Monster Mike Welsh Band

at Shooters
photo & review by Rick Rodichok

Spending a Saturday evening alone in an unfamiliar city can be pretty depressing, so I decided to check the local club listings in search of something that would fit my mood. Shooters had just what I needed: Live blues music with my favorite blues guitarist.

Monster Mike Welsh blew off doors as a 14 year-old wunderkind the first time I saw him two years ago. I’ve seen him four or five times since then, and watched both his playing and his voice mature into a powerfully expressive blues style. He’s now performing 100% originals that he co-writes with his partner, veteran blues guitarist, George “Guitar” Lewis. Blues phrases have been handed down, swapped and traded for decades. Mike mixes them all up with his own, more modern riffs for a sound not unlike SRV or Robert Cray. He puts on one helluva live show, too; his wireless system allows him to mingle freely with the crowd.

Mike headlines regularly at Harper’s Ferry, Johnny D’s, and The House of Blues, and maybe others now that he’s old enough to drive to his own gigs (makes ya sick doesn’t it?).