Blues never worked so hard or looked and sounded so good. Until it met Ross Neilsen To say that he is a dedicated, chronic over achiever would be an understatement. Never mind the recent Nomination for Best New artist for The Maple Blues awards. Never mind the two Rising Star Nods from CBC, or the back to back Blues Album of the Year Nominations by the East Coast Music Association. Never mind the fact that Ross Neilsen spent the last two years living out of his van on friends couches and fans floors so he could dedicate himself to his craft. Never mind that he released two albums in six months. Never mind that he is traveling with his band to Mississippi to record a new album in January 2010. Never mind that it’s being produce at Zebra Ranch by two time Grammy Nominated Producer Cody Dickinson of North Mississippi All-stars and Hill Country Revue fame. Ross Neilsen is out there doing it and he is not going to stop. 200 plus, four hour shows. 80 000 plus kilometers. three national tours. sharing stages with people like Buddy Guy, Black Crowes, Original P, Grady and Joel Plasket. All this in just the past year. This, is the real, old school kind of Artist. Write. Tour. Record. Tour. Repeat.
Like a bottle of Absinthe, experiencing a Ross Neilsen solo show can leave you a little spell bound. Stealing your heart and imagination, taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride into the life of a traveling gypsy, Ross captures the spirit of the delta with only a bleeding guitar, lonely stomp box and voice filled with reality and passion.
The Sufferin’ Bastards are possibly the most enthusiastic, likable bad influences you have ever met. With Ross, they deliver a show filled with screaming guitars, growling sexy vocals, and a pounding rhythm so tight and intense you would swear you hear johnny Winter having sex with Deep Purple. Charming enough to make you keep an eye on your daughter AND your wife, this could be the devil’s house band. What Neilsen and his Bastards deliver might not be what you want but it will be what you need. Bending tradition and giving the blues genre the sledgehammer in the arm it needs, Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin Bastards will consume you. One bleeding set of ears at a time.
Whether telling tall tales, capturing the spirit of the blues through his own originals and unique covers in his intimate solo shows or Combining clever lyrics with old school, in your face, guitar-hero-style guitar playing with his Rhythm section, The Sufferin’ Bastards, Ross Neilsen will take the you on an emotional journey through the joys and pains of life, death, triumph and defeat. Neilsen will touch your heart, soul, body and mind, sending you home to sing yourself to sleep. And in the morning? You will want more. This is real music. Honest. True. Music born out of real life for real people.