Pearl, the final studio album from the unforgettable icon Janis Joplin was released 50 years ago this year. It was released January 11, 1971 - three months after her untimely death.
Local artists are once again well-represented among the nominees for the 2021 Maple Blues Awards. The virtual ceremony will be held on February 1, 2021 and hopefully, our talented musicians will win a few.
The Legendary Downchild Blues Band (with members from the Niagara region and Brantford) is in the running for Entertainer of the Year. Band member Chuck Jackson and Gary Kendall are also up for one apiece.
The 2020 Maple Blues Awards nominee list is jam packed with local artists. Hopefully, a number of them will bring home the hardware at the ceremony on February 3, 2020 at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
You can help them out by voting online - open from November 1st, 2019 at 12:01am through December 1st, 2019 at 11:59pm. Click here to vote.
Other area nominees include Downchild Blues Band(including remembers from Brantford and Niagara) for Entertainer of the Year as well as group memberGary Kendallfor Bassist of the Year. Matchedash Parish (featuring Kitchener's Matt Weidingerand local bassmanMark McIntyre) are up for New Artist of the Year. Tom Bona(from Waterloo band Soulstack) is in the running for drummer of the Year.
Kitchener's Brian Vollmer has stepped out from the shadow of his legendary metal band Helixto forge a dazzling new solo disc, Get Yer Hands Dirty. He goes for a more classic rock vibe with lots o' boogie thrown in for good measure. The album's hard driving and guitar driven but there's a lot of soul and funkiness in its veins.
Run Away with the Night, the awesome new album from the Conor Gains Band offers more than just the usual Blues. The talented Cambridge guitar slinger has expanded his repertoire and the music shines bright because of it.
Each and every song has its own vibe. Many are more singer/songwriter oriented while there are a number of straight out Blues rockers as well. You'll also get bits of pop, rock, Cajun, soul, boogie woogie and more.
With a rock-solid band consisting of Aaron Hernandez, Mack Jordan, and Mikey Vukovich, the music is in good hands, Amazing guests such as Jerome Godboo, 24th Street Wailers, Matt Weidinger also up the ante.
You can purchase a CD at his energetic live shows or download the album via Bandcamp, iTunes, or cdbaby(also has CDs).
Some albums escape our radar, so occasionally we'll be catching up with some mini-reviews!
In 2012, The Conor Gains Band released the dazzling Junction Sessions, a more Blues-rock oriented affair. Brimming with some righteous soul and nasty funk, This is a good time record that will get you off your seat and dancing.
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