Lights Out Blues Band
Lights Out Blues Band
Lights Out Blues Band
The Lights Out Blue Band is a 4-piece traditional blues band that was formed 12 years ago to honor the "Chess Records" masters of the '50s and 60's while creating its own unique style of traditional blues. The band has been performing in numerous venues throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Lights Out was the "house band" at the Boston House of Blues Foundation Room hosting the monthly blues jams throughout 2015 and was 2017 winner of the Granite State Blues Challenge and competed in the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. Named after Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs’ haunting chromatic harmonica song "Lights Out", the band brings a rare level of experience and passion to traditional blues.
Gary Bernath (Vocals, Harmonica, Tenor Sax):
Gary first started playing blues harmonica in the late 1960's while attending the University of Massachusetts. Inspired by harmonica giants such as Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, Charles Musselwhite, and Junior Wells, Gary formed his first band in 1971, playing harmonica and doing much of the writing and arranging for the group which was later known as the Bill (Big Screamin') McGrew Band. The group was a powerful musical force in New England and New York with its own mix of blues, jazz and funk until 1979. For over 40 years Gary has been an integral part of the New England music scene as a bandleader, musician, singer, songwriter and producer. He has lead numerous versions of The Gary Bernath Band and played countless venues and explored many musical directions, but has never strayed far from the blues.
Pete Henderson (Guitar and Vocals:
Local blues guitarist, Pete Henderson, has been singing and playing for close to 50 years. In the 70's he started and fronted the Bobby Watson Band for 25 years. He then partnered with singer Erica Rodney and put together Fatwall Jack. Also, starting in 1980, he started an every Sunday night Blues Jam that lasted until covid closed it. He has been a sideman to many players such as Ronnie Earl, Sax Gordon, Cheryl Arena, Gary Bernath, and presently is a part of the Racky Thomas Band and The C Jammers. Pete has known Gary Bernath for over 40 years and they have done many gigs together over the years. A note of interest, back in 1976, Gary introduced Pete to the owner of the Speakeasy in Cambridge which allowed him and his band, the Bobby Watson Band, to become a fixture on the Boston Blues scene.
Clay Brown (Vocal, Guitar) :
Clay Brown's love for the Blues began with recordings by Otis Rush, BB King and Albert Collins. He studied Guitar and Saxophone at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he developed a love for Swing and Bebop Jazz. He has played in Big Bands, Swing and Small Combo Jazz Groups tjhroughout New England, as well as Blues and Rock and Roll Bands since the 1990s. He teaches Saxophone and Guitar and enjoys passing along his knowledge of Blues and Jazz to his students.
Richard Malcolm (Drums):
Great Boston Drummer!!!! Has worked with Luther Johnson, Shirley Lewis, and many more. Just recorded with Lights Out on Salvation Train
Brian Rost (Upright Bass):
Since moving from Connecticut to Massachusetts in 1981, Brian has played bass with a number of country, blues, cajun/zydeco and R&B bands including Rufus Thomas, the Tarbox Ramblers, the Boogaloo Swamis, Fatwall Jack, Dirty Rice and Barbecue Bob. He has recorded and performed with Michael Hurley, the J Place Band, Girl Howdy, the Billy Blue Band and the Hubcaps and appeared at music festivals from Lake Charles, LA to Brunswick, ME including both the Boston Blues Festival and the Boston Folk Festival.
Chip Fontaine (Drums):
Chip began playing drums in blues bands with the Bobby Watson Band in the early ‘80’s. After a stint doing classic and original rock in Texas, the ‘90’s saw his return to blues in the West End Blues Band, the Liz Lannon Band, Fatwall Jack, and fill ins with a host of others.
James Henderson (Electric Bass):
James grew up in Hopkinton, and upon graduating from Hopkinton High in 2009, joined the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011 and 2013 with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and left the military in 2014. He enrolled at Framingham State University and graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Earth and Planetary Science. James picked up bass in 2017 and gained a deep appreciation of Blues, Soul, and R&B from his father, guitarist Pete Henderson.