Cameron’s guitar brings us into the opening track, “Sorry,” a full production number that sets the tone for things to come. The title track, “Nasty Business,” features a slinky groove from Schroeder along with greasy harmonica and sweet backing vocals in contrast to the heady subject matter. The bump ‘n’ grind blues “What’s For Supper” is layered with snarky idioms on the subject of tough love, demonstrating Cameron’s rapier bluesman wit. Acclaimed drummer, producer and sound designer, Greg Schutte, sits in on the swinging “Language Of The Blues,” with hot horn jabs and more sweet backing vocals emphasizing Cameron’s message of peace and love. The slow burning “That’s A Fact,” has Cameron playing the role of a brooding lover with convincing theatrics.

Cameron narrates the tribute to a northland juke joint and its notorious proprietor, “Nick’s Place,” that could have come out of the pages of a Mickey Spillane novel. The pulsating “Everything” lays out the attributes of a popular Femme Fatale in an advisory tone. Teresa James joins Cameron on the sultry Latin spiced poem of unrequited love “Combination.” He and Miller commiserate on common karmic pratfalls during the acoustic Delta duet “Life Is Good.” The Swamp Pop love song “Voodoo” closes the set with melodic flair. Blues is certainly Mark Cameron’s business, and his blues is nasty!

Rick J Bowen

BIOGRAPHY

Mark Cameron – Lead vocals, Guitar

Minnesota based singer, songwriter and guitarist Mark Cameron has been active in live music for over thirty years. After five studio releases in the 1980’s and 90’s, Mark turned his focus to the blues and released four more albums in the Blues genre between 2009 and 2017 including “Live at Blues on the Chippewa.” This unplanned live recording during one of the band’s many festival appearances “perfectly captures his live sound, the next best thing to being there, totally hot stuff” (Chris Spector, Midwest Record). In 2019 Mark Cameron achieved chart success with On A Roll. The album reached #5 on the RMR Contemporary Blues chart and won a silver Global Music award. On A Roll was also selected as the best independently produced album by the Minnesota Blues Society in 2019. The Mark Cameron Band represented Minnesota at the International Blues Challenge and several original songs were also featured on the Minnesota Blues All-Stars album. The 2021 release, Back From The Edge, reached the semi-finals of the 2022 Unsigned Only music competition and won a bronze Global Music award, as well as reaching #4 on the RMR Contemporary Blues chart. Known as a charismatic front man and soulful guitarist, Mark delivers his original compositions with a mix of sincerity, honesty and often a touch of humor. Mark’s vocal range stretches from basement baritone to full-on growl and his original lyrics draw the listener in and paint a picture of the many worlds within the blues.

Rick Miller – Harmonica, Vocals

From St. Paul, MN Rick’s formal musical training was on the baritone horn, playing in concert, marching and stage bands. He soon discovered that a harmonica was easier to carry. Rick draws enduring inspiration from the playing of Jimmy Reed, Little Walter, and Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (Canned Heat). Miller has founded, fronted, and played harp for several blues bands including Black Cat Bone, Jambon Cru, Swamp Kings, and Cracked Wheat. He has shared the stage with such acts as Los Lonely Boys, Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Joe Bonamassa. Rick is often asked to “jump in” with bands, including a recent appearance with Charlie Love’s band at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago.

Scott Lundberg – Bass, Vocals

Originally from Houston, MN Scott Lundberg began classical piano training at the age of 6 and added guitar, bass, trombone, organ, and tuba to his repertoire along the way. He progressed from his first garage band New Dawn at age 14, to high school and college concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands, orchestras, school, and church choirs. He has played bass guitar, tuba, and keyboards in many working bands along the way, including Hurricane Hash (Dixieland), Liberation (brass rock), Rasputin (alternative rock), Hearts of Praise (gospel), 2nd Exit (electric blues), American Outlaws (classic rock), Top Shelf (electric blues), The Jennifer Springer Blues Band and since 2009, The Mark Cameron Band.

Dan Schroeder – Drums

Dan Schroeder channeled his energies into playing drums from an incredibly young age. His parents soon recognized that the constant tapping of feet and playing on knees was a sign and encouraged Dan to pursue his passion for percussion. Dan began playing in bands way back in 1976 and has extended his drum skills to include teaching along with his long history as a full-time musician. Dan has shared the stage with an impressive variety of performers from a wide range of genres. From Don Williams to Brett Michaels, Dan has shared the stage with the best and is known for delivering inspired performances that get people out of their seats and out on the floor.

Sheri Cameron – Sax, Flute, Percussion

Ask Sheri Cameron and she will tell you she is not a musician, yet the powerful sound of the band owes much to Sheri’s recent move to tenor saxophone as her primary instrument. Her whatever-it-takes approach to music is the reason she has become a crowd favorite as a sax player, flute specialist and percussion guru. Today Sheri plays sax, flute, bongos, shaker, guiro, tambourine, washboard, wind chimes and whatever else a song might call for. She puts the “tasty” in the Mark Cameron Band.