May of 2012 has produced a bounty spring harvest, with two new releases out in the same week (isn't that always the way...). Paul's solo album, Talking Guitar, is now available on our website store, as well as CDbaby, amazon.com and anywhere good records can be sought. The album is a long-awaited tribute to the country blues masters who inspired Paul to take the path he's been on for 45 years and counting. The CD features prewar blues gems by artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, Blind Blake, and Blind Boy Fuller, as well as two Rishell originals. Annie Raines guests on harmonica on 3 of the album's 13 tracks.
Also out this week is Annie's epic harmonica instructional video for Truefire, Blues Harmonica Blueprint. This game-changing product includes 268 minutes and 68 lessons; animated graphics; detailed video breakdowns of songs and exercises; 75 pages of written harmonica tab; solos in the styles of the masters; text descriptions; live band jam tracks so you can play along with an all-star blues combo including guitarists Paul Rishell & Troy Gonyea; and more. Whether you're a beginning student or a gigging harpist, this is guaranteed to bring your playing up several levels. It's also really fun. For more about it, and to buy your copy, visit our Education page.
News from the Blue-niverse of Paul and Annie
A Different Kind of Prize
May 2009: We just returned from a 3-week tour that centered around the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee. It turned out to be a star-studded, action-packed gala: Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Hubert Sumlin, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Curtis Salgado and too many others to mention were on the stage or in the crowd, along with some of the most enthusiastic blues friends and fans who walk or wheel on this earth.
And we're....Live!
Paul Rishell and Annie Raines’ first live album, A Night In Woodstock, releases today as the flagship recording on their Mojo Rodeo label, distributed worldwide by Burnside Distribution. The album features special guests John Sebastian (harmonica), Bruce Katz (keyboards), Reed Butler (bass), Chris Rival (guitar), and Billy MacGillivray (drums) joining the duo for an eclectic, high-energy set of acoustic and electric originals and classic blues songs.
California Beamin'
Have you ever had a really vivid dream that was like a movie? Not a nightmare, but a story with such a happy ending that you still felt good even though you woke up and realized it never happened? That's how I feel right now, only it really did happen.
New Songs Posted on Reverbnation
January 29, 2012: Paul's upcoming solo CD, Talking Guitar will be released on April 17. The album features Paul returning to his country blues roots with 13 wonderful songs played on acoustic and resonator guitars as only Paul Rishell can play them. Here's a sneak preview of "Big Road Blues" featuring Annie on harp, plus some favorite songs from earlier albums on our Reverbnation music player:
2010 Blues Music Award Nominations Announced
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines have been nominated for 2 Blues Music Awards: Acoustic Artist of the Year and DVD of the year for "A Night in Woodstock."
The Blues Foundation will present the Blues Music Awards at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN on May 6, 2010. Online voting begins December 10 for members. Voting, ticket and host hotel information can be found at The Blues Foundation’s website, www.blues.org.
Road Diary - Countdown to Blues Cruise
We're driving to Florida where on Saturday, January 23, we will embark on our first Blues Cruise. Other performers on the boat include Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo', Johnny Winter, Guy Davis, Ruthie Foster, Joe Louis Walker, Duke Robillard, Jason Ricci and about 20 more acts and 1800 blues fans. It's a long trip so we thought we'd share some of the highlights of the 1500-mile drive from Boston to Fort Lauderdale as they happen (well, almost):
Sunday: Rain, germophobia and a surprise for Paul
Paul's blog - Baseball
In 1960, when I was 10 years old, I returned to the U.S. after living in England. A lot had changed since I had left the country 3 years earlier. My old team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, were no more. We lived in New York, and occasionally I'd go to Yankee Stadium and watch the Yankees play. I never liked the Yankees. It never seemed that they needed me as a fan; they had plenty of fans. The worst team in the league in 1960 was the Baltimore Orioles. I chose them as my team because I felt they needed my support.
Sinus is Golden
Hello and greetings from the syncopated and ever-more multi-instrumental world of Paul Rishell & Annie Raines. We’re happy to be trading our layers of snow, salt and polar fleece for a fresh dusting of pollen. Those itchy eyes tell us it’s time to see the world, and we’re hitting the road again this month, for short jaunts to Bethlehem and Barto, PA, and gearing up for longer trips in early and late summer. But first, we’re making our official “Mojo Rodeo” debut this Saturday, May 7 at the Bull Run in Shirley, MA (click on "Read More" to read more...).
October News
TO HELL AND BACK:, The intrepid blues duo recently returned from playing the Hell Blues Festival in Norway. Says Raines: "I didn't think I'd like Hell, but I met so many great musicians there." Also on the festival bill were Duke Robillard and his excellent band; Janiva Magness; Johnny Nicholas; Henry Gray and Andy Cornett; and Paul Jones and the Blues Band from the UK.After their return from Hell, the duo played a church service in downtown Boston. So the score is sitting at 1-1 so far.
PROFESSOR PAUL: The big news this fall is that Paul will be teaching at
