World Wide Woozle #396

Plenty of music this week. Fasten your seatbelt and make sure your speakers or headphones are set to stun.

The Byron Bay Bluesfest is on soon and that means a whole swag of artists are playing shows around the country. Jason Isbell, Vintage Trouble, UB40, City & Colour, Archie Roach, Backsliders, Joe Bonamassa, Shooglenifty and Taj Mahal just to name a select few.

Joe Bonamassa has more live albums that I've had hot breakfasts. There's a ton of studio stuff as well; he's prolific and very successful. Joe is a master technician on the guitar. It always sounds good, he always hits the right notes and the production is first rate. But I've always found it a little restrained and slightly formulaic perhaps. Joe has a new album out called "Blues of Desperation". I had a quick listen because his guitar tone is always so good and I think this is a much, much stronger recording than anything I've heard in the past. This is one of the more energetic tracks...

Joe Bonamassa - Mountain Climbing - https://youtu.be/3qJ8bT3W1D0

Shoogle-who? I hear you say! Shooglenifty probably qualify as Celtic-fusion-electronic-indie-funk and something else too. They've been making good music for just over 25 years out of Edinburgh. More fun that you can poke a haggis at...

Shooglenifty - The Eccentric (live) - https://youtu.be/bkuFaXOKi1o

I've played some Taj Mahal before for you but it never gets old. This is the track that made me search out his music. Anyone who writes a song called "Big Legged Mamas Are Back In Style" has to be worth a listen!

Taj Mahal - Bourgeois Blues - https://youtu.be/-VvfAfwS9k8

Everyone no doubt knows that Ronnie Corbett died during the week. It's amazing how many people watched the show all over the world and enjoyed it's gentle brand of humour. I always thought my Grandma had stolen Ronnie Barker's glasses as they looked the same to me. Hey, I was only a wee boy!

The Two Ronnies - Opening Sketch - https://youtu.be/g5t2A1cfu9E

The Bionic Woman aka DJ Al-ee-sunshineofmylife has come home from hospital. She leaves behind over sharing cleaning staff, hearing aid hiding inmates...er...patients and of course everyone's favourite, Bob the geriatric nudist. It's good to have her home. Click here for an appropriate tune. Or perhaps here.

And for all of you who suffered yesterday from a range of April Fool's pranks here's a slab of classic rock.

Def Leppard - Foolin' - https://youtu.be/jACrmwTsi08

And now I'm retreating to the lounge for a post-ride snooze. It's a hard life.

Rob

It took me six days to hitchhike from Saginaw....