Rick Galusha's Pacific St. Blues and Americana

Since inception (1989), Pacific St. Blues & Americana strives to be a discerning voice helping roots fans sift through the mountains of music released every year. We are not for everyone; we want to engage active, critical listeners that hear beyond d'jour. Interviews include: Johnny Winter, Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Jerry Wexler, Tommy Shannon & Chris Layton, B.B. King, Dr. John, Robin Trower, Robben Ford, Mato Nanji, Joe Bonamassa, Harry Manx, Sue Foley, Marshall Chess, Billy Lee Riley, Charlie Louvin, Kim Richey, Radney Foster, Eric Johnson, David Clayton Thomas, Al Kooper, Phil Chen (Wired, Blow By Blow), Ian McLagan, Art Neville, Southside Johnny, Miami Steve Van Zant, Nils Lofgren, Bruce Iglauer, Charlie Musselwhite, Studebaker John, Chris Duarte, Smokin' Joe Kubeck, Hamilton Loomis, Peter Karp, Roomful of Blues, James Harman, Hadden Sayers, Malford Milligan, Melvin Taylor, Otis Taylor, Dave Alvin, Coco Montoya, Jimmy Thackery, Marsha Ball, Maria Muldaur, Shelby Lynne, Magic Dick & J. Geils, Lil' Milton, BuddyGuy, Aynsley Lister, Matt Schofield, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, James Cotton, Robin & Jesse Davey, Hugh Coltman (Hoax), Sean Kelly (Samples), John Entwistle (The Who), Mark Olson (Jayhawks), Walter Wolfman Washington, Anthony Gomes, Bob Malone, Chubby Carrier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Murali Coryell, David Jacob Strain, DeAnna Bogart, Michael Lee Firkins, Guy Davis, Jason Ricci, John Doe, Little Feat, Matt Woods, MikeZito, Peter Buffett, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Corky Siegel, Todd Park Mohr, Watermelon Slim, Magic Slim, Corey Harris,- - - - - - ------------------------Radio archives: http://www.kiwrblues.podomatic.com/. Playlists: http://www.omahablues.com/ Reviews featured in http://www.blueswax.com/. Email: KIWRblues@gmail.com Live online; Sundays 9 a.m. (-6 GMT) http://www.897theriver.com/

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Heartmurmurs deliver blue plate special

Band: The Heartmumurs
Title: 'Same Old Blues'
Writer: Rick Galusha

The latest release by Lincoln's well known Zoo Bar house band, The Heartmurmurs' is aptly named, 'Same Old Blues.' Recorded live in October 2001, The Heartmurmurs purr through a two disc slate of traditional and pop-blues standards including covers of songs by B. B. King, Bill Withers, Chuck Berry, and Albert Collins. In a world where the next wrinkle on the blues is hailed as ground-breaking, the Heartmurmurs dish up their standard fare of blues that Lincoln's steeped audience have come to expect; not quite purists but any illusions of 'fad dancing' is left to other bands. Each member of the band is a competent musician and not adding any flairs to the blues, but then their meal ticket has been punched because they don't change - what you see is what you get and if you like what you've gotten since 1973 you're going to love this double CD set.

Probably as much a souvenir piece of the Zoo Bar, 'Same Old Blues' is a solid measuring stick for all blues discs. As the blues genres struggles to define itself in this modern world, with rock music being marketed as the blues. The Heartmurmurs march on playing what they know best and giving their audience what they have come to expect. To paraphrase Ray Davies of the Kinks, God Bless stability, "tea and virginity."

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