I first discovered San Francisco based Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers at the height of my Grateful Dead obsession, while searching for cover videos on YouTube. I stumbled upon a video of them playing "Dire Wolf" in a video series called “Van Sessions”, where Nicki Bluhm, her husband Tim, guitarist Deren Ney, bass player Steve Adams, and drummer Mike Curry drive cross country in their van recording good tunes. I was immediately struck by their easy-going vibe, great music taste, and Nicki’s powerhouse voice. With covers of “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band and many more, it is definitely worth the time work your way through all of the videos.
Beyond YouTube, the Gramblers have also recorded original music that has become a staple in my road trip playlist. With a roots country meets blues feel, their two albums are a great soundtrack to any road trip, daily commute, or hanging around the house.
Recently, Nicki has left the group and developed quite a successful solo career. With two albums of her own, she has played all over the country and has toured Europe. On June 20th, she will be playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado with The Infamous Stringdusters, who happen to be a personal favorite group as well (post about them to come). Check out her work with the Gramblers or her solo work, and I promise you will not be disappointed.
Can’t Miss Tracks: “Hey Stranger”, “Little Too Late”, “Mr. Saturday Night”
http://www.nickibluhm.com/
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