The U.K. has always been ground zero for blues rock, with iconic artists like Clapton, Hendrix and Rory Gallagher forging a template that holds strong 50+ years later. Debuting with a live album steeped in those traditions can be a risky proposition, but that’s not the case for The Zac Schulze Gang. Live and Loud (out July 12 on Flatiron Recordings) dispels all doubts with seven blistering songs that emphasize the Power in power trio.
“The way we approach things,” notes singer/guitarist Zac Schulze, “we’re very conscious that there’s only three of us, so we try to make as much sound as possible. We didn’t set out to have our first record be live. That was just a regular show; we just dove in and played the way we always do with the mindset of ‘let’s see what we can do.’ We found out later it had been recorded, and when we heard how it sounds, we immediately knew it should be released. It’s a great snapshot of who we are as a band.”
When Zac and his brother Ben (drums) formed The Gang (with Anthony Greenwell, bass guitar and vocals) it was their first time working as a trio, and it led to a harder, more focused, blues-rock sound. “In the context of a three-piece band we’ve been able to really push each other’s musical abilities, there’s a lot of room to feel and reach and experiment with each instrument.”
Live and Loud more than comfortably fits in the tradition of great blues and blues-rock live album debuts from the likes of The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Blues Project (and, for sheer volume and power, MC5), and puts The Zac Schulze Gang at the forefront of modern, rocking, hard blues.
Hot on the heels of winning Best Emerging Blues Band at the UK Blues Awards in May, ZSG will return to America for the first time since their two blistering sets at the 2023 edition of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. After a trio of New York-area shows, the band will open for Samantha Fish on her U.S. tour from July 16th through Sunday August 4th.
Zac Schule Gang 2024 Summer US Tour
Thursday, July 11: New York City, Paddy Reilly’s Music Pub
Friday, July 12: East Hampton, NY The Room – Live and Loud Record Release Party
Saturday, July 13: Montauk, NY, West Lake Marina (early show: 5PM-8PM)
Thursday, July 18: Colorado Springs, CO, Lulu’s w/Samantha Fish
Friday, July 19: Bellvue, CO, Mishawaka w/Samantha Fish
Sunday, July 21: Great Falls, MT, The Newberry w/Samantha Fish
Monday, July 22: Bozeman, MT, The ELM w/Samantha Fish
Wednesday, July 24: Boise, ID, Egyptian Theatre w/Samantha Fish
Thursday, July 25: Crystal Bay, NV, Crystal Bay Club w/Samantha Fish
Saturday, July 27: Phoenix, AZ, Celebrity Theater w/Samantha Fish
Sunday, July 28: Flagstaff, AZ, Orpheum w/Samantha Fish
Tuesday, July 30: Santa Fe, NM, The Bridge @ Santa Brewing w/Samantha Fish
Thursday, August 1: Lubbock, TX, Cactus Theater w/Samantha Fish
Friday, August 2: Houston, TX, Heights w/Samantha Fish
Saturday, August 3: Dallas, TX, Longhorn Ballroom w/Samantha Fish
Sunday, August 4: Austin, TX, Paramount Theatre w/Jesse Dayton, w/Samantha Fish
