The Fury by Antonio Vergara: A Revival of Contemporary Blues

Antonio Vergara has made history by being nominated for the prestigious 2024 GRAMMY® in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, becoming the first Latin American artist to receive a nomination in this legendary category. The Fury not only reaffirms his place as one of the most relevant artists in the genre but also offers a bold and rich proposal that reimagines contemporary blues with a blend of tradition and experimentation that only an artist of his caliber can achieve. This album stands as a masterpiece that captures the essence of blues while pushing it into exciting new territories. With impeccable production and high-level collaborations, The Fury not only stands out for its technical virtuosity but also for its deep emotional connection and ability to resonate with a broad audience.

A Bold Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

Released on August 29 and composed of 13 carefully crafted tracks, The Fury takes listeners on a journey through the deepest roots of blues, while introducing modern and exploratory elements that enrich the sonic experience. Antonio Vergara, renowned for his masterful skills with the electric guitar, lap steel guitar, and resonator, offers a repertoire that feels both intimate and expansive, blending classic influences with a contemporary approach that keeps the genre fresh and relevant.

From the rhythmic intensity of "My Lucky Mojo" to the melodic introspection of "Delta Shine," every song on The Fury is an artistic statement that celebrates the richness of blues. Vergara does not shy away from exploring the emotional complexities of the genre, navigating themes of mysticism, resilience, and rebellion with authenticity that deeply resonates. Tracks like "Superstitions Lead the Way" and "Hoodoo" not only pay homage to the Delta blues traditions but also reinterpret them, presenting them in a new and contemporary light that speaks to the modern listener.

High-Level Collaborations and Exceptional Production

One of the highlights of The Fury is the quality of its collaborations. Vergara surrounds himself with some of the most influential voices in blues and jazz, including Grammy® and Emmy nominees and winners. These collaborations not only add vocal and musical diversity to the album but also elevate each composition, adding layers of richness and complexity that allow each track to shine on its own. This collaborative approach reflects Vergara's ability to weave multiple influences into a cohesive and captivating work.

The production of The Fury is a testament to Antonio Vergara's unwavering commitment to artistic excellence. Working alongside Claudia Correa at AVA Recording Studios, who handled the recording engineering, Vergara has achieved a sound that is both visceral and polished. Correa's mix captures the rawness and soul of the blues while her technical approach ensures exceptional clarity and depth in each track. The synergy between Vergara and Correa is evident in the quality of the album's sound, achieving the perfect balance between raw emotion and technical precision.

A Sonic and Visual Journey

The experience of The Fury extends beyond the auditory, also extending to the visual aspect with artwork that encapsulates the album's energy and intensity. Designed with a vibrant psychedelic style and intricate patterns that recall the mystical symbolism of blues, the cover not only catches the eye but also reflects the bold character and fusion of tradition and modernity that define Antonio Vergara's work. This visual representation invites the listener to fully immerse themselves in the world Vergara has created, a place where the music is not just heard but lived.

Resonance and Relevance in Contemporary Blues

The Fury is more than an album; it is a deep exploration of the human soul through the universal language of blues. Antonio Vergara not only reaffirms his place in the contemporary blues scene but also pushes the boundaries of the genre, offering listeners an experience that is both reflective and liberating. Songs like "The Rebel’s Right" and "No Fear in Heart" capture the duality of blues: the ability to comfort and challenge, to reflect pain and celebrate resilience.

Each track on The Fury is an invitation to explore the emotions that define the human experience, from melancholy to hope, with moments of pure musical catharsis. This album not only stands out for its technical virtuosity and sonic richness but also for its ability to connect emotionally with the listener, offering a window into the depths of blues while celebrating its continued relevance in modern life.

The Fury by Antonio Vergara is a work that honors the roots of blues while challenging its limits, offering a fresh and powerful proposal that stands out in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category for the GRAMMY®. With exceptional production, high-level collaborations, and an artistic vision that balances tradition with innovation, Vergara has created an album that not only sounds exceptional but also leaves a lasting mark on the blues scene. It is a celebration of music in its purest form and a reminder of the transformative power of blues, an invitation for all to discover and appreciate Antonio Vergara’s mastery in The Fury.

 https://antoniovergara.ffm.to/thefury

Blues Icon Rory Block Pays Tribute to Bob Dylan with 20-Minute "Murder Most Foul" Cover on Rough And Rowdy Ways Anniversary

Taking a break from her award-winning Power Women of The Blues series, which has shone a light on women songwriters and performers over her three most recent albums, Rory Block throws her skills as a fingerpicker and traditional blues arranger behind one of the greatly respected leading artists and songwriter of all-time: Bob Dylan. Performing all instruments herself, Rory combines acoustic and slide guitars, as well as drums and acoustic bass, to create a one-of-a kind arrangement of Dylan’s songbook.
 
Today, Block releases her full, 20-minute video of Bob Dylan's epic "Murder Most Foul,” commemorating the 4^th-anniversary of Dylan's seminal album ‘Rough And Rowdy Ways’ from her forthcoming album, ‘Positively 4^th Street, ‘out on June 28 through Stony Plain Records.
 
Originally featured as the centerpiece of Dylan's 2020 album, "Murder Most Foul" is a haunting, sprawling ballad that delves into the cultural landscape of 20th-century America, weaving together references to music, politics, and tragedy. Block's interpretation brings her signature blend of raw emotion and masterful guitar work to Dylan's poetic lyrics, adding her own distinct voice to this modern classic.
 
Rory Block is a Gold-album selling and 7-time Blues Music Award winner, widely regarded as the top female performer of traditional country-blues. Rory’s commitment as a blues preservationist with an ear for finding the soul of every song she performs has rewarded her with accolades from the blues and roots music community.

JUNO Award Winner Blue Moon Marquee Captures The Big Easy Sound With Latest Album ‘New Orleans Sessions’

JUNO Award winning, British Columbia-based Indie Blues duo A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette, best known as Blue Moon Marquee, made huge strides with their highly lauded, critically acclaimed, award-winning album Scream, Holler & Howl. Now the energetic, high-octane tandem are back with a rollicking batch of ridiculously lively toe-tapping originals and covers with New Orleans Sessions.
 
To think such gorgeous, old-school material dazzling with style & infectious spirit could be crafted over two days one year apart is simply amazing. But that's what guitarist/vocalist Cardinal and singer, drummer and upright bassist Colette (aka Badlands Jass) did with New Orleans Sessions. Recorded at Bigtone Studios and surrounded by a stellar cast of New Orleans' finest musicians and engineer (and harmonica player) Big Jon Atkinson. the live, off-the-floor energy throughout is captured perfectly.
 
"These two afternoon recordings were a fine pleasure to experience," the band says. "The musicians we had the good fortune to play with and have style for miles and know how to have a good time all the while. Jon is a true-blue lover and aficionado of the music, and it shows in everything he does, whether his hands are on an instrument or in the back room on the dials. We all sat in one room together & played the music in the truest form"
 
The recording process was as raw and simplistic as you can find. Blue Moon Marquee would "run the song once or twice and hit record, play the song two or three times and that's what you got babe." In an age where AI and computers can make anyone sound like any artist imaginable, Blue Moon Marquee's approach was as pure as you could hope for: "no overdubs, no slick tricks."
 
The result leaves listeners of New Orleans Sessions picking up their jaws off the floor. The opening Memphis Minnie classic “Black Rat Swing" features Colette's sassy, spirited vocal prowess sounding like "Little Miss Dynamite" Brenda Lee while the music would leave you thinking the late legendary Fats Domino was in the adjacent studio jotting down crib notes. Meanwhile Cardinal and Colette are the perfect foils for the call-and-response "Ain't Goin Down," the Leadbelly tune which here blossoms thanks to Danny Abrams' baritone sax and BC Coogan on the upright piano. Drummers Brett Gallow and Nicholas Solnick were also crucial to the sound of New Orleans Sessions.
 
Blue Moon Marquee spent over a decade touring North America and Europe and performing essentially wherever a stage was available, from prisons and hospitals to jazz clubs and festival stages. Cardinal and Colette, originally from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta and Badlands, Alberta, respectively, made huge strides with their fourth album Scream, Holler & Howl.  The album earned them a JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year and swept the 2023 Maple Blues Awards as the band took home Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. They also received a Western Canadian Music award and two Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards.
 
The band is guaranteed to keep that momentum riding with New Orleans Sessions, especially on original material like the rollicking country blues-based "Trickster Coyote" featuring Jon Atkinson on harmonica. The slow but spectacular "What I Wouldn't Do" shines, a tune Blue Moon Marquee describes as " a blues in the key of D about a human being wild in love. Finding the mate to your soul and recognizing the truth in that."
 
Blue Moon Marquee are supporting New Orleans Sessions with concerts through the rest of 2024 and well into 2025 with shows in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan. And judging by just how good this new album is, look for Blue Moon Marquee in bright lights from Nunavut to New Orleans and beyond.
 

LAZARUS HEIGHTS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ‘PAPILLON ‘ALBUM

 

Their first video single topped 3.5k views in the first three weeks of its release;  Lazarus Heights "Lazarus Heights" 

The band comprises singer songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Dick Grisdale, drummer Jeff Gautier, Paul Mouradian on keyboards and bv’s and bassist Simon Pearson.

 

‘Papillon’ is a deeply wrought album full of Grisdale's charismatic presence, real emotion and songcraft.

 

He brings his colourful narratives to life with baritone phrasing which evokes icons such as Jim Morrison, Nick Cave, Jackie Leven, David Bowie and Scott Walker.

“I urge you to buy this album, it is everything that is both good and great about music. Mark under ‘Absolutely essential’! Rock Poser (UK)

 

“Grisdale’s deep and charismatic voice sometimes has Bowie intonations.” France Bleu Perigord.fr 

 

‘Papillon' is a song driven album framed by  a visceral sonic quality, with atmospheric drones, walls of sound and a variety of guitar tones that sometimes recall Paul Kossoff,  David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler.

 

“Papillon’ glistens with lyrical imagery and sonic mastery.” Guitar Door (Ireland).

“A great band and an amazing album.” Eric Schot/ Nite Flite Rock Show (NL)

 

A big sounding rock album with 10 hugely original songs,  the 2 covers, include Jacques Brel’s ‘Next’, given an Alex Harvey treatment.

 

The whole album flows into the closing self-titled anthem ‘Lazarus Heights’, which is an essential statement of what the band is all about.

 

"The mini-epic “Lazarus Heights” ties all these varied strands together in one vertiginous travelogue of a human psyche – a fitting finale for something worth waiting for a score of years. A mighty set.” Let It Rock Canada

 

"The single 'Lazarus Heights' concludes in full majesty this convincing classic rock album, where the boundaries of space and time are abolished. Warmly recommended to any fan of the genre. Paris Move  

 

"Papillon' definitely has that classic rock feel, and commercial radio should surely grasp at some of the tracks that would sound great on late evening radio." Rock The Joint (UK) 

 

Originally formed in 2005 by Dick Grisdale, Lazarus Heights steadily built their profile in the Dordogne area of South West France, before seasoned rock drummer Jeff Gautier joined the band in 2020.

 

Boosted by Gautier’s experience (Calvin Russell, Jean Jacques Goldman and Paul Personne) the band quickly went into the studio to cut the well received 7 track Maxi EP called ‘Strangers’. 'Papillon' is a step up in terms of song and production values, on a big sounding album built on resonant melodies, big hooks and haunting vocals.

Bluesman David Gogo Says “Yeah” to the Rock on Electrifying New Album

Even if a guy has given his life to the blues, there are times when he just can’t resist the primal urge to rock out. Especially when his friends are there to egg him on. That’s where David Gogo finds himself on his new album, YEAH!—a dizzying compendium of career bests that pulses with the kind of energy that only comes from just the right combination of commitment and camaraderie.
 
Song like “One More Day” and “Moose Hall Brawl” have the raw, zealous abandon of a boys’ night out. And that’s the kind of prospect that gets all the more inviting when your boys happen to be some of the greatest players on the Canadian blues scene. Leadoff track “Diamond In The Rough” sets the tone in no uncertain terms, absolutely storming out of the gate with a fiery declaration of passion both musical and lyrical:
 
She’s my sugar, she’s my spice
I still love her when she’s not playing nice
She’s my diamond in the rough
And I can’t get enough of that stuff
She really perks me up
She’s my diamond in the rough
 
“I wanted a good, solid rock and roll song to kick this album off, and I believe that this one delivers,” Gogo says. “I love the fantastic ’70s rock bands like Bad Company and T-Rex, and we had a gas laying this track down!”
 
It sure sounds like it. The track has all the guitar bite of classic FM, with some insanely catchy chants to push it over the finish line into “crowd favorite” territory. Close your eyes, and you can practically see the band’s own heads nodding and their fists pumping between riffs.
 
“I have recorded many albums, worked with many talented people and had a lot of fun, but this album is my favourite to date,” Gogo enthuses. For that, the Nanaimo, BC-based singer/guitarist can thank his decision to leave his comfort zone and travel to snowy Ontario to work at The Ganaraska Recording Co., under the trusted production guidance of fellow Canadian blues great Steve Marriner. Gogo even restricted himself to bringing one guitar of his own, recording the rest of the album on the studio’s collection of vintage axes. With Marriner and fellow blues mainstays Jimmy Bowskill and Gary Craig forming his backup ensemble, Gogo had all the ammo he needed to create something truly special.
 
“This group was a pleasure to create with—top-notch performers and super cool to hang with,” he says. “I feel that the new songs are very strong, and there was such a great vibe in the studio. Though it was a relaxed and supportive environment, we worked at a quick rate and utilized plenty of first or second takes to keep the live energy happening.”
 
The result is 10 tunes that positively quake with power, Gogo’s guitar reaching levels of string-bending expressiveness that need to be heard to be believed on the nine originals and one cover (a shimmying rendition of Shuggie Otis’ “Hurricane” you could absolutely frug to).
 
The whole project is a more-than-worthy addition to a CV that’s already seen its share of highlights. Over the course of his illustrious career, Gogo has been nominated for six JUNO Awards, won Guitarist Of The Year three times at the Maple Blues Awards, been named Musician Of The Year at the West Coast Music Awards, won Blues Recording Of The Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and received the Great Canadian Blues Award  (as voted by the listeners of CBC’s Saturday Night Blues) for his lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada. Whew! And even if you don’t own one of his records, you’ve probably heard his songs in films and on TV, or heard them covered by a panoply of fellow artists like Buddy Guy.
 
Perpetually in demand as a live performer, Gogo has played alongside the likes of BB King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley and Otis Rush. And he’s opened shows for ZZ Top, George Thorogood, The Tragically Hip, Little Feat, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Robin Trower and Wishbone Ash.