John Boutell

South City Blues Band
Main St Records
2010

THE GOLDEN GATE BLUES SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
CD Reiveiw, Ron Purser

"Comin Home" swings, jumps, rocks, and takes off at
times into R&B and jazz. Despite the diverse blending of styles, textures, and rhythms on "Comin Home", the South City Blues Band delivers a consistent tonefest with a solid rhythm section. Throughout the CD, there is a certain purity and simplicity that is true to the blues form. Clearly, Comin Home showcases the band’s lyrical humor, stylistic versatility, vocal harmonies, and, of course, superb musicianship.

Travelin' Hwy 49
2008

Vincent Zumel
La Hora Del Blues Oct 2008

Singer, producer, guitar player, song writer, sound engineer… these are some of the musical works John Boutell usually does. Not long time ago he settled in San Francisco and since then on, he has travelled around West Coast, offering his musical experience and that particular way of playing blues, full of different musical influences, from pop to western swing, cajun, acoustic rock, funk and even some drops of tex-mex. A quite eclectic mixture of style for eight well conceived songs, which will give you peace and relax on a cd full of subtle good vibrations. The musicians included on “Travellin’ HWY 49” are John Boutell in vocals and guitars, Kirk Maxson on bass, Mike Miller on guitar, Matt Rolston on drums, Steve White on horns,
Bill Flores and Joe Paquin on accordion, rub board and percussion and finally a great harmonica player Mitch Kashmar. A good cd to be calmly savoured. VERY GOOD.

Headed South

2006

Blues Revue, Tom Hyslop (April 2006)

Joined by Mitch Kashmar (harp), Bill Flores (accordion, fiddle),
and Steve White (horns, keys), Ventura, California's "Blue Stew"
add other influences to their blues on their latest album,
"Headed South" (Silk City 2024). While "That's What Lovers Will
Do" and "The Laundromat" are straightforward, swinging shuffles
and "I'm A Slave To You" is a slow blues with a hipster attitude,
"Three Days To Louisiana" is reminiscent of Little Feat, and "La
Fayette Cajun Fest and Fais Do Do" is pure Cajun (even if it is
sung in English). Refreshingly, Michael Miller and John Boutell
are obviously more concerned with their roles as primary singers
and songwriters than with impressing listeners with guitar chops.
Case in point: Miller's evocative road trip song "Blues For The
Bearcat" is easily among the best recordings of the last year.

Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones

BLUES REVUE, March 2001

Vocals from guitarists Michael Miller and John Boutell are compelling. The music is eclectic, touching on the Allmans and John Hiatt, maybe a hint of Little Feat, a Tom Waits homage ("Steppin' on Cracks") and gypsy jazz (She makes me feel that way"). Clean hints of zydeco, New Orleans and acoustic blues here too, all wrapped up in wit and thoughtfulness.

Destination The Blues

ED IVEY - BLUES REVUE, March 1999

" Singer John Boutell's "Rio Grande" is a swank invitation to
cut and run for the border, where "I hear they got a rockin’
band/Triple-A, you understand." It's nice to see such real
thought go into songwriting; the lyrics here are much better
than the standard "ooh baby" stuff that permeates blues.

Long Gone

1996
Ventura County & Coast REPORTER Nov. 14, 1996

"This local quartet does the kick-ass blues thing on their dozen
song debut disc, most of which are originals. Powerful speaker-
threatening blues here, not that boring old crap. "High Roller," a
John Boutell tune fairly rages, and there’s no bad cuts. This one is
a keeper, just ask the hordes of dancers that show up to their
weekend gigs at Hi-Cees in Ventura