Steve Dawson- Gone, Long Gone review

Steve Dawson Gone, Long Gone Black Hen Music We all know that guy. He is the coolest in the room. He knows everyone. He is good at everything he does. He looks fresh. Life just comes easy to him, he basks in it, and in the warmth of his admirers’ glow. We hate that guy,…

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Matt Patershuk- An Honest Effort review

Matt Patershuk An Honest Effort Black Hen Music When the Coalition of Alberta Troubadours met last spring to compare pandemic-influenced facial hair, songs, album release plans, and dark liquor, one imagines interesting conversations did unfold. Perhaps Joe Nolan suggested he release his album first, break a bit of heavy trail for the older guys, with…

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Kat Danser- One Eye Open review

Kat Danser One Eye Open BlackHenMusic.com KatDanser.com Edmonton-based, award-winning songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, and all-around force-of-nature Kat Danser returns with a wide-ranging and sometimes swinging collection of electrifying blues music. Previously reviewed HERE and HERE. Danser covers much of what we have come to know as the blues spectrum, and—as she characteristically does —extends herself into…

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Matt Patershuk- If Wishes Were Horses review

Matt Patershuk- If Wishes Were Horses Black Hen Music Succinct review: If your musical heroes are passing on, it is past time to find replacements to keep you vital, hip, and groovy. Start with Matt Patershuk and If Wishes Were Horses. Long-winded essay that really would have benefited from an editor: I attended last month’s…

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Autumn 2019 Blues releases, reviewed

Several fine blues albums have made their way to me these last couple months, and today is the day I finally share my thoughts about them. Apologies to the PR folks, labels, and musicians for the delay. First up: Paul Gabriel Man of Many Blues Smoke Ring Records PaulGabriel.net There are no shortage of blues…

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Harpdog Brown- For Love & Money review

Harpdog Brown For Love & Money DogHouse HarpdogBrown.com A couple months back, blues evangelist Harpdog Brown released an energetic set of New Orleans-influenced jump blues, a true, authentic throwback to and of a previous generation’s music. An outstanding blues harmonica player, Brown’s music has been heard on fine blues radio programs for years, and I…

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Kat Danser- Goin’ Gone review

Kat Danser Goin’ Gone Black Hen Music KatDanser.com “Jumpin’ on the IV and II, hanging on the voodoo groove,” Dr. Kat Danser sings just a few moments into Goin’ Gone, her fifth album and second in a row in partnership with Steve Dawson—and first for his Black Hen label. With the declaration made within “Voodoo…

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Steve Dawson- Lucky Hand review

Steve Dawson Lucky Hand Black Hen Music Immersing myself in Steve Dawson’s impressive catalogue these past weeks, I wasn’t surprised as much reinvigorated by the intensity and diversity of the music he has chosen to create over the past decade and a half. There are certainly commonalities linking his recordings—the quality of his playing, naturally,…

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Matt Patershuk- Same As I Ever Have Been review

Matt Patershuk Same As I Ever Have Been Black Hen Music Don’t accuse Alberta’s Matt Patershuk of resting on laurels well-deserved. While his previous album I Was So Fond of You was one of the finest country albums of 2016—regardless country of origin—this time out La Glace’s great hope has injected a whole lot of…

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Roots Song of the Week: 2014 Polaris Music Prize Edition

[June 20- Since posting this piece on Thursday, the Long List has been announced.  While I have never seen more than three of my initial ballot choices make the Top 40 list, I don’t know if I’ve previously gone 0 for 5; likely, I have. I don’t get offended by this, but I do scratch my head.…

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