Chasing The Blues with Tom The Suit Forst

Jeremiah Johnson of Ruf Records checks in with Tom The Suit Forst on Chasing the Blues 2/Ep 22, discussing his upcoming album release on October 30, 2020 titled "Unemployed Highly Annoyed." This interview is the very first time the album has been unveiled to the media, which is a great honor to Chasing the Blues. Jeremiah reveals that the work is a concept album, with all the songs related to his...

Sir Rod Patterson of Sir Rod and the Blues Doctors, joins Tom The Suit Forst on Chasing the Blues 2, Ep 21, for a sit down to talk about the band's debut blues album "Come Together." The band features percussion and "lead harmonica" by Adam Gussow. Gussow is best known for being part of "Satan and Adam, a blues duo consisting of Sterling Magee, known by his stage name "Mister Satan", and Gussow. T...

Cleopatra Records recording artist Kirk Fletcher joins Tom The Suit Forst in Episode 70 of Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2. Fletcher discusses his new album "Hold On," coming September 21, 2020, as well as his experiences performing on stage with Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, as well as his time playing with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The seasoned veteran of the blues talks about finding his own...

On Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2/Episode 19, Tom The Suit Forst chats with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Famer, Songwriter Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, and Hammon Hall of Fame, singer-songwriter Felix Cavaliere. Felix talks about his life in music, from his days in the Rascals, writing classic songs like "Good Lovin," "A Beautiful Morning," and "People Got to be Free,"...

The Business of the Blues With Bonnie Tallman of Billtown Blues Association - Chasing the Blues 2/Ep 18 On this episode of Chasing the Blues Podcast, Tom The Suit Forst catches up with Bonnie Tallman of the Billtown Blues Association (Billtown, PA) to talk about the business of the blues, including her views on how musicians must differentiate themselves, while investing into their own careers. Bo...

On this episode of Chasing the Blues Podcast (Season 2/Episode 17) The Suit catches up with "Los Angeles by way of Nashville" guitarist, singer-songwriter Bart Ryan, whose mix is contemporary take on old school blues. Bart discusses his new release "The Healer," coming this fall, as well as his work to raise awareness for ALS. About Bart Ryan: Bart Ryan is one of L.A.’s most gifted and powerful si...

Tom The Suit Forst catches up with the legendary Mark Farner, vocalist of Grand Funk, in Episode 16 of Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2. Mark gives Tom some inside information about the recording of "I'm Your Captain," one of Tom's favorite blues-rock songs, which Grand Funk released in 1970. He fills Tom in about his work with Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp, and shares a personal message of unity, an...

On Episode 15 of Chasing the Blues Season 2, Tom chats with a veteran of the Chicago blues and jazz scene Larry Kimpel, who also performs under the artist name Bear Williams. Bear took on this name as part of a personal musical journey returning to his blues roots. He has performed throughout his career with a "Who's Who" list of musical artists from Steve Perry of Journey to George Duke, Jonathan...

On Season 2, Episode 14 of Chasing the Blues Podcast, host Tom The Suit Forst shares a deeply personal and insightful fireside chat with powerhouse blues-revival vocalist Kat Riggins. Kat talks about her longing for social justice in America as a woman, an artist, and a person of color. She shares her struggling to overcome sadness in the wake of the George Floyd tragedy, as well as the struggle t...

On Episode 13 of Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2, Tom The Suit Forst goes deep into the history of the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which became one of the most historically significant festivals when it began in 1969. The historic festival, the first of its kind, put artists like BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Earl hooker, Albert King, Benny King, Son House and other legendary, original African-American...

On Episode 12 of Chasing the Blues (Season 2), Tom The Suit Forst welcomes guitarist James Pace. James Pace Band is a guitar-driven rock n' roll act with shots of blues, funk, and soul, with a hint of Jimi Hendrix, that was born in the burgeoning Asbury Park music scene in the early 1990s. They were the Sunday-House-Band at the famed Stone Pony, having performed with blues legends such as Jeff Hea...

On Season 2, Episode 11, Tom chats with Samantha Muffett of Can't Stop the Blues,"one of the largest virtual blues venues in the world. Broadcasting exclusive shows from multiple artists 5 nights/week...a great place to get together with friends and interact directly with the musicians." Look for them online at: http://www. CantStopTheblues.com and on social media @CantStoptheBlues http://www. Cha...

In Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2/Episode 10, Tom The Suit Forst catches up with guitar virtuoso and blues powerhouse Joe Louis Walker, who makes his second appearance on the podcast. Joe shares some interesting insight into how the blues has evolved over many decades into the music we know today. About Joe Louis Walker: "Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Musi...

In Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2/Episode 9, The Suit has a great chat with 8-Ball Aitken, a bluesman originally from Australia, now in Nashville, TN. 8-Ball discusses his musical life during Covid-19, how he has kept in touch with his massive world wide fan base by live streaming on Facebook twice a week, while also writing a double-album's amount of material. Through it all, staying sane, wh...

In Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2-Episode 8, we go behind the scenes of the blues, with Kaati Reno, Publisher of the Blues Festival Guide, serving the blues community for the past 18 years. We are happy to highlight their work, and thankful to them for being an official sponsor of the podcast. About Blues Festival Guide from their website - https://bluesfestivalguide.com Hey Blues Fans, Did yo...

In this episode of Chasing the Blues Podcast, Tom The Suit Forst interviews Fito de la Parra, drummer of the blues-rock band Canned Heat, which was pivotal in bringing the blues into mainstream music. Fito tells inside stories about the band, including tales of performing at Woodstock in 1969. Fito shares information about his book "Living The Blues: Canned Heat's Story Of Music, Drugs, Death, Sex...

On this episode of Chasing the Blues Podcast (Season 2/Episode 6) Tom catches up with guitarist Seth James, who makes his second appearance on the podcast. About Seth James: Authenticity and originality don’t always make for the most compatible bedfellows. Indeed, paying reverence to one’s roots sometimes moots the possibility of finding contemporary credence. Happily though, in the case of the Te...

On Season 2/Episode 5 of Chasing the Blues Podcast, Tom The Suit Forst chats with "King of Biker Blues" Pat Savage. The musician and recording artist, accomplished filmmaker, actor, and life-long motorcyclist discusses his deep friendship with Jeff Healey and being discovered by Albert Collins. Pat also talks about his world travels, filming a motorcycle travel television show.

On Chasing the Blues Season 2/Episode 4, Tom the Suit Forst chats with Delmark Records recording artist Johnny Burgin. The conversation includes stories about Burgin's days playing guitar with the legendary Pinetop Perkins, a gig he landed right out of college, "long before I was ready," he says. In his impressive career, "Rockin Johnny Burgin" has recorded nine albums, in addition to playing on n...

On Chasing the Blues Podcast Season 2/Episode 3, Tom The Suit Forst goes behind the scenes for a personal chat with blues-rock guitarist Gary Hoey. Their talk ranges from Gary's music to his work as Music Director for the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. They also talk about his career, and the state of the music industry during and post-Covid-19.

On Season2 / Episode 2, Tom checks in with Albert Castiglia who tells more of his story, how he survived his first job in out of college with the Florida Welfare Office and went on to perform with his mentor, Chicago bluesman, Junior Wells.

On Episode 1 of Chasing the Blues Season 2 - Tom interviews harmonica player James Montgomery who has played with Johnny Winter, Foghat, and Allman Brothers. He discusses his time traveling down Highway 61, his time in Clarksdale, MS, his upcoming film documentary about blues pioneer and legendary harp player James Cotton, and other stories.

Tom The Suit Forst shares highlights from Season One of Chasing the Blues including clips featuring Anthony Gomes, Dave Cavalier, Barbara Neuman CEO of the Blues Foundation, Christine Ohlman, Robin Liu. Tom discusses blues from around the world, how blues is evolving into an international musical art form, where blues comes from, where it lives today, and where its going. Chasing the Blues is dedi...

Tom The Suit Forst speaks with Damon Fowler, a blues journeyman originating from Tampa, Florida, whose latest album has been produced by Tab Benoit in rural Louisiana. Damon cites Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters as key influences.

The unique and primal sound of Desert Blues from the musicians of Mali and nomadic tribes of the Sahara is less an offshoot of "the blues" as closer to its original root before the music was filtered through the African slave experience, through the Delta, and permeated American culture. This music is a modern interpretation of that ancient music, lovingly crafted by African musicians since the '7...