CHRIS DUARTE BRINGS THE BLUES BACK HOME.

FRESH OFF HIS SECOND EUROPEAN STINT OF 2008, CHRIS DUARTE SETS HIS SITES ON THE EAST COAST.

March 26, 2008 (Austin, TX) – Atlanta-based blues guitarist/bandleader Chris Duarte will be performing along the Eastern U.S. throughout May as part of his 2008 tour. Upon his return from dates in the UK and Western Europe, Duarte hits the East Coast. Beginning in North Carolina and moving north through Maryland, Connecticut, and New York, CDG brings a bit of Southern flavor to the Yankee States.

Duarte is currently touring non-stop throughout the US and Europe in support of his latest CD release “Blue Velocity” (Shrapnel/ Blues Bureau International Records) which was recorded last April at Sun Prairie Studios in Cotati, California. Produced by Shrapnel Records Founder and Hard Rock impresario Mike Varney (Yngwie Malmsteen, Richie Kotzen, Vinnie Moore, Jason Becker) “Blue Velocity” marks Chris Duarte’s fifth album release. This album was the swan song for band members Dustin Sargent (bass) and Damien Lewis (drums) who left the group shortly after this album was recorded.

Like Duarte’s previous effort “Romp”, his most recent 11 track endeavor showcases his eclectic taste in music and desire to incorporate multi-cultural influences, many of which are derived from Duarte’s real life experiences throughout his career. His recent tour with famed Japanese blues artists Bluestone Co. left an indelible mark on Duarte, who welcomed writing contributions from the band’s Toshihiro Sumitomo and Monji Kadowaki on two of the tracks “Out in the Rain” and “I’ll Never Know”. These bluesy rock numbers, while adding a unique flavor, manage to blend seamlessly into the record and add the perfect complement to Duarte’s original tracks.

“Blue Velocity” debuted to cheers from critics and radio alike, receiving rave reviews in Hittin’ That Note Magazine and Blues Revue, as well as charting on XM’s Bluesville and being featured on the nationally syndicated Blues Wax. As an appropriate follow-up, Duarte busts out of the gate hitting the road fast with furious nightly performances nightly across the Southeastern U.S., before heading off to a prestigious appearance in Russia. After that, he’s back to the States with shows across Florida and westward through Texas, finishing with shows in the Southwest, including Utah and Wyoming. One thing is for certain, whichever the city, no matter the venue, and whatever the season, Chris Duarte live is an experience you won’t soon forget.

2008 “Blue Velocity” Tour

May
2 Wilmington, NC /Kefi
3 Carrboro, NC / Carrboro Arts Center
6 Annapolis, MD/ Ram’s Head Tavern
8 Manchester, CT /Hungry Tiger
9 New York, NY / Hill Country BBQ

June
20 Greenville, SC/Handlebar
21 Charlotte, NC /Double Door
26 Rochester, NY/Up All Night Concert Series

July
8-10 Jackson Hole, WY/Rock N’ Roll Camp (Chris Only)
11 Warsaw, IN/ Warsaw Summer Concert Series
17-27 Italy - Specific Dates TBA

August
22 Thief River Falls, MN /Seven Clans Casino

Read what critics are saying about
"Blue Velocity":

Chris Duarte leaves his own calling card with a fulsome tone, lightning licks, and intense grooves wrapped in a familiar Texas rock blues style.

-Pete Feenstra on the website "Get Ready to ROCK!"

… if you like your blues-rock loud and heavy but still staying on the blues side of the equation, this CD is for you.

-Norman Darwen, Blues Art Journal

Blue Velocity, Duarte's first release since 2003's Romp, is where it all comes together. With Dustin Sargent on bass and Damien Lewis pounding drums, Duarte emerges here as more of a total artist than in the past — the guitar brilliance serves the songs, rather than the other way around.

-Jeff Tamarkin, AllMusic.com

For More Information:

www.chrisduartegroupfans.org

www.myspace.com/chrisduartegroup

LLB TV is proud to present...

THE MAKING OF "FORGIVEN"
The upcoming release from
Los Lonely Boys
coming July 1, 2008

~Webisode #1~


Stay tuned next week for part two...

Alex Vallejo in Modern Drummer

Vallejo’s Alejandro “Alex”
Vallejo
2008-04-05

Hello, fellow skin bashers and drumming maniacs! My name is Alejandro “Alex” Vallejo, and I play drums in the Austin, Texas–based Latin rock band Vallejo. I’ve been playing in this band with my two brothers, AJ and Omar, since high school, and we just released our new album, Thicker Than Water. I’m proud to say that Vallejo has been rocking America for over ten years now, and we’re still going strong thanks to our hardheaded refusal to never give up, despite the ups and downs of a very exciting but unforgiving music business. Our sound is a melting pot of ’70s & ’80s–style rock with a Latin twist in the vein of Santana, but—respectfully—with a little more balls.

In the vein of the classic ’70s San Francisco Latin rock scene, our band has always included a percussionist to add a little Latin grease to the swaggering rock grooves we’ve always fancied from bands like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and Aerosmith. I’ve had the extreme pleasure of performing with some really great percussionists over the years, like Michael Panepento, Steve Ramos, Diego Simmons, Andres Delgado, and our current percussionist, Jeff Hartsough. Jeff also works closely with the Percussive Arts Society, and was A&R at Pro-Mark for many years. Talk about a guy who knows drums and drummers—personally! We do an improv drum battle in our show every night, and we just have a blast playing drums and doing what we can to excite the crowd. Being able to make people’s butts go one way and their feet another is truly an amazing power that we both strive for every time we hit the stage. It’s a beautiful thing that I never take for granted.

It’s also great to read through all of these blogs and see other drummers doing something to educate young drummers. I truly think there’s a little bit of this “natural teaching mentality” in all drummers, and I have personally dedicated a lot of my time giving back to music what it has given to me. I’ve been playing drums for twenty years now, and I know the beautiful experiences being a drummer has brought me over the years. I currently work with a non-profit music program in Austin called Grounded In Music, which gives underprivileged kids an alternative to getting into trouble by showing them the fulfilling and creative advantages of being an honest working musician. Music saved my life when I was a teenager, and I feel other kids should have the opportunity to know that there is something better out there than getting into drugs or being in a gang. Why not learn how to play music, join a band, and possibly make a decent and exciting living out of it? It’s been a great ride for me so far, and I hope to keep inspiring the next generation of musicians like my musical idols did for me. Thanks, guys!

For a preview of our band’s music, please take a minute to go to our sites www.vallejomusic.com or www.myspace.com/vallejo. I also have my own drum site at www.alejandrovallejo.com, which shows some other albums and projects I’ve played on. Hope you enjoy the music, and take it from me: Never ever give up on anything—EVER.

Alejandro “Alex” Vallejo

The Taxman Cometh and So Do the Blues!

Blues Showcase on April 15th!
Drop your love letter to Uncle Sam in the mail (and don't forget the check) and stop on down to feed your blues at Antone's.

Only three dollars at the door. No, it's not tax deductible, but it sure is a Blues Bargain.

Tuesday the 15th, the dreaded Taxman's favorite day, beginning at 7 the Austin Blues Society will feature two local bands in the Monthly Blues Showcase.

Check 'em out ahead of time at:
Al Monti Band
Blues Mafia

At least the day won't end on a sour note.

Come share the Taxman Blues with us!

Misery LOVES company!