"Chicagoland’s Blue Road band (formerly known as Blue Truth) is a veteran troupe led by guitarist Gary Gand and keyboardist Joan Gand. Fronting this funky, rockin’ band is legendary blue-eyed soul singer Jimy Rogers. In the 1960s, Jimy and his band The Mauds were the first white band to record at Chess Studios. Some 40 years later, Jimy has blown back onto the local scene without losing any of his chops. Jimy is one of the finest vocal stylists and dynamic entertainers in Chicago." - Chicago Blues Guide, Hambone's Blues Party, top 5 spins 8/09
Blue Road combines 1 part rock, 1 part blues, and 1 part soul and shakes it up into a new blend that is guaranteed to satisfy. Hot and sweaty vocals, searing guitar, cranking organ and pianos, with the "bomb squad" rhythm section holds it all down and keeps it funky.
Their music can go from fast rockin' blues to soul and funk and when the jammin' starts, they can veer off into an improvised list of the History of Rock with a little Summer of Love and some MTV classics mixed in.
The Chicago Sun Times calls vocalist Jimy Rogers (legendary blue-eyed soul singer with the Mauds) "a bundle of dynamite." The Chicago Reader recently described him as the "sweaty soul-rock front man personified." You can read more about the Mauds on their website, www.themauds.com.
Gary Gand is one of the top Chicago blues-rock guitar slingers, and his virtuosity is the product of over 30 years on the Chicago music scene, both live and studio. Joan Gand, plays classic Hammond B-3 organ and blues piano. This musical couple have played together since they were just out of high school, and can read each other's minds. Graham Nelson adds the icing on the cake with his soulfull harp and vocals. Bass and drums are covered by the “bomb squad,” one of Chicago's most respected rhythm sections: R Kelly alumnus Joel Treadwell on drums and veteran Steve Nevets on bass and vocals.
Blue Road is played regularly on Greg Easterling's American Backroads radio show and the band recently appeared live on Hambone's Blues Party on WDCB. Jimy Rogers was included in the WGN radio show, the Secret History of Chicago Music. Their new CD, Live at Gabe's Backstage Lounge, was chosen for the Chicago Blues Guide's top 5 spins for August 2009.
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