Blues is the Truth 797

The new episode of Blues is the Truth is live, and Ian McHugh is not messing around this week. It kicks off with a fantastic, high-energy mix that hits the ground running. It is one of those shows that just flows, keeping you hooked from the first track to the last. Ian has done a great job balancing the legends with the modern scene. You have the deep-rooted classics from Pinetop Perkins and Mississippi Fred McDowell, B.B. King’s effortless class, and that signature, laid-back vibe from Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band. Then, he brings it right up to the present with fresh cuts from Mike Ross, Dani Wilde, When Rivers Meet, and Henrik Freischlader. The mood keeps shifting, too. You get that gritty, raw roots feel from Michael Messer, Marco Pandolfi with Richard Ray Farrell, and Corey Harris, which contrasts perfectly with the punchy, full-throttle sound of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Russ Green, and Errol Linton. There is also a really strong showing from closer to home, with tracks from Jump 66, Dan Sowerby, Mick Clarke, and The Weekend Blues Band holding their own in the mix. The lineup does not stop there, and it is absolutely packed. You will hear Mike Finnegan, Breakout Blues, CD Woodbury Trio, Grey DeLisle, Les Greene, Spencer Mackenzie, The Diving Ducks, and Peter Vekesta and Blues Train. Honestly, just when you think you have settled into a groove, the track changes and picks things right back up again. It is a great listen, so give it a spin.