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(www.erichughesband.com)

Katie Knipp—Chamomile and Cocaine —Own Label (Single)

This is a one—track digital single release from this Blues award—
winning Northern California based singer—songwriter and
multi—instrumentalist. Here she’s having fun, singing

enthusiastically and raucously, and playing piano, backed by her
regular band of sax, guitar, bass and drums, and with guest Keith
Cotton filling things out on Hammond B-3 organ. It is a big
sounding production, with elements of Janis Joplin, ‘60s New
Orleans, and classic blues-rock—listen out for the guitar break.
Do check it out!

Norman Darwen
(www.katieknipp.com)

Micke & Lefty Feat. Chef—Let the Fire Lead—Hokahay

Hhrcd2002

Never heard of these guys? Well, maybe you have—one of them at
least, as Micke Bjorklof has featured in the IBBA Blues Radio
charts with his electric blues band Blue Strip. Here though he
sings and plays percussion, with guitar duties handled by Lefty
Lappanen (plus vocals) and Mr. Chef Kivimaki on bass.

They are from Finland, popular across Scandinavia and becoming
better—known these days across Europe. So they should be too—
they have been described as “an acoustic power trio”, which may not be strictly accurate, but it
serves well enough. They have been together 20 years, though 10 have passed since their previous

album. This release is long overdue.

Listen to the ferocious opener, ‘Tell That Woman’, or one of the album’s rare covers, ‘Steady
Rolling Man’, where the band is augmented by 75 year old Finnish rock and roller Eero Raitinnen.
There are occasional diversions from their superheated Mississippi blues though—‘Always
Something Good’ opens with a Delta blues riff, but then transmutes unexpectedly into a fine piece

of Americana; there is also a fine and raucous cover of Mr. Broonzy’s ‘Big Bill Blues’, not the kind
of thing you hear often these days, whilst ‘Smalltown Baby’ could come from “Led Zeppelin 4”, and
the title track has faint echoes of 90s group Oasis—but the blues is at the base. Try the zydeco
tinged ‘Rock ‘n’ Bowl’ too.

Hopefully you feel curious enough by now to check out this very strong contemporary blues and

roots set.

Norman Darwen
(www.mickeandlefty.com)