About lower case blues
lower case blues doesn’t care about capital letters—and they definitely don’t play by the rules. This Mid-Atlantic-based trio plays a mix of traditional blues and a modern funky style, full of improvisation and organic instrumentation. They fuse the grit and raw honesty of the blues, the swagger of funk, and the fire of rock ‘n’ roll into a high-voltage experience that hits hard—think Stevie Ray Vaughan meets Muddy Waters, with a touch of Hendrix and a whole lot of soul.
With Jake Banaszak playing greasy riffs and shredding on guitar, B. J. Muntz laying down deep, funky slap basslines and soulful vocals, and Tristan Gilbert on drums, bringing thunder and deep-pocket grooves, the band has given the blues a fresh kick in the ass. This ain’t your grandfather’s blues. This is lower case blues—funked-up, fired-up, and fully their own.
Since forming in the early 2000s, lower case blues has carved out a loyal following the old-school way: nonstop touring, sweat-soaked gigs, and always showing up ready to throw down. From opening for legends like Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Grand Funk Railroad, to owning the stage at festivals, clubs, and dives up and down the East Coast, lower case blues delivers every time. Whether they’re locked into a nasty groove or stretching out into an improvised jam, it’s always 100% real and 100% them.
With the release of their most recent album, Take It for a Ride, the band delivers 10 original tracks that showcase their evolution as songwriters and performers. From slow-burning grooves to high-octane jams, the record captures the band’s dynamic live energy while digging deeper into their signature sound. So go ahead—take it for a ride.
Now, with eyes set on the 2026 Rock Legends Cruise, lower case blues is gaining serious speed. Like a storm on the horizon, they’re coming in loud, tight, and ready to rip the roof off.