IndiePulse Reviews: Fred’s Blue Chair Blues by Fred Hostetler

Review by Joseph Timmons: IndiePulse Music Magazine Journalist 

Fred’s Blue Chair Blues

Album Produced by Fred Hostetler 

On Mukthiland Records 

In his latest offering, Fred Hostetler has created an Acoustic Blues album with his signature guitar and vocal talent. Eight delightfully tasty original songs and his rendition of the Jimmy Reed classic ‘Bright Lights, Big City’.  

As an additional treat, the performance videos of each song are being uploaded to YouTube over the next 8 weeks, no small task for any artist, but Fred Hostetler, whom was awarded 2019 Best Singer Songwriter by LA Music Critic has a spark of genius and creativity that knows no end. 

In commentary, Fred says “This is what I call living room blues. By that I mean stripped down, unplugged, and recorded at home in my living room. Whatever you may think of it, I find it intimate and refreshing during this time of Covid 19 to see artists performing in their kitchen, barn, patio, bedroom, etc. It inspired me to video an hour show for the Facebook page/group Can’t Stop the Blues. It was shown in May 2020 and is still available to view. It is a platform supporting blues music and artists. I was able to make a little money and donate half of it back to organizations supporting unemployed blues musicians. After that I did a playlist on Spotify for artists who have appeared on Can’t Stop the Blues. I never thought much more about it until one September night when a voice woke me up with the words “release your living room recordings as an album.” My first thought after sitting up in bed was…but they’re not good enough…they’re not perfect. The thought came back, “what does it matter…let the audience decide.” So here we are with a really different kind of album made up focused living room recordings.” 

In Review: Fred’s Blue Chair Blues by Fred Hostetler has an Old-Fashioned Blues sound, as it was originally created, a natural and organic sound, with a wholesome feel, natural textures and melodies that inspire images of a simpler life, good times and warm summer evenings.  

There is something magical about Fred’s voice in his performances of each song, lyrically, his emotional connection to the music is obvious, and in the instrument performances, without the distraction of “technology”, electricity or effects, the music takes front and center. Fred is a truly gifted performer, and in this album, in its organic beauty, he is giving the Blues fan a spiritual calling to worship music in its purist and most perfect form. 

Fred’s Blue Chair Blues by Fred Hostetler is available for streaming and downloading at Amazon, Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, CDBaby and nearly everywhere. Physical CD and all his music can be purchased from https://fredsheartradio.com