Blues-harmonica smackdown (strictly for grins): Chicago’s Billy Boy Arnold vs. Baton Rouge’s Lazy Lester

We’re thrilled that Chicago blues-harmonica god Billy Boy Arnold is returning to the Ponderosa Stomp this year for its 10th anniversary. And the Stomp, of course, is named after south Louisiana’s Lazy Lester of Excello fame. Both appeared at the inaugural Stomp and both are perennial performers at the annual blowout. We love ‘em both. But who’s your favorite? And which songs are you most looking forward to hearing them do at this year’s Stomp?

Ladies and gentlemen – strictly for grins – we present to you this blues-harmonica smackdown. In this corner of the Web (below), Billy Boy Arnold performs “I Wish You Would,” accompanied by fellow Stomp favorites Henry Gray on piano and Jody Williams on guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUwTONWZKtY

And in this corner (below), Lazy Lester performs his “Sugar Coated Love” joined by guitarist Pee Wee Trahan and Stomp alumni Guitar Gable and Warren Storm on drums:

Song of the Day: “Wind Howlin’ Blues” by the late, great David “Honeyboy” Edwards, June 28, 1915 – Aug. 29, 2011

The oldest still-performing bluesman, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, passed away Monday, Aug. 29, just shy of his 96th birthday, on the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and a little less than a year after gracing the Ponderosa Stomp with his historic presence. The great bluesman worked with all the legends of the genre, from Robert Johnson … Continue reading Song of the Day: “Wind Howlin’ Blues” by the late, great David “Honeyboy” Edwards, June 28, 1915 – Aug. 29, 2011

Song of the Day: “It’s Getting Late in the Evening” by Baton Rouge music titans Bobby Powell and Raful Neal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOCKgakvNf8 Blind pianist/singer Bobby Powell of Baton Rouge left gospel music in the 1960s to test out his R&B chops, signing with Whit Records, for whom he recorded “What Are You Trying to Do to Me” b/w “Red Sails in the Sunset,” which Jewel released nationally. His second single, a version of “C.C. Rider” b/w … Continue reading Song of the Day: “It’s Getting Late in the Evening” by Baton Rouge music titans Bobby Powell and Raful Neal

Song of the Day: “Louisiana Man” by Rusty and Doug Kershaw – “swamp people” before “Swamp People” was cool

The History Channel’s Louisiana-set “Swamp People” reality series, which tracks alligator hunters in the marshes from Pierre Part to Port Sulphur and all points in between, has become the most popular show in the network’s history. But let’s not forget the original “swamp people”: Doug and Rusty Kershaw of “Diggy Liggy Lo” and “Louisiana Man” … Continue reading Song of the Day: “Louisiana Man” by Rusty and Doug Kershaw – “swamp people” before “Swamp People” was cool

Song of the Day: “Blue Monday” by Fats Domino and his star-studded mid-’80s band at “Austin City Limits”

It’s “Blue Monday,” and that is today’s Song of the Day, written by Dave Bartholomew, originally recorded by Smiley Lewis but performed here at “Austin City Limits” in 1986 by Fats Domino in a band that includes Ponderosa Stomp regulars Bartholomew and Herb Hardesty, as well as Joseph “Smokey” Johnson on drums, Lee Allen on … Continue reading Song of the Day: “Blue Monday” by Fats Domino and his star-studded mid-’80s band at “Austin City Limits”