2018 Blues Blast Magazine Music Award Winners!

Greetings!

The 2018 Blues Blast Magazine Music Award winners were announced at the show on September 29, 2018. Here is the press release:

At one of the biggest Blues events of the season on Saturday night fans and artists celebrated the 11th Annual Blues Blast Music Awards at Tebala Event Center in Rockford, Illinois.

The winners in the fan voting were announced at the show and are listed below. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

The 2018 Blues Blast Music Award Winners

Contemporary Blues Album

- Danielle Nicole - Cry No More

Traditional Blues Album

- Kim Wilson - Blues And Boogie Vol 1

Soul Blues Album

- Bettye LaVette - Things Have Changed

Rock Blues Album

- Walter Trout - We're All In This Together

Acoustic Blues Album

- Sonny Landreth - Recorded Live In Lafayette

Live Blues Recording

- Muddy Waters - Live At Rockpalast

Historical Or Vintage Recording

- Muddy Waters - Live At Rockpalast

New Artist Debut Album

- Heather Newman - Burn Me Alive

Blues Band

- Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

Male Blues Artist

- Walter Trout

Female Blues Artist

- Beth Hart

Sean Costello Rising Star Award

- Heather Newman

Mahalo!

2018 Blues Music Awards Winners

Aloha!

The 2018 Blues Music Awards ceremony was held on May 10 in Memphis, Tennessee and there was a strong list of nominees so it was sad that most of them were not going to win, but they are all winners in my book anyway. Here are the results:

Acoustic Album: “Break the Chain” — Doug MacLeod

Acoustic Artist: Taj Mahal

Album: “TajMo” — Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’

B.B. King Entertainer: Taj Mahal

Band: Rick Estrin & the Nightcats

Best Emerging Artist Album: “Southern Avenue” — Southern Avenue

Contemporary Blues Album: “TajMo” — Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’

Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Samantha Fish

Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Keb’ Mo'

Historical: “A Legend Never Dies, Essential Recordings 1976-1997” — Luther Allison (Ruf Recordings)

Instrumentalist-Vocalist: Beth Hart

Instrumentalist-Bass: Michael “Mudcat” Ward

Instrumentalist-Drums: Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist-Guitar: Ronnie Earl

Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Jason Ricci

Instrumentalist-Horn: Trombone Shorty

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player (Instrumentalist — Piano): Victor Wainwright

Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female): Ruthie Foster

Rock Blues Album: “We’re All In This Together” — Walter Trout

Rock Blues Artist: Mike Zito

Song: “The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere” written by Rick Estrin and performed by Rick Estrin

Soul Blues Album: “Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm” — Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm

Soul Blues Female Artist: Mavis Staples

Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Album: “Right Place, Right Time” — Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter

Traditional Blues Male Artist: Rick Estrin

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: PLNIFY Tour Management Software Product Preview

Aloha!

On Friday I met with Victor from PLNIFY about his new software and app that allows easier coordination of all factors that are needed to run a successful tour. He is in the industry ad has worked with top-tier entertainers, so he knows exactly what is needed. He ran me through the software and I was impressed with the effort that went into making all of the details right. And though the software was just recently finished, it is already in use by around 100 major acts.

Please see the attached video to hear more about the PLNIFY, and for more information, please go to plnify.com.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: The Wire World Polaris Guitar Cable Product Preview

Aloha!

I got to speak with David Wire World Cables about their newly introduced Polaris guitar cable, which is has to be one of the best quality cables in the market. I also had the chance to see Stu Hamm demo the cable, and he is a true believer in the product.

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Polaris cables. As this product is so new it is not on their website yet, but to learn a little more about the company head on over to wireworldcable.com.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Day 4 Kick-off

Aloha!

This is the final day of the 2018 Winter NAMM show in sunny Anaheim, California and it is about 25 degrees warmer now that the Santa Ana winds have come in. This has been a great show, and the exhibitors have all been great about making time to meet with me. The show seems a little less crowded this year, though it is hard to tell if it is because there are less people or because they have greatly expanded the exhibition halls.

I have a few more appointments today, and will be updating the blog as often as possible.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Shure SM48 Microphone Field Test

Aloha!

This is the final day of the 2018 Winter NAMM show; this year I shot a lot of video with my Zoom Q8, and I chose a Shure SM48-LC to record my dialogue. This microphone is similar in appearance to the venerable Shure SM58, but comes in at about half the price. Considering that I was going to be stuffing it into my bag repeatedly (and possibly dropping it a few times), I chose not to bring its more expensive sibling.

The SM48-LC looks almost identical to the SM58, with a nicely solid heft, and the instantly recognizable profile of the chromed steel mesh grill (that is maybe a touch bigger). It is available both with or without an ON/OFF switch, and mine is not equipped with one. The 48 is a dynamic mic with a different cartridge than the 58, and a frequency response of 55 to 14,000 Hz.

If you purchase one, you will get the mic, a nice vinyl carry bag, and a mic stand clip. These are made in Mexico, and you can expect to pay around $55 from online sellers. It is a good value, for sure.

It worked out very well for field recording, with no issues at all. To my ears, it is noticeably tinnier with less mids than an SM58, but the recordings were all clear, and its cardioid pattern did a fine job of isolating my voice from the terribly chaotic NAMM environment. Though I would not hesitate to buy another for this kind of use (or karaoke), I think that the reduced fidelity is not worth the cost savings to vocalists and bands, so I would advise them the save up another 50 bucks and buy the real thing, an SM58.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Latch Lake Music micKing Product Preview

Aloha!

I had the opportunity to speak with Dave from Latch Lake Music about their beautiful micKing microphone stands. Their craftsmanship is amazing, and I have to say these are by far the nicest mic stands I have ever seen. They have to be seen to be believed!

Please see the attached video to hear more about the micKing, and for more information, please go to latchlakemusic.com.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Cable Porter Product Preview

Aloha!

I had the opportunity to speak with Carlo from Cable Porter about their innovative cable management system that keeps organizes and prevents your leads from tangling. They provided me with a sample and I am hooked – I will need to purchase some more of these!

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Amp Hook, and for more information, please go to cableporter.com .

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Clear Tune Monitors - Da Vinci Series Product Preview

Aloha!

At NAMM 2017 I reviewed the Vintage Series in-ear monitors from Clear Tune Monitors, and was eager to get a chance to hear the new 9-driver and 10-driver Da Vinci Series this year, and I was blown away. The definition and realism is amazing, with a huge frequency range. Castor id a great job of demoing them for me, as I think you will agree:

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Da Vinci Series, and for more information, please go to cleartunemonitors.com for complete details.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Jammy Portable Digital Guitar Product Preview

Aloha!

I got to demo the new Jammy portable digital guitar, and it redefines what I thought a travel guitar should be. With separate string modules for fingering and strumming/picking and it unique sliding headstock to change the range, it is a compete gamechanger.

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Jammy guitar, and for more information, please go to playjammy.com for more info.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: The Zoom H1n Handy Recorder Product Preview

Aloha!

Yesterday I has the pleasure of speaking with Samuel from Zoom about their new H1n Handy Recorder. I am a big fan of Zoom’s products, and shot the accompanying video with my personal Zoom Q8. The updates to the H1n are impressive, and it is obvious that the company listens to their customers and gives them what they expect. It is a cool unit, and still comes in at around $120 – how can you beat that?

Please see the attached video to hear more about Zoom H1n, and for full details please go to zoom-na.com for more info.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: The Brand UC Product Preview

Aloha!

Yesterday I has the pleasure of speaking with Jackie from The Brand UC, a company based in the UK. They make and sell labeling products that would make the lives of touring bands and equipment rental companies much easier.
Please see the attached video to hear more about their road case labels and cable label wraps, and for full details please go to thebranduc.com for more info.
Mahalo!

Press Release: Radial Engineering Has Been Sold!

Aloha!

I cannot say that I am super happy to hear about this:

"Anaheim CA, NAMM, January 25 2018- Mike Belitz, President and CEO of Ultimate Support Systems, has acquired Radial Engineering Ltd.

Established in 1991, Radial Engineering Ltd. was originally developed as a range of cable products by outgoing President and CEO, Peter Janis. The release of their first direct box in 1996, the Radial JDI, was just the beginning in a long line of innovations that saw Radial become the leading name in premium direct boxes and audio solutions. In the intervening years, the Radial brand family and distribution network has grown to include a diverse catalog of brands, including: Primacoustic, Tonebone, Reamp, Hafler, Dynaco, Iso-Max and Jensen Transformers Inc. Ultimate Support and Radial Engineering Ltd. will enjoy shared strategic and logistical advantages under leadership of Mike Belitz; with the end result of wider availability to retailers, distributors, and end-users all over the world.

"I have always been passionate about premium accessories in the music industry. Instruments come in and out of fashion, but musicians and audio professionals will always need well designed, high quality solutions. Ownership of Ultimate Support Systems and Radial Engineering Ltd. will offer incredible possibilities for the future." - Mike Belitz, President and CEO of Ultimate Support Systems and Radial Engineering Ltd."

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Cling On Pickup Product Preview

Aloha!

Yesterday I got a chance to spend some time with Fernando at Cling On to hear more about their acoustic pickup that is designed to be installed with no damage or modifications to the instrument. It sounds great and with a price of $69.99 it is very competitive in the market!

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Cling On Pickup, and for more details, please go to http://www.clingon.co/ for more info.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: Day 2 Kick-off

Aloha!

This is day 2 of the 2018 Winter NAMM show in sunny Anaheim, California (though it is a chilly 43 degrees this morning). Yesterday was a steep learning curve with the video equipment, but the ZOOM Q8 with the shotgun mic cartridge is very flexible and worked out well. Today should be better yet!

I have plenty of appointments today, and will be updating the blog as often as possible.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018: The WishBone Workshop Amp Hook Preview

Aloha!

I got to speak with Sean from The Wishbone Workshop about the new Amp Hook microphone mounting system, that allows the user to precisely and securely mic their amplifiers and cabinets.

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Amp Hook, and for more information, please go to thewishboneworkshop.com for more info.

Mahalo!

NAMM 2018 Eargasm Ear Plugs Preview

Aloha!

This morning I spent some time with Ryan, the founder of Eargasm ear plugs, and he was able to fill me in on how these ear plugs are a step beyond the usual foam slugs that people cram in their ears . This product filters sound to provide up to 16dB of sound reduction, while still delivering a balanced and enjoyable listening experience. I cannot wait to try them out in the drum hall here at NAMM 2018!

Please see the attached video to hear more about the Eargasm products, and for more information, please go to eargasmearplugs.com for more info.

Mahalo!

2018 Winter NAMM Show Kick-off

Aloha!

The 2018 Winter NAMM show kicks off today in Anaheim California, and I look forward to bringing you reviews of the latest gear!

Mahalo!