Our Pick: Robbie Antone's Blues Machine - Red Road Blues

Artist—Robbie Antone's Blues Machine
Song—Red Road Blues
Album—Red Road Blues

The first days of February 2012 was a special time for blues out of Canada and Aboriginal directed music.

Jimmy & the Sleepers and Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine both represented different Canadian city Blues Associations as entries into the International Memphis Blues Challenge. Both bands are Aboriginal artist driven and directed. Both bands won their own city competitions against many mainstream blues artists. Jimmy Guiboche of Jimmy & the Sleepers, assembled some of the most accomplished musicians to accompany him in his rockin blues style delivering some of the most jumping gritty working man’s blues you’ll ever hear. Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine comes from a slightly different direction with more of a smooth burning blues that feels relaxed while at the same time delivering a fever of melody.

Either release by both bands are must have for any blues fan. Both bands are proven to be a couple of Canada’s hottest blues acts. Jimmy & the Sleeper’s new release is what one would call in vinyl days as an EP of five songs while Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine gives us the full meal with ten songs. They run the musical paces leaving you satisfied which apparently Muddy Water’s claimed he couldn’t be. He obviously never got a chance to listen to these musical offerings. These guys once again prove that Aboriginal affinity with the blues genre is a natural fit. Robbie is from the Oneida Nation while Jimmy hails originally from Snow Lake Manitoba. If you are feeling down and blue, listening to these cds can only be topped at making you feel better by a chance to listen to them both! But who comes first? East or West? †You can get your own taste of the blues at www.jimmyandthesleepers.com and you can search for Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine on iTunes.