CD -"Preachin’ the Blues - Volume 1" - Izzy & Chris
80/20 MUSIC
“Blues is our Business…and Business is Good.” This is the motto of the Pittsburgh-West Virginia Duo and it fits perfect.
Izzy Stetar is a writer, vocalist and guitar genius, mature beyond his 26 years. He has outstanding vocal quality and mastery on acoustic guitar that simply dazzles. His lyrics suggest a more mature bluesman, when he sings, “All I Ever Wanted Momma was to be Your Man.” You no only get the feeling that he used that line before but also that he meant it. Izzy is without question a very talented musician. Chris Nacy is the glue that holds it all together. His harmonica compliments Izzy and adds greater depth to this CD. Chris also plays with one of Pittsburgh’s finest Blues bands, “Miss Freddye and Blue Faze.
I first saw Izzy at the Guitar Center’s, “King of the Blues Guitar” competition. He won the first round, beating more experienced guitarists. He was unable to attend Round Two because of illness. He later won the BSWPA International Blues Challenge. While in Memphis, he won his semi-final round and came in third in the finals. The following year, he teamed with Chris and won the West Virginia Blues Society IBC. Again, he competed in Memphis. They have shared the bill with Keb Mo, Robert Cray, Sonny Landreth, Hubert Sumlin and Watermelon Slim. Recently, they have played: the Kalamazoo Festival, Foothills Fest in Ohio, Festivall in West Virginia, Red, White & Blues in Ohio and Floyd Fest in Virginia.
It seemed fitting that when we finally made it to the home of the Blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi, we were greeted with an Izzy and Chris bumper sticker on the front door of Ground Zero Blues Club.
This CD has eleven cuts of original material. As with most blues CDs, it is difficult to put a name to the music-blues folk, acoustic blues, delta blues…These guys call their music Appalachian Blues. Their my-space page has four of the CD’s songs to listen to and “Flat Broke and Busted” is getting the most play. This is the song that 80/20 gave our Blues Society to use on our compilation CD. A copy was sent to Alligator Records. Their response singled out Izzy & Chris along with a few others. It is impossible to pick favorites, each being that good. I will end with some advice-“Buy the CD.” And some of the lyrics.
“Here I am back out on the street
Don’t know where I’m gonna stay
Don’t know how I’m gonna eat
Here I am flat broke and busted again.
Here I am flat broke and busted again.”
- Jim Weber
“Blues is our Business…and Business is Good.” This is the motto of the Pittsburgh-West Virginia Duo and it fits perfect.
Izzy Stetar is a writer, vocalist and guitar genius, mature beyond his 26 years. He has outstanding vocal quality and mastery on acoustic guitar that simply dazzles. His lyrics suggest a more mature bluesman, when he sings, “All I Ever Wanted Momma was to be Your Man.” You no only get the feeling that he used that line before but also that he meant it. Izzy is without question a very talented musician. Chris Nacy is the glue that holds it all together. His harmonica compliments Izzy and adds greater depth to this CD. Chris also plays with one of Pittsburgh’s finest Blues bands, “Miss Freddye and Blue Faze.
I first saw Izzy at the Guitar Center’s, “King of the Blues Guitar” competition. He won the first round, beating more experienced guitarists. He was unable to attend Round Two because of illness. He later won the BSWPA International Blues Challenge. While in Memphis, he won his semi-final round and came in third in the finals. The following year, he teamed with Chris and won the West Virginia Blues Society IBC. Again, he competed in Memphis. They have shared the bill with Keb Mo, Robert Cray, Sonny Landreth, Hubert Sumlin and Watermelon Slim. Recently, they have played: the Kalamazoo Festival, Foothills Fest in Ohio, Festivall in West Virginia, Red, White & Blues in Ohio and Floyd Fest in Virginia.It seemed fitting that when we finally made it to the home of the Blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi, we were greeted with an Izzy and Chris bumper sticker on the front door of Ground Zero Blues Club.
This CD has eleven cuts of original material. As with most blues CDs, it is difficult to put a name to the music-blues folk, acoustic blues, delta blues…These guys call their music Appalachian Blues. Their my-space page has four of the CD’s songs to listen to and “Flat Broke and Busted” is getting the most play. This is the song that 80/20 gave our Blues Society to use on our compilation CD. A copy was sent to Alligator Records. Their response singled out Izzy & Chris along with a few others. It is impossible to pick favorites, each being that good. I will end with some advice-“Buy the CD.” And some of the lyrics.
“Here I am back out on the street
Don’t know where I’m gonna stay
Don’t know how I’m gonna eat
Here I am flat broke and busted again.
Here I am flat broke and busted again.”
- Jim Weber
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