A1 Artist Spotlight.Com did a phone interview with Craig Erickson
about new CD Big Highway.  Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast along with songs from Big Highway.
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Craig Erickson grew up in a very musical family. His mother taught piano and his father gave music lessons while running his own music store.  Craig managed the record department when he was in his early teens. His father would let Craig borrow a guitar and amp to practice on from the store.  Craig started playing guitar when he was around 12 years old. Throughout high school Craig was in a lot of different cover bands. After high school he moved to Iowa City.  When Craig was not doing his own gigs he was going out to hear a lot of Chicago bands as they came through the college town. Hearing what a lot of different bands sounded like inspired him.
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Every summer he’d go to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) This was a real eye opener for him.  Getting to speak to professional musicians like Steve Vai, record producer, publisher Mike Varney as well as Guitar Magazine editor John Stix.  All these people had an influence on Craig by giving him encouragement, asking to hear demos, then giving feedback on what they heard along with suggestions on other things to try.  Finally, Craig started going out to California to work on different projects. On one of the projects Craig worked on was with Glenn Hughes who had been in Trapeze as well as replacing Roger Glover in Deep Purple from1974 to 1976.  Glenn Hughes was putting Trapeze back together for a tour and asked Craig to join as second guitarist.   So from 1991 to 1994 Craig got to play on the stages of the world as a Trapeze artist so to speak.  Craig was chosen to be on a tribute to Albert King’s CD called “Fit For A King”.  In 1996 Craig got to play on a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan CD called “Hats Off To Stevie Ray”.  Then in 1998 he was in a Tommy Bolin tribute concert with Glenn Hughes.
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Big Highway is the newest CD by Craig Erickson.  This CD gave Craig a chance to go back to his roots. While the songs are pretty hard rock there is a very nice dreamy element to some of the songs. The best example is the song “Midnight Light”.  Starting off with a rhythm similar to something Jimi Hendrix would use. A lot of little guitar riffs are shooting around in the background.  The chorus Craig sings with a little higher voice is also similar to what Jimi would do. Every time this song plays I feel like floating through the sky at midnight looking at all the stars in kind of a dreamy state.  ”Miracle” sounds like it’s right off of an early Robin Trower record.  If you want to hear the proper use of a wah-wah pedal this is it.  Craig Erickson makes you long for the days of heartfelt music, not just how fast can you play but you do really have something worth playing.  The title track “Big Highway” is about having to go back on the road for another tour, this time a tour in Europe. The sound of the song is big and open just like you are on a big highway with a large landscape around you.  The guitar solo of the week is from the song “River Keep A Rollin’”.  Craig said he sometimes likes to take a little trip, get a hotel room, meet the local folks, and fish for songs. This song was caught on the banks of the Mississippi River. As you might have guessed it was a keeper.  When I was reading about Craig a lot of people talked about how he is this hard rock guitar shredder.  What got me was not hard rock shredding but the slower songs. This was like when everyone talked about how fast of a guitar player Alvin Lee of Ten Years After was. Unfortunately they really missed out on his brilliance with the heart felt slower song.  Craig may not agree with me on this but when he does things like “Miracle”, “In the Sky”, and “Midnight Light” he is creating something more inspiring.  If you like the harder side of Craig it’s heard in songs like “For Your Love” or the nod to Tommy Bolin in the all out guitar ripping “Stratus”.  Big Highway has a wide selection of styles to check out so just sit back and enjoy Craig Erickson on his Big Highway.
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The songs played in the podcast are:
Big Highway
For Your Love
Miracle
Midnight Light
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Guitar solo of the week is River Keeps On Rollin’
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Craig also has a new CD out called Castle Blues that is a full on electric CD like Gary Moore.
However, it is only available in France & maybe Europe. You may be able to find it on the internet.
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The Members of the band are:
Craig Erickson – guitar & vocals
Fred “Fingers” Benson – bass
Jeremy Ackley - drums
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Craig Erickson Website
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Craig Erickson MySpace
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To buy Craig Erickson CD from CD Baby Website
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Check out what artists are on Grooveyard Records
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Thanks to Craig Erickson for taking the time out of his very busy week to do this interview.
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It’s free to subscribe to the shows and it will be delivered to your computer when ever a new one comes out.   See link in upper right corner.
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 042 - Craig Erickson – Gives A Nod To Tommy Bolin, Robin Trower & Jimi Hendrix [34:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A1 Artist Spotlight.Com did a phone interview with Danny Methric
(guitarist and singer) of The Muggs about their brand new CD On With The Show . Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast along with songs from On With The Show.
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One time I wrote this may be the most important band to come out of the United States in years. The reason this was said is because I love the old English blues/ rock bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. Until The Muggs first CD came out I really had not heard any band in the United States that was able do this style of English blues/ rock. If I had not known that The Muggs  first CD came out in 2005 I would have sworn it was an early 1970’s record I’d some how missed. When Tony DeNardo (Rhodes Bass) gave me the go ahead on doing a podcast on the new CD I was very excited but a little worried also. What if this CD did not live up to the first CD? Not to worry, it did and exceeded my expectations. On With The Show captures what many feel is the time period when the best rock music was being created. Unfortunately today’s bands do not seem to be able to recreate this kind of blues/rock that was so popular in the late 60’s and early 70’s even though many people still look at this music as being some of the best music out there. Just look at all the reissues of old records and the best of’s by Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix. Some artists have more best of, greatest hits, and anthologies than the original records they made. Hendrix made three studio records, Cream four studio records but the record companies keep putting out more of the same repackaged records and they sell. If you’re ready for a band that has that sound and feel without sounding like they’re just playing a Cream song with new lyrics it’s time to check out the next best American band The Muggs.
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The Muggs are:
Danny Methric (Guitar, Vocals)
Tony DeNardo (Fender Rhodes Bass)
Matt Rost (Drums)
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Danny said the songs on the CD are about different ways he deals with the problems in his life and how he would like to escape them. Kind of like Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” On With The Show starts off slow in black and white with the song “Motown Blues” then accelerates into color with “Slow Curve”. On With The Show goes through all these dreams of how Danny would like things to be but in the end he wakes up to “Motown Blues (Reprise)” and sees it was just a dream.
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On With The Show starts off with the song “Motown Blues” a short somber song about the bad state of affairs going on in their home town of Detroit. Quickly we’re into the fast pace heavy riff song “Slow Curve”. Danny sings “I just can’t take it that much longer! This muddy stench is getting stronger”. The heavy riff is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin with the strong bass lines and pounding drums.
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“Just Another You” and “All Around You” carry on with this English blues/rock style with some very nice guitar soloing in “All Around You”. With just three instruments the songs have room to breathe. It’s not a continual onslot of music coming at you. Your opportunity to really hear what is being played by each of the members is very welcomed.
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Danny said “On With The Show” came about when he was working in a band called The Paybacks. He liked the band but really wanted The Muggs to get back together and get on with their show. This song had been in Danny’s head for quit a while but it never come out until now. It was also the last song to be recorded for the CD and they were a little worried about getting the song good enough to be used as the title of the CD.
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Danny said “Somewhere Down The Line” is about wanting to date someone who is a best friend but they just want to stay best friends. Somewhere down the line, honey I’ll be waitin’.
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“Curbside Constellation Blues” is a slow somber blues song. About the neighborhood Danny lives in. Where he see some of the people have become homeless and just live on the streets.
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The chorus is:
“With the shoes he doesn’t own
With a coat that’s barely sewn
Left to dangle in the breeze
Left alone at night to freeze”
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“Down Below” is back to heavy beat and good riffs also a good guitar solo.Danny likes to debate people and one day this guy who is not all that smart got Danny mad when they were debating. So this song came out of Danny thinking to himself I’ll get even with you I’ll write a song about you. This is how some of his better songs come about he said. I asked him which song is about the high gas prices that are helping to keep The Muggs from touring this summer. He pointed me back to the first track “Motown Blues”.
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“Never Know Why” brings to mind Led Zeppelin II without sounding like a copy of any particular song. It just has that sound and style I love so much.
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“Get It On” starts off with the sound of a train coming down the line and is about a man who left Motown and his girlfriend. Now after living a shady life he’s decided to return to Motown and his old girl. The song is loaded with lines and references from movies and other things, see how many you can pick out. To me, this song should be the hit of the CD, very good stuff. Some of the guitar playing even sounds like a train rushing down the tracks. It’s a very cool song.
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The CD ends with a fiery instrumental “Motown Blues (Reprise)” which is nothing like the first song of the same name.
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A lot of CD’s now a days have bonus tracks that usually make me laugh. If it’s an old CD rereleased with a new track, ok that makes since. If it’s a new CD, how can it have a bonus track?  It’s just another track on the CD. This CD has no bonus tracks on it but there is a real bonus on the CD. All you have to do is put your headphones on and you will hear one of the best bonuses in a long time. Like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band the songs flow into each other and the instruments are panned all around your head. Since I use earbuds (headphones) all the time I really appreciate a band taking the time to make my listening experience the best it could be. Like the innovating bands of the late 60’s The Beatles, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix, The Muggs also go all out. Not just top-notch music but top-notch production as well. This carries through to the CD packaging too. Unlike The Beatles with their Sgt. Pepper album, The Muggs don’t have that kind of a budget. They do make it interesting though with it’s pop art looking packaging. Several times I’ve touched the cover photo of the band to see if it is raised above the background. Inside they have a list of credits in 60’s pop psychedelic lettering and a pop art background. Danny was very proud of the back of the CD cover because it looks very much like a back cover of a record that came out in that time period. Go to their MySpace page and look at the photo of the back cover. Better yet buy the CD On With The Show then try to figure out which albumn cover’s back they are copying. Some of you are thinking you don’t care if the music is panned all around your head, if the songs flow together or there is really cool art work all you care about is if you will like the music. I understand but unlike Sgt. Pepper that you had to pay a fourth more for than all the other records of the day, you’re not going to pay anymore for all this, it’s the Bonus. The Muggs have delivered us everything in top-notch form so let’s get on with the show.
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Please support The Muggs buy their CD On With The Show. If you like bands like Cream, Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, Savoy Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac you too will fall in love with The Muggs. Below are some links to buy their CD. Don’t forget to call your lock radio station and request The Muggs. You can stop bad music on the radio request The Muggs.
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The songs played on the podcast are:
1. Slow Curve
2. On With The Show
3. Somewhere Down the Line
4. Down Below
5. Get It On
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Guitar solo of the week was from “Never Know Why”
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The Muggs Website
The Muggs MySpace
To buy The Muggs CD at Stormy Records
Buy The Muggs music at iTunes
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Thanks to The Muggs for their help in putting this together.
Thanks to Michael Spleet  for the great photos of The Muggs, check out his website.
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 041 - The Muggs – Put Out Their Second Blues Rock Masterpiece [42:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A1 Artist Spotlight.Com did a phone interview with Erica Brown about her band and CD Rough Cut Stone. Excerpts of the interview are also in the podcast.
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The Erica Brown Band can play soulful blues that has spirit and energy with very tight musicians. Even though the band is very serious in putting out the best music they can, the lyrics can be a lot of fun. Erica says her job is to get the audience to forget their problems of the day and have a good time. They have built a very strong fan base in the Colorado area that is expanding. At this point they have two wonderful CD’s. Their first one is Body Works and the one I’ll be playing in the podcast is Rough Cut Stone.
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Erica played in several rock n’ roll and electronic bands over the years. At one point a band Erica was in had a song used in a movie called “The Fan” with Wesley Snipes and Robert DeNiro. When Erica ran into the blues she said “That was it, this is what I was meant to do”. Erica had set in with a popular Colorado band called J. D. & The Love Bandits a few times. When lead singer J.D. decided to more on to another band Erica was called to fill in for a few shows. They sounded so good together so she was invited to permanently join the band. The band changed its name, against Erica’s wishes to the Erica Brown Band. Erica said this is not her band and that no one person makes the decisions for the band. In Colorado, Erica had some name recognition already so using her name helped the band.
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The band describes themselves as a high energy rockin’ blues band. Erica has also been described as a cross between Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Like Tina ,the girl just can’t stand still. Needless to say this makes for a fun and energetic stage show.
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The first song on the CD Rough Cut Stone is called “I Spent A Month There One Night”. The guitarists Bob Yeazel who use to be in Sugarloaf (remember “Green Eyed Lady”) wrote this song. It’s a fun upbeat song about a bad relationship that seemed to go on forever, well maybe a month. This is the type of song that would get the audience out on the dance floor. Some very nice guitar soloing too.
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The whole band threw in ideas for writing “Cajun Moon”. This song will also keep the audience on the dance floor. Erica’s delivery and attitude in these witty lyrics keeps the listeners attention while having some real fun. This song talks about eating a buttered alligator tail, a sister that howls at the moon, and a guy with six fingers on one hand that the dog is teaching to count. This all goes on in the light of a Cajun moon. The way Erica tells the story will have your full attention.
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“Everyone Hears Different Music” is a very thought provoking song about how each person has something that makes them happy and satisfies them. Erica says if you’re blessed enough to find what you are meant to do with your life you should try to do it. For her being a blues lady is that thing she is meant to be.
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William Howard Dunston brought a song he had written called “Payin’ Dues” to the band. They worked on the song to fit the style of their band. William is the one singing along with Erica on this duet. Erica said at one time William had worked with Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett as well as Duane and Gregg Allman.  In fact the first time Erica heard the name Skydog (Duane Allman’ nickname) was from William because he had know Gregg so well.  From the first note of the guitar intro you know you have found a real blues song.  William starts off singing then Erica comes in and you know this song should be a first class hit.  Not many people can put out such a powerful as well as beautiful blues song as “Payin’ Dues”.
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The Erica Brown Band can do more than just blues. They do a song by The Band called “Shape I’m In”. “Bring Back The Quarters” is more of a slow country song. “In The Can” reminds me of the Allman Brothers in the late 70’s.
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While this band does get radio play they are deserving of much more. As you will hear in the podcast it is time for the Erica Brown Band to go national. Please help by calling your local radio station and request their songs. Below is a link to their website where you can buy their CDs so please, if this music speaks to you like it does me, support this great band.
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The Erica Brown Ban d is:
Erica Brown - Lead Vocalist
John Woodhead, Lead Guitar
Rich Sallee - Bass
Scotty Rivera, Drums
Jim Ayers - Keyboards
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Guitar solo of the week is “Hard Faith”
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Songs heard in the podcast are:
I Spent A Month There One Night
Cajun Moon
Everyone Hears Different Music
Payin’ Dues
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Erica Brown Band Website
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Erica Brown Band MySpace page
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To buy their CD’s

 

 040 - Erica Brown Band – Putting the Soul, Spirit, & High Energy Into The Blues [33:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download