BLUES N'AT

Like most western Pennsylvanians, once summer is upon us, I like to do the vacation thing in the Rehoboth Beach, DE/Ocean City, MD area. But, how do get your blues fix when you're kicking it on the beach? The past few years, I've had the pleasure of checking out Delaware-based blues band Lower Case Blues. They are a funkified blues trio that have been burning up the DE, MD and Philly area for the past 10 years. I've been able to catch their live shows the past several times I was road tripping and this time I was able to score two of their CD's, as well, "One More for the Road" from 2005 that also featured former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Johnny Neel, and "Down Home Girl" from 2009. I've got to tell you, they concoct a musical stew that mixes blues classics such as "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" with classic rock staples by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers Band. They also spike the recipe a little by mixing in artists such as Johnny Cash, Green Day and AC/DC. They throw in their own originals and it all comes out as one tasty, bluesy treat for the ears. Lower Case Blues also has a blues pedigree. They were inducted into the Delaware Blues Hall of Fame in 2012, competed at the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and have shared bills with the likes of Robert Randolph, Los Lonely Boys, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others. Check them out the next time your at the beach. Just follow the sounds of the wailing blues guitar of Jake Banaszak and the thumping, funky bass of B.J. Muntz and you're home.  If you like your blues low-down and funky, Lower Case Blues is for you. Till next time, keep it bluesy.