Are you still of the belief that modern blues are extinct and can be found be nowhere on the planet? It surely was considered to be one genre that was heading to oblivion but is no more the same. Blues are still in the scene all active and lively. Legends around the world even now possess the charm to garner fans to the stadiums for the overnight concerts. Derek Trucks and Gary Clark Jr are such guitarists who have a huge fan base in many countries and keep adding more into the legion. But if you are only familiar with these names, you should be way behind in the modern blues culture because there are both well-established artists and emerging talents that deserve some attention. If you are a fan of the genre, you need to look deeper and find the best in the business.
All those artists, apart from the big names, play a key role in keeping the blues alive. You will not be able to find these artists in the mainstream because the other genres overshadow this masterpiece. Let us have a look at some of the modern blues artists and bands whose works are now on the playlist of almost every die-hard fan.
1. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
This self-taught guitarist was born in Louisiana in 1977, whose name is now on top of the list. He grew by developing some great skills with the guitar and gradually started writing songs as well. The biggest muse in his life is Stevie Ray Vaugh, whom he got to meet through his father, who was a concert promoter. Kenny rose to fame at a very young age by signing a multiple record contract and releasing his first Album, Ledbetter, when he was 18. Seven of his singles made it to the Billboard top 10 and won two of its awards as well. He was also nominated for five Grammys. Listen to his album, How I Go, to witness the growth of a legend through the music and lyrics. Kenny’s works are timeless to top every list.
2. Kaleo
Although Iceland is not an ideal place for blues to thrive, Kaleo is on the mission to change the music culture of the country. With their second album, ‘A/B,’ they managed to gain more popularity and earn some money as well by selling over 1 million copies all over the world. Their single ‘Way Down We Go’ was a massive hit in the US so much so that it made to the top position on the Billboard Alternative Chart.
3. Philp Sayce
Unlike the other modern blues artists and bands that create songs today, Philip Sayce loves to play the guitar and exhibit its significance in a piece. The scene of British blues used to be focused on every performer on the stage, from the singer to all instrument players. It has changed into a restrained style these days that some people enjoy while many others prefer the classic touch. This urged Philip to fall back onto that track by paying homage to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. All his solos are intense and consist of raw blues with the heaving riffing. Sayce is quite an experienced artist and has created about eight studio albums to date. His most popular songs are Peace Machine, Alchemy, Morning Star, Blood on Your Hands, Steamroller.
