Double Barrel Blues Band
"Bad, Bad Feeling"
Blues Lion Records

BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO, © June 2009

 

The Double Barrel Blues Band bills themselves as an intense, exciting, rocking blues band that plays "In Your Face Blues". If that's true, then I'm sure to have a good, good feeling about "Bad, Bad Feeling" - the second release from this Syracuse, NY based band.

Members of Double Barrel include: Mark Cloutier on Lead Guitar & Vocals, John Hart on Vocals & Slide Guitar, Bill Satterly on Bass, and Garnett Grimm on Drums. The disc contains ten tracks of which six are band originals.

Everyone's partying hard on the opening track, that ya gotta wonder if the guys aren't just singing about it but sucking on some of that "Wine, Wine, Wine", as well. This is an all out jam on which the band immediately lives up to their self description. This one rocks! It's highlighted by intense rhythm from Bill and Garnett and lots of smokin' guitar leads by Mark. Real good stuff.

Things slow down a bit on the title track, an original called "Bad, Bad, Feeling". This is a real blues burner that has everyone in a mellow groove behind lots of smoking blues guitar highlights from Mark.

Somewhere between the opening track and here, the guys must have switched over to the hard stuff, because they now have the "Whiskey Blues". It's stuff like this that gives the Double Barrel Blues Band the right to say they're blues is in your face. It doesn't get any more straight up than this. John's vocals and Mark's guitar work on this track are what the blues is all about. Discs best, right here.

The name of this track - "B Flat Bone Boogie" - pretty much describes it. It's a smokin' instrumental that will have you boogieing down to your bones. If you can sit still through this one, then you gotta be in a body cast.

"Tin Pan Alley" is another slow and low down blues burner.....the kind of stuff I can listen to all night long. Although he's pretty hot on all tracks, this one may feature some of Mark's best guitar work. In addition to getting down in the alley on vocals, this one has John sounding very impressive on slide guitar as well.

Other tracks on "Bad, Bad Feeling" include: "Matchbox", "Voodoo Thing", "Restless One", "If You Find I'm Gone" and "Flipping And Flapping".

This is quite an impressive effort by the Double Barrel Blues Band, and I've got to admit that they've certainly lived up to their reputation. "Bad, Bad Feeling" was exciting, rocking and in your face kinda blues. Great work guys!

Check the guys out by going to www.doublebarrelbluesband.com. Feel free to tell them you stopped by to pick up a copy of their "Blewzz Approved" CD.
 

PREMIUM NEWS ARCHIVE

DOUBLE BARREL SERVES UP TASTY BLUES.(Stars)(Column)

Article from: The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) Article date: January 25, 2009

Byline: MARK BIALCZAK MUSIC CRITIC

Here's my Post-Standard review of the Double Barrel Blues Band's 2009 CD "Bad Bad Feeling."

Listen to "Bad Bad Feeling" and you'll get the urge to sit in a bar and sweat with the Double Barrel Blues Band.

The Syracuse foursome lays down the sound with an obvious love for and equally apparent talent for blues the way it oughta be.

Guitarist Mark Cloutier can play it fast and hot or slow and tense.

Singer John Hart can add the grit or spread the honey.

Bassist Bill Satterly and drummer Garnett Grimm Sr. keep it real.

Satterly wrote the title cut, and Cloutier's guitar work will send shivers down your spine as Hart sings, "Sometimes it feels like a black cat crossed my path. Sometimes it feels like I got a target on my back."

Yet they know that the blues can celebrate good times, too. In Cloutier's original "Flipping and Flapping, " they see what can come from romancing their high-heeled baby. "I'm gonna buy you a shoe store, so you don't have to wear old shoes no more, " Hart sings.

The well-picked covers start with a tasty "Wine Wine Wine" and finish with an anguished "Tin Pan Alley." "All the people down there, well they're living for the whiskey, wine and gin, " Hart sings. Hoist one for the blues.

Thu, 29 January 2009

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d.Here's my Post-Standard review of the Double Barrel Blues Band's 2009 CD "Bad Bad Feeling."

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this is cool scroll down our review made it on this site--seems we are in good company!!!!

Mark Bialczak review:::: Here's his Post-Standard review of The Double Barrel Blues Band's "Bad Bad Feeling." Listen to "Bad Bad Feeling" and you'll get the urge to sit in a bar and sweat with the Double Barrel Blues Band. The Syracuse foursome lays down the sound with an obvious love for and equally apparent talent for blues played the way it oughta be. Guitarist Mark Cloutier can play it fast and hot or slow and tense. Singer John Hart can add the grit or spread the honey. Bassist Bill Satterly and drummer Garnett Grimm Sr. keep it real. Satterly wrote the title cut, and Cloutier's guitar work will send shivers down your spine as Hart sings, "Sometimes it feels like a black cat crossed my path. Sometimes it feels like I got a target on my back." Yet they also know that the blues can celebrate good times, too. In Cloutier's original "Flipping and Flapping," they see what can come from romancing their high-heeled baby. "I'm gonna buy you a shoe store, so you don't have to wear old shoes no more," Cloutier sings. The well-picked covers start with a tasty "Wine Wine Wine" and finish with an anguished "Tin Pan Alley." "All the people down there, well they're living for the whiskey, wine and gin," Hart sings. Hoist one for the blues.        http://www.mary4music.com/CD48.html#CDDoubleBarrel1 Double Barrel Blues Band "Bad, Bad Feeling" Blues Lion Records BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO, © June 2009   The Double Barrel Blues Band bills themselves as an intense, exciting, rocking blues band that plays "In Your Face Blues". If that's true, then I'm sure to have a good, good feeling about "Bad, Bad Feeling" - the second release from this Syracuse, NY based band. Members of Double Barrel include: Mark Cloutier on Lead Guitar & Vocals, John Hart on Vocals & Slide Guitar, Bill Satterly on Bass, and Garnett Grimm on Drums. The disc contains ten tracks of which six are band originals. Everyone's partying hard on the opening track, that ya gotta wonder if the guys aren't just singing about it but sucking on some of that "Wine, Wine, Wine", as well. This is an all out jam on which the band immediately lives up to their self description. This one rocks! It's highlighted by intense rhythm from Bill and Garnett and lots of smokin' guitar leads by Mark. Real good stuff. Things slow down a bit on the title track, an original called "Bad, Bad, Feeling". This is a real blues burner that has everyone in a mellow groove behind lots of smoking blues guitar highlights from Mark. Somewhere between the opening track and here, the guys must have switched over to the hard stuff, because they now have the "Whiskey Blues". It's stuff like this that gives the Double Barrel Blues Band the right to say they're blues is in your face. It doesn't get any more straight up than this. John's vocals and Mark's guitar work on this track are what the blues is all about. Discs best, right here. The name of this track - "B Flat Bone Boogie" - pretty much describes it. It's a smokin' instrumental that will have you boogieing down to your bones. If you can sit still through this one, then you gotta be in a body cast. is another slow and low down blues burner.....the kind of stuff I can listen to all night long. Although he's pretty hot on all tracks, this one may feature some of Mark's best guitar work. In addition to getting down in the alley on vocals, this one has John sounding very impressive on slide guitar as well.   Other tracks on "Bad, Bad Feeling" include: "Matchbox", "Voodoo Thing", "Restless One", "If You Find I'm Gone" and "Flipping And Flapping". This is quite an impressive effort by the Double Barrel Blues Band, and I've got to admit that they've certainly lived up to their reputation. "Bad, Bad Feeling" was exciting, rocking and in your face kinda blues. Great work guys! Check the guys out by going to www.doublebarrelbluesband.com. Feel free to tell them you stopped by to pick up a copy of their "Blewzz Approved" CD.   Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro Blues editor @ www.Mary4Music.com   A special announcement was made on may 14th--the Double Barrel Blues Band has been nominated for a 2009 SAMMY AWARD for best blues recording..."Bad Bad Feeling" was selected by a veteran Syracuse music committee---A real honor to be chosen! Keeps getting better and better for this hardworking blues rock band  The Double Barrel Blues Band has performed all across New York and beyond,opening for numerous national acts and performing many prominent Blues Festivals,outdoor events,and blues clubs across the region...   Their cd, "Bad Bad Feeling",is getting international blues radio play along with being reviewed by many online scources..They recently  have been featured in the Florida Suncoast Blues Society Magazine,Mark Bialczak's Listen Up Blog and also MWE3 online guitar magazine! There is quite a bit of buzz about this blues rock outfit based out of Syracuse, N.Y. that is now starting to reach a global audience .. Their recent signing with B.E.B.E Entertainment has given this band its opportunity to expand its horizons, so ,keep an eye out as they may be coming to a town near you..   A list of events these fellas have played together would include,The Watertown Fairgrounds Arena Concert(opened for the Fabulous T-Birds),Inner Harbor Concert Series(opening for The Marshall Tucker Band),Pendragon Theatre(opened for Chris Duarte Group),opened for Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors in conjuction with the Mohawk Valley Blues Society,The New York State Blues Fest,Chenango Blues Fest,Blues In The Bay,Pendragon Theatre,Bike Week-A-Bay,Lowville Fest,Lake George Blues Blast,WSYR TV 9 Bridge Street,Radio appearances, Childrens Miracle Ride,Massena Springs Blues Bash,and now the Florida Bike Week 2010 at the Seminole Harley Davidson!!! These fellas released a 2009 DVD as well.."Live at the Watertown Fairgrounds Arena"... A 1 hour set of smoking blues-capturing a sizzling performance ! Radio DJ Johhny Keegan had this to say about their set::::  "The Double Barrel Blues Band absolutely stole the show!"..............   From intense slow blues,to swinging-hopping-jumping blues, to straight out rock n roll,catchy original tunes---these boys can serve it!! A Guaranteed rock em sock em Time!!!   Influences would include,Buddy Guy,Albert King,Freddy King,BB King,Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughn,Gary Moore,Muddy Waters,Hubert Sumlin,Willie Dixon,Jeff healy,Jeff Beck,HowlinWolf..etc………   FOR BOOKING::::   BEBECEO@gmail.com Visit us on MySpace!  www.myspace.com/BEBEINC911 Visit us on StarNow! www.starnow.com/BEBEINC   Location: New Port Richey, FL 34655 866-611-3669 866-531-4551 fax   Hours: Mon - Fri: 9AM - 5PM Sat: 10AM - 5PM Sun: Closed

MARK CLOUTIER Attitude With Gratitude (Blues Lion Records)
Based in Upstate New York, in the Syracuse region, guitarist Mark Cloutier is doing a great job releasing a barrage of CDs on his Blues Lion Records label. Much of Mark’s 2009 CD Attitude With Gratitude is instrumental in nature and with that unique element front and center, his guitar work sounds also greatly inspired by rock legends like Hendrix, Jimmy Vaughan, early Buddy Guy and T-Bone Walker. Likewise, much the same could be said about Mark’s 2008 CD with his group Stratattack, entitled Blues In My House. Featuring solid support from an adept rhythm section, Cloutier’s guitar takes on a number of sonic guises on different tracks. For instance, track 8 on Attitude With Gratitude, “There’s A Place”—a great atmospheric instrumental that mixes rock and jazzy styles to great effect—is one of Cloutier’s finest and most memorable tracks. One look at Cloutier’s web site and you can really see a guitarist who is quite prolific, with each of his CD's being strongly recommended to both blues and rock fans, as well as guitar instrumental fans. www.DoubleBarrelBluesBand.com MUSIC WEB EXPRESS 3000 presents MARK CLOUTIER Guitars Center Stage Guitarists making waves in the music world, their new recordings and gear! Musical Background I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old. I saw this fella playing a Halifax Les Paul copy guitar in the school hallway and it caught my attention. I remember him playing “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen and I thought it was the coolest thing. I approached him and asked about the guitar and he told me he was selling it. I went home and begged my parents for a week or so and they finally gave in and gave me the money to buy it! Very exciting for me as I was tiring of athletics and need something new—a new challenge! I had a friend who played guitar so he started teaching me basics and eventually I studied with a fella by the name of Dana Klipp. He turned me on to the blues and all the great guitar players! I have been playing for 30 years now and everyday I am still learning something. I also enjoy playing bass and on some of my early solo guitar recordings you can hear me playing the 4 string! New CD As you may have noticed I am very busy recording my works. It really is an ongoing documentation of all my ideas and influences. I really love turning on the record and sometimes just tapping into my stream of conscience. Lately I have really worked on themes and dynamics to build off of and then come back to. Seems to be a very good formula of late. The new CD Attitude With Gratitude was based on that formula. I received some helpful tips from the legendary Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records. He has listened to some of my recordings and made mention of paying a bit more attention to melody and themes to bring out my soloing more. I took that advice and think I am heading in the right direction for sure! Attitude With Gratitude is the result. I record at home in a very simplistic manner. I use Cakewalk software with a Lexicon Lambda usb. The bass guitar and drums are from a fellow by the name of Lawrence Fritts, a professor from Iowa University. He had posted some backing tracks to be used by musicians such as myself. I asked him if it would be okay to use the tracks for my CD’s. He said no problem and mentioned he really liked what I was doing with them! I have embellished many tracks with rhythm guitar and in some cases double lead work. I just plug my SRV Fender Strat into either my Crate or Hughes and Kettner amp and run it direct into my computer by way of mic-ing my amp. It’s a cool formula that allows me to work efficiently during my usual two hour stints of recording per session. I work and have a family and gig often so I am very busy. I do much of the online advertising with our web site and everything else involved. Essentially, I am my own recording label. I do think these recordings are influenced by my many years of gigging and reading people. The people’s response-reaction to what you do and what you don’t do are important. I tend to lay back quite a bit to set the crowd up for my attack. Some say it’s a form of blues shredding when I get excited. I would say Buddy Guy has influenced me in that manner—I love how he attacks. Of course SRV had the same effect on me along with Hendrix. Favorite Guitars Yes my favorite guitar is my SRV issue fender Strat. I use that on about ninety percent of my recordings. The track called “Delta Down” on my newest is an old Schafer guitar with these killer Japanese pickups. I tuned down to D on that to get the real swampy sound—totally Hendrix inspired. I also made my slide guitar debut on a couple tracks. One of the three songs I sing on is called “Everything I Do Is Wrong.” That’s me on the slide guitar. It’s inspired by the married life. If you are married or have been married you will relate for sure. Had a really good reaction this past Saturday night at our show, especially from the guys. They were laughing and new exactly what I was talking about! Having a sense of humour when playing blues is just as important as tearing it up! As far as pedals or effects. Just a Zakk Wylde overdrive. That’s it along with a bit of delay or reverb. Also, on a few tracks a rotary sound from my Cakewalk software. Musical Influences Yes I will mention my most influential guitar players in a bit of an order depending on the day. Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, SRV and Jimmy Vaughn, Freddy, Albert and BB King, Jeff Beck, Duke Robillard, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton to name a few. I would say as far as albums: Band of Gypsies - Hendrix, Texas Flood - SRV, Stone Crazy -Buddy Guy would be my top three. So many I could go on and on though... Upcoming Plans I'd like to take this time to give credit to my friends and band mates in the Double Barrel Blues Band. John Hart on vocals and guitar, Bill Satterly on bass and vocals and Garnet Grimm on drums. We have recently hooked up with Valerie Scotella owner of B.E.B.E Booking Agency and are currently working very hard to set up some short tours for 2010. The first is already in place. We are playing Daytona Bike Week February 27th and 28th at the Seminole Harley Davidson in Sanford Florida just outside of Daytona as part of bike week. Really looking forward to that. So many Harley riders saying they will be there! Have a fella trying to work Michigan as well. He is doing some footwork to get us some airtime and bring attention to clubs and festivals around the area hoping we can infiltrate and bring our energetic rocking blues style to the people! The Double Barrel Blues Band has some exciting new material we have written and plan on recording early 2010 when we can find the opening in all of our schedules. Stay tuned as I will let you know when our CD is complete! Some notable performances in central and Northern New York would be Blues In The Bay-Alex Bay- labor day weekend, Robert Thompson Massena Springs Blues bash 4th of July weekend, Sacketts Harbor Battle State Park in August, a series of dates at the Iron Block Harley Davidson in Adams New York just to name a few. Many cool shows in the makes and waiting confirmation for 2010! Web Site Our web site is www.doublebarrelbluesband.com My E-Mail is: mcloutier82@gmail.com (attention all festivals and blues clubs) our booking agent is B.E.B.E www.bebeinc.us Email: BEBECEO@gmail.com Visit us on MySpace! www.myspace.com/BEBEINC911 Visit us on StarNow! www.starnow.com/BEBEINC Location: New Port Richey, FL 34655 866-611-3669 866-531-4551 fax
	Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed by mwe3.com. Send to:MWE3.com CD Reviews Editor Robert Silverstein, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249 E-mail:info@mwe3.com

LA HORA DEL BLUES REVIEW FROM SPAIN!!

Double Barrel Blues Band “Bad Bad Feeling” Blues Lion 2009  //  Mark Cloutier “Diary Of A Stratman” Blues Lion 2009. Excitante banda de blues entretenida, alegre y vivaracha, que basa todo su peso en el trabajo de su guitarrista Mark Cloutier, ‘alma mater’ del grupo. Los músicos escogen bien el repertorio, y ya sabemos la importancia que tiene un buen repertorio en un cd, pues de ello depende muchas veces que el álbum pueda llegar a aburrir soberanamente, o bien divertir a raudales. En este caso los Double Barrel Blues Band han sabido conjugar un repertorio animado, vibrante y muy variado, lo que, además de los gustos personales, probablemente se convierte en una razón de peso cuando se valora la posibilidad de comprar algunos discos. La banda se califica como un cuarteto de blues y de rock-blues, y desde luego lo son. Particularmente me decanto más por este último término, ya que basan toda la fuerza expresiva en la guitarra de su líder Mark, que posee un sonido y una técnica incendiaria y brillante, a base de riffs rocosos y en ocasiones volcánicos. En algunos pasajes la banda también juguetea con el jump, en temas de corte más tejano, junto a buenos slow blues como “Tin Pan Alley”, con el que cierran “Bad Bad Feeling”, pero en la mayoría de temas se ve claramente que el blues-rock es lo suyo, dadas las características intrínsecas del grupo. Como digo, blues-rock sin pretensiones, pero sobrio, efectivo y gustoso, si se puede usar un adjetivo como este para definir la música.
El segundo disco es más bien una exaltación del propio Mark Cloutier, un trabajo que firma bajo su nombre y en el cual da rienda suelta a su imaginación con diez temas originales, todos ellos instrumentales y, a diferencia del anterior, de estilo más relajado, bluesy y un poquito groove, que finalmente se convierte en una completa exhibición de guitarra para los amantes de este instrumento. MUY BUENOS. Here comes an exciting, joyful and lively blues band, which base his work on Mark Cloutier’s guitar work, who in fact is the one who carries the band weight. These fellows have done a good repertoire selection and all you know the importance of the songs selection to complete a successful cd, because many times it is a determinant reason to do a totally boring or a lovely album. This time, The Double Barrel Blues Band combine a varied bright and rolling selection which, besides personal tastes, is really important when you decide to buy some cds. They define themselves as a blues and blues-rock quartet and this is really true. I personally think they are more a blues-rock band because they base all the expressive potential on the guitar work of their leader Mark Cloutier, who has a terrific flaming sound and technique, full of rocky passionate riffs. The band also play some jump passages in a more Texas blues style, together with other slow blues such as “Tin Pan Alley” that ends this “Bad Bad Feeling” album, but, in general, the cd clearly shows blues-rock is the music they feel at ease with. In short words, there is unpretentious blues-rock, effective, restrained and savoury, if I can use these words to define their music
The second cd runs high into Mark Cloutier’s work, done under his own name, where he gives free rein to his imagination along ten instrumental original songs, but played on a more relaxed, bluesy and grooving style than the previous one that finally becomes a  totally guitar exhibition, perfect for guitar lovers. VERY GOOD.

INTERVIEW TO  MARK CLOUTIER of THE DOUBLE BARREL BLUES BAND, BY MONTE ADKISON, "THE BLUES STALKER"

INTERVIEW WITH MARK CLOUTIER OF THE DOUBLE BARREL BLUES BAND

The four piece Double Barrel Blues Band based out of Syracuse, New York, has been on my radar for some time now. Their new release “Bad Bad Feeling” is receiving considerable airplay all over Europe. Guitarist Mark Cloutier gives us the inside scoop on the band.

Blues Stalker: Mark, tell us about the members of the band and how long they have been together.
Mark Cloutier: Let me start out with the fact that we as a band have been together 3 years now. Drummer Garnett Grimm and bassman Bill Sutterly have been gigging with me for about 6 years now-three years in a previous band called Dirty Pool. The Double Barrel Blues Band is an off shoot of The Dirty Pool . We brought John Hart aboard and transferred from a harmonica-based roots blues band to a more rocking blues guitar format. We stay very true to the roots at times, and then we hit the audience with a bit of edgy smash-mouth blues. I think it’s a good formula for us. John Hart has more of a rock n’roll background and I come from a very Jimi Hendrix-Vaughan Bros-Buddy Guy style. Understand, we did a lot of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, old school blues in the previous band. I do not play like any of them really, but I think their influence is evident. Garnett has played every style of music it seems throughout his many years on the scene and Bill is blues all the way. Very solid bassman!

B.S.: “Bad Bad Feeling” is your second release, correct? All of the cuts on it are originals? M.C.: Technically, yes it is our second release. Our first release was a bit of 60’s old school recording. A tough Harley-Davidson owner by the name of Eric Dunk recorded us a few years back. Some very rough stuff, but a stuff, but a cool recording of mostly original tunes and some funny outtakes-false stars and even had Eric’s dog walk into the studio while we were playing and actually throw up! We all just stopped and laughed hysterically. We decided to record most of the previous stuff in a more updated studio format—I work at WSYR TV 9 and a fellow work mate has a nice home studio so we went there and recorded our CD live…Brian Anelli Productions----six original tunes and 4 covers. We had maybe three quick punch-ins----that was it, still raw, but a bit better in overall production. I do not think people want perfection in recordings. They want it real. I love many of the old Chess recordings---never overproduced. I think there is a fine line between great production and over-production. Our best is still to come I believe. Our live shows have been selling our CD’s like crazy of late!

B.S.: The band has played some major blues festivals and opened for some major artists. Tell us about that and the Blues in the Bay festival you just recently performed at Labor Day weekend in Alexandria Bay, New York.
M.C.: This past summer alone we have played in concert opening for the Chris Duarte Group at the Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake, N.Y., also opened for the Fabulous T-Birds at the Watertown Fairgrounds Arena, and played the Syracuse Inner Harbor Concert Series opening for Marshall Tucker Band. The Duarte show was a very up close and personal show in front of maybe 75 people but man they were into it. Chris and the band were class acts on and off the stage. We had a blast and gained a bunch of new fans. The other two concerts were in front of a few thousand people and it was then, that we believed, we belonged there---that is where we want to be! The Blues in the Bay was the icing on the cake for this summer. An amazing 5-day fest in the 1000 islands. We played Uncle Sam’s Boat Tour Friday night. Over a hundred people on the 3rd floor overlooking the water and the amazing night scenes. At one point I took my hat off because the wind was picking up, and I tossed it on the floor, a bunch of people started throwing money into it! Great people, food, and fun. Thought it could get no better but the next night the club we played called The Riverboat was jam-packed and rowdy as can be. Sunday was the main stage and there must have been 3 to 4 thousand people there just loving the blues! Monday we hosted the blues jam on the main stage and another couple thousand showed up to soak in the last of the summer blues. Many Canadians crossed over for the fest. An amazing time was had with some terrific jamming. We sold out all of our CD’s and many people bought or DVD from the Watertown Fairgrounds concert. Sold some hats as well.

B.S.: How and where was “Bad Bad Feeling” recorded? How can people obtain a copy of it? M.C..: Our CD is for sale at our shows, online at CD Baby and Nadeau Music. You can go to www.doublebarrellbluesband.com and also buy it there. We have links to various places including my solo blues instrumental recording. Bad Bad Feeding was recorded at Brian Anelli Productions as I mentioned earlier.

B.S.: I understand that you have a recording studio in your home in Syracuse and have used it to record with musicians around the world over the Internet. Tell us about that experience and how it has worked for you. It sound like the future is wide open for this sort of thing where people can record with people that they never have even met. How do the musicians hook up?
M.C.: The experience on the web has been terrific for me. In the last 3-4 years I have come from being computer incompetent, to really getting the most I possible can out of it as far as networking and recording online. You can find many independent musicians on various music sites looking for collaborations. Very talented musicians I must add! I have learned to plug my Fender Strat guitar into my Hughes & Kettner 100 watt head and 4 ten Marshall cabinet, and connect the sound to my computer by way of a USB and Cubease software, then be able to record my music and save it for CD. Also, I have recorded a number of albums with musicians across the world. I think it is the future! Major record labels may turn to this process down the road? May be already doing it, not so sure. If you go to our website there is some really nice press about some of my collaborations. I have sold quite a few CDs and mp3 albums of just my blues guitar recordings. It is a real thrill to see people from across the globe buying my home-produced recordings. Several computer customers have bought all 5 of my CDs! A new one called “Manic Obsession” is complete and ready for CD Baby. I’m waiting for them to finish their “upgrade” which has not been a great transition to say the least. I must mention Lawrence Fritts who gave me permission to use a bunch of his cool backing tracks for my CD. I play some bass guitar and rhythm guitar on some tracks, along with the lead work. I was told by Lawrence that I reminded him of Hendrix as far as my approach to the Strat—I was blown away by that comment.

B.S.: You also have a solo instrumental CD out. Describe that effort.
M.C.: My new CD “Manic Obsession” might be my best effort to date. I tried very hard to keep in interesting from a listener’s standpoint by getting as many different sounds out of my Strat. Some clean as whistle tones and some heavy-handed aggressive sounds as well. I listen to a lot of Jimmy Vaughan, early Buddy Guy and T-Bone Walker….Hendrix and Stevie Ray on the beefier tunes. There are a couple of nice tunes Dickey Betts-like, called “Sunshine Girls” and “So Beautiful” dedicated to my beautiful wife and daughter. I have it up on Kunaki which I use to reproduce and distribute. A very simple way to get my music out---affordable. I believe you have “ “Diary of a Stratman”, my previous release. I think that CD has quite a good collection of sounds and approaches on it. It’s a good party blues as one of my nephews once said!

B.S.: I know you have a favorite ax. Can you describe it to me? What other gear do you favor?
M.C.: I absolutely favor my Fender Strat. It’s the SRV issue. I play with 12 gauge strings in standard tuning. I love the flat tuning but too lazy to deal with at gigs. Probably going to drop tune my new Fender G&L guitar. It has a gorgeous orange finish. As I mentioned, I have a Hughes & Kettner head that sits on a 4-10 Marshall cabinet. The only pedals I use are a Hendix wah and a Zacke Wilde overdrive. I like the reverb and rotary sounds! John Hart uses an Italia guitar designed by Chris Rea. He also has an Epiphone Flying V. We get totally different sounds and styles from each side of the stage. It really keeps it fresh for our audience.

B.S.: Mark, you guys deliver a more rocking version of the blues. Is that reflective of the blues audiences in the Central New York area? Please describe the live blues scene in that part of the country. I sense there are quite a few bar-b-que and biker events.
M.C.: Yes, the Syracuse scene for many years had been dominated by harmonica-fronted bands. Some amazing harp players in Syracuse and the surrounding areas. We may have oversaturated the area in a span of ten years—a ton of blues bands swapping players and playing many of the same tunes. The Dinosaur BBQ played a big part in the thriving scene during all of the 90’s and a bit of 2000. We all know the blues comes and goes in circles. It’s on its way back I believe…. A lot of hard rock in Syracuse right now but I sense the rock scene may be tiring a bit now. We have travelled to stay alive—very, very busy in a 3-4 hour traveling radius. All you have to do is say blues and bar-b-que and people flock to events. The clubs have struggled as a whole though. There is a place called Shifty’s in Syracuse that is really thriving. They book all styles of music and it’s a great atmosphere. We added some rock n’ roll tunes to our playlist but they still hold that blues background within. We miss the Syracuse Blues Connection magazine that dissolved somewhere around the year 2000. It’s always money, you know---the money factor did them in. I spent ten playing the Dinosaur BBQ when it was a fresh concept and really hopping. Personally, I thing the vibe has changed. Many of the fine talented blues musicians around the region are not playing there anymore. Blues is not their first choice. Credit to them, they do well for themselves from a business standpoint. When all is said and done, thank God for a great blues fest in Syracuse, N. Y. The New York State Bluesfest is going strong! We played there last year. It is always a real treat.

B.S.: I notice a couple of festivals this month on your schedule. Any future touring plans?
M.C.: Working on the touring thing….a few promoters here in Syracuse that I am in touch with and am looking to make things happen. I just saw Buddy Guy at the Turning Stone Casino. He played the Showroom and man, a real treat to see a 74 year old man play with 18 year old enthusiasm. I met him at a meet and greet before the show and he was real cool. We hope to put together some sort of a blues event there in the future as I have met Rick, the guy who is in charge of the events. Rick told me he has heard great things about our band. So, we hope to meet with him soon. We want to go to Europe and tour for sure. I know that we can do great there when given the opportunity. The people there really love the blues from what I hear.

B.S.: How has your new release been received in Europe? Are you interested in touring there? Any chance of coming down here to Florida to play and promote the new CD?
M.C.: Yes, I know a lot of folks in Europe by way of the Internet and sales are decent out there- a ton of networking –we are ripe for the pickings. Also, my partner on guitar, John Hart, spent many years in Europe as an army intelligence officer. He played some rock n’ roll there in various bands some years back. His son is in the army and is begging for us to play in Germany….I guess they have many parties on their off time and crank our concert DVD to the max! John’s kid is a great man and was recently wounded in Iraq. Miraculously, he survived but tragically a few of his buddies didn’t make it.
Finally, I just want to say I have the best band mates right now, They are good friends and great musicians. It’s a real honor to share the stage with them. We continue to challenge one another to get better and we understand we must keep things fresh always.

B.S.: Thanks, Mark, for giving us great blues. Tell my friend Tony at Blues Source a big hello from the Blues Stalker.
M.C.: Thank you, Monte, it has been great chatting with you even though I have not met you yet. We have had several offer recently to play Bike Week in Daytona. Maybe we can hook up there if it plays out. We would love to get to Florida to do some show. I will tell my buddy Tony D. you say hello. Cheers all.

www.doublebarrellbluesband.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MarkCloutier
www.youtube.com/markcloutier
www.myspace.com/markcloutier
http://kunaki.com/msales.asp?PublisherId=113890

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Robert Johnson

Pagina Principal/Home
El Programa de Radio/The Blues Radio Show - La Programación/Playlist - Novedades Cds/Cds Received- Críticas Discos Trimestrales/Quartely Blues Cds Reviews -  Criticas Discos Antiguas/Old Cds Reviews - Reconocimientos/Show Aknowledgements - Links de Interés/Logo Links - Posters Blueseros/Blues Posters

Quien es Zúmel/Who is Zumel - Las Fotos/Blues Gallery - La "Harmonica Zúmel Blues Band"/The late "Harmonica Zúmel Blues Band" - La Sociedad de Blues de Barcelona S.B.B/Barcelona Blues Society SBB

Agenda de Conciertos/Blues Gigs Calendar - Las Noticias Nacionales/Spanish Blues News - Los Artículos Nacionales/Spanish Blues Articles - Nuestras Entrevistas/National Interviews - El Diccionario de Blues

Las Noticias Internacionales/International Blues News - Los Articulos Internacionales /International Blues Articles
E-mail/Feedback

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Espera para escuchar a Pinetop Perkins en internet Explorer/ Wait for Pinetop Perkins song by internet Explorer

Monte Adkison, conocida como "The Blues Stalker", es una enamorada del blues desde hace más de cuatro décadas. Como muchos otros jóvenes que crecieron en el sur de los Estados Unidos a principios de los sesenta, fue una asidua oyente del prestigioso disc jockey "John R" en la WLAC radio de Nashville, Tennessee, quien diariamente dirigía y presentaba, a partir de medianoche, un popular show dedicado al blues. Fue por ser profesora de ciencias sociales desde hace treinta años en un instituto de enseñanza secundaria de Florida, como Monte consiguió en 1995 una beca del Consejo de Humanidades para realizar diferentes estudios sobre el blues en la Universidad de Tampa, donde tuvo la oportunidad de conocer al hoy ya fallecido Rock Bottom, gran estudioso de la armónica que vivía en el área de la bahía de Tampa, y a la también fallecida "Diamond Teeth" Mary McClain. Sorprendida por el hecho de que en ninguna publicación estadounidense se hubiese mencionado nada sobre "Diamond Teeth" Mary y sin embargo sí se hubieran publicado informaciones sobre Mary en revistas europeas, se prometió a sí misma que eso no volvería a ocurrir.
Durante un peregrinaje veraniego al Delta para estudiar en la Universidad de Mississippi en Oxford, Monte dedicó parte de su tiempo a la búsqueda de información sobre Mary en los Archivos de Blues de la Universidad. Allí conoció a David Nelson, que en aquella época era uno de los editores de la revista Living Blues, que por entonces se publicaba en el campus de Ole Miss. Al preguntarle sobre Mary, David le comentó que él la había visto tocar en la ceremonia de los Premios W.C. Handy celebrada en Memphis en el 92. Entonces Monte le preguntó que si realmente la revista se dedicaba al "blues viviente", si estaría interesado en publicar un artículo sobre el concierto de Mary para celebrar su 95 cumpleaños. La respuesta fue afirmativa y el artículo se publicó en Living Blues, así como también otro artículo aparecido en el número 97 de la revista, sobre el programa "Blues en los colegios" que Monte llevaba a cabo. Monte empezó también a colaborar regularmente en la revista editada por la Suncoast Blues Society, Twelve Bar Rag, con el seudónimo de "Blues Stalker". Después de cinco años, Monte sigue colaborando con esta revista, realizando artículos sobre excelentes bluesmen que desgraciadamente no han gozado de la popularidad que merecían por su calidad entre el público aficionado y los medios especializados. También se dedica a cubrir otros aspectos relacionados con el blues. Una muestra de algunas de sus fotografías puede verse en la web de la Suncoast Blues Society www.suncoastblues.org, junto a las fotos que anualmente realiza durante el famoso Tampa Bay Blues Festival.
Su compromiso por mantener el blues vivo se hace evidente en todos sus artículos, fotografías y, como no, en su clase en la escuela de Ocala, Florida, donde todas las paredes están materialmente cubiertas con instantáneas, fotos y posters firmados por muchos de los músicos de blues que ha conocido. Tal como ella dice: "Es mi más respetuosa forma de entrar silenciosamente y sentir mio todo este patrimonio musical –cuando te sientes deprimida y cansada de dar clase y miras a las paredes y ves a Kenny Neal, o a Eddie Kirkland, o a Sista Monica- quizás algún dia podrás verlos en directo y también te sentirás atrapado por su música tal como me ha sucedido a mi. Esta es también otra humilde manera de mantener vivo el blues".
Podeis visitar su página en www.bluesstalker.com Por todo ello, es para mi una enorme satisfacción y orgullo poder contar en el staff de "La Hora del Blues" desde Estados Unidos, con la inestimable ayuda y colaboración de esta gran estudiosa y enamorada del blues, conocida como "The Blues Stalker". Estoy seguro que disfrutareis de esta página con sus jugosas y suculentas entrevistas y fotografias. Sólo puedo pediros que nos visiteis con regularidad. Bienvenida a bordo, Monte...

Vicente Zúmel

B.S.: “Bad Bad Feeling” es vuestro segundo disco, ¿verdad?. ¿Los temas que habeis incluído son todos originales?
M.C.: Técnicamente hablando sí, es nuestro segundo disco. El primero fue una especie de vieja grabación como de los años 60. Un tipo rudo y fuerte llamado Eric Dunk que tenía una Harley-Davidson fue quien hizo la grabación hace ya algunos años. Los temas eran muy sucios, pero a fin de cuentas, era material realizado con una buena grabación. Casi todo eran temas propios y también incluímos algunas tomas falsas muy divertidas, incluso el perro de Eric entró en el estudio cuando estábamos tocando y ¡empezó a vomitar! Todos paramos de tocar y nos pusimos a reir histéricamente. Decidimos grabar la mayor parte de aquel material en un estudio más moderno. Yo trabajo en la WSYR-TV 9 y un compañero de trabajo tiene un buen estudio de grabación, Brian Anelli Productions, así que grabamos allí nuestro cd en directo… seis temas originales y cuatro versiones. Quizas aún fuimos demasiado impulsivos, pero quedó así, todavía muy sucio, pero bastante mejor en lo que a la producción en general. Creo que la gente no busca la perfección en un disco. Lo que quieren es que suene auténtico. A mi me gustan muchas de las viejas grabaciones de la Chess, nunca tienen demasiada sobreproduccion. Creo que existe una línea muy delgada entre una buena producción y una sobreproducción exagerada. Pienso que lo mejor de nosotros está aún por venir. ¡En los conciertos en directo nuestros cds se venden como churros!

B.S.: Habeis tocado en muchos grandes festivales y teloneado a artistas de renombre. Cuéntanos alguna cosa y háblanos también sobre vuestra reciente actuación en el Blues & Bay Festival en Alexandria Bay, N.Y. durante la Fiesta del Trabajo.
M.C.: El pasado verano fuimos loa teloneros de Chris Duarte y su banda en un concierto en el Pendragon Theatre en Saranak Lake, N.Y. También hemos sido los teloneros de los Fabulous T-Birds en el Watertown Fairgrounds Arena y hemos compartido cartel con la Marshall Tucker Band en los conciertos del Syracuse Inner Harbor Concert Series. El show con Duarte fue muy íntimo y muy especial, sólo había unas setenta y cinco personas, pero totalmente entregadas. Chris y su banda estuvieron insuperables, tanto dentro como fuera del escenario. Fue una gran fiesta y conseguimos un buen nùmero de nuevos fans. En los otros dos conciertos tuvimos varios cientos de personas y fue entonces, cuando nos dimos cuenta de que este era nuestro mundo y que eso era lo que realmente queríamos hacer. El Blues & Bay Festival fue la guinda que culminó el pastel. Un increíble festival de cinco días en las 1000 Islas. El viernes tocamos en el Uncle Sam, el barco que hacía el crucero nocturno. ¡Más de cien personas en el tercer piso del barco viendo una increible puesta de sol y otras vistas nocturnas desde el agua! Hubo un momento en que se me ocurrió quitarme el sombrero y dejarlo en el suelo, porque el viento era bastante fuerte y no quería que se lo llevara, y la gente empezó a dejar monedas en él. ¡Un público excelente, buena comida y mucha diversión! Al dia siguiente tocamos en un club llamado The Riverboat y también fue una gran noche. Estaba lleno hasta los topes, anímadísimo y no cabía un alfiler. El domingo tocamos en el escenario principal. ¡Imagínate tres o cuatro mil personas disfrutando con el blues! El lunes llevamos la jam de blues en el escenario principal y, de nuevo, más de dos mil personas se quedaron enganchados con los últimos blues del verano. Muchos canadienses cruzaron la frontera para acudir al festival. Agotamos todos nuestros cds y mucha gente nos compró el dvd del concierto en Watertown Fairgrounds. También vendimos algunos sombreros y gorras.

B.S.: Sé que el tema del equipo de sonido te interesa especialmente. ¿Puedes hablarme de él? ¿Cuál es tu preferido?
M.C.: Mi guitarra favorita es la Fender Strat. Es el modelo de SRV. Toco con cuerdas del 12 y afinación standard. Me gusta la afinación bemol, pero me suele dar pereza utilizarla cuando toco en directo. Posiblemente dejaré afinada así mi nueva guitarra Fender G&L. Es de un color naranja precioso. Como ya te he dicho tengo un cabezal Hughes & Kettner que se conecta a un Marshall 4-10. Los únicos pedales que uso son un wah-wah Hendix y un overdrive Zacke Wilde. ¡Me gusta la reverb y también ir cambiando de sonido! John Hart usa una guitarra Italia diseñada por Chris Rea. También tiene una Epiphone Flying V. Tenemos un estilo y un sonido   completamente diferente desde cada lado del escenario, lo que es muy gratificante para el público que nos escucha en directo.

B.S.: He visto en vuestra lista de conciertos que este mes (septiembre 2009) tocais en un par de festivales. ¿Teneis planes para una próxima gira?
M.C.: Estamos trabajando en ello… estoy en contacto con algunos promotores aquí en Syracuse y espero que pueda concretarse algo muy pronto. Hace poco estuve viendo a Buddy Guy en el Turning Stone Casino. Tocaba en la sala principal. ¡Todo un lujo poder ver a un hombre de 74 años tocar con el mismo entusiasmo que un joven de 18! Puede charlar con él antes de su actuación y la verdad es que es un tipo encantador. Quedamos en hablar sobre la posibilidad de montar juntos algún evento bluesero por aquí en el futuro, ahora que ya conozco a Rick, que es quien se encarga de organizar este tipo de eventos. Rick me comentó que había oído muy buenos comentarios sobre nuestra banda. Así que espero que nos volveremos a encontrar pronto. Por supuesto queremos realizar alguna gira por Europa. Sé que podemos hacer grandes cosas allí, si tenemos la oportunidad de viajar. He oído decir que allí la gente es muy receptiva y hay mucha afición al blues.