On the Monthly Artist Spotlight: Lynwood Slim an Appreciation

This is an amazingly well written, perceptive and heartfelt tribute to Slim. It brought tears to my eyes. ~ Don, Des Moines, Iowa (USA)

More fine work by the best writer about blues music today. The one and only David Mac... ~ Scott, Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

Nice write up Mr. Mac. ~ Judy, Placentia, California (USA)

Real Nice, thank you David Mac ~ Nico, Paris (France)

Great David Mac! We Appreciate this. ~ Rodrigo, Sao Paulo (Brazil)

On Lynwood Slim In His Own Words: A Conversation with David Mac

Thanks for reminding us about this great interview Dave. The real honest essence of Slim... ~ Liz, Orange, California (USA)

What an awesome interview Dave! I could hear him talking to you. I still can't believe we will never see him on stage again. ~ Kim, Lake Forest, California (USA)

David, I don't know much about Lynwood Slim but you got me intrigued about this guy. He seems like a cool cat and it sounds like we lost a great musician. Great job with the article/conversation with him... ~ Scott, Houston, Texas (USA)

On Micro Brews and Micro Blues: The 2014 Mammoth Festival of Bears and Bloozapalooza

Seems I did not miss much and was able to keep some $$ in my pocket. ~ Billy T, Saugus, California (USA)

You crack me up... Curmudgeon...nice... I agree wholeheartedly with whole thing. Charlie Lange is my go to for all things blues. ~ Brad, Costa Mesa, California (USA)

I recently met you at the Mammoth Blues & Brews Festival a couple weeks ago. I bought about 10 CD's from the Bluebeat Music booth. I really like your articles and your style. Your interviews are great too. I agree with your assessment of the Mammoth gig. Too muck rock and not enough blues. Keep up the great writing. I'm now hooked on your site. Thanks. ~ Mike, Loma Linda, California (USA)

As you pointed out Dave, the Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bloozapalooza is a well coordinated event that is a lot of fun. The only thing missing was blues. ~ Pauline, San Luis Obispo, California (USA)

Blues–Rock is not Blues it is real shitty Rock. Don’t get me wrong I like Rock and Roll and I love Blues but this silly, juvenile style of music is just plain nauseating. It is about time someone went on the record with this. Keep up the good work Mr. Mac! ~ Bob, Reno, Nevada (USA)

Is having blues music at a blues festival too much to ask. Yeah, I guess so. ~ Melisa, Buffalo, New York (USA)                                                              

For many years we have made the blues festival in Mammoth Lakes California the centerpiece for our Eastern Sierra summer vacation. We use the town of Mammoth as our home base for our side trips, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and site seeing excursions. We also attend the festival every year. Each year, the blues music that we so love, gets squeezed out for burned out classic rock acts and the kind of crap that took place this year being passed off as blues. This past year was an all time musical low. A little more variety would be nice. We are going to hold off on booking a room until the 2015 festival line-up is announced. ~ Blake, Austin Texas (USA)

Bullseye Mr. Mac! As much as I like Mammoth Lakes, California and micro brews, if I had to sit through those kind of acts I would likely have to blow my brains out. What is wrong with those people who book that festival? The funny part is that those kind of acts usually don’t come cheap either. ~ Doug, Scottsdale, Arizona (USA)

It was great to finally meet you in person Dave. Like I said, when we spoke up in Mammoth last week, I have been reading your stuff for a couple of years now. As you mentioned in your piece Mammoth is a great place and the venue is spectacular. My wife and I live in nearby Bishop so, it is fun trip, but the music could use a major overhaul. You should book the event. ~ Joey, Bishop, California (USA)

Thanks for the recommendations at BlueBeat Music. The Big Jon Atkinson record is off the hook. It was also great to meet you in person after reading your web-ezine for so long. BTW... your take on the 2014 Mammoth Rock Festival was right on the money. Keep telling; it like it is. ~ Janey, Santa Rosa, California (USA)

On Stop it!, I Mean It!, Knock that Shit Off!

Once again the voice of reason comes from BLUES JUNCTON. I sometimes feel downright embarrassed to be identified as a blues fan with so many thoughtless idiots racing around social media trying desperately to shine a spotlight on themselves, even if it means causing great pain to the loved ones of the people they claim to love. It is just downright sick and disgusting. I thank you so much for calling out these sick bastards. ~  Joel, Princeton, New Jersey (USA)

Thanks Dave for once again speaking for the somewhat silent majority who sit back and shake their heads at the Bozos on FB who pose as journalists. Their thinly disguised self promotion via their RIPs is almost comical, if it were not so tragic. ~ Wiley, Parker, Colorado (USA)

Thank you so much for writing this long overdue thoughtful piece entitled, “Stop it...”  You made several really good points. All of these would seem so obvious. but I guess when all anybody can think of is themselves and not the families of people who are gravely ill someone (in this case you Dave) has to speak up. I am glad it was you because I don’t know of any other writers in this kiddy playground who would bother to do the right thing and call these children out in the first place and then do so with the thoughtfulness this topic deserves. ~ Lana, Fort Lauderdale Florida (USA)

On the Monthly Album Spotlight: I Say What I Mean by Jim Liban and the Joel Paterson Trio

Ojo harperos! ~ Nicolas, Santiago (Chile)

On the John Stedman Interview

I've just stumbled upon your interview with John Stedman. Louisiana Red was staying at the Stedman house in North London during the time of Red's first visit. I spent a whole afternoon with John, his wife Shanny and Red. Somewhere I have two cassettes of Red talking and singing. I also took along a copy of Red's 1964 LP (Lowdown Back Porch Blues) and several 45s. He also recounted the circumstances of how he came to each LP or 45. He also wrote a message on the back of LP sleeve.

Oh yes, Prof. Longhair. I still have the EMI promo material and invitation to the London's 100 Club for the launch of Live On Queen Mary LP. ~ Alan, London (England)