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the mid-tempo ‘Mama Raised A Sweet Thing’, which merits the definition “bluesoul”, though it is

undoubtedly a contemporary performance. Arturo Unronen-Gonzo’s pedal steel guitar adds to the
southern feel of the country-soul ballad ‘Baby Don’t Hurt Me’.

‘’Mr. Big Man’ has a political edge and musically just a touch of The Rolling Stones (and some fine
uncredited harp playing), in contrast to the smooth 70s soul approach of the cover of Darondo’s hit
‘Didn’t I’. Another cover, the blues standard ‘Killing Floor’ is given a much slower treatment than is
usual and works exceptionally well – a tough guitar break too. The closing ‘I Got To Go’ makes for a
pulsating blues closer.

Certainly a set that deserves investigation. Hopefully this will make Regina’s name better-known on
an international level – on this evidence she certainly deserves it.
Norman Darwen

Reverend Nathon—Volume 1—Independent

(www.reverendnathon.com)

Reverend Nathon Dees opens his debut album with a muscular
slab of blues-rock, the shuffling ‘Darker Shades Of Blues’ quickly
establishing a strong groove, maybe a little reminiscent of ZZ
Top. He is a singer, guitarist and bandleader out of Marble Falls,
Texas (just under 50 miles from Austin), and his years working
with Lone Star State rock bands are in evidence here too - try
‘Autumn Breeze’, or the closing ‘Golden Key’, which really
shouldn’t upset too many readers however. Mind you, there’s
certainly plenty too for all the out-and-out blues-rock lovers in
the house.

Try ‘Bi-Polar Blues’ with its dirty riff and shades of early Johnny Winter, the musically more mellow
but emotionally intense ‘A Love Like Yours’ or the late sixties blues-rock of ‘A Better Day’ with its
psychedelic inflected sounds. Then again, ‘Goin’ Fishing’ is another low-down sounding number,
driven along by some fine slide guitar riffing and sporting a particularly noteworthy guitar break.

The slow-ish ‘Way It Could Have Been’ has shades of Jimi Hendrix, ‘Walking On!’ is another dirty
styled slide driven blues, and ‘Millennial Blues’ is for all those followers of conspiracy theories
(let’s hope they’re not offended, eh, Rev?). ‘Deep’ hits a powerful, heavy blues-rock groove.

“Texas Outlaw Blues” is how the Reverend describes his music, and that does kind of fit. If what
you’ve read interests you, then do investigate!

Norman Darwen
Steve Shanholtzer – Blues That You Choose –Independent
(www.steveshanholtzer.com)

This is a rather relaxed collection of modern blues and related
material from Steve Shanholtzer, a singer, guitarist, bandleader
and songwriter who works mainly around central and north Flori-
da. Over the years he has shared stages with the likes of Gregg
Allman and Pat Travers, and he gives workshops with people like

Jerry Douglas and Josh Graves.

‘Bloodletters and Bluesmen’ is a nicely relaxed shuffle that makes
for a notable opener and leads into the sophisticated slow blues of