The Fallout Shelter at The Extended Play Sessions was stuffed to the gills for this CD release show by Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars, and not a soul left disappointed in this amazing performance by Boston-based blues royalty.

Anthony Geraci

The album, Fifty Shades of Blue, released the day of this show and the excitement – both from the audience and the band – was palpable as they took the stage.

Anthony Geraci has been a purveyor of Chicago blues in Boston for many years, as an original member of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, as well as with his own bands.

Anthony Geraci

For this project, Anthony called on the members of the Bluetones as well as other renowned musicians. Many of them were on hand to support him for this show:  Monster Mike Welch on guitar and vocals, Marty Richards on drums, Michael ‘Mudcat’ Ward on bass, Michelle ‘Evil Gal’ Willson on vocals, and Darrell Nulisch on harmonica and vocals. The Boston Blues All-Stars are all that and more!

Monster Mike Welch

Michelle ‘Evil Gal’ Willson

Marty Richards

Michael ‘Mudcat’ Ward

Darrell Nulisch

Anthony is a fantastic keys player, but this was the first time I was able to watch his hands on the keyboard and notice how effortless playing seems to be for him.

The hands of a master!

Between songs, he told us how he came up with some of the song titles, which preceded the songs themselves. For one, the title came from playing blues festivals in Europe where the music goes all night. Walking around the festival grounds at 6 a.m., he realized ‘the blues never sleeps’ and voila, a song was born.

Anthony Geraci

I have seen Monster Mike Welch perform a number of times over the past twenty years (yes, he started playing out when he was about thirteen), but this may be the first time I truly saw how much of a monster he is on the blues guitar. That nickname was given to him by Dan Ackroyd, and it is so very appropriate.

Monster Mike Welch

Mike had many solos throughout the show, and even performed one of the songs he wrote for another project (The Mannish Boys). This was a perfect opportunity to witness his guitar chops.

Monster Mike Welch

I loved watching the playful duet between Anthony and Michelle on ‘Fifty Shades of Blue’. It was obvious they have much musical chemistry and that is why Anthony asked her to be part of this project. Michelle has a terrific sultry voice, and it shines in this music.

Michelle ‘Evil Gal’ Willson

I have to admit I had not heard of Darrell Nulisch before this show, although it is possible I have seen him perform without knowing his name. He had a great voice that is well suited to the blues, and his harmonica work is excellent as well.

Darrell Nulisch

I cannot forget the bones of this band, Marty Richards and Michael ‘Mudcat’ Ward. Although they are in the background on stage, their role in the band is so much more than mere support. The beat could not go on without them.

Marty Richards

Michael ‘Mudcat’ Ward

This was some of the finest music we have heard at The Extended Play Sessions (and we have heard a lot of fabulous music there).  No doubt some of that came from the show being the release date of Fifty Shades of Blue, but not all. These players are truly blues all-stars, and we are lucky they are based in the Boston area.

Anthony Geraci

Go see them – together and/or in their separate iterations – and experience some of the finest blues players around.