Blind Lemon Pledge - Acoustic Blues Band

A steaming bowl of Delta and Chicago blues, a dash of New Orleans, a taste of country, and a teaspoon of rock, all flavored with a unique songwriting sensibility, create the tasty gumbo that is Blind Lemon Pledge. This San Francisco based quintet, featuring bluesy vocals, guitars, bottleneck slide, fiddle, harmonica, bass and percussion plays a combination of blues classics, re-imagined rock/pop standards, early jazz songs and crowd-pleasing critically acclaimed originals.

BLIND LEMON PLEDGE – ACOUSTIC MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

A steaming bowl of Delta and Chicago blues, a dash of New Orleans, a taste of country, and a teaspoon of rock, all flavored with a unique songwriting sensibility, create the tasty gumbo that is Blind Lemon Pledge. This San Francisco based quintet, featuring bluesy vocals, guitars, bottleneck slide, fiddle, harmonica, bass and percussion plays a combination of blues classics, re-imagined rock/pop standards, early jazz songs and crowd-pleasing critically acclaimed originals. It is the updated sound of a modern string band paying homage to the great pre-WWII string ensembles of early Muddy Waters, Son House, and Sleepy John Estes and capturing the free-wheeling spirit of The Memphis Jug Band and Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers.

Their self-produced album “Pledge Drive”, released in March 2016, charted internationally and was named in the top 100 Contemporary Blues Albums for 2016 by the Roots Music Report, as well as garnering three slots on the Grammy Ballot (Best Blues Performance, Best Blues Song, and Best Contemporary Blues Album). The song “Nag, Nag, Nag” was nominated for Best Blues Song by the 2016 Indie Music Channel Awards.

Their 2013 album, “Evangeline” garnered international rave reviews and airplay. The album was hailed by critics as a “masterpiece” of diverse musical influences.

Their self-produced album “I Would Rather Go Blind” is a toe-tapping synthesis of the many elements that come together to form their music. With influences from Muddy Waters to 20’s jazz to The Rolling Stones, the album has aired internationally and selected as one of the Top Blues Albums of 2010 by KPIG Radio and in the 2010 Top 100 Singer/Songwriter Albums on iTunes Ireland and iTunes Austria.

Blind Lemon Pledge (aka James Byfield) formed the band in 2008, posting on craigslist to audition and finally assemble the original team. Conceived as a weekly old-time jam session, what was, at first, a loose amalgam of musicians quickly became a tight quartet of players devoted to the sound and styles of the full spectrum of American blues. As the band developed, other styles and influences (including Pledge’s extensive Americana-influenced songbook) soon broadened the sound. A few fortuitous personnel changes brought in some of the top players in the area and eventually resulted in the current band which has a unique sound all their own: part blues, part rock, part New Orleans, part country, part modern folk…and all fun.

The current line-up includes:

• Blind Lemon Pledge – vocals, guitars, songwriter
• “Pistol Pete” Grenell – bass / vocals
• “Thumpin’ Scott” Comet – percussion
• Sioux City Slim – harmonica
• “Fiddlin’ Cal” Keaoola – fiddle / vocals

With a repertoire of over 70 songs (and growing), Blind Lemon Pledge brings their unique blend of classic songs and crowd-pleasing originals to night clubs, coffee houses, street fairs, corporate events and private gatherings throughout Northern California.

We are acoustic based with pickup amplified instruments. We can supply our own sound system as needed, or plug into the existing venue sound system. No particular staging requirements.