Used Blues

Used Blues

Used Blues is a four-piece blues group from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 2002 by bassist and frontman Butch Wise. The band begins as a cover act focused on blues songs, but it also develops an original repertoire drawn from the members’ different musical backgrounds.

Line-up

The group’s line-up is Butch Wise on bass and vocals, Alan Yeatter on guitar and vocals, Gus Olmos on harmonica and dobro, and Rick Wagner on drums, percussion and vocals.

Style and performance

Used Blues plays a range of blues material, including blues rock and dirty blues, and places emphasis on live performance as well as musicianship. The band describes audience participation as an important part of its shows. Its set lists include many cover versions alongside original songs.

Activity and recognition

The band takes part in local blues society work and performs with other blues and non-blues musicians. It appears at events including the 2008 International Blues Challenge, the Gainesville Downtown Blues Festival, the BMS Music Festival and the NCFBS Concert Series, and shares stages with artists including Bo Diddley, Joe Kubek & B’nois King, Eddie Kirkland, Eric Sardinas, Mem Shannon and JW Gilmore, as well as Roger “Hurricane” Wilson.

Used Blues wins the 2009 Independent Music Award for blues song of the year for the original track “Palm Reader Blues”, which appears on the album Deep Down in Florida.