The Blues are an expression of trouble in mind,trouble in body,trouble in soul.And when a man has trouble, it helps him to express it, to let it be known. To do otherwise would give the Devil a victory.
One of the strengths of Blues is its unfaltering capacity to uplift its audience through the expression of shared emotions. When a person thinks he is the only one in hot water he's miserable,But when he gets to realise that others have the same kind of trouble___or even worse___ he understands that life isn't just picking on him alone.
Mckinley Morganfield
Meet Harpdog Brown
He
started with a house gig playing guitar and singing in a non-interruptive duo in ’80 opening up for comics at a comedy
supper club in downtown Edmonton. Jesters presented many international
acts from Phyllis Diller to Gary Muledeer, Harry Anderson and a young
Andrew "Dice" Clay. That New Year’s
Eve, his partner chickened out of an opening slot for the“Bad
Habits blues band, but the show had to go on and it did. Now he was a
solo act. Within a year of single gigs around town, he answered an ad in
the newspaper" Rock band looking for singer must be able to travel Harpdog spent 4 weeks with the band before giving his notice, he was
ready to go out and build his own blues band. "Yesterdays
Paper "was
his first blues band. He took ‘em on the road and started his life
long journey spreadin’ the blues like its news where ever he goes.
From Alaska to Frisco and the Canadian West coast to the Capitol, he’s been
there singing and playin’ the hell out of his harp. His official
recordings: "Beware of Dog" "Home is Where the Harp Is" has received great reviews and acclaim and still stands the test of
time. Harpdog's latest recording:
Once in a Howlin' Moon, recorded
in Red Deer,Alberta. "Live at The Vat" is now available and can be purchased
online
New mp3 site
Well folks we finally have another mp3 site for those who wish to sample my recordings. Just hit the link below and your there.Remember to vote and be honest, Peace
Harpdog Brown was one of the most amazing harp players I've seen in a while. The crowds were minimal because it was the long weekend but those that stayed in town were treated to one great night. Having started his career in 1980, he's now been doing the blues for 21 years and has played in all four corners of the continent. His latest CD was recorded at The Vat in Red Deer, Alberta last October and is one of the few live recordings I've heard that almost equals the original energy shown on stage. Listen to the show to hear what you missed.
ONCE IN A HOWLIN' MOON
Well with a name like Harpdog, it's pretty obvious this guy is a harmonica player, and a damned solid one at that.
This is a CD with one of those quirky numerology type backgrounds. It was recorded live on Friday the 13th at the Vat in Red Deer, Alta. on a night Brown was booked into room 313 of his hotel. The resulting CD has 13-cuts, so there just might be a little voodoo at work on this one.
Brown and the Bloodhounds are an Alberta based group that plays blues with a strong instrumental base. Guys like guitarist Charlie Sures, bass player Gary Latimer and drummer Grant Stovel do a nice job of backing up Brown's blues harp.
Piano player Will MacCalder gets special mention on the CD cover of this one, and you'll understand why once you give this one a listen. MacCalder's piano comes to the fore early on this CD as it's a featured piece of the mix on the opening cut Relaxin'. Harpdog's harmonica also gets a nice introduction on the number.
I really like the way the group wails through James Cotton's Soul Survivor.
Along the way on this one Brown does a nice job of tipping the hat to a long list of blues icons, taking songs from the likes of T-Bone Walker, Sonnyboy Williamson, Walter Jacobs and Junior Parker for the CD. However, Brown isn't content doing mere copies of the greats. Instead he twists them just enough to make them his own.
I'll admit here I've always loved blues harp, in fact I'd love to learn to play the harmonica. If anyone out there teaches it give me a call. That being said, I was a rather easy convert for Brown. This guy plays a really smooth harp, moving easily from swing blues - you've got to love the tempo of MacCalder's key on Flip Flop Bop - through Chicago and New Orleans influences too.
This live album comes out at just short of 60-minutes, so its just right for a cold beer, and a good cigar.
Anyone who likes blues on the harmonica should mark this one a must have, you won't be disappointed.
7.5-out-of-10
- DANIELS
Blues Plate Special
If you don’t already know, the Pacific Northwest is a hotbed for blues artists; there are more blues nightclubs in Portland now than in its entire history. KGON hosts a 4-day Blues Festival every July 4th,and one of the highlights at last summer’s show was Harpdog Brown & The Bloodhounds. Their new CD just released, Home is where the harp is, is a true Pacific Northwest blues masterpiece. . Harpdog stands up there with
Charlie Musselwhite & Paul Butterfield. . They live in Vancouver, B.C, just 5 hours north of Portland, and they’re already a headliner in Portland nightclubs. They were
Just awarded a Muddy Award for the Best N.W. Recording, on Nov.2, 1994,
Harpdog Brown & the Bloodhounds are the real thing.
Bob Ancheta, Host of Sunday Night Blues,
92.3 KGON, Portland, OR
Internet Sharing!!
YEAH, YEAH, YOU’VE GOT AN OPINION on it I've got an opinion, and boy does Metallica have an opinion on it. But whether you think downloading songs off the Internet is ethical or not, it’s still the best way for an indie blues singer / harmonica player like Harpdog Brown to get his music out there.
"Word gets around slowly, but now I've noticed that with all these Internet sharing programs, that people around the globe have come across my music." explains the harmonica player. "Its great for people like me who don’t have a label like Alligator Records spending a lot of money."
Even without label backing he's carved himself a pretty good little career, at least judging by the number of Harpdog tunes floating around on the 'Net.
Harpdog helps the process along by uploading his own music, sometimes before its even released, as is the case of his most recent album, the live Once in a Howlin' Moon. .
You listen to it all after downloading it, and then if you’re an honest fan, you’ll want to own it. And you don’t own it unless you can hold it in your hands. It's like taking it for a test drive. Fans are collectors, not thieves . So I welcome it, I love it..
The Commercial gig is noteworthy for two reasons. The inclusion of ex-Bloodhound Andy Graffiti (filling in for Grant Stovel these next few weeks) on drums, and new member Muddy Fraser. Fraser is a leader in his own right, and Harpdog is excited about possibilities of having two strong singer/songwriters in the band.
"First time in 20 years I've had an actual second singer in the band that can sing." he exclaims, And he's a songwriter, We both agree that originals are the way to go, so that's what we're concentrating on,"
~Tom Murray ~
EDMONTON SEE MAGAZINE
Loose Blues News
Harpdog Brown & The Bloodhounds are making a long awaited visit to Toronto at the Silver Dollar Room on September 15th, September 21st at the Black Swan, and at Chicago's on September 29th, so you have no excuses for missing this powerhouse band. Harpdog
(pictured at right) is a West-coast harmonica hero
who will have you jumping up and dancing in no time.
Harpdog is a great
blues man.
This set captures the way he puts his individual
stamp on everything he does. He is in total command onstage
– and enjoying every minute. The addition of Will MacCalder
is a bonus.
Holger Petersen
Blues Programer
CKUA and CBC Radio
"There's never been any question in my mind; Harpdog Brown is absolutely the 'genuine item, the real thing'. I'll say the same thing Eric Burdon once said to me,
"We're wild dogs from the same pack!"
Tom Lavin
singer,guitarist. band leader
Powder Blues
Brown is an excellent singer and band leader who reminds me a lot of the late Hock Walsh and he has put together a program that you can often hear in clubs but seldom so well played ........ heavy on blues feeling.
~ John Valenteyn, jvalenteyn8724@home.com~
John Valenteyn
Pres. & writer of TBS mag
Toronto Blues Society
Isn’t it nice to know that all the “fast – food / flavor of the week” blues artist are easily dispensed with when compared with the REAL THING.I mean the bona-fide,totally authentic purveyor of heart and soul, down-in-the-alley blues.And,believe you me,Harpdog Brown and the Bloodhounds are purveyors with pedigree.
~ Andy “Blues Boy” Grigg ~
Cheif Editor
Blues Review Magazine
I have always loved the way Harpdog Brown can take an audience and make them listen to your every word without yellin! I have a great deal of respect for the Dog as an artist and a friend.
Rick "Pappa Dawg" halisheff
Lead dog in Dogskin Suit
Dogskin Suit
“…Rapidly emerging as the Rose City’s favorite road tested Canadian blues act.”
Willamette Week
Willamette Week,Portland
“The Bloodhounds twang out a sound that punctuates the emotions, instead of overwhelming them-or trying to make them seem heroic…That’s the essence of Blues”
Missoula Independent
Missoula Independent ,Montana
“They play the blues naturally and without gimmicks or pretension, and when you combine that with their talent, it places them at the top of their trade…You won’t find a better blues band in Canada.”
-West Coast Entertainment Magazine
Andy Grigg
Entertainment Writter
West Coast Entertainment Magazine
