Because of artists like B.B. King, Furry Lewis, and Bobby “Blue” Bland, Memphis will always be known as the “Home of the Blues,” but it’s hard to deny the fact that other genres like soul and hip-hop have largely defined the city’s musical contributions in the past few decades. Thankfully, homegrown acts like Ghost Town Blues Band prove that the blues is not only still alive and well in the Bluff City, but still innovating and changing. Formed in 2009, GTBB are a radical mixture of traditional blues, Stax-era soul, and hip-hop attitude that have made them one of captivating live shows around. By including novel instruments like cigar box guitars and electric push brooms into their repertoire, the six-piece band is a perfect illustration of the magic that occurs when the music of the past is refined through youthful sensibilities.
