The Little Brother Blues Showcase
Booking Info and Sound Samples(many of the photos by Vincent Tseng)
Live Shows - My portable blues medicine show varies depending on the size and type of show. That can range from a couple of musicians with acoustic guitars at a barbeque or party to a large electric show band in a night club or dance. My
personal favorite music is the early 1900s Georgia blues such as Willie McTell, Curley Weaver, Buddy Moss, Frank Edwards but I also love all the Delta, Swing and Chicago stuff as well. I guess you'd call our primary style the "Piedmont" style but honestly I just call it good music. We usually mix a number of high quality original compositions into the mix. Our set list is changed to meet the needs of the audience. We can be raunchy or we can be nice.
My close friend and playing partner Tony Bryant has become a big part of my musical life in recent years since his mother legendary blues singer Cora Mae Bryant retired in 2005. Tony was raised in the blues and there are qualities to his voice and bold creative
style you can't learn in a book. It's something you can't teach but when you hear it you know it's the real thing. I've seen people literally come running when he began to sing.
When Tony and I first began playing together I noticed how simple and direct his guitar style was. He reminded me of Son House or any 1920s bluesman. I thought to myself with some teaching from me he could really go somewhere. Little did I know that I'd be the student for these years learning from him and his mother like a magic compass in a storm. I've learned much more about how the blues comes not from the notes you play but the feeling inside. I thought I already knew that but as usual life always brings on new revelations and new friends. In fact I learn something about the blues from his whole family. They all grew up singing, playing or knowing the blues and radiate with it.
His grandfather Curley Weaver traveled as the Georgia Guitar Wizard in the 1930s and his mother Savannah Weaver taught a whole host of the greatest guitarists how to play
when they were children. Curley and all his childhood friends would become blues legends as adults and his best friend Willie McTell would be his playing partner on into the 1950s. This genetic link to the blues was not lost on Tony Bryant or any of his brothers and sisters who are all talented and have a natural feel for blues. Tony's ability to just write songs on the fly is astonishing. He writes about his life and he plays what he feels.
The amazing thing about Tony is his presence on stage and how he grabs the audience and leaves them with the blues. He's headlining festivals, in the New Yorker magazine and other publications and sure to take off in the world at some point. For the time being I'm enjoying our friendship and trying to play as many gigs as I can while the music is strong. If you want to hear some real blues pass your hat around and gather us up some gas money, good food and people and we'll come play for you. It's not easy working up these songs and trying to perform but with your support and help we can preserve this true American
art form.
My other best friend and musical brother is Ross Pead. We lovingly call him Peadboy. He's like a bubbly kid in a toy store and wouldn't miss the chance to make music. Just hitting 60 years old he has been around the Atlanta blues scene long enough to know everything and everyone. He is one of the most beloved blues loving country boys in the Atlanta region.
Ross headlines festivals, has several CDs he sells and knows a wide range of music from the Carter Family to Tom Dorsey. He plays a unique guitar style using the slide on the ring finger and standard tuning. You'd never guess he can get all those sounds with such a simple setup but his thumb picking and back slapping patterns are amazing to watch and hear. It's like a one man band watching him play and sing. When we get together on two guitars the magic truly begins. We've never been able to explain it but we almost read each others minds. You'll also see some other fantastic musicians in my shows. Above and to the right is Joshua Jacobsen on the National resonator. He's always been Cora Mae Bryant's number one blues guitarist and he recorded all the Music Maker sessions with her. He's one of the only people alive that knows how to play the older blues in a way that makes Cora happy. She'll tell you in a hurry if you don't play the blues right. Cora and Tony always told me blues should give you a feeling when you hear it. If you don't have that feeling it's not blues.
It's very hard to capture the magic of a blues show in a recording but you can hear some samples of the type of music I love. We can play large shows but we really love those in your face house parties and small juke joint atmospheres. If you live outside the Atlanta area we may travel your way in the future so drop us a note and maybe we can connect. I guarantee you wont be disappointed in the music we provide.
Booking - If you like what you hear in the unedited recordings below please contact us about advance booking. Serious inquiries only contact us.
Top left to bottom right: 1. LB, 2. Ross, 3. LB, 4. LB/Tony/JJ,
5. LB/Paul Linden/Sean Costello
Listen to MP3 SOUND SAMPLES
Adding new songs all the timeLISTEN TO NEW! ATLANTA RAG - MP3
Preview of a cut from latest CD in progress and
a tribute to the Atlanta Blues scene.1. Chicken Raid - This is one of the most requested Atlanta Blues tunes of all times. The legendary Georgia blues man Mr. Frank Edwards wrote this fantastic tune. Click on
his site too and check out the real deal. Mudcat and many other local artists perform this song in Atlanta every week. Learn more about Mr Frank.
Track Notes: Two guitars and vocals LB and blues harmonica Michael Golden. Used the old 1930s Kay Kraft on slide open tuning.2. Pride and Joy - LB sings and plays a raw acoustic version of this Austin Texas gem by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Michael Golden playing blues harmonica.
Track Notes: Greven PS and vocals, MG on Harp, no frills.3. Wee Midnight Hour - LB singing and playing this true Atlanta Weaver classic. You truly float away while listening to this tune.
Track Notes: LB vocals and rhythm guitar Greven PS. Brass D slide on 1933 Kay Kraft.
4. Two Faced Woman - Tony Bryant sings his grandfather Curley Weaver'ssong while two guitars reproduce the classic 1930s Curley Weaver Buddy Moss sound. Featuring Michael Golden on blues harmonica and LB on Guitar.
Track Notes: Tony on vocals and LB on guitar. Greven PS, 1936 Kay Deluxe Archtop. Michael Golden blues harmonica.5. Fishin Clothes - LB on vocals and guitar with special guests Michael Golden on blues harp play this Atlanta blues original.
Track Notes: LB on a 1947 Kay Jumbo, Michael Golden blues harmonica.6. Ticket Agent - Tony Bryant sings another one of his grandfather Curley Weaver's 1930's Atlanta blues hits while LB backs him up on guitar.
Track Notes: Tony vocals and D. Jones on 1920s OS Stella parlor guitar.7.Tricks Aint Walkin' - This is one of the greatest Atlanta ragtime blues classics from Curley Weaver. This one will make your feet tap and the sound of this guitar is like a time machine back to the 1920/30s
Track Notes: LB vocals and 1930s Kay Deluxe Archtop, capoed and a tomato can full of pebbles for the percussion sound.8. Don't Forget It - LB playing an instrumental version of this barrel house dance classic by McTell-Weaver from the 1933 recordings. Pure Atlanta blues.
Track Notes: LB guitar. Greven PS, Donmo tricone.9. Broke Down Engine Blues - LB sings and plays this old Blind Willie McTell msterpiece with an old 1930s Stella 12 string guitar.
Track Notes: LB vocals and 1930s (the red one) Stella 12 string.10. Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans - Ross Pead sings this
emotional Louis Armstrong tribute to New Orleans. A crowd pleaser.
Track Notes: Ross Pead on vocals and guitar. LB on National playing fills and chords.11. Rollin' and Tumblin' - This Delta Blues classic was one of the best early Muddy Waters ever recorded and this song still haunts me like it did the first time I heard it. Son House and others before him also performed this number. Simple powerful acoustic!
Track Notes: LB vocals and slide tricone resonator. Greven PS rhythm.12. Live By the Sword - LB sings and performs this original song about living hard and dying hard. Most of the original songs performed blend seamlessly into the rest of the authentic blues material. Copyright LB Productions 2006
Track Notes: Two simple tracks recorded with single takes and simple vocals.13. Honey It Must Be Love - Here's a true masterpiece performed in the spirit of Blind Willie McTell's classic. Although noone will ever truly sound like McTell this song has become a standard played by countless Atlanta musicians. In this version the 12 string brings you back to those days gone by.
Track Notes: Red 1930s Stella 12 string, Donmo Tricone, Lb vocals. No dubbing.
NEW! MP3 LIVE Recording- (rated R) A Sample of some very raw, adult rated blues from Mudcat's live weekly gig at the Northside Tavern a lovable blues
dive in midtown Atlanta on Howell Mill a few miles from Ga Tech and the Varsity. I played with him on the first night he every played the Tavern and I love to stop by when I can and plug up my guitar and sit in. His voice was a little hoarse from touring Europe but he was so happy to be back home and the audience was crazy this night. So we went to some insane musical heights. True honky tonk, juke music in my opinion. He has a style all his own. Check out his site MudcatBlues.com for more info. He also has a large band with horns, backup singers and the whole enchilada.
