Mike Zito

$27 Advance | $30 Day of Show
Doors open at 7pm. Anthony Geraci opens the show at 8pm!

There may not be a more honest bluesman than Mike Zito, whose 15th album 'First Class Life' came out May 11 on Ruf Records. The rocking yet poignant title track explores his journey from addiction to sobriety and then musical recognition; he is a two-time 2017 Blues Music Award nominee. "Second chance at a first class life," he sings, recalling the hard times. The Texas-based musician smiles and continues, "I grew up poor in St. Louis, and now I'm travelling the world to sing my songs."

Zito's star has been on the rise of late both solo and as a member of the Royal Southern Brotherhood, with bandmates Cyril Neville, Devon Allman, Charlie Wooton and Yonrico Scott.

As is fitting for a man with the word "Blues" tattooed across his picking hand, 'First Class Life' focuses squarely on blues with heart and chops to spare, not to mention wit and openness. The punchy "Time For A Change" conjures the tension in the world today while the exquisite Memphis-style song, "The World We Live In," which recalls BB King in its world-weariness. The electrified blues bounce of "Dying Day" finds Zito swearing lifelong allegiance to his wife. "Old Black Graveyard" sets the scene of a bluesman's final resting place and its disrepair, along with some possible supernatural influences, with Zito's masterful slide guitar flourishes driving it home.

Yet the record's darker moments are offset by cuts like "Mama Don't Like No Wah Wah," the funky crash-bang-wallop gem written with Ruf labelmate Bernard Allison about the late legend Koko Taylor. "Bernard told me about his first gig as guitarist for Taylor," laughs Mike. "Koko didn't like any effects on the guitar, she wanted it to sound natural. When Bernard made an attempt to use an effect on his guitar after playing with her for months, he got caught. 'Mama don't like no wah wah' is what he was told. That's a song to me!" The two guitar slingers trade off, trying to one up each other atop a funky blues groove, including Allison pulling out his forbidden wah wah pedal. The tongue-in-cheek "Back Problems" is a showcase for Zito's wit as a songwriter.

In addition to the press and Blues Music Award love, Zito has earned from fellow artists. Anders Osborne says, "I love Mike Zito! He's got that rare kinda voice that resonates in your soul. All his hardship, life experiences and kind heart oozes out of every note his sings. His guitar playing dances delicately between a contemporary blues virtuoso and an old fashioned soul man. Mike continues to impress me with his straightforward and honest songwriting. His joy and grace shine through every record he makes."

About the opener, Anthony Geraci:

Anthony Geraci has a long History in the American Blues Community. He is an original member of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters-he has recorded with both Artists extensively. Anthony's recent release Why Did You Have To Go (Shining Stone) received 2019 Blues Music Award Nominations from the Blues Foundation in the following categories: Song of the Year "Angelina, Angelina," Album of the Year, Traditional Album of the Year, as well as individual nominations for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Award (4th consecutive year) Traditional Blues Male Artists, and Band of the Year Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars. His previous recording Fifty Shades Of Blues (Delta Groove) was nominated in 2016 for Album, Traditional Album, and Song of the Year for the title track. Anthony wrote the title track to Living Tear To Tear (Severn) for Sugar Ray and the Bluetones and earned a Grammy Nomination for Super Harps I (Telarc) that features Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Billy Branch and Sugar Ray Norcia.

Anthony has been featured on over 50 recordings with some of the biggest names in Blues Music. He has recorded with Blues Pioneers Big Walter Horton, Carey Bell, Odetta, Big Jack Johnson, Charlie Musselwhite, Lazy Lester, Snooky Pryor and John Brim. As well as contemporary Artists Kenny Neal, Sugaray Rayford, Debbie Davies, Otis Grand, The Proven Ones, Welch/Ledbetter, Zora Young and Duke Robillard.