Author Archives: Brian Robbins

Freelance word 'rassler, sloppy cartoonist, and thumper of stringed instruments. Tales, 'toons, and tunes at www.brian-robbins.com

Blackie And The Rodeo Kings – South

For Chrissakes – Canada ain’t that far away, people. How did Blackie And The Rodeo Kings stay under the Americana/roots music/alt-country/whatever-you-want-to-call-it radar for the last 18 years? No matter: that’s all about to change with the release of South. What started out as a collection of stripped-down tunes birthed from backstage picking sessions and sittin’-around-the-kitchen […]

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Michael Bloomfield – From His Head To His Heart To His Hands

The late guitarist Michael Bloomfield’s name routinely appears on “best of” lists; the fact is, his musical legacy has never been served up in a proper collection – until now. And it took another musical legend to it. Al Kooper first crossed paths with Michael Bloomfield during Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 sessions: Kooper was on […]

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Buffalo Killers – Ohio Grass

From Issue #79 of Hittin’ The Note magazine: my review of Buffalo Killers’ Ohio Grass album. (Click on the image to enlarge.) As always, many thanks to Hittin’ The Note publisher John Lynskey and the HTN crew!

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Railroad Earth – Last Of The Outlaws

Last Of The Outlaws finds Railroad Earth in their twelfth year together, still discovering just what they’re made of – in the nicest of ways. Newest member Andrew Altman (who took over the bass duties from Johnny Grubb in 2010) has settled in nicely with a style that’s aggressive yet tasteful at the same time; […]

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Hard Working Americans – Hard Working Americans

I bet I could make you smile just by listing off the members of the Hard Working Americans: Duane Trucks on drums, paired up with bass monster Dave Schools; Chad Staehly on keys laying it down alongside of Neal Casal on guitar; and Todd Snider out front on vocals. (Oh – and toss in cameos […]

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Eric Clapton’s Give Me Strength – My Conversation With Producer Bill Levenson

From Issue #79 of Hittin’ The Note magazine: Bill Levenson, Executive Producer of the new Eric Clapton release Give Me Strength: The ’74/’75 Recordings discusses the task of assembling the new box set. Give Me Strength focuses on a period of Clapton’s career that is often overlooked: the 1974-75 run that produced the 461 Ocean […]

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Drive-By Truckers – Alabama Ass Whuppin’

From Issue #79 of Hittin’ The Note magazine: my review of the Drive-By Truckers’ live archival album Alabama Ass Whuppin’. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

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Leo Welch – Sabougla Voices

Let’s ignore the story behind Leo Welch’s Sabougla Voices album for a moment and just talk about the tunes and nothing but the tunes. Here’s the deal, folks: if you like your blues raw and real and served up Mississippi downhome-style – slathered with gospel sauce – then you’re going to love this album. That’s […]

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Chris Wilson – It’s Flamin’ Groovy!

Chris Wilson’s new It’s Flamin’ Groovy! belongs in the same category as Ronnie Wood’s I’ve Got My Own Album To Do or Ian McLagan’s Troublemaker: fine, fine solo albums by veteran rock ‘n’ rollers who have nothing to prove, playing music they love because … well … they frigging love it. Note that I would’ve […]

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The Story of “Cole’s Law”, Steve Kimock, Tigger & Me

“She came for dinner, but we never got to that …” Pretty cool to be able to tell the whole world (well, the folks listening to Maine Public Radio, anyway) about how much you love your wife/best friend – and share a great piece of music, as well. In 2013, I was invited to take […]

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