Road House - Podcast

The Roadhouse is a 60-minute weekly podcast of the best independent blues from around the world. Featuring a mixture of independent artists and permissions-based music from independent blues labels, it's 60 minutes of the finest blues you've never heard. An Association of Music Podcasting feed, The Roadhouse is dedicated to the independent blues artist.

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Roadhouse 500 - : 500th Celebration (01:11:40)

The 500th Roadhouse is a celebration. It's filled with music from artists who have come into their own in the past nine years - artists I was unfamiliar with before starting the show. Big Hammer, Jarekus Singleton, Boo Boo Davis, Carlos Del Junco, and Sean Costello help us celebrate a milestone edition: 500 shows of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 501 - : Dance Wherever (57:20)

Following a huge 500th edition of the show, I put together another hour guaranteed to make you dance wherever you are. Rob Stone, Downchild, Dennis Gruenling, Trudy Lynn, and Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers wait in the queue. They're surrounded by music that epitomizes the feel of The Roadhouse. It's definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard and the first of the next 500 - the 501st Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 502 - : Roadhouse Rewind - Roadhouse 242 (58:54)

We continue in the theme established last week – a full hour of new blues. With the labels on a new release roll, nearly every track in this edition was released in the past three months. B ig Joe Maher & Jeff Sarli, Roomful of Blues, Delbert McClinton, Tinsley Ellis, and Little Arthur Duncan step out with brand new tracks. It’s truly another hour of the finest blues you’ve never heard – the 242nd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 503 - : Mixed It Up (58:02)

I've mixed it all up this week - thrown it in the pot, stirred it up and poured it out. Johnny Winter, Kirk Fletcher, Gary Clark, Jr., Vaneese Thomas, and Devon Allman may get the headlines but it turns out to be another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 503rd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 504 - : Mixed Tastes (58:13)

Once again, another big mix in The Roadhouse this week. That's kind of what I do around here. Johnny Rawls & Otis Clay, Bryce Janey, Dana Fuchs, Linsey Alexander, Rory Block - I'm sure there are multiple tracks in this edition that suit your tastes just fine. And you're definitely in the right place if your tastes fall toward the finest blues you've never heard - 'cause that's right here in the 504th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 505 - : A Special Set (57:40)

I've got a special set in The Roadhouse this week to commemorate the end of an era. I've also got Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Thackery, Rory Block, Annika Chambers, and Eric Bibb to top off 505 hours of The Roadhouse and to do it with another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 506 - : Full Exposure (58:24)

We're rolling through the final months of 2014 with a bunch of new releases in The Roadhouse and a bunch of artists who've never been featured in the show. Travellin' Brothers, Shorty Kreutz, Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson, Nathan James, and The Como Mamas fill the hour. As always, you get the face of the blues in all its diversity for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 506th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 507 - : Slicing The Blues Pie (58:40)

I'm slicing up the blues pie in this week's edition of The Roadhouse, with a set of post-war blues, another fine acoustic set and some blues from relatively younger artists. Doghouse Sam, Skyla Burrell Band, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Guy Davis, and Johhny Rawls and Otis Clay make up another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 507th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 508 - : Dancing Fuel (57:53)

I'm packing in the tracks in this hour of The Roadhouse - an hour you'll find to be the very definition of "chair-dancing." The James Hunter Six, Vic Guadalupe, Sonny Landreth, Lynwood Slim, and Mark "Muleman" Massy provide just some of the fuel. It's a great mix at a great tempo and, I hope, another great hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 508th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 509 - : Thanksgiving Rewind (01:00:47)

A Rewind of Roadhouse 249 from 2009 rings out the Thanksgiving weekend. I'll be back next week with an all new edition. After the biggest food holiday of the year, it's a feast of blues in the 249th Roadhouse. Moreland & Arbuckle, Sue Foley, Bob Brozman, Doug MacLeod, and The Holmes Brothers help to serve up enough blues to fill you up for a week. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 249th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 510 - : Christmas Kick (58:30)

It's the first holiday edition of The Roadhouse for 2014. Aside from Christmas blues in each set, I've got Sauce Boss, Billy Boy Arnold, Velvet McNair & Maurice John Vaughn Band, Pinetop Perkins, and Big Jon Atkinson in this hour. Holiday music, new stuff, classic blues - it's what you'd expect from another hour of the finest blues you've never heard, the 510th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 511 - : Catalog Blues (58:30)

With the year-end new release lull upon us, I dig into the catalog for this hour of The Roadhouse. Tom Hambridge, Guitar Shorty and the Otis Grand Band, Fabulous Thunderbirss, Darrell Nulisch, and Bluestime - along with Christmas music - keep the hour in sync with the philosophy of every show. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard, the 511th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 512 - : Merry Christmas (59:01)

A family emergency pulls me away from The Roadhouse for a week. Show 200 stands in for show 512. I hope to be back next week with the final new version of The Roadhouse for 2014. The 200th edition of The Roadhouse Podcast marks a strong year in the blues, with a look at my top 10 blues releases of 2008. We hold the milestone show celebration for the 4th anniversay in February and, instead, keep the spirit festive with more great blues Christmas cuts. It's a celebration of the holidays and the best of 2008 in the 200th Roadhouse Podcast.

Roadhouse 513 - : 2014 Year In Review, Part 1 (01:00:25)

After an unexpected week away from The Roadhouse, we close out 2014 with the first of two year-in-review shows. Preston Shannon, The Holmes Brothers, Annika Chambers & The Houston All-Stars, John Mayall, and Janiva Magness lead the way with outstanding new releases in 2014. It's almost another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 513th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 514 - : 2014 Year In Review, Part 2 (01:00:25)

The 514th Roadhouse closes out the review of new releases in 2014 with Walter Trout, Trudy Lynn, Mississippi Heat, Missy Andersen, and The Duke Robillard Band. Surely, some of the names in this edition were unfamiliar to you until the year just past. It's definitely another hour of the finest blues you might have heard in 2014 - the 514th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 515 - : 2015 Blues Music Awards Nominees (57:28)

This edition of The Roadhouse dives straight into the 2015 Blues Music Awards with nominees from across the spectrum. Johnny Winter, Bettye LaVette, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Sugaray Rayford, and Diunna Greenleaf represent just a few of the great artists nominated for this year's recognitions. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 515th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 516 - : Maxwell and Halstead (01:01:50)

We're at the corner of Maxwell and Halstead this week with an hour given over entirely to Chicago. Focused on the years from the mid-1940s to the early-1970s, we hit what may be a sweet spot for Chicago blues. Little Walter, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Walter Horton - legendary names that helped define Chicago as The Home of the Blues. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 516th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 517 - : Return to the Norm (59:15)

It's back to the normal slate of new releases in this edition, including a new re-release or two. Wanda Johnson, Jonathon Boogie Long, Devon Allman, Blue Lunch, and the Empire Roots Band lay the foundation, along with 6 or 8 other great blues tracks that help assure we get to another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 517th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 518 - : Increasing Momentum (01:01:43)

While I wait for the snow to fly around The Roadhouse Studios, it's a perfect day to put together another weekly edition of the finest blues you've never heard. Matthew Robinson & The Jelly Kings, Guy Bélanger, The Veldman Brothers, The Holmes Brothers, and Dave Specter provide increasing momentum from start to finish that'll leave you just a little breathless by the end. It's all wrapped up in an hour we'll label the 518th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 519 - : Ultimate Destination (59:31)

This week's edition of The Roadhouse features a pretty interesting picture of the state of the blues in the 21st century. Donald Ray Johnson, Pork Chop Willie, Ginger St. James & The Grinders, Eric Gales, and Altered Five Blues Band keep the hour moving toward our standard ultimate destination - another hour of the finest blues you've never heard: the 519th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 520 - : Tenth Anniversary Special (01:00:36)

It's a long-time tradition in The Roadhouse to set the tone of the show with the opening track. For the tenth anniversary show, I've got an hour of opening tracks that'll unquestionably have you chair-dancing. RJ Mischo, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, Mighty Lester, Victor Wainwright & The Wild Roots, and Mitch Kashmar & The Pontiax are just some of the featured artists in this hour - a celebration of ten years in The Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 521 - : Rampant Eclecticism (58:46)

The mix in the 521st Roadhouse is definitely eclectic. Robin McKelle & The Flytones, Gary Moore, Shaun Murphy, CeDell Davis, and Tangled Eye fill the hour with new releases, most of which have just been released in the past month. I'd say this is definitely the first you've heard of these releases because - yes - it's all about another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 522 - : Of A Feel (01:01:52)

This edition of The Roadhouse is of a feel. Not quite Chicago, not quite West Coast, but a texture all its own. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, James Day & The Fish Fry, Lynwood Slim, Igor Prado, and Joey Gilmore are all ahead. I think you'll get the feel right away and agree that it's definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 522nd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 523 - : The Sum (58:40)

The 523rd Roadhouse is an hour of varied instruments, styles and voices. Chris Daniels & The Kings, Danny Bryant, Mahalia Barnes & The Soul Mates, Ian Siegal, and Tinsley Ellis bring the sum total of all the tracks in the hour to the usual spot - another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 524 - : Roadhouse Rewind (01:00:10)

A Roadhouse Rewind awaits: #264 from 2010. I'll be back next week with a new hour of the finest blues you've never heard. The 264th Roadhouse provides an escape hatch from the world. It provides a means to move away from trouble and difficulty and into a far better state of mind. Toni Lynn Washington, Wayne Baker Brooks, Coco Montoya, Teresa James, and Johnnie Bassett open the door to that comfortable world and keep the tough stuff at bay. Pass through the escape hatch for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 264th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 525 - : Thinking Differently (58:30)

This edition of The Roadhouse might challenge you to think differently about the blues … or not. I've got some surprises, a set dedicated to one seminal blues artist and some tracks that are a little off the beaten blues path. D.A. Foster, Shaun Murphy, Cathy Lemons, Odetta, and Tangled Eye lead the way in this 525th hour of The Roadhouse, and 525th hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 526 - : Interesting Instrumentation (01:01:42)

There's a different set of instrumentation in this edition of The Roadhouse that you might not expect to hear in the blues. Around that, I've got Rhiannon Giddens, Doghouse Sam & His Magnatones, Chris Daniels & The Kings, JJ Grey & Mofro, and Tinsley Ellis - all waiting to take the tiny little bandstand. The stage may be tiny but the sound is huge - it's the sound of another hour of the finest blues you've never heard: the 526th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 527 - : One Certain Thing (59:00)

As uncertain as most things are in the world, one thing holds true from week to week - another hour of The Roadhouse. The Blues Disciples, Altered Five Blues Band, Breezy Rodio, Peter Novelli, and Robben Ford help give this edition of The Roadhouse a feel all its own. As you'd expect, that feel fills this weekly hour with the finest blues you've never heard - the 527th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 527 - : One Certain Thing (01:00:01)

As uncertain as most things are in the world, one thing holds true from week to week - another hour of The Roadhouse. The Blues Disciples, Altered Five Blues Band, Breezy Rodio, Peter Novelli, and Robben Ford help give this edition of The Roadhouse a feel all its own. As you'd expect, that feel fills this weekly hour with the finest blues you've never heard - the 527th Roadhouse. 

Roadhouse 528 - : Airier Blues (59:05)

Spring in The Roadhouse Studios bring a more airy feel than you might otherwise get from blues. James Harman, Slam Allen, Jack Owen & Eugene Powell, Doug MacLeod, and Steve Earle & The Dukes keep this edition moving. And, in keeping with that airier feeling, I'll take a decided turn toward the acoustic in the second half of the hour. Very few things will make you feel better than spring, or another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 528th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 529 - : The Old In The New ()

This week's Roadhouse is another hour of great music with a nice mix of old blues and new. James Day & The Fish Fry, Danielle Nicole, Jimmy Reed, Robben Ford, and Beth Hart represent where we've come from and where we're going. And, I'm sure you'll hear the old in the new. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 529th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 530 - : Blues Neighborhoods (58:48)

This edition of The Roadhouse takes a tour of diverse neighborhoods throughout the blues. The Cash Box Kings, Chris Duarte Group, Blind Boy Fuller, Carolyn Wonderland, and Harrison Kennedy help deliver an hour that might be vertigo-inducing for its mixture of styles. But, it's a good vertigo that makes for the 530th hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 530 - : Blues Neighborhoods (59:30)

This edition of The Roadhouse takes a tour of diverse neighborhoods throughout the blues. The Cash Box Kings, Chris Duarte Group, Blind Boy Fuller, Carolyn Wonderland, and Harrison Kennedy help deliver an hour that might be vertigo-inducing for its mixture of styles. But, it's a good vertigo that makes for the 530th hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 531 - : No Electricity Required (58:40)

This edition of The Roadhouse requires no electricity - for the musicians, anyway. A full hour of acoustic blues is lead by Dom Flemons, Catfish Keith, South Memphis String Band, Kelly Joe Phelps, and The Little Brothers. Straight blues, country blues, rags, pre-war, post-war, some stuff that falls somewhere in-between - it's all acoustic in this edition. And, it's definitaly another hour of the finest blues you've never heard: the 531st Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 532 - : 2015 Blues Music Awards (01:03:37)

We turn this week to the 2015 Blues Music Award winners and provide a nice annual review of the year in great blues releases. Keb' Mo', Selwyn Birchwood, Marcia Ball, Ruthie Foster, and Johnny Winter give you a good cross-slice of tracks you've heard. The 532nd edition is an hour of BMA winners, and an hour you'll be glad to spend in The Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 533 - : Roadhouse Rewind (57:12)

A Roadhouse Rewind from 2010 fills the hour this week. I'll be back next week with a new show, including a tribute to the late B.B. King. The 273rd Roadhouse features new music from Chicago and an underlying theme that's not revealed until late in the show. Matt Schofield, Willie Buck, Susan Tedeschi, Billy Boy Arnold, Eric Bibb and seven or eight other great artists are just enough to fill another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 534 - : B.B. King Tribute (01:00:22)

This week in The Roadhouse, we fill the hour with a tribute to B.B. King. Few blues artists could pull of the broad range of blues styles he popularized over a 60-plus year career, and that range is on full display in the hour. Of course, it's impossible to honor "The King of the Blues" without including some of his most well-known tracks. Include those in a mix with other lesser-known songs and you'll find a full measure of the greatness of the late B.B. King in the 534th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 535 - : Normal New (59:48)

The 535th Roadhouse is the first regular show in a few weeks and it's nice to be back. I've got lots of new music in the hour, most of which is less than 2 months old. Jackie Payne, Mr. Sipp, The Kentucky Headhunters with Johnnie Johnson, Ana & Milton Popovic, The Nighthawks - there are some real Roadhouse staples, and some artists who could easily be staples. As the seasons roll on, The Roadhouse rolls into another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 536 - : Unintentional Harp (01:01:01)

This edition of The Roadhouse is unintentionally harp-heavy. James Harman, Jimbo Mathus, Morry Sochat, Charlie Musselwhite, and Danielle Miraglia make for an hour of toe-tapping and, yes, chair-dancing blues in the 536th Roadhouse. Though I didn't really intend to do a harp-spotlight show, it definitely makes for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 537 - : Roadhouse Rewind (58:04)

A rare intermittent Internet issue has left me tethered to my iPhone and pushed a new edition of The Roadhouse back to next week. Enjoy what I hope will be the last Roadhouse Rewind before the holidays - the Chicago-centric Roadhouse 312. There's a good variety of blues in the 312th Roadhouse, with a stronger-than-usual emphasis on Chicago blues. The hour features Luther Allison, Big Bill Morganfield, Smokey Wilson, Todd Wolfe Band, and a great live track to remember Gary Moore. From Chicago to New Jersey to Georgia to Ireland, it's a well-rounded hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

 

Roadhouse 538 - : Departure Set (59:48)

The 538th Roadhouse takes one set to venture into some new territory, but it's all blues at its root. Jackson Mud, Papa Mali, Sonny Landreth, Clay Shelburn, and Jeff Jensen really step up in this edtion. Looking through the playlist for the hour, I have no doubt at all about two things: that the 538th Roadhouse is another hour of the finest blues, and that it's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 538 - : Departure Set (01:00:00)

The 538th Roadhouse takes one set to venture into some new territory, but it's all blues at its root. Jackson Mud, Papa Mali, Sonny Landreth, Clay Shelburn, and Jeff Jensen really step up in this edtion. Looking through the playlist for the hour, I have no doubt at all about two things: that the 538th Roadhouse is another hour of the finest blues, and that it's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 539 - : Blow The Roof Off (01:03:03)

The sawdust is on the dance floor, the red and blue lights are shining on the little bandstand in the corner, and the bartender is washing the mugs, preparing for a big edition. I make the most of the hour with Slam Allen, The Word, Ana Popovic, JJ Appleton & Jason Ricci, and Lazer Lloyd. It's a good thing our little dive's out past the outskirts of town, 'cause we're gonna blow the roof off with another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 539th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 540 - : Facile Blues (01:00:29)

This edition of The Roadhouse came together as smoothly as a needle through silk, with a sound and feel to match. Wee Willie Walker, Jackie Payne, The Texas Horns, Tad Robinson, and Sugaray Rayford put together all the pieces necessary for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard, a facile hour of blues, in the 540th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 541 - : Recipe for the Blues (59:31)

I'm cooking up an hour of The Roadhouse that includes lots of new music and a rough set, as well. I've got Samantha Fish, Buddy Guy, Daddy Mack Blues Band, Barbecue Bob, and Bonnie Lee in this edition. With all those great ingredients, it's the perfect recipe for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 541st Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 542 - : Cool Blues (59:44)

This edition of The Roadhouse takes the sweltering temps in the US down several notches with cool, cool blues. Charles Wilson, Mitch Mann, Sonny Landreth, Guy Tortora, and Jimmy Reed lead the hour. Even with temps outside The Roadhouse Studios in the 90s, you'll definitely find some relief in our little dive at the outskirts of town. Whether it's temperature, or attitude, or both, the 542nd Roadhouse is clearly another cool hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 543 - : Good Inside (01:00:01)

Old-timers know the secret, but newbies might be surprised when entering this edition of The Roadhouse - that the blues is about good as much as it is about bad. Reverend Raven & The Chainsmokin' Altar Boys, Carolyn Wonderland, Buddy Guy, John Ginty, Wee Willie Walker prove the point in this edition by keeping you moving and happy. That's what happens when you find yourself inside another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 543rd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 544 - : More Wire and Wood (58:02)

Wire and wood fills this edition of The Roadhouse with guitar masters from many spots on the blues spectrum. Albert Cummings, Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Canned Heat, Otis Rush, Sonny Landreth - they all bring a guitar to the table in The Roadhouse. With all these guitar greats, it's a clear-cut case of the finest blues you've never heard - the 544th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 545 - : Assembled Puzzle (59:24)

This week's edition of The Roadhouse definitely fulfills something I say often: that there's a real mix of blues in the hour. Sherwood Fleming, John Ginty with Alexis Suter, Pops Staples, Rhiannon Giddens, and The Eric Noden Band fill the show. And, though you might never think these pieces would all fit together, we're looking down at an assembled puzzle that paints as pretty a picture of the blues as you'll ever see. It's a surprisingly coherent hour of blues and and a familiar hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 545th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 546 - : All Over The Map (59:34)

Blues from all over - that's the theme of this edition of The Roadhouse; all over musically and geographically. Bey Paule Band, Freddie King, Gary Clark, Jr., Gregg Allman, and The Ragpicker String Band assure that we're going to thoroughly cover the spectrum of blues, as well as the map. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard, the 546th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 547 - : Triple Play (58:33)

This edition of The Roadhouse has a few surprises: a new occasional segment and pre-release music from a highly-anticipated new release. John Primer, The Word, Sonny Landreth, Guy Davis, and Curtis Salgado fill our lineup card for the hour, an hour that's going to go very, very quickly. Hold on tight for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 547th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 548 - : Curated Playlist (58:27)

A new week rolls around with a new playlist of great blues. Reverend Raven & The Chainsmokin' Altar Boys, Boo Boo Davis, Shemekia Copeland, Chris James & Patrick Rynn, and Wee Willie Walker make up a show that barely takes a breath from start to finish. It's a playlist that's curated with care and pushed out as another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 548th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 549 - : Farmer’s Market (58:16)

It's not unusual to fill The Roadhouse with new tracks, but the music in this edition is so fresh the place smells like a farmer's market. Andy T - Nick Nixon Band, Gary Clark, Jr, Rhiannon Giddens, John Mayall, and Chris O'Leary Band deliver the freshest blues ever - just as you've come to expect from another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 549th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 550 - : Jam Packed (59:26)

By the time it's all said and done, this edition of The Roadhouse provides a record-tying number of tracks. Chris O'Leary Band, Bey Paule Band, Omar & The Howlers, Big Mama Thornton, and Fantastic Negrito lead the way, but that's really only just the start. The rest of the hour fulfills the weekly mission - delivering another jam-packed hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 550th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 551 - : Acoustic Fun (01:01:50)

This edition of The Roadhouse throws in acoustic tracks - at the suggestion of a listener - that span two full sets. Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames, The Jimmys, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Duke Robillard, and The Reverend Shawn Amos featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama lay out a fun hour as few Roadhouse shows have done before. It's another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 551st Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 552 - : Small Window (01:01:49)

This edition of The Roadhouse showcases Mitch Woods, Guy Davis, Monkeyjunk, Danielle Nicole, and Walter Trout. That's a pretty diverse range of blues. Consider, too, that no release in this edition is older than July, and you'll understand I we call it another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 552nd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 553 - : Combination Blues (58:17)

In this edition of The Roadhouse, I've got your typical selection of new blues from a big range of artists. And, I've got a set that takes us into the deep south of the United States. The hour includes Eddie Cotton, Reverend Shawn Amos, Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin, Omar & The Howlers, and Robert Belfour. New blues and old blues traditions in this edition. It makes for a great combination and certainly makes for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 553rd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 554 - : New Fall (59:16)

Fall is in the air in The Roadhouse studios. We're starting to see the pre-holiday season releases rolling out, and I've got a bunch of them in this edition. Reverend Raven & The Chainsmokin' Altar Boys, Bob Malone, Joe Louis Walker, Luxuriant Sedans, and Ebony Jo-Ann fill the hour. And, as usual, you'll probably find it to be an hour of irresistable chair-dancing. For all the new music and the great beats, you know it's gonna be another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 554th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 555 - : Twisty Road (57:35)

This edition of The Roadhouse takes some twists and turns that, if you're not a regular listener, might give you a little musical vertigo. Chicago Blues All Stars, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Taj Mahal, Mitch Woods, and Karen Lovely fill the hour, but it's not a straight shot from here to there. It's a twisty winding trip through another hour of the finest blues you've never heard: the 555th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 555 - : Twisty Road (01:00:01)

This edition of The Roadhouse takes some twists and turns that, if you're not a regular listener, might give you a little musical vertigo. Chicago Blues All Stars, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Taj Mahal, Mitch Woods, and Karen Lovely fill the hour, but it's not a straight shot from here to there. It's a twisty winding trip through another hour of the finest blues you've never heard: the 555th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 556 - : (Max) Speed Zone Ahead (57:55)

There are no slow holes in the playlist for this week's edition of The Roadhouse. It's full-speed straight-ahead almost from start to finish, including Doghouse Sam & His Magnatones, Monkeyjunk, Joe Louis Walker, Chris O'Leary, and Kerry Pastine & The Crime Scene. With new music and an hour of upbeat blues, you'll need your seat belts for sure. So, buckle in and get it going for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 556th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 557 - : Hot Toddy (59:21)

It may be cold and wet outside The Roadhouse Studios, but hot blues keeps it warm inside. Keep a hot toddy, irish coffee or some other warm beverage at your side for the hour as Robert Cray, Mighty Mike Schermer, Ironing Board Sam, Zora Young & Little Mike & The Tornadoes, and Romi Mayes generate the heat that will keep us warm and dry inside our little dive. Warm and dry is definitely what you want when you're heading into another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 557th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 557 - : Hot Toddy (01:00:01)

It may be cold and wet outside The Roadhouse Studios, but hot blues keeps it warm inside. Keep a hot toddy, irish coffee or some other warm beverage at your side for the hour as Robert Cray, Mighty Mike Schermer, Ironing Board Sam, Zora Young & Little Mike & The Tornadoes, and Romi Mayes generate the heat that will keep us warm and dry inside our little dive. Warm and dry is definitely what you want when you're heading into another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 557th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 558 - : Who’’s Up Front (58:54)

The tinkle of glasses on the bar, the low hum of quiet conversation, and a lot of laughter provide the clue that you've come to the right place for great blues. And on our dark little bandstand: The Knickerbocker All-Stars, Norton Buffalo & Roy Rogers, Thørbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado, Helge Tallqvist, and Bobby Rush. While they may be the headliners in this edition, there's so much great music it's hard to tell who's up front and who's supporting. So, we'll just call it another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 558th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 559 - : The Cadillac (58:41)

It's a great day to get the '57 Cadillac convertible of the blues out of the garage and rolling down the road. Chris O'Leary, Buddy Guy, Laura Rain & The Caesars, Georgie Bonds, and Altered Five Blues Band keep us moving, feathering the gas pedal just enough to keep that momentum going. Like the 558 editions before it, this edition of The Roadhouse really promises to make for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

 

Roadhouse 560 - : Shrinking Calendar (56:34)

The calendar's getting short in 2015 and we're cruising toward the holidays. We're also right at the tail end of the holiday new release period. I've got some of those new releases in this edition, including some artists who've not been in The Roadhouse before. Si Cranstoun, Eddie Charles, Lara Price, Mike Zito, and RJ Spangler's Blue Four help provide a lot of new music, a lot of new artsts, and another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 560th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 561 - : Thanksgiving Rewind (01:00:28)

A Roadhouse Rewind fills the Thanksgiving weekend. I'll be back next week with a new edition of The Roadhouse. Week 285 in The Roadhouse brings a strong variety of blues to the hour. Rob Stone, Little Johnny Christian, Stevie Paige, Mississippi Sheiks, and Bob Corritore propel us through this edition. 285 hours of The Roadhouse make for eleven and a half days of non-stop shows, each comprised of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 562 - : Have You Heard The News? (57:54)

As has become our tradition, Koko Taylor welcomes in the holiday season in The Roadhouse. And, I've got a holiday track in every set, with a bunch of Roadhouse debuts, as well. Helge Tallqvist, Bonita & The Blues Shacks, Jonn Del Toro Richardson, Ellis Hooks, and Francine Reed are among the names you've not heard in the show. Mixed in with some of the best holiday blues around, you've got another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 562nd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 563 - : Chock Full (57:35)

As the year winds down, this edition of The Roadhouse is chock full of releases from 2015. Slam Allen, Rhiannon Giddens, Long John Baldry, Brother Dege, and Mike Henderson fill the hour. Along with 9 or 10 other tracks, they absolutely help make it another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 563rd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 564 - : The Rear View (59:41)

It's the next-to-last holiday edition of The Roadhouse, with 2015 nearly in the rear-view mirror. I've got the usual mix of holiday and straight-up blues for the hour, including Marcia Ball, Colby James, Chris Yakopcic, Albert Cummings, and Charles Brown. As 2015 rolls away, another hour rolls in with the finest blues you've never heard - the 564th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 565 - : Roadhouse Rewind (58:44)

Technical difficulties this week mean that the last show of 2015 is a Roadhouse Rewind. Replacement gear is on the way, and I should be back next week to kick off 2016 with a new edition of The Roadhouse. This edition of The Roadhouse ends the year with a real party atmosphere. Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Mighty Sam McClain, and the South Austin Moonlighters light up our little juke joint. Throw in a couple of listener requests and the last 60 minutes of 2012 is absolutely an hour of the finest blues you’ve never heard.

Roadhouse 566 - : Wrapping 2015 (01:00:00)

With the first show of the new year, I take a look back at the old, with an hour of some of my favorite releases from 2015. Buddy Guy, Cash Box Kings, Knickerbocker All-Stars, Sonny Landreth, and Slam Allen are just some of the names that represent the finest and freshest blues from 2015. And they lay the foundation for another hour of the finest blues of the year just passed - the 566th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 567 - : Not Just One Thing (57:50)

If you've never really thought about the diversity of styles we call the blues, you're about to get a big, big surprise. This hour of The Roadhouse ventures off into contemporary, acoustic, retro, soul blues, and blues with a Hawaiian twist. Bob Margolin, Jeffrey Foucault, Doug MacLeod, Mike Sanchez, and Taj Mahal assure that if you get nothing more out of this edition of The Roadhouse, you'll get the true sense that the blues is not just one thing. But this hour? It is one thing. It's an hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 567th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 568 - : Big Stack of Blues (58:39)

It's a full hour in this edition of The Roadhouse with about as many tracks as you can pack in and still leave a little time for talk. Included in that big stack of blues: Jonn Del Toro Richardson, Sam Butler, Candye Kane, Billy Boy Arnold, and Trudy Lynn. Any good real-world Roadhouse packs 'em in on Saturday night and I think we've got it covered both ways. We're packed full of patrons and packed full of artists in another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 568th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 569 - : Hour of Surprises (59:37)

I've got several pretty strong harp tracks in this edition of The Roadhouse, but, of course, that's not all. I've also got a live set and a blues rock set in the hour and several outstanding blues women, as well. Francine Reed, Pinetop Perkins and Jimmy Reed, Smokin' Joe Kubek and BNois King, Balkun Brothers, and Ina Forsman mean I'm pretty sure you'll find it to be an hour of surprises and, certainly, another hour of the finest blues you've never heard, the 569th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 570 - : Flinty Blues (57:29)

You're probably gonna want to man up for this edition of The Roadhouse. It's full of tough subjects: the news, drinking, guns, the economy, danger. But the artists walk the line that blues walks so well - tough, yet still providing the motivation to spend an hour chair-dancing. Harmonica Shah, Zora Young, Luther Allison, Koko Taylor, and Sugaray Rayford. Let's just call this an hour of flinty blues and another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 571 - : Blues Music Awards 2016 (59:09)

This edition of The Roadhouse is focused on the 2016 Blues Music Awards. I'm featuring nominees in almost all the major categories to put together a compelling hour of blues. Diunna Greenleaf, James Harman, Sugar Ray & The Bluetones, The Ragicker String Band, and Mr. Sipp provide a representative slice of the nominees and, certainly provide another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 571st Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 572 - : Unborn and Classic (58:37)

Pre-release music and classic blues artists help support this hour. Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Toronzo Cannon, Luther Dickinson, Magic Sam, and Mavis Staples drive this edition, along with many other great blues artists and tracks. The 572nd Roadhouse is a great mix of blues and another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 573 - : Eleven Years (57:08)

Take a good breath before this edition of The Roadhouse - you'll need all the oxygen you can get. For the 11th anniversay edition of the show, I've got an hour of show-openers from the previous year. Mississippi Heat, Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin, Andy Santana & The West Coast Playboys, Kentucky Headhunters with Johnnie Johnson, and Bill Perry make for the most upbeat edition of the past 12 months. It's the 573rd Roadhouse and the 11th anniversary of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 574` - : Blues Waypoints (58:37)

With a full set of Roadhouse debuts, this edition is packed full of new releases. And, I've got an unreleased single from one of the more highly-anticipated upcoming releases of this young year. The Record Company, Blind Boys of Alabama, Keb' Mo', Toronzo Cannon, and Golden State Lone Star Blues Review. Those are just the waypoints for the hour, but they all resolve to another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 574th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 575 - : The Twisty Path (58:05)

It's a twisty path through this hour with a mixture of styles and sounds. As always, I've got quite a bit of new music and, for those who love acoustic blues, a full set that just showcases how broad interpretations of the blues can be. Benny Turner, Tommy Emmanuel, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Knickerbocker All-Stars, and the Corey Dennison Band. It's hour of surprises and definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 575th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 576 - : Windy Blues (57:29)

In this edition of The Roadhouse, we pack up an move to Chicago for an hour of contemporary blues from the Windy City. Magic Slim, Billy Boy Arnold, James Cotton, Hound Dog Taylor, and Byther Smith set the stage for an hour of blues as distinctive as any other feature of the city. From the home of the blues, the 576th Roadhouse is another hour of the finest blues.

Roadhouse 577 - : Great Potential (58:11)

The 577th Roadhouse has a lot of potential: to get your toes tapping, to hear some great blues that you might not have known about otherwise, and potential for some chair-dancing. Johnny Rawls, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Luther Dickinson, Guy King, Tasha Taylor - almost every track in the hour is new within the past 2 or 3 months or still to be released. In other words, there's also the potential here for an hour that really just flies by and, of course, to be another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 578 - : Perfect Conditions (58:00)

As we move into the spring new release cycle, I've got five artists in this edition making their debut in The Roadhouse. Evelyn Rubio with The Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, Jeff Healey, Mavis Staples, and Sugar Pie DeSanto propel us along for the hour. New music, new artists and a new season out my window. Couldn't ask for a better set of conditions to put together another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 578th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 579 - : Tough As Chrome (56:53)

Let's call this edition of The Roadhouse tough as chrome with a little more blues rock than usual and a couple of extended tracks from some Roadhouse favorites. Guy King, Joe Bonamassa, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Gary Clark, Jr, and Peter Karp featuring Mick Taylor - all are driving the hour. Even the slower tracks have a toughness to them. But tough or tender, fast or slow, you know the 579th Roadhouse will be another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

 

Roadhouse 580 - : Migratory Blues (58:28)

I've got a feel for some West Coast blues. Of course, that West Coast sound is really almost a migratory blues sound - moving from Texas to the coast. So, there's some Texas in this edition, too. Kirk Fletcher, Johnny Nicholas, Floyd Dixon, Nappy Brown, and The Mannish Boys all make for an hour of uncontrollable chair-dancing and what's clearly a solid hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 581 - : Roadhouse Rewind (59:44)

Roadhoue 581 is a Roadhouse Rewind this week, as I'm in New England for a few weeks. Enjoy Roadhouse 321 from April 16, 2011. This edition of The Roadhouse proves the statement we've been making for six years of Saturdays - that the blues isn't just about the old guy on his porch, an acoustic guitar in his lap. Blues can be upbeat, too. The Chris O'Leary Band, Kelley Hunt, Hamilton Loomis, Janiva Magness, and The Juke Joints set the tone for a chair-dancin' hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 321st Raodhouse.

Roadhouse 582 - : Roadhouse Rewind (01:00:20)

This week, it's the second of two Roadhouse Rewinds while I work my way home from vacation. I'll be back next week with a new edition of The Roadhouse. The dark little dive we call The Roadhouse is home this week to the broadest range of blues you might find anywhere. Smokey Wilson, Frank Goldwasser, Snooky Pryor, Anders Osborne, and Bluesmasters featuring Mickey Thomas mix it up with various takes on the blues. The spotlight is on the multeity of the blues in the 270th Roadhouse, and it's definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 583 - : Return to the Studios (58:29)

After a few weeks away, it's good to be back to The Roadhouse Studios. Though I struggled a bit to put this one together, I think you'll find the outcome to be worth the struggle. Albert Castiglia, Big Jon Atkinson & Bob Corritore, Dave Muskett, Roddie Romero & The Hub City All-Stars, and Shaun Murphy are all part of the hour. With an edition almost completely full of new music, I think it's safe to say you're in for another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 584 - : 2016 Blues Music Awards (59:13)

As has become the tradition in the past few years, this edition of The Roadhouse is focused on the 2016 Blues Music Awards, held this past week in Memphis. I've got the winners in 16 or 17 categories, including Cedric Burnside Project, Bettye LaVette, Walter Trout, Shemekia Copeland, and Doug MacLeod. It's a parade of winners this week and a strong, strong hour of the finest blues.

 

Roadhouse 585 - : Varied Themes (57:42)

This edition of The Roadhouse comprises sets of varied themes - a set of contemporary blues, a set of blues rock, some killer soul blues, and a set that leans more toward the acoustic. Tweed Funk, The Kaz Hawkins Band, Moreland & Arbuckle, The James Hunter Six, and Matt Andersen make up the big pieces of the puzzle, but the small pieces really pull it all together. It's an hour of varied themes in this edition of The Roadhouse, and definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.

Roadhouse 586 - : Thanks, Candye (56:18)

This hour of The Roadhouse pays tribute to the late Candye Kane with a track in every segment. But there's also a bunch of other great blues, including Muddy Waters, Chase Walker Band, Sugar Blue, Mark Hummel, and Johnny Rawls. We say goodbye to a friend but know that the blues rolls on yet more of the finest blues you've never heard - the 586th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 586 - : Thanks, Candye (59:56)

This hour of The Roadhouse pays tribute to the late Candye Kane with a track in every segment. But there's also a bunch of other great blues, including Muddy Waters, Chase Walker Band, Sugar Blue, Mark Hummel, and Johnny Rawls. We say goodbye to a friend but know that the blues rolls on yet more of the finest blues you've never heard - the 586th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 587 - : The Finest Variety (56:44)

Contemporary blues, classic blues, the next generation - this hour's got it all. But, that's what we do in The Roadhouse, right? Mix it all up and keep you anticipating the next track. Eddie Clearwater, Leadbelly, Rhiannon Giddens, Lake Street Dive, and Honey Island Swamp Band - that's a variety of blues. It's a variety that will keep you guessing and, of course, it's also a variety of the finest blues you've never heard - the 587th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 588 - : The Promise (58:04)

In this hour of The Roadhouse, I've got some blues that have crossed over from country, a band that was in some of the very early editions of The Roadhouse, and an artist who first came to fame on the classic Stax label. Along the way, I've got Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues, Big Pete, Shawn Murphy, Albert Castiglia, and Eric Lindell, as well. I'm just tryin' to live up to the promise - the promise of another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 588th Roadhouse.

 

Roadhouse 589 - : Spanning The Globe (55:01)

We're spanning the globe in this edition of The Roadhouse, with blues from Texas, Louisiana, England, Romania, Serbia, and more. Greg Izor & The Box Kickers, Markey Blue, Mick Taylor, AG Weinberger, and Ana Popovic take center stage. But, it doesn't really matter where the music's from. You know, regardless of origin, it'll be another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 589th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 590 - : Wayback Blues (57:16)

This hour of The Roadhouse has a long set of live music and another trip in the Wayback Machine of blues history. Rivherside, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, The Nick Schnebelen Band, The Rev. Gary Davis, and Michael "Iron Man" Burks. It is an hour of thoroughly enjoyable blues and definitely another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 590th Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 591 - : Cardio Blues (58:54)

As always, a big hour ahead in this edition of The Roadhouse. It'll probably get your heart rate going a bit as it's pretty much all upbeat, uptempo, outstanding blues. Sammy Eubanks, The Kentucky Headhunters, Mark May & The Soul Satyr Horns, Alabama 3, and Big Pete get the headliner slots, but the other tracks and other acts are no less killer. Let's just call it cardio blues in this, another hour of the finest blues you've never hear - the 591st Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 592 - : Release The Grind (57:09)

The bandstand's set, the lights are dimmed, the sawdust is on the dance floor, and we're ready to take you away from the cares of the world for awhile. It's gonna take some help to do that. Fortunately, Lucky Peterson, Mike Eldred Trio, Jim Suhler & Monkeybeat, Katy Guillen & The Girls, and Laura Rain & The Caesars are ready to lead the charge of escape. And, they also provide us with great mile markers along the road away from troubles and into another hour of the finest blues you've never heard - the 592nd Roadhouse.

Roadhouse 593 - : Rollin' and Tumblin' (58:59)

In this hour, I've got lots of horns, lots of walking bass and probably a little more harp than usual. If the music's not rollin', it's tumblin'. Mitch Woods, Kilborn Alley, Anthony Geraci & The Boston Blues All-Stars, Roomful of Blues, and Terry Hanck - all just a slice of the craziness ahead. If this hour doesn't have you moving, you probably need to call 911 because this hour of The Roadhouse is all upbeat and every bit another hour of the finest blues you've never heard.