JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: City Beat Date: 02/2008 Writer: Staff

What would happen if a gay teenage Punk rocker from rural Maine grew up to be the most electrifying young artist on the Blues scene? Whatever it is, it wouldn't be your father's Blues.

In 2005, the last time Jason Ricci was in Cincinnati, he and his band, New Blood, enjoyed only a small, cult-like following among harmonica geeks and adventurous Blues fans. Through mostly word of mouth from those amazed by the skill and outrageous showmanship of a young man who seems to be the harmonica-playing demon spawn of Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, Ricci's fame and following has grown and expanded into the Jam band and AltRock circles.

Thursday, Jason Ricci and New Blood -- featuring young guitar phenom Shawn Starski, bassist Todd "Buckweed" Edmunds and drummer Ron Sutton -- will blow the doors off of the Silverton Café (definitely a curious venue for a touring band, but lucky them). The band is also scheduled for a 2 p.m. visit to WNKU (89.7 FM; wnku.org).

JRNB's first label release, Rocket Number 9, has been on both the Blues and Jam band online charts since November, and their live shows are popular downloads at archive.org. The band is rapidly gaining a reputation for giving some of the tightest, most exhilarating performances on the touring circuit, and this is a rare chance to see an artist increasingly referred to as "the Derek Trucks of harmonica" in a small venue.

Keeping with the "Jam band" spirit, tapers are welcome. However, Jason Ricci and New Blood defy and reject labels.