Vanessa Collier

October 5, 2021 / Benn Bell / 6 Comments

Performs at Mojo’s Boneyard

Vanessa Collier now playing at Mojo’s Bone Yard

Last night in Evansville Indiana at Mojo’s Boneyard, I had the opportunity to see Vanessa Collier Live! She put on another fabulous show with her great band backing her up. She projects powerful vocals and belts out a bluesy sound as she sings her original compositions and covers the classics. Miss Collier is a virtuoso saxophone player and always excites the audience with her signature moves as she walks out into the audience and plays a little at each table and then moves on. She is a real crowd pleaser and I predict she will become a big star someday.

My only complaint was Mojo’s no picture-taking policy which quite cramped my style. I did get a few shots but not exactly what I wanted. Oh well! The main event was listening to that great sound and watching this amazing performer connect with her audience. If you ever get a chance to see her, I highly recommend that you do. She is currently on tour.

All photos by Benn Bell

Outside Child

May 29, 2021 / Benn Bell / Leave a comment

Debut solo album by Allison Russell

Outside Child, Allison Russell’s extraordinary debut album is “about resilience, survival, transcendence, the redemptive power of art, community, connection, and chosen family.” It is also about a journey out of an abusive background and of breaking the cycle of abuse. Her first solo album, released just this month, rises above the confessional to the spiritual. It is full of emotional intelligence and raw power. Her voice is plaintive, haunting, and heartrending. The song Nightflyer from the album is a perfect example. She is appearing tonight at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville; I wish I could be there. She has performed with Our Native Daughters, a group of banjo-playing Black women at the invitation of Rhiannon Giddens. I give you Allison Russell.

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX

March 23, 2017March 23, 2017 / Benn Bell / 14 Comments

Are You Experienced?

Lot’s of serious guitar playing going on at last nigh (3/19) at the Jimi Hendrix tribute tour at the Louisville Palace, in the heart of beautiful downtown Louisville, Kentucky just blocks away from Positively Fourth Street.

All the old familiar tunes like Hey Joe, All Along the Watch Tower, and Purple Haze were on display for an adoring audience. Some of the biggest names in Show Biz were there to cut some mean licks and shake up the bricks.

Buddy Guy

80 year old, down by law, Buddy Guy was there. He was a major influence on Hendrix as well as Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Buddy Guy is a six time Grammy winner and is ranked #23 best guitar player of all time by Rolling Stone.

Beth Hart and Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Beth Hart and Johnny Lang

Beth Hart was the whole reason I went to this concert. She has already stolen my heart and damned if she didn’t steal the show. Blues Magazine once dubbed Beth Hart as the Ultimate Female Rock Star. But to me she is the best blues singer this side of Blue Heaven.

Zakk Wylde is a former Ozzy Osborne band member and now solo artist and master guitarist.

Ana Popovic

Of all the things I have ever done in my life I don’t think there has ever been anything quite so exciting as attending a live musical concert.

Excuse me while I kiss the sky….

BETH HART IN NASHVILLE

March 18, 2017 / Benn Bell / 9 Comments

At the Ryman Auditorium

Beth Hart killed last night (3/10/2017) in Nashville at the storied Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Killed in the sense she slaughtered her material and slayed her audience. I have never seen a performer so committed to her material as Beth Hart. She has a power and a force that will blow you away! She simply gave it all she had. She is one of the best blues singers I have ever heard and she just keeps on getting better.

Beth looked great in a sparkly mini dress and high heel shoes which showed off her toned legs to great effect. She wore sheer nylon stockings with seams down the back. How sexy was that? She must be eating right because her tiny waist, beautiful skin tones, and irrepressible energy were much on display.

And the music! She has a great band around her including her guitar player who has been with her for 17 years. Beth writes a lot of her own material and there is as story behind each song which she generously shares with the audience before she delivers the goods. The audience loves Beth and she loves them back!

When she performed the song California, which is a paean to the one she loves, who should appear from behind the black curtain but her husband, who rushes up behind her and hugs her close and kisses her neck and we are swept up in the moment of an emotional highlight.

Throughout the show and on numerous occasions I was moved to the point of tears and the goose flesh was in motion.

She will be appearing in at the Louisville Palace in Louisville, Kentucky on March 19 as part of the Jimi Hendrix experience. I’ll be there.

FORCE MAJEURE

September 25, 2016 / Benn Bell / 6 Comments

Beth Hart was a force majeure at last night’s (9/21/2016) concert at Park West in Chicago.

She is a power house of a singer with a voice that puts you in mind of Janis Joplin.

She connects with her audience, obviously likes to perform and is passionate about her art and life.

Her signature song, “I’d Rather Go Blind” was worth the price of admission alone.

Ghost Dog

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