MAD DOG BLUES

(Duo, Trio, Band)

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eclectic acoustic roots & jam

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Listen to

Family Reunion 2020: Disc 1 Acoustic Blues

Listen to

Family Reunion 2020: Disc 2 Songsters, Blazz & Jam

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HUG WITH OUR HEART (Songs for our time - 2021)

Listen to Hug with Our Heart, a pandemic EP recorded by Mad Dog Blues, recorded live at Mighty Fine Studio on December 7, 2020. (Released January 11, 2021).

"...it incorporates the best of blues played elsewhere and adds its own unique twists. We are fortunate to have Colorado bands such as Mad Dog Blues that build on true traditions while absorbing and blending our local piquant flavors." ~ Jack Grace, Feb.-March 2021 Holler from the Colorado Blues Society

"Division will crush if we don't act soon.

Let's come together and sing a new tune."

~ from "Hug with Our Heart" by Jenn Cleary & Mad Dog Friedman

• Easy-to-share Live Videos from Mad Dog Blues' HUG WITH OUR HEART Recording Session.
• Download high-quality audio files from BandCamp.
• Stream for free on Spotify or YouTube Music. (You may also listen Apple Music of Amazon Music.)

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LIVE LOVE (Our first ALL LIVE JAM BAND ALBUM - 2021)

"Mad Dog Blues is one of our own - a Colorado band steeped in country blues but
expanding that genre to express its own eclectic approach to Colorado music. Live Love
is the band’s third recording in ten months: Family Reunion 2020, Hug with Our Heart,
and now Live Love. That’s a lot of music in a short time and each CD explores a new
musical direction. ...Jeff Becker contributes some impressive mandolin. ...There are some really interesting lead guitar lines with complex but perfect timing."

~ Jack Grace, Oct.-Nov. 2021 Holler from the Colorado Blues Society

• Stream for free on Spotify.
• You may also listen on YouTube Music, Amazon Music or Apple Music.)
• Download high-quality audio files from BandCamp.

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Pinned Down by the Rain (LIVE 2021)



These are our favorite recorded performances from the Mad Dog Blues’ “2021 Better Than Ever Tour.” Featuring eight new original songs as well as three live versions of original songs from our first Happy Dance CD (“Goodbye Mister Blues,” “Alone Is My Home” and “Never Lost Love”), and one from our Family Reunion 2020 double CD (Siren). These songs were all recorded from July through December of 2021 at various Colorado venues: The Muse Performance Center in Lafayette (11-22-21), Rule 105 in Greeley (12-05-21), Wibby's Pavilion in Longmont (7-1-21), Globe Hall in Denver (12-12-21), Niwot Tavern in Niwot (7-26-21) and Grossen Bart Brewery in Longmont (10-31-21).

... "it’s an honest, undoctored representation of MDB’s live shows. While MDB works within a loose country blues framework - where else would you hear a Native American flute in the mix – the collective maintains its signature that makes it distinct along the Front Range blues scene." ~ Dan Willging, April-May 2022 Holler from the Colorado Blues Society

Pinned Down by the Rain is a classy live Blues album created from favorite performances by the band from 2021; it includes segments from various venues that have the good sense to hire live acts, and to be able to hear innovative songs like Hear Me Crying and the longest piece off the release Never Lost Love, just shy of 14 minutes in duration and containing some crafted solo performances within one very full flowing offering. Pinned Down by the Rain by Mad Dog Blues is a rarity today, true live Blues from the very heart and soul of the planet; played how only Blues can be played, from one heart to yours. The album contains classy performances in an album that is raw, real, fun and most certainly shines a beacon for live Blues the whole world over. ~ Steve Sheppard, presenter (DJ) at One World Music Radio (READ ALBUM FULL REVIEW).

• Stream for free on Spotify.
• You may also listen on YouTube Music, Amazon Music or Apple Music.)
• Download high-quality audio files from BandCamp.

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Gratitude



WINNER OF THE PIKES PEAK BLUES COMMUNITY'S BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD CONTEST 2023

Gratitude, Mad Dog Blues’ fifth full-length,album is an innovative take on contemporary acoustic blues.

Recorded “live in the studio” at Mighty Fine Productions in Denver and mastered by the two-time Grammy-winning David Glasser of Airshow Mastering, Gratitude represents a step up in audio fidelity from Mad Dog Blues’ last two live albums. Since the 2019 release of their first album, Happy Dance, Mad Dog Blues has not looked back, exploring the possibilities of their unique, harmonica string band in their prolific song writing. Over the last few years their music has developed and matured, and their signature “Colorado Country Blues” sound has expanded to incorporate even more influences including jazz, world music, trance blues and pop along with our root influences of blues, folk and Americana. "Gratitude" is more than an album name; it can become a way of life that offers us all a ray of hope in these troubled times.

"We’re back on the Blues trail with Mad Dog Blues on this new release Gratitude, a 13 track album of some of the best new, vibrant and innovative music from that genre that you may have heard for quite some time, the collective charm of this album is that the whole project is thoroughly addictive and completely enjoyable with each and every track played. ... Gratitude by Mad Dog Blues is without doubt the best album so far for the band and there illustrious leader Mad Dog Friedman. Here lays an album of pure character, an album of artistic class, and a release that anyone who loves contemporary Blues music must surely mark part of their collection at all costs, it is that good."

~ Steve Sheppard, presenter (DJ) at One World Music Radio (READ ALBUM FULL REVIEW).

"Indeed, the playing is impressive. Given his chops, Mad Dog is underrated as a blues harmonica player while Bennight is a beast with his nimble fingers sprinting up and down the neck. Becker’s mandolin playing is spry and sparkles with precision and buoyancy." ~ Dan Willging, August-September 2022 Holler from the Colorado Blues Society (READ ALBUM FULL REVIEW)

"The songs have a joyful intertwining of the various instruments that convey an uplifting spirit. The effect is that of five very accomplished musicians taking turns at solos with none of them except the bass player relegated strictly to a backup role. Jeff Becker's mandolin expertise is particularly on display on "Well Babe", "Down So Long" and "Love Ladder". Mad Dog weaves his harmonica lines throughout the proceedings. The two guitarists are no slouches themselves. Clark Chanslor's meandering bass lines are ever present."..."refreshing and totally enjoyable music." ~Greg “Bluesdog” Szalony, November 3, 2022, Blues Blast Magazine (READ ALBUM FULL REVIEW)

 

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River City Roots CHARTED #3 IN THE WORLD-WIDE ACOUSTIC BLUES TOP 50 ALBUM CHART (ROOTS MUSIC REPORTS - Week of April 8, 2023) River City Roots is Mad Dog Blues’ sixth album. Performed by the guitar-harmonica-duo version of Mad Dog Blues, this live-in-the-studio album captures the feel of St. Louis front-porch-blues. Stream for free on Spotify. You may also listen on Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music or Apple Music. Download high-quality audio files, cover art and bonus track from BandCamp.   Listen now to a live radio interview and performance about the inspiration for the Mad Dog Blues Duo's new album, River City Roots, recorded on KGNU's Blues Legacy Show with host Dan "Big Daddy" Willging on January 6, 2023. "Shining Through" off of River City Roots was just premiered John Lamp's "Tempo" radio show on 94.7 FM on the Pulse in Geelong, Australia. This World Premier is followed by an excellent audio review of the song by John Lamp. You can listen now to the 9 minute excerpt with both the song and the review as played on Monday, March 6, 2023. Enjoy and feel free to share. Tempo at the Pulse · Review - Mad Dog Blues - Shining Through Here's some of the text from John Lamp's review: Now when you're playing as a duo rather than your usual band combination, the challenges are much greater.  There's no place to hide. You have to be precise. You have to work together. You almost have to be psychic to make it work. In this case there's guitar, vocal and harmonica. You can hear the guitar carrying the tempo and laying down a tune to follow. Over this is the vocal, timed to perfection with the guitar and then the harmonica adding embellishments between the vocals. Now that's all before you look at the song itself. The song is a classic blues theme of loss and persistence in the face of disappointment. I think they've absolutely succeeded in creating their front porch context, with a simple, effective piece you can see being sung in a relaxing evening. This one's going straight to the pool room. ~  John Lamp, DJ at 94.7 FM on the Pulse in Geelong, Australia, posted March 6, 2023. back to top menu The Mad Dog Blues Duo LIVE AT THE END Mad Dog Blues’ seventh album, The Mad Dog Blues Duo LIVE AT THE END, is an inspired performance of entire River City Roots (2023) album in front of a live audience at their River City Roots CD release concert on 4/23/23 at The End in Lafayette, Colorado. All eleven songs, including the Skip James’ cover featuring Lionel Young on violin, were performed in order and were captured in 4K Video. Mad Dog Blues offers this audio as a live album on all streaming services. All ten of our original songs are also now available as a LIVE VIDEO ALBUM (on Tidal & Apple Music.) The Mad Dog Blues Duo LIVE AT THE END, is available for your enjoyment on VEVO for free viewing. The spontaneous arrangements in these versions of the songs reflect the magic of the evening. The Mad Dog Blues Duo LIVE AT THE END (Watch the full LIVE VIDEO ALBUM on YouTube.) "... the innovative creative sound of two talented musicians playing off of each other as they share a true love for this unique music and sound" ~ Chick Cavallero for the High Plains Blues Society (Click to read the full review of The Mad Dog Blues Duo LIVE AT THE END that Chick Cavallero wrote for the High Plains Blues Society!) “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” is a major work in the blues cannon. It’s a social record of the depression years in the South and has even made its way into Hollywood as part of Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. It encapsulates the melancholier of that time, a depression within the depression. Often basic blue songs end up as band pieces, but its writer, Skip James, sings it solo, just with the guitar. The minimal arrangement reflecting the minimal existence of the time. In this recording that light touch is maintained, even through the addition of harmonica and violin. The guitar is dominant and takes the main role of keeping the melody and time through the song. The harmonica is played softly and the violin blends a scratchy, almost ghostly feel to the track. The interplay feels unique. The timing and balance will never be repeated. I always say there's a world of difference between a studio recording  and a live performance, and we hear that difference again. All eleven songs were captured in 4K video and are available for your enjoyment on YouTube for free viewing. ~  John Lamp, DJ at 94.7 FM on the Pulse in Geelong, Australia, postedSeptember 4, 2023. (Listen to the full review and song as played on September 4, 2023.) back to top menu All the Way, Mad Dog Blues’ eighth album, showcases lush and powerful songwriting inspired by the American musical stylings of the last 100 years. Although all loosely classified as “acoustic blues,” many of the tracks lean more toward the country, Americana, folk, old timey, jug band and/or singer-songwriter stylings. There is something for everyone on this disc. There is even a solo jaw harp instrumental by Joe Waters, the Memphis International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo winner for 2024! Stream for free on Spotify. You may also listen on Tidal, YouTube Music, Amazon Music or Apple Music. Download high-quality audio files, cover art and bonus track from BandCamp. Keith Simon, a DJ from Jazz 93.5 FM in Colorado Springs, Colorado, interviews Mad Dog Friedman about Mad Dog Blues' ALL THE WAY CD on August 9, 2024. Mad Dog Blues · 8 15 24 - Mad Dog Friedman (JAZZ)   Joanne Cole, a DJ from KGNU 88.5 FM in Boulder, Colorado, interviews Mad Dog Friedman about Mad Dog Blues' ALL THE WAY CD and the upcoming Joe Water's shows on August 27, 2024. (Audio and and AI transcript.) KGNU Music · Interview: Mad Dog Friedman Check out this audio play and review of the original version of Mad Dog Blues' song, “Never Again.” Thank you John Lamp from Geelong, VIC, Australia, for getting to the heart of our newest song and pulsing it around the world! "Who knew that one of the most exciting new Front Range album releases of 2024 was going to feature jug band music and a kazoo chorus? Mad Dog Blues' eighth album - which contains a myriad of fun surprises - is a toe-tapping, finger-snapping, genre-bending journey through the musical minds of Boulder's foremost acoustic blues jam band. One of the more audibly interesting music releases to grace one's eardrums, All the Way... features nine original songs, four unique instrumentals, a homage to a late harmonica legend and an impressive cache of guest stars. ... Mad Dog Blues has, over the years, cultivated a unique musical style that mixes jam-grass with traditional rural blues, resulting in a sound that is simultaneously timeless and forward-thinking. ... All the Way doesn't quite fit into a box. Rather, it is a testament to the band's dedication to preserving and evolving the diverse musical traditions that define American music." ~ Ella Cobb, Boulder Daily Camera, August 16, 2024 (View the Full Article in the Lafayette Home Town Weekly)

Alone Is My Home -- A benefit release with 100% of all proceeds going directly to support the needs of Boulder County's homeless population through the good work of Hope for Longmont. back to top menu

BAND BOOTLEGS And now for all those hardcore Dog Heads who made it all the way to bottom of our Mad Dog Blues' Music Page, a special little listening treat from your favorite acoustic blues jam band featuring unreleased excerpts from our 2021 Better Than Ever Tour, recorded live right off of our mixing board. Many of these tracks are our favorite extended versions of previously released songs featuring spontaneous jams and occasionally bordering on trance blues. Some are rare public debuts of original songs that we had barely, if at all, rehearsed. Pure madness for all Dog Heads! Enjoy and share as you want! Mad Dog Blues · Band Bootleg Recordings: Best of Our 2021 Better Than Ever Tour Mad Dog Blues · Band Bootleg Recordings: Best of Our 2021 Better Than Ever Tour back to top menu