Perhaps more than any other genre, blues is sporadically subjected to having its vital signs examined to ensure that it is indeed still alive and well. Every once in a while, however, a band comes along to loudly assert beyond all doubt that the grandfather of all modern musical genres is doing absolutely fine without any such fuss.
Boston-based revivalist trio GA-20 are one such band. As modern practitioners of the lost sounds of mid-century Chicago blues clubs and juke joints, they first garnered recognition back in 2019 with their debut LP. Next, they consolidated their rep as old-school aficionados with 2021’s – a full album in homage to Chicago’s legendary six-fingered bluesman. And with new album, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart, they are once again demonstrating an ability to create 21st century blues music that purrs with all the warmth and vitality of those old Chicago 45s.
