Saturday, January 12, 2019

New Issue of KUDZOO Magazine Published! Check it Out!

Issue (#30)  of KUDZOO features an exclusive interview with RUSTY YOUNG on 50 years of POCO music; a new interview with WAYNE BRUCE of HYDRA; archival interview with the late JIMMY FARRAR of Molly Hatchet; a memorial to RAY SAWYER of Dr. Hook;   the BLACKBERRY SMOKE homecoming, photos from ANGELUS, Plenty of CD Reviews, BOOK reviews, WINE reviews,  and DVD Reviews, recipes and much more, all for FREE!

READ IT HERE! 


The Best of 2018

KUDZOO is pleased to present our list of the TOP 15 album releases of the year.

1. Blackberry Smoke   Find a Light
The first best hope for the new generation of Southern Rock bands released yet another outstanding studio rocker.

2. Bruce Springsteen   On Broadway
One man. A guitar and a piano. Amazing.

3. Paul Thorn  Don’t Let the Devil Ride
The pride of Tupelo, Mississippi pulls out all the stops on his first ever all-gospel album. Hallelujah.

4. Cowboy   10’ll Getcha Twenty
The original band reunited for a new album ten years ago and thankfully it was finally released in 2018. Sadly, it would be the swan song for the great Scott Boyer.

5. Beau Weevils  Songs in the Key of E
Charlie Daniels had so much time on his hands (lol) he formed a second band with “Slidebilly,” Billy Crain. Just a great record.

6. Jimi Hendrix Experience   Electric Ladyland Deluxe
It was the year for 50th anniversary reissues, and this one is reigning champion. Excellent alternate takes, demos and a beautiful book. Celebrate Hendrix.

7. Pearl   Heartbreak and Canyon Revelry
Pearl Aday is much more than just Meat Loaf’s daughter, she is a fabulous singer and entertainer.

8. Earl & The Agitators  Shaken & Stirred
The side project of Roger Earl from Foghat, The Agitators turn in some awesome covers and originals, playing everything from rock and blues to country.

9. Billy F Gibbons  The Big Bad Blues
ZZ Top’s frontman Billy Gibbons delivers a second smoking solo record. Good stuff.

10. Boxmasters   In Stereo
      That prolific little ol’ band from L.A. put out another fab double-cd set in 2018. It’s so good, I heard a DJ refer to them as just “The Boxmasters” without saying “Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters.” Natch.

11. Buddy Guy   The Blues is Alive and Well
      Yes, they are! And so is Buddy! Amazing.

12. Cary Morin  When I Rise
       An amazing Native American singer-songwriter. Absolutely amazing.

13. Uncle Walts Band  Anthology: Those Boys from Carolina, They Sure Could Sing
They were from my hometown, Spartanburg, SC before moving to Austin. David Ball, the late Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood.The best. 

14. John Prine  The Tree of Forgiveness
It’s the most overused cliche in the world, but Prine ages like fine wine. His latest release is filled with genius.

15. Southern Halo   Just Like in the Movies
Three beautiful young ladies with harmony to spare and great songs. The “next big thing” in country music!  •

Passages 2018





I'm still dealing with the massive amount of losses within the KUDZOO community from 2017, and now another year has passed that brought even more sad and shocking passages. Among those we lost this past year were:

• Scott Boyer, of Cowboy (and the Decoys and solo) .  Died  February 13, 2018  from peripheral artery disease at age 70.

• Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame who wrote the timeless guitar lick that opens “Sweet Home Alabama” died August 22 from  Lung cancer at age  68

• Tony Joe White, Singer-songwriter of “Poke Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia” died  October 24 from a  heart attack at age  75.

• Jimmy Farrar, the second lead singer for Molly Hatchet (also of Southern Rock Allstars and Gator Country), died  October 29, of heart failure at 67

• Jeanie Greene, Backing singer for Elvis, Percy Sledge, Don Nix and many more as well as being an excellent solo artist and a member of Alabama State Troopers died August 19. 

• Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died Aug 16 from pancreatic cancer at 76.

• Burt Reynolds, actor/star of Smokey & The Bandit died September 6  at age 82 from a heart attack.

• Stan Lee, the legendary Marvel Comics creator died November 12 after a heart attack and respiratory failure at 95 years of age.

• Roy Clark, country music singer and guitar hero, star of Hee Haw, died   November 15  from pneumonia at age 85.

• Yvonne Staples of the Staple Singers died  April 15 at 81.

• Mickey Jones, drummer for Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Bob Dylan, & actor regular on Home Improvement, and in the film Slingblade died February 7 at  76    following a prolonged illness.  •