Coco Montoya

Coco Montoya delivers a masterclass in 'icy hot' blues, a style characterized by sharp, biting guitar attacks balanced by a warm, soulful vocal presence. His music carries the weight of the road, blending the grit of a smoky barroom with the polished precision of a seasoned professional. It is high-energy music that never loses its emotional core, moving seamlessly from blistering shuffles to heart-wrenching ballads.

What truly sets Montoya apart is his unique physical approach to the instrument. As a left-handed player who uses a right-handed neck with the strings upside down, his phrasing and bends have a distinctive, unconventional tension. This technical quirk, combined with his background as a drummer, gives his playing a rhythmic urgency and a 'stinging' quality that few can replicate. He doesn't just play the blues; he attacks them with a percussive, vocal-like intensity.

Start with 'Dirty Deal' to hear his most aggressive and refined work, or 'Gotta Mind to Travel' for the raw energy of his debut. These records capture a musician who spent decades learning from legends like Albert Collins and John Mayall before stepping into a spotlight he was clearly born to inhabit.