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 7 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.
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.
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.
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.
Richard Malcolm: Boston Drummer