The Blazers

The Blazers, who play a guitar-heavy blend of blues, surf rock, country, rocked-up norteño, cumbia, and other Mexican styles, are often compared with their East Los Angeles counterparts, <a href="spotify:artist:6OWapcJm9xd55ci9CYbAuT">Los Lobos</a>. Like <a href="spotify:artist:6OWapcJm9xd55ci9CYbAuT">Los Lobos</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2gk28RNJaPStV8BnugHYpF">the Gourds</a>, or <a href="spotify:artist:2PL6uHCPVIWjmr6lK2U9pG">Doug Sahm</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:2Z3KO9HRnuLNx4gwGByB1t">Texas Tornados</a>, the Blazers perform a rousing, danceable mix of North American musical styles. The group is driven by two guitarist/singers, Manuel Gonzales and Ruben Guaderamma, who have been playing together since high school, rocking the beer joints of East L.A. Their fiery guitar playing and bluesy, soulful singing are given a strong, driving beat by bassist Lee Stuart and drummer Raul Medrano. The Blazers' infectious Ameri-Mex rock grooves and dual guitar action have prompted comparisons with <a href="spotify:artist:6GI52t8N5F02MxU0g5U69P">Santana</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1SQRv42e4PjEYfPhS0Tk9E">the Kinks</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:22bE4uQ6baNwSHPVcDxLCe">the Rolling Stones</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:293zczrfYafIItmnmM3coR">Chuck Berry</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4wQ3PyMz3WwJGI5uEqHUVR">the Allman Brothers</a>. The Blazers have made a number of overseas tours and have been well received by roots-starved European audiences. Their 1994 debut album on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rounder+Records%22">Rounder Records</a>, Short Fuse, was hailed as one of the best rock records of the year by many critics. In addition to Short Fuse, the band's other albums on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rounder%22">Rounder</a> label include East Side Soul (1995), Just for You (1997), and Puro Blazers (2000). After the turn of the millennium, the Blazers moved to producer <a href="spotify:artist:5sseq3Cdv2JbcVy49XfuWb">Pete Anderson</a>'s Little Dog Records for the release of Seventeen Jewels (2003) and Dreaming a Dream (2008). All of the Blazers' albums should find favor with any fan of hard-driving blues-rock and rockabilly. ~ Richard Skelly, Rovi