Out of nothing comes something ! Every band goes through it. Sweating and grooving to empty chairs and a barmaid who just wants to go home … The learning curve and the classroom for many a band as they climb their way to The Montreal Jazz Festival and Tremblant Blues Festival. Not only did The Ghost Town Blues Band accomplish the above – they also … Continue reading Tremblant Blues Festival – No ‘Ghost Town’ for This Blues Band
You can decipher the title if you want to but if your friends can’t decipher the title – they are no friends of mine … Men without Hats energized Club Soda on July 2nd as part of Le Festival International de Jazz even though the beginning was short circuited. As the familiar sounds and moves of the 1982 smash hit ‘Safety Dance‘ grabbed anyone within … Continue reading Jazz Festival Review- The Triumphant Return of ‘The Hat-less People’.
Steve Hill and Matt Andersen are ‘Brothers from other Mothers.’ Friends offstage, the pair have appeared together a few times guesting on each other’s shows. Friday at the Jazz Festival, the duo were an opening act for Charlie Musslewhite and Buddy Guy. Opened they did ! Andersen Commencing with Hill’s ‘Tough Luck’ from the album Solo Recordings Volume One, Andersen complemented Hill and Vice versa. Or, versa -vice. ‘You … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Reviews; Hill, Andersen, Musslewhite and Guy – A Night of Blues.
Legendary is an understatement. Buddy Guy is the last Blues guy. Last meaning one of very few who learned from the masters firsthand. Crafting his skills from the likes of B.B. King, T Bone Walker, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Live and in person. Live in studio. Buddy will be performing tonight as part of a triple bill with Charlie … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Preview;Buddy Guy
What is there to be said about Melissa Etheridge that has not been said before? Melissa is a poster woman for so many causes and inspirational platforms; to list them here would be unfair to the ones we don’t know about. A woman of song and a woman with song. A marriage profound in it’s roots and very apparent in her latest album; ‘Memphis … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Preview; Melissa Etheridge
It ain’t easy being green. It ain’t easy being a Whitehorse in what can sometimes be – a muddy puddle. Melissa and Luke have conquered the beginnings of a music career. Their outfit – Whitehorse, have gained critical success in a few short years. Stagnation can be anyone’s enemy, especially artists. The need to create and be fresh – essential to a lifespan in … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Preview; Whitehorse
One day you are just a ‘guitar player’ trying to get work and the next day – your entire life changes. Playing with Bryan Ferry will do that sorta thing … ‘Quist’ is living the dream as he is learning something everyday that he is on tour with Ferry – the master of creating spaces. It was Ferry’s inspiration that egged Quist into doing his … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – On Tour with Bryan Ferry ( Sorta, Kinda )
Every once in a while, a band comes along that makes you smile … Montreal – based Fuel Junkie are one of those bands. Combining high octane Blues with R&B in the mold of The Powder Blues Band; Fuel Junkie are on the fast track to stardom. Please – listen below to my chat with Mark Leclerc from the band ! Mark? What’s up? … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Preview; Fuel Junkie
Cecile Doo Kingue is ready … Ready for what? Her first appearance at The Jazz Festival under her own name with her own trio. Pretty cool as this ‘road traveler’ has enhanced her level of performance to an entire different level. Songwriting is one thing she accomplished a while ago. Playing non stop since the release of her last album has created almost perfection. Something … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene -I Dont Like Spiders and Snakes But That Ain’t What it Takes to Love Cecile Doo Kingue !
Corey Diabo is not your average guitar player. Traditionally – a Rock n Roll fan and soon later; a Blues guru of sorts. Corey hooked up with his pal Jonas Tomalty and in almost 20 years – all Hell broke loose. That fire – burning intensely to this day. Please listen below as Corey discusses his involvement in National Aboriginal Day, his thoughts on … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Corey Diabo Talks National Aboriginal Day; June 21st Cabot Square
Joss Stone has been around for a while. Considering she is only thirty years old – it seems as if ‘thirty’ is the new ‘sixty’ in terms of what she has accomplished thus far in her career. Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger, just two of the names who have aided Joss on her musical education. What singers influenced her and who does she hold in … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Jazz Festival Preview; Joss Stone
Once in a lifetime … That is how often a band like Styx comes along. From the mid seventies until a decade later, no band from America wrote so many hits and gained so many fans. High energy Rock n Roll, theatrical know how and heart wrenching balladry. Styx was and remains – the blueprint for a successful Rock n Roll band. Now – … Continue reading Rick Keene Music Scene – Backstage Pass to Styx’ New Album; The Mission
Rick Keene Music Scene 