Tweed - Love Strong (Feat. Gervis Myles)

Size: 97,9 MB
Time: 41:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Blues, Soul, Rock, R&B
Art: Full

01. Folly Beach Boogie (4:29)
02. Mojo Hoodoo (5:05)
03. Temporary Life (3:41)
04. Rocket Tanch Groove (4:51)
05. I Just Got Some (5:19)
06. Oil Man (3:48)
07. After The King Is Gone (3:53)
08. Night Train (3:01)
09. Nightmare (5:01)
10. Mad Cow Boogie (2:25)

Formed in late 2010, Tweed Funk garnered national attention with the release of 4 albums and dates throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Southern United States. With the passing of frontman Joseph "Smokey'' Holman in October of 2017 due to complications from multiple myeloma cancer, the band has brought in Gervis Myles as the lead singer and now performs under the moniker of Tweed Featuring Gervis Myles.

In preparation for a 2018 European tour the band was in the process of writing material for a new album. With Gervis Myles on board, the band recorded, mixed, and released "Love Strong" in just 8 days, a 10 track album featuring 9 original songs. The album was initially released with limited availability for the European market only, in tandem with band's 12 date tour playing festivals and clubs throughout Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Austria, and Slovakia.

Love Strong

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Tweed Funk - 2 albums: Come Together / Love Is

Album: Come Together
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:50
Size: 88.9 MB
Styles: Soul/Funk/Blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. Light Up The Night
[3:15] 2. Don't Give Up
[2:43] 3. Muse
[5:16] 4. Sweet Music
[3:06] 5. Come Together
[3:59] 6. Embrace
[4:18] 7. Who Is This
[3:49] 8. Love Ain't Easy
[4:55] 9. Bullet
[3:54] 10. Soul Rockin'

The world is about to tune into what has been Milwaukee's best kept secret. Tweed Funk is a high-powered, horn driven ensemble that has been winner of Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) awards since their 2010 formation. Come Together is their fourth release on the Tweed Tone label, and is a seamless combination of top tier musicians fronted by an energetic vocalist.

Joseph "Smokey" Holman is the kind of soul singer all bands are looking for, and only one is lucky to get. Listening to this music for a lifetime, he sang in Memphis for the Hi label, tried to get a shot at Motown in Detroit, recorded for Curtis Mayfield in Chicago, then disappeared from the scene. Surfacing amidst the Milwaukee soul revival in 1994, he kept at it until hooking up with Tweed Funk brought it back around. The band is a determined outfit who writes all their material, and is musically prepared as any working jazz group around, except they play funky soul. Propelled by veteran bassist Eric Madunic, guitarist JD Optekar, and anchored by drummer Dave Schoepke, they feature the horn section of Andrew Spadafora on saxophones, and trumpet man Doug Woolverton. ~James Nadal

Come Together

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Album: Love Is
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:44
Size: 95.5 MB
Styles: Soul/Funk/Blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. Fine Wine
[5:27] 2. A Real Mother For Ya
[5:50] 3. Gettin Home
[5:25] 4. Dancemaker
[2:59] 5. Pick Em Early
[3:15] 6. Fragile
[3:50] 7. Smooth Taste
[4:14] 8. What Have I Done Wrong
[3:35] 9. All Over You
[3:38] 10. Sex Machine

Funky Soulful Blues at it's Funky Soulful Bluesy best, is the best way I can describe Tweed Funk's super fine new release, "Love Is".

Although just formed a little over 18 months ago in the fall of 2010, Tweed Funk has already taken the music world by storm, with not only rave reviews for their Debut album, "Bringin' It", but also rave reviews for their live performances, which have now included venues and events such as, the International Blues Challenge (Memphis), House of Blues (Chicago), Waukesha BluesFest, Paramount Blues Festival, BB’s Jazz, Blues, and Soups, and Famous Dave’s Bluesfest, to name but a few. This is in addition to extensively touring the Midwest & South US. Tweed Funk was chosen R&B/Soul Artist of the Year at the 2012 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry), where their Lead Singer, Smokey, was nominated for Best Male Vocalist. Tweed Funk also competed at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, representing the Grafton Blues Association. "Love Is" is a tasty and rare treat which nicely breaks through todays overly repetitive ho hum offerings. ~John Vermilyea

Tweed Funk consists of Smokey (Vocals), JD Optekar (Guitar), Marcus “MG” Gibbons (Drums), and Donnie Mac (Bass).

Love Is

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Tweed Funk - First Name Lucky

Size: 90,8 MB
Time: 38:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Funky Blues
Art: Front

01. Blues In My Soul (2:28)
02. Time To Burn (3:26)
03. Let The Good Times Roll (4:07)
04. Hoodoo Power (2:49)
05. Divided (3:44)
06. Sugarfoot (4:18)
07. Deed Is Done (3:11)
08. I Got Loaded (4:07)
09. Sippin Misery (3:25)
10. Knock On Wood (3:07)
11. Get It On (3:47)

I just received the newest release, First Name Lucky, from Tweed Funk and it's a funky blues party! Opening with Blues In My Soul, a funky blues track that's kind of a mix of Booker T and Albert King. Smokey leads the way on vocals and Jon Lovas on sax and Kevin Klemme keep the horns hot. Time To Burn moves more to a rock/R&B sound and JD Optekar hits some cool guitar riffs on this one. Jon Lovas steps up on sax playing an outstanding solo as well. A song almost thought of synonymously with BB King is up next, Let The Good Times Roll and Tweed Funk keeps a lot of authenticity while having a nice jam at it. Hoodoo Power is a powerful track with Eric Madunic laying down some great bass and Klemme keeping a tight leash on the trumpet. Funky guitar work from Optekar highlights this track. Divided is a very smooth soul ballad with clear guitar accompaniment. Vocals by Smokey are really nicely highlighted on this track and backing by Chrissy Dzioba and Sara Moilanen add warmth. Lovas again seps forward with a smooth sax solo as another highlight of this very airworthy track. Sugarfoot is a killer dance traack sounding like it's right off of a James Brown record. Nick Lang on drums and Madunic keep the bottom real and highlights by Klemme on trumpet add to the dynamics. Lovas and Klemme both take cool solos on this track and it's a real mover. Excellent! Deed Is Done has a lot of swing and horn oomph. Smokey steps up the vocals on this track and both horn players are right behind him. This track really moves! Peppermint Harris' I Got Loaded has a New Orleans flair and keeps that authentic street feel. Nice job! Optekar steps up with a nice electric guitar solo but Lang has that rim shot technigue that puts you right back in the street. Sippin Misery has a really laid back blues sound and is likely my favorite track on the release. This is a track that you could feel Billie Holiday singing and Smokey does an excellent job. Horn work on this track from Klemme is excellent. Not a generic trumpet fan but this playing is not (geneic) ... it's hot!! Eddie Floyd's track, Knock On Wood is always a crowd pleaser and a classic R&B track. Madunic steps up on lead vocals on this track and does a real nice job. Horns of course play a large part on this track but it's mostly played straight up. Wrapping the release is Get It On. Brian "Looper" Lucas adds real super harp work on this track but to my ear it's Madunic who leads this track with great bass work. This is the second Tweed Funk release that I have reviewed and this release shows much more maturity and finesse. Looking forward to getting it into my car for a few full listens! ~Bman

First Name Lucky

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Tweed Funk - Bringin' It

Released: 2011
Size: 85.2 MB
Time: 37:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Blues, Funk, Soul
Art: Front

1. Blues Is The Truth [4:01]
2. I Know [2:18]
3. Super Mad Woman [5:16]
4. B-Line [2:59]
5. Brainfreeze [1:34]
6. Testify [3:25]
7. My Baby's Alright [3:18]
8. Thank You [5:56]
9. Salsa Blues [4:08]
10. Black Coffee [4:12]

Tweed Funk’s CD (release date of March 15, 2011) consists of 9 original tracks and one cover tune. The CD has spent 18 weeks on the Roots Music Report (RMR) Blues Internet Chart reaching #5 and has spent 6 weeks in the Top 5. The CD has appeared on the RMR Wisconsin State Chart for 30 straight weeks (including 13 weeks at #1). Here is what Blues DJs and Critics are saying about the CD:

"The Milwaukee quartet that call themselves Tweed Funk have just released an eye-opening debut entitled "Bringin' It," that combines elements of jazz, neo-soul, funk, and the blues to create a high-energy, versatile sound, and includes nine originals and one cool cover…Tweed Funk have taken the traditions of the blues and today's music to successfully forge a unique sound all their own.”– Nashville Blues Society

"Singer Smokey started out under Curtis Mayfield and demonstrates that he has a fine voice for soul and blues. The playing throughout is very good, especially the guitar of JD Optekar...I particularly enjoyed the more bluesy tunes such as “Super Mad Woman” and “Black Coffee” as well as “Salsa Blues”. The band has an excellent singer and strong instrumental players…For those who like a good dose of funk mixed into their blues this CD is well worth checking out." – John Mitchell, The Blues Blast Magazine

Bringin' It

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