Blue Soul Ten: The Gritty Heart of Modern Blues Rock

Blue Soul Ten is a dynamic blues rock power trio known for their raw, electrifying sound and soulful songwriting. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the band achieved a significant commercial milestone with their 2018 album Midnight Oil, which debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart and remained there for 47 consecutive weeks.

Early career

Formed in 2010, the core of Blue Soul Ten came together in the city's famed blues clubs on the South Side. Lead vocalist and guitarist Marcus "Blue" Johnson, bassist Lara Vance, and drummer Theo Griggs honed their craft through relentless live performances, building a dedicated local following.

Their independent debut EP, Ten PM. Tuesday, was self-released in 2012 and quickly sold out its initial pressing. This grassroots success caught the attention of independent label Rustbelt Records, which signed the band and released their first full-length album, Steel City Echoes, in 2014.

Breakthrough

The band's major breakthrough arrived in 2018 with their sophomore album, Midnight Oil. Released on Rustbelt Records with distribution through a major partner, the album was a critical and commercial success that expanded their audience beyond the traditional blues circuit.

Midnight Oil was certified Gold in the United States within ten months of its release. Its lead single received heavy rotation on rock-oriented radio formats, propelling the band onto the lineup of several major summer music festivals.

Key tracks

Devil's Mile — This gritty, riff-driven single was the lead track from Midnight Oil and became their first song to top the Billboard Blues Digital Songs chart.

Whiskey and Rain — A slower, soul-baring ballad that showcases Johnson's emotive vocals and has become a staple of their live encore performances.

Burn the Boats — Featured in a popular television drama series in 2019, this track introduced the band's blues rock sound to a wider, mainstream audience.

Southside Shuffle — An instrumental track from their debut album that pays direct homage to their Chicago blues roots while highlighting the trio's technical prowess.

The momentum from Midnight Oil led to high-profile collaborations, including a studio session with legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy on his 2021 album The Blues Is Alive and Well. Blue Soul Ten's third studio album, 2022's Resilient Heart, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart, cementing their status as leaders of the modern blues rock movement.

For fans of Blue Soul Ten's authentic and powerful blues rock style, similar artists featured on our site include The Black Keys for their garage-blues revivalism, Gary Clark Jr for his genre-blending guitar mastery, The Record Company for their raw, trio-based energy, and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram for representing the new generation of blues virtuosity.

The music of Blue Soul Ten is a regular feature on the playlists of classic rock FM stations, independent music radio stations, and dedicated blues rock channels across our network. Their blend of traditional Chicago blues with hard rock intensity fits perfectly between established legends and contemporary alternative rock acts.

Listeners can discover the powerful blues rock of Blue Soul Ten by tuning into the many dedicated rock and blues stations available right here on onairium.com, where their hits and deep cuts are played daily.