A Ton of Blues and The Mike Crandall Band
7-29-2016
A Ton of Blues is: Mike Kelly: Vocals, Scott LeBlanc: Guitars, Vocals,
Jeff Lorenzen: Bass, Vocals, "Shakey" Steve: Harmonica, Vocals and
James Thomas: - Drums
Adopting a modern, aggressive approach to the old school blues format, ATOB burst onto the New England Blues Circuit in the summer of 2010. While taking notes from the likes of Ronnie Earl, Gary Clark Jr and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, as well as the old Chess Records' stable of blues masters, this award-winning guitar and harmonica driven, 5-piece powerhouse has been winning audiences over wherever they perform with their high energy show and first-rate musicianship.
Winner of the Worcester Music Awards (WMA's) for Best Blues/R&B Act for the last six years (2011 - 2016) and winning the 2011 Boston (MA) Blues Challenge, earned them the opportunity to compete at the 2012 International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.
The band has made it a priority to create quality Blues music, emit a positive presence among the Blues community and rekindle support for American Blues and Roots music. Their 2012 debut CD, "Crooked Avenue", earned the band critical acclaim, and they are currently in the studio writing and recording new songs for a followup CD due out later this summer.
The Mike Crandall Band from Southeast Connecticut, (home to several world renowned blues greats such as Roomful of Blues, Sugar Ray Norcia) churn out traditional, hard driving blues and swing. Mike Crandall’s brilliance on diatonic & chromatic harmonica and vocals, the soulful guitar of Shawn Leonard, authentic bass of Ed Parnagoni, and masterful drumming of Liviu Pop make this a band to remember. They were the winners of Blues Society Challenges in Connecticut (2000, 2002, 2008), Boston (2010), and New Hampshire (2014), finishing in the finals in 2000 and 2008. Their latest CD, “Deep Blue C”, was recorded live at the Knickerbocker Café in Westerly, RI on September 25, 2015.