Show # 102 - Returning Friends

This week has been especially enjoyable for me because three of my favorite musical acts were in town for live performances. I had the chance to visit with Jamie McLean and his band as they started the first show of their current tour here in Charleston. Jamie is about ready to release his new CD and he and the band sound as great as ever.

A few days later I saw a double bill with The Fire Apes and Ruby James. Ruby is fresh from her CD release parties in both L.A. and Atlanta and was joined on stage once again by her guitarist/songwriting partner Rene Reyes. She featured songs from her new CD "Desert Rose". The Fire Apes finished the evening with another high energy show and performed many of the songs destined for a new CD to be recorded this summer.

Todays show features songs from these talented musicians, as well as other excellent tunes previously featured on The Big Break Music Podcast. Once again, today's lineup is an eclectic mix of genres and styles and fits perfectly with the springtime mood I'm in.

Starting off the set is The Fire Apes and their most popular song Hey Kate. Rolling right after that is a song by Reverend Zen with a strong Steely Dan vibe called My Sigmund Freud.

One of the songs Jamie McLean played the other night is Woman Stay. I've always loved this track off his "This Time Around" CD and it's especially good done live. Another song from a returning artist is Brother Love with Lost Weekend.

A return visit from Tim Hawkins with his infomercial styled song Kids Rock adds a comedy layer to this episode.

After a short promo for my recent interview with Ruby James we then get to hear the the title track from her latest CD Desert Rose. Another shift in musical style in this week's episode comes in the tune Joan Of Arc by 46bliss off their album "Wish Me Away". I continue the set with Baby I Love You by Diana Page and close it out with Southern Highway by Erik Viel.

The band Wiser Time provides a tune that reminds me somewhat of the Dave Matthews band with their song Gonna Be Sure.

I then mellow things out near the end of the show with two wonderful tracks from female artists I could listen to all day. Beth Hirsch starts off with Wholehearted and I close the show with a wonderful rendition of the old "Tbone" Walker song They Call It Stormy Monday by Christi Ana Perez.

Show # 95 - Desert Rose Revealed

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It's always great to check back in with artists and bands that I've had the pleasure of featuring on The Big Break Music Podcast. Back in November 2006 I was told about singer/songwriter Ruby James and shortly thereafter got to interview and feature songs from her first EP called Sweet As Sin (episode # 49). At that time she talked about a new album she was working on with Will and Charlie Sexton in Austin, Texas.

Recently I was contacted by Ruby's manager to review her new album and was surprised to find that this CD is the result of an entirely new project. She and band member/songwriter Rene Reyes put together an entire album's worth of material over a three day period and quickly hit the studio to record what would soon become her first full-length album called Desert Rose.

So on today's episode I have an interview that was recorded just before she was scheduled to fly back to California to film a music video for the new album.

Tracks from Desert Rose featured: Suicide Serenade Desert Rose Oh Mama Everything Good Goes Away When I'm Gone Mistress Of The Devil

I also produced Ruby James' first live internet video performance of the new album on Ustream.tv. Click here to visit view a portion of the live show.

Another artist that is represented by Ruby's management is Shane Alexander, whom has also been interviewed and featured on this podcast (episode # 57). Shane's new album The Sky Below is slated for release on February 2oth, with a CD release party to be held at the famous Troubadour club in Hollywood, CA. The first track from that album is called Amsterdam.

Find Ruby James here and on Myspace Find Shane Alexander here and on Myspace

Show # 94 - New and Familiar

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I'm calling New and Familiar because I have a great mix of both new music being featured for the first time on the show along with songs from artists that you've been listening to for years.

There are lots of reasons why someone decides to become a musician. Maybe it's the lure of fame and fortune or the thrill of performing in front of others. It could be that music is in their blood and drives their desire to work long hours for little money just for enjoyment that only music can provide.

I'm going to kick the show off today with a track from the band King Karma that reminds us of one of the many reasons why guys like to be in a band, and that's the chance to hook up with an enthusiastic fan after the show; just looking for someone to Shake My Bones. A selection from Mark Kerr's killer album "One Drink Away From The Blues" that I haven't played for some time is Thinkin' and Drinkin'.

I then offer up a two-fer of sorts with songs featuring Ann Wilson. First up is a live version of Crazy On You by Ann and Nancy Wilson with their band Heart. Then we get to hear Ann once again, this time from her solo album "Hope and Glory" with the song Where To Now St. Peter (with a little backup vocal help from Elton John).

I always love getting to feature new artists on The Big Break, and this week I bring you a fun tune from Patty Reese called She's So Happy (Just To Have A Bo Like You). We then get "funky" with Way To Funky by the Funky Blues Messiahs. Did I mention we get funky?

A return visit by Amy B with Each Thing You Do continues our middle set followed by one my favorite live tracks from Matthew Ebel's album "Beer and Coffee" called Single Man's Lament. Laura Clapp (now Laura Davidson) rocks us out with Hey, Hey, Sister.

Another new artist featured today is Alvin Jett and The Phat noIz Blues Band with their song Boogie To The Blues. The always talented Daddy Mack Blues Band brings us Giving You My Money followed by Cold Blooded Lover by W.C. Clark.

For a little post "Fat Tuesday" vibe I bring the Irene Sage Band from Louisiana with her song Dig Down Low. And we close out the show with the title track from Joan Osborne's 2006 album Pretty Little Stranger.

Don't miss next week's show where I feature an interview and new music from Ruby James's new album Desert Rose.

Show # 93 - Fresh New Music

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We may be still in the middle of winter for most of the country but music-wise it's already springtime. My mailbox has seen a bunch of new CDs arrive from artists that have not been featured on The Big Break before now. I'm also excited about the new CD coming out from Ruby James. Ruby was an interview guest back on episode #49 and I got to sit down with her recently to talk about her new release. That interview and many of the new tracks will be on an upcoming show.

More former "major label" artists are migrating over to the podsafe water's edge and this week I start the show off with a tune from the Black Crowes called Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution. The band Soul Summit returns with a new song called Cold Snap

Ruby James has followed up her previous EP "Sweet As Sin" with a brand new CD that will be available in a week or so called "Desert Rose". I play the first track off the album called The Words Goodbye.

A number of new artists get airplay on this week's show, the first of which is B. J. Allen and Blue Voodoo with a funky-blues tune called Your Blues Is My Blues Now. I received the album "On A Dime" by Aaron Netsell which is packed with great blues music and strong message on how quickly events can result in a complete change in someone's life. The first track from the CD is Things Change.

The John Earl Walker Band provides us with good up-tempo blues song called Little Girl, followed by another artist that sent in his CD; this time it's Gary Segal and his song Cartwheels. We continue this set with Dirt Road by Ron Rutherford found on "Lone Wolf" CD. I always enjoy playing music from talented female blues artists and this week I get the chance to highlight the song I've Earned The Right To Sing The Blues by JoAnne Redding.

Since way back on The Big Break, episode # 14 I've had the pleasure of playing the excellent music of Martha Redbone. One of the many songs that I can listen to all day long is Talk About It.

Another band that I've not played in a while is Stone Blue and this time I've selected She's My Baby. An artist that I've added to my collection courtesy of the Radio Submit music service is I Underestimated You by Tom Hunter and the song we close out the show with from Ed Stallman called Stevie Ray.

Promo: KarmynKast

Show # 90 - Rock Out The Year

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On this last episode of 2007 I decided to play some of my favorite tunes from this year that gives the show a high energy level. Once I got it all together I thought the show would make a good workout episode. So this one will be on my iPod when I'm at the gym.

Missed Out by Jag Star Dance by Candy Dulfer Move Your Body by The Failures (no web info available) Oh Face by Beau Hall Soccergirl by Brother Love Say I Love You by Ruby James Fat Eddie's Diner by The Bluescasters Toppy by Rusty Wright Blues band Too Much Of Anything by Jamie McLean Guess She's Right by Sonny Combs and the Kitty Kat Rodeo Low Down Dirty Shame by Mark Kerr Love Tornado by Lisa Dames If We're Too Loud, You're Too Old by Angela Hurt and the Pain Killaz Bad Religion by Jimmie Bratcher Wholehearted by Beth Hirsch

Podcast promo for Lovely Ladies