)
16. Cassima (3:16)
17. A Change Is Gonna Come (4:41)

With about 70 country music bands now living in Austin, it often is difficult to find space to pay tribute to talented newcomers. One band I've neglected is The Howlers. This group is so good that often I can't believe what I'm hearing is really true. The Howlers may be the best to move here since Asleep at the Wheel. They play every type of music exceptionally well and are so versatile they remind me of the old saying about Texas weather. If you don't like the type of music they are playing, just stick around for a few minutes, for it's bound to change.

They call it "rhythm and western" and "aggressive country". The Howlers, led by the antics of Kent Dykes, are energetic showmen. Each member is an exceptionally talented musician, and Tommy "Six Dollar" Conner is absolutely amazing when he leaves his piano to play with skill the saxophone, accordion, trombone, bass, steel guitar, or harmonica. However, the real strength of the group is in their intriguing musical arrangements. They are imaginative and tight, and The Howlers execute them superbly. /Townsend Miller, The Austin American Statesman June 30, 1976

(Note: Haven't been able to find any proper review for this album, or any specific info on when the recordings on this compilation are from. Did however find the text above which I guess might be from around the time when these recordings were made.)

Aggressive Country mc
Aggressive Country gofile

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Omar & The Howlers - Magic Man (2 CD)

Album: Magic Man
Size: 122,9 + 110,9 MB
Time: 53:14 + 48:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues-rock, rock
Art: Front, back

CD 1:
1. Wall Of Pride (3:41)
2. Don't Lead Me On (4:09)
3. Loud Mouth Woman (4:17)
4. Down In Mississippi (5:14)
5. Border Girl (3:35)
6. Dancing In The Canebrake (4:30)
7. Modern Man (2:30)
8. Omar's Shuffle (5:24)
9. East Side Blues (5:50)
10. Hoy! Hoy! Hoy! (3:04)
11. Too Much (3:50)
12. Dimestore Hoo Doo (4:02)
13. Hide Away (3:02)

CD 2:
1. Green River (5:52)
2. Funky Time (4:28)
3. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (3:40)
4. Bad Seed (3:50)
5. Rattlesnake Shake (4:35)
6. Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty (6:09)
7. Magic Man (10:59)
8. Rock 'N' Roll Ball (8:35)

Omar Dykes stopped touring and recording in 2017 due to issues with the use of his arms. He is now returning to the studio and hopefully with tour again. His new album, also released in 2023, is paired up with this live show from Germany in 1989 as his and the band’s newest albums.

The band for the live show is Omar Dykes on vocals and guitar, John Immon on guitar, Bruce Jones on bass and Gene Brandon on drums. Recorded live at the “Modernes” in Bremen, Germany on February 9, 1989, Dykes and company put on a rocking good time that was captured in this two-CD set. This version of the band was his ensemble for most of that era when they played to packed houses and festivals in Scandinavia and all over Europe. They became the darlings of the music scene across the pond, and did many a tour to the delight of their European fans.

Omar and the Howlers are a party waiting to happen. High energy, rocking tunes and the signature Dykes growling vocals that he likens to a grizzly bear on steroids are trademarks of the band and something that drew and continues to draw in their fans to listen to their music. This is a great album of a show from 25 years ago that is still sounding as hot and fresh as it did in 1989! /Excerpt from review by Steve Jones, Blues Blast Magazine

Magic Man (2 CD) mc
Magic Man (2 CD) gofile

Monday, June 17, 2024

Omar & The Howlers - Uneasy Listening (1974-1978)

Album: Uneasy Listening
Size: 123,9 MB
Time: 53:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues/Roots/Rock & Roll
Art: Front

1. Tennessee Traveler (2:08)
2. I've Been Born Again (3:58)
3. Forgotten Words (3:53)
4. 30 Days (2:47)
5. You Make Me Feel Bad (1:52)
6. Jimmie's Texas Blues (3:51)
7. You Can't Catch Me (3:13)
8. Battle Of New Orleans Orange Blossom Special (3:08)
9. Howlers Fried Chicken Commercial (1:22)
10. Yellow Coat (3:07)
11. How Do You Feel (4:33)
12. Tilt (3:13)
13. Oh, Pretty Woman (3:31)
14. The Uncle Willie (2:59)
15. Honky Tonk (2:52)
16. Jim (1:49)
17. Louisiana 1927 (5:02)

Omar And The Howlers is a Texas based electric blues and blues rock band, and the original Howlers was formed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973. Three years later they moved to Austin, Texas. The band has regularly toured European countries. Led by singer/guitarist Omar Dykes, they are best known for the 1987 album Hard Times in the Land of Plenty which sold over half a million copies and whose title song was a top 20 hit in America.

Omar Kent Dykes grew up in McComb, Mississippi, began playing the guitar at age 12 and started his first band at 13. In his 20s, he gathered a group of musicians who started calling themselves 'The Howlers'. They specialized in frat parties and were a party band, playing music that included both R&B, rock & roll and even the occasional polka and western swing tune. Dykes has said he remembers these days fondly. It was around this time that he started calling himself Omar and developed his penchant for the blues.

In 1976, the Howlers relocated to Austin, Texas, at the time sporting a bustling music scene, home to such up-and-coming artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson. After a year of gigging in Austin, the rest of the band quit, feeling that they were not cut out to play music full-time. As they headed back to Mississippi, Dykes stayed and kept the name. He worked out a new lineup, and recorded the debut album Big Leg Beat for Amazing Records in 1980, just after fellow Austin band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The record was a local hit and was followed by I Told You So.

It was not until 1987, however, when Dykes signed a recording contract with Columbia, that the band would succeed. That year saw the release of Hard Times in the Land of Plenty, that went on to sell over 500,000 copies. The band now consisted of Dykes singing and playing guitar, Bruce Jones on bass, and Wes Starr on drums. Dykes and this rhythm section have been playing together off and on for over 30 years.

Since then, Omar And The Howlers has released around twenty-five albums on Amazing, Austin, Columbia, Antone's, Bullseye Blues, Watermelon, Black Top, Blind Pig, Provogue, Ruf Records, and their current record label, Big Guitar Music. /Wikipedia

Uneasy Listening mc
Uneasy Listening gofile

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Omar & The Howlers - What's Buggin' You?

Size: 254 MB
Time: 42:52
File: Flac
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues/Rock
Art: Front

1. Bad Monkey (3:26)
2. When Push Comes To Shove (2:36)
3. Clarksdale, Mississippi (7:00)
4. Gator Man (Feat. Greg Martin) (3:59)
5. Crackin' Up (2:49)
6. Lone Star Boogie (3:49)
7. Thousand Pound Gorilla (3:43)
8. The Runnin' Man (3:49)
9. Hidin' Out In Memphis (5:34)
10. Lover Man (2:52)
11. No Peace In The City (3:09)

Omar Kent Dykes finally returns with What's Buggin' You?, his first since 2017 when he contracted a muscle disease in both arms that prevented him from playing guitar. In May, he was able to go back to the studio to record 10 original songs and one cover, "Crackin' Up" by Bo Diddley (coincidentally both from McComb, Mississippi-maybe it's the water). Somewhat recovered, Omar was able to play guitar on four tracks and harp on another but he still sings up a storm. The ever-evolving Howlers this time around are the stellar Eve Monsees on lead guitar, longtime Howler Jason Crisp on bass, Mike Buck (LeRoi Brothers, Fabulous Thunderbirds) on drums, and engineer Nico Leophonte from Alnico Recording Studio on percussion. Omar calls this his "man and beast" record because of the titles of the songs. "Lover Man" was on Blues Bag (1991), but Omar plays it this time as a shuffle. "Gator Man" is a swampy new song that features Greg Martin from the Kentucky Headhunters on guitar.

What's Buggin' You? FLAC

Friday, April 14, 2023

Omar & The Howlers - Classic Live Performances, Vol. 4: 1990's

Size: 212.9 MB
Time: 90:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Magic Man (Live) (7:07)
02. Tonight I Think Of You (Live) (3:20)
03. Mississippi Hoo Doo Man (Live) (4:38)
04. Loud Mouth Woman (Live) (4:30)
05. Monkey Land (Live) (5:01)
06. She's A Woman (Live) (3:17)
07. Next Big Thing (Live) (4:05)
08. East Side Blues (Live) (5:06)
09. Carol (Live) (3:32)
10. Born On The Bayou (Live) (5:53)
11. Big Town Shakedown (Live) (5:03)
12. Ding Dong Clock (Live) (3:23)
13. Can't Get No Grindin' (Live) (3:55)
14. Rock'n'roll Ball (Live) (2:15)
15. Sleeping In The Ground (Live) (5:03)
16. Rattlesnake Shake (Live) (4:07)
17. Fire In The Jungle (Live) (4:22)
18. I'm Gone (Live) (3:38)
19. Tribute To Elmore (Live) (6:47)
20. Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty (Live) (5:16)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (a 1997 reissue of 1990's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. ~Richard Skelly

Classic Live Performances, Vol. 4: 1990's MP3
Classic Live Performances, Vol. 4: 1990's FLAC

Friday, March 31, 2023

Omar & The Howlers - Classic Live Performances, Vol. 3: 1990's

Size: 208.3 MB
Time: 88:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Harmonic Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Gotta Good Friend (2:30)
02. Big Round World (4:05)
03. Border Girl (3:57)
04. Who Do You Love (4:18)
05. Blues In A Bottle (6:28)
06. Dime Store Hoo Doo (4:06)
07. Wine Headed Woman (4:36)
08. I'm Gone (4:10)
09. Come On Pretty Baby (3:07)
10. Big Legs (5:30)
11. Special Love (6:21)
12. Cutie Named Judy (3:45)
13. You Ain't Foolin' Nobody (2:38)
14. Loud Mouth Woman (5:43)
15. Magic Man (6:17)
16. Sleeping In The Ground (6:16)
17. Give Me Back My Wig (3:25)
18. Leave Here Running (4:05)
19. Rattlesnake Shake (7:28)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (a 1997 reissue of 1990's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. ~Richard Skelly

Classic Live Performances, Vol. 3: 1990's MP3
Classic Live Performances, Vol. 3: 1990's FLAC

Friday, March 3, 2023

Omar & The Howlers - Classic Live Performances, Vol. 2: 1990's

Size: 165.2 MB
Time: 70:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Mississippi Hoo Doo Man (Live) (4:54)
02. Automatic (Live) (3:20)
03. In The Open (Live) (3:01)
04. Red House (Live) (5:59)
05. Ice Cold Woman (Live) (3:58)
06. Big Chief Pontiac (Live) (2:45)
07. Highway 49 (Live) (3:42)
08. Old Man Down The Road (Live) (3:35)
09. Can't Sit Down (Live) (3:28)
10. Rainin' In My Heart (Live) (4:21)
11. Cave Man Rock (Live) (2:59)
12. 55Th Street Boogie / 44 Blues (Live) (5:55)
13. Green River (Live) (3:43)
14. Mojo Boogie (Live) (4:01)
15. Big Boss Man (Live) (3:01)
16. Monkey Land (Live) (6:07)
17. Wham (Live) (2:50)
18. Rock 'n Roll Ball (Live) (3:02)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (a 1997 reissue of 1990's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. ~Richard Skelly

Classic Live Performances, Vol. 2: 1990's MP3
Classic Live Performances, Vol. 2: 1990's FLAC

Friday, February 10, 2023

Omar & The Howlers - Classic Live Performances, Vol. 1: 1990's

Size: 164.6 MB
Time: 70:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Shake For Me (Live) (2:28)
02. Loud Mouth Woman (Live) (3:37)
03. East Side Blues (Live) (5:36)
04. Magic Man (Live) (6:20)
05. Don't Say That No More (Live) (3:20)
06. Born On The Bayou / Susie Q (Live) (7:27)
07. Rattlesnake Shake (Live) (4:36)
08. Midnight Ramblin' Man (Live) (3:20)
09. Purple Haze (Live) (2:49)
10. Little Wheel (Live) (3:43)
11. South Congress Blues (Live) (4:40)
12. Killin' Floor (Live) (3:44)
13. Border Girl (Live) (3:13)
14. Rawhide (Live) (2:37)
15. Down In Mississippi (Live) (5:26)
16. Cutie Named Judy (Live) (2:24)
17. Shame Shame Shame (Live) (4:39)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (a 1997 reissue of 1990's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. ~Richard Skelly

Classic Live Performances, Vol. 1: 1990's MP3
Classic Live Performances, Vol. 1: 1990's FLAC

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Omar & The Howlers - Monkey Land

Album: Monkey Land
Size: 97,2 MB
Time: 41:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1990
Styles: Blues-rock, rock
Art: Full

1. Monkey Land (4:37)
2. Tonight I Think Of You (2:54)
3. Big Town Shakedown (5:04)
4. She's A Woman (3:03)
5. Fire In The Jungle (4:04)
6. Night Shadows (5:11)
7. Modern Man (2:34)
8. Loud Mouth Woman (3:19)
9. Dirty People (3:00)
10. Ding Dong Clock (3:24)
11. Next Big Thing (4:32)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (1997's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. /Biography by Richard Skelly, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Monkey Land mc
Monkey Land zippy

Friday, January 28, 2022

Omar & The Howlers - Live At The Opera House Austin, Texas, August 30, 1987

Size: 116.6 MB
Time: 49:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Texas Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Mississippi Hoo Doo Man (4:43)
02. Don't You Know (4:11)
03. You Ain't Foolin' Nobody (2:42)
04. Big Legs (3:57)
05. Dancing In The Canebrake (4:18)
06. Don't Rock Me The Wrong Way (3:30)
07. Lee Anne (7:18)
08. Same Old Grind (4:03)
09. Shadow Man (4:46)
10. Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty (4:08)
11. Rock And Roll Ball (6:07)

Omar Dykes tears it up big-time on this marvelous live outing. Pulling tunes largely from his then-current Hard Times in the Land of Plenty album, Dykes and his band deliver the goods with loads of panache and attitude for a hometown crowd hanging on every note. Dykes' voice is poised somewhere between Howlin' Wolf and Bob Seger, while his guitar style is a Texas version of John Fogerty's work with Creedence, but the sound he produces out of all this is totally unique. The disc is loaded with solid Dykes originals like "Mississippi Hoo Doo Man," "Same Old Grind," "Hard Times in the Land of Plenty," and a wild encore performance of Jerry McCain's "Rock'n'Roll Ball." One great little package. ~Cub Koda

Live At The Opera House Austin, Texas, August 30, 1987 MP3
Live At The Opera House Austin, Texas, August 30, 1987 FLAC

Monday, May 10, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Bamboozled: Live In Germany

Size: 170,5 MB
Time: 74:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Front, tray

1. Shake For Me (2:22)
2. Mississippi Hoo Doo Man (5:17)
3. Bamboozled (4:59)
4. East Side Blues (6:03)
5. Magic Man (6:00)
6. South Congress Blues (5:56)
7. Boogie Man (4:31)
8. Muddy Springs Road (4:54)
9. That's Just My Life (3:48)
10. Snake Oil Doctor (6:10)
11. Bad Seed (3:03)
12. Wall Of Pride (3:12)
13. Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty (4:15)
14. Monkey Land (6:54)
15. Rock N' Roll Ball (6:31)

Mississippi-born but Texas-based Omar Kent Dykes understands a fundamental fact about modern electric blues. He knows there are only a handful of rhythms and themes in the blues grab bag, and he uses them all over and over again in slightly different guises. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The blues has lasted this long because it's supposed to sound like the blues, and if you stretch it too far you end up with something like prog rock. It is this fundamental conservatism of the blues and its limited palette that has kept the form alive long after its colorful offspring (R&B, soul, rock & roll etc.) have flown the roost, taking a large part of the audience with them. But Omar understands all this. He has had a 30-year career playing these rhythms, and he knows how to keep it all simple, direct, and powerful, and how to build new songs out of the fabric of the old songs without destroying their familiarity.

Bamboozled, a live set recorded at the Musa in Gottingen, Germany on October 20, 2005, finds Omar & the Howlers looking back over that 30 years of bars, sheds, and studios and hitting some of the high points. The opener, "Shake for Me," pretty much sets the tone with its gritty and overdriven guitar tone and harsh, ragged vocals that sound a bit like Wolfman Jack fronting a Texas blues trio. Omar slows things down for a couple of tracks here, like "East Side Blues" and the resonant "South Congress Blues," but pretty much the Howlers keep things chugging at a brisk pace as Omar trots out the Bo Diddley rhythm for "Magic Man," dips into the John Lee Hooker bag of rhythm tricks for his tribute to Hooker, "Boogie Man," continually recycling the history of the blues into a solid, 70-some minute example of what a modern blues band does.

A clear highlight is the ominous, swampy realism of "Muddy Springs Road," which is informed by Omar's childhood memories growing up in McComb, MS, and it is easily one of the best songs he's ever written, bringing the personal and autobiographical to the familiar rhythmic structure of the blues. This is what the best blues is supposed to do: locate the personal within a familiar framework that everyone - band and audience - understands. If Omar has a fault as a writer, it is that he doesn't do this enough, all too often falling prey to the easy clichés that seem to be part and parcel of the blues. Keeping things fresh while still keeping things familiar inside a tradition is a hard thing to do. On "Muddy Springs Road," Omar & the Howlers walk that line perfectly. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

Bamboozled: Live In Germany mc
Bamboozled: Live In Germany zippy

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Big Delta

Size: 118,9 MB
Time: 51:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Electric blues, blues-rock
Art: Full

1. Linin' Track (1:45)
2. Monkey Land (4:20)
3. Muddy Springs Road (4:43)
4. Life Without End (5:01)
5. Bad Seed (3:30)
6. Wall Of Pride (3:39)
7. Pushin' Fire (5:54)
8. Mississippi Queen (4:15)
9. Mystery Walk (4:06)
10. Low Down Dirty Blues (4:52)
11. Caveman Rock (3:09)
12. Conversation Mambo (5:56)

Now on his 14th release for approximately ten different labels, Texan Omar Dykes keeps the faith by re-recording some of his better tracks, and adding a few new covers. While it looks on paper to be treading water, this is really one of the band's strongest releases, since the material - which has often been inconsistent - is top-notch, and the new Howlers are a crack unit with impeccable chops. Omar attacks and rearranges these songs with the experience of having played them for years, in many cases making these versions more definitive than the originals, an unusual occurrence when an artist revisits his own work.

Whether taking "Muddy Springs Road" down to the swamp and saturating the tune with greasy acoustic slide guitar or rescuing the slow blues of "Life Without You" from obscurity while singing it with crying emotional intensity, this makes a case for Dykes as one of the most talented and least recognized contemporary bluesmen. There are a few missteps; the band's plodding version of Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" adds nothing to the original, other than proving how much Omar's voice sounds like Leslie West's, and the Bob Seger-isms of the simplistic rock & roller "Caveman Rock" seem forced and stilted.

But it's great to hear terrific older tracks like "Bad Seed" and "Wall of Pride" redone with restraint and class. Dykes is in fine voice throughout, growling and howling with raspy delight, a combination of Howlin' Wolf and John Fogerty wading through the muddy southern river banks. Since as of 2002 there was no comprehensive, multi-label Omar collection available (and with the different imprints he recorded for, one does not seem likely), this fills the bill just fine as a greatest hits compilation. Those who want a taste of the deep, moody, growling blues-rock of Omar & the Howlers should start here. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Big Delta mc
Big Delta zippy

Friday, April 16, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Big Leg Beat

Size: 77,9 MB
Time: 33:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1980
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. Caledonia (2:44)
2. Someday Baby (3:09)
3. Blues Parcel Post (3:30)
4. Diesel Don Juan (2:23)
5. St. Louis Bound (2:54)
6. Hoy Hoy Hoy (3:38)
7. I Don't Know Why (2:26)
8. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing (5:46)
9. Roadrunner (2:15)
10. Up The Line (2:28)
11. Big Brown Shoes (2:05)

Omar and the Howlers' first release from 1980 is being revived as the initial big band sound of the group. Featuring a horn section with Hugh Garroway, Bill Averbach, and Craig Simecheck, this album includes the five original Howlers: Omar Dykes, Gerry ''Phareaux'' Felton, Bruce Jones, Richard Price, and Wes Starr. Recorded in Dallas and originally on Amazing Records, this release contains four original songs written by Omar Dykes. This collection includes Roadrunner by Bo Diddley, which eventually became one of Omar's signature sounds. The combination of tracks by Omar's musical heroes with his own original songs makes this release a must have for Omar fans. /Amazon

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Big Leg Beat mc
Big Leg Beat zippy

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Muddy Springs Road

Size: 96,2 MB
Time: 41:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995/2005
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. Muddy Springs Road (4:01)
2. Black Bottom (4:22)
3. Midnight Ramblin' Man (3:04)
4. Hoo Doo Ball (4:24)
5. Life Is Just A Circle (3:26)
6. Life Without You (4:07)
7. Exactly What I Thought She'd Do (3:42)
8. Everywhere I Go (4:08)
9. Get Hip (3:11)
10. Hurry, Hurry (3:39)
11. Dangerous Man (3:11)

Muddy Springs Road, originally released in 1995 on Watermelon Records, was the album in which Omar Kent Dykes finally started putting everything together, opening up his sound with additional players, including harmonica ace Gary Primich and session drummer George Rains, while at the same time reining in his vocal excesses and writing solid, autobiographical songs like the two that lead off this album, "Muddy Springs Road" and "Black Bottom." Both songs draw on Dykes' childhood impressions growing up in McComb, MS, and both give off an ominous, swampy glow that gains emotional nuance from Dykes' gruff, raspy vocals, which sound at times like Wolfman Jack fronting a blues band - which isn't a bad thing at all. Unfortunately, the rest of the album, with the exception of the Bo Diddley pastiche "Hoo Doo Ball," doesn't carry the same kind of emotional wallop, and while everything is solid and professional sounding, it is the first two tracks that cast their tones over this album. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

Muddy Springs Road mc
Muddy Springs Road zippy

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Wall Of Pride

Size: 98,0 MB
Time: 42:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988
Styles: Blues-rock, rock
Art: Full

1. Wall Of Pride (3:19)
2. Rattlesnake Shake (3:42)
3. Don't Lead Me On (3:48)
4. Rock It While You Can (4:17)
5. Down In Mississippi (4:37)
6. Movin' (4:37)
7. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (3:54)
8. Bad Seed (3:19)
9. King's Ransom (3:36)
10. Dimestore Hoo Doo (3:36)
11. Meet Me Down At The River (3:32)

Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer/songwriter Omar Kent Dykes fits the stereotypical image some have of an American blues musician: he's tall, wears cowboy boots, and has a deep voice with a Southern accent. But although Dykes looks rough and tough, he's actually an incredibly peaceful and intelligent musician, and a veteran at working a crowd in a blues club or a festival. While Dykes has a sizable American audience owing to his albums for Columbia Records, he has spent a good portion of his touring years at festivals and clubs around Europe.

Omar Kent Dykes was born in 1950, in McComb, Mississippi, the same town from which Bo Diddley hailed. He first set foot into neighborhood juke joints at age 12 and after he'd been playing guitar for a while, he went back into the juke joints. After graduating from high school, Dykes lived in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Mississippi for a few years before relocating to Austin in 1976. He'd heard the blues scene in Texas was heating up. At that time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was still playing with Paul Ray & the Cobras. By the early '80s, Omar & the Howlers had gained a solid reputation for their invigorating live shows. They also released two albums on independent labels, Big Leg Beat (1980), followed four years later by I Told You So.

Dykes was truly one of a kind, a fact Columbia Records recognized in the mid-'80s when they signed Omar & the Howlers. Unfortunately, it was a fleeting relationship at best. After releasing Hard Times in the Land of Plenty (1987) and Wall of Pride (1988), the band was dropped when the company was bought by Sony. While it was inconvenient, it didn't stop Dykes, and his output continued to be nothing short of extraordinary. Starting in 1991, Omar & the Howlers recorded three discs for Rounder/Bullseye Blues: Live at Paradiso (1991), followed by Blues Bag and Courts of Lulu (both in 1992). In 1995, they switched to the Austin-based Watermelon Records and released Muddy Springs Road (1995), World Wide Open (1996), and Southern Style (1997).

After 15 years of dealing with record contracts, Dykes needed a break from being tied down to one particular label for any length of time. Since then, he and the Howlers have released excellent discs on Discovery (1997's Monkey Land), Black Top (1999's Swing Land), Blind Pig (2002's Big Delta), and Ruf Records (2004's Boogie Man). A live set recorded in Germany, Bamboozled, appeared from Ruf Records in 2006. /Biography by Richard Skelly, AllMusic

Wall Of Pride mc
Wall Of Pride zippy

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Southern Style

Size: 112,4 MB
Time: 48:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Full

1. Ton Of Blues (3:37)
2. I Want You (3:25)
3. Snake Rhythm Rock (3:59)
4. Bessie Mae (3:14)
5. Full Moon On Main Street (4:52)
6. Pot Of Gold (3:12)
7. You Keep Watchin' Me (3:19)
8. Run For The Levee (4:18)
9. Burn It To The Ground (3:49)
10. Judgement Day (3:45)
11. Angel Blues (6:51)
12. Think It's Time To Go (4:10)

Omar shakes up the Howlers' lineup yet again for Southern Style, yet the changes don't affect his sound much at all. Working with guitarist Stephen Bruton, bassist Paul Junior, drummer Steve Kilmer, percussionist Mark Hallman and organist Nick Connolly, Omar Dykes kicks out a set of swampy blues-rock that alternates between New Orleans grunge and tight Memphis grooves. Though the band sounds great, the lack of compelling material means Southern Style isn't appealing to anyone but specialists. /Thom Owens, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Southern Style mc
Southern Style gofile

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Omar & The Howlers - Swing Land

Size: 107,2 MB
Time: 46:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Blues, jump blues
Art: Full

1. Mr. Blues Is Coming To Town (3:11)
2. Ain't That Just Like A Woman (5:30)
3. Hit The Road Jack (3:52)
4. Yellow Coat (3:01)
5. Don't Lose Your Cool (2:55)
6. Work Song (4:04)
7. So Mean To Me (2:43)
8. Going Up To The Country (4:36)
9. That's Your Daddy Yaddy Yo (4:08)
10. Quiet Whiskey (2:33)
11. One Room Country Shack (5:08)
12. Alligator Wine (4:18)

One doesn't recall Omar & the Howlers as a straight-out jump blues combo, but it looks as if they're on the bandwagon with this CD. Omar Dykes has a squirrelly voice that falls between sandpaper gruff and churlish shouting, a cross twixt Dr. John and Howlin' Wolf. Help from the capable Howlers, big-time backup from saxophonists David "Fathead" Newman and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff and harmonica whiz Gary Primich on three cuts gives Omar, who also plays guitar throughout, all the support and inspiration he needs. As much as the band does predictably jump and swing hard on the majority of these cuts, there's always a surprise.

Obvious choices like "Hit the Road Jack," "Just Like a Woman," and the hardest swinger "So Mean to Me" come naturally. Taj Mahal's loping "Going up to the Country" is one that fits Omar's range perfectly, and he really cops "the Wolf" on "Yellow Coat." The most daring move is his singing the Oscar Brown, Jr. lyrics to Nat Adderley's "Work Song" with the saxophonists trading licks nicely, or Charles Brown's lesser-known upbeat flag-waver "That's Your Daddy Yaddy-O." An instrumental version of the famous Albert Collins number "Don't Lose Your Cool" really cooks, Omar and Derek O'Brien on electric six strings working out.

And they do return to their straight blues base on the final two cuts, Primich standing up firmly and wailing on "One Room Country Shack," the band getting down right dirty and nasty on "Alligator Wine." "Swing Land" has lots of teeth and the bite to match. It's sincere, authentic, well played, and represents better than a lot of the phony swing bands copying songs and well-worn riffs. /Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Swing Land mc
Swing Land zippy