GA-20

GA-20 is an American blues band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band is named after the amplifier manufactured by Gibson from 1950 to 1961. They primarily play Chicago blues.

GA-20
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresBlues
Years active2018–present
LabelsKarma Chief Records
Associated actsCharlie Musselwhite, Luther Dickinson, Matthew Stubbs
Websitehttps://www.ga20band.com
Members

Background

Together with fellow classic blues, R&B and early rock and roll lover Pat Faherty, Matthew Stubbs formed GA-20 in early 2018. Stubbs had already garnered much praise playing guitar for Charlie Musselwhite. He sought to put a new project together to do blues gigs aside from his Psych-Rock group 'The Antiguas'.Faherty had spent several years studying blues guitar and teamed up with Stubbs to form a new group. Early performances by the band had a rotating group of musicians with Faherty and Stubbs the core members. Some very early performances used different drummers and various other musicians including Chris Anzelone on drums and Matt Prozialeck on Harmonica sometimes playing as a four piece band. They adopted the name GA-20 in early 2018. The group became a trio by 2018 consisting of two guitars and drums. About a year after their formation, they scored a deal with Karma Chief Records.[1] The group has been described as a trio that plays stripped down ’50s/’60s-style Chicago blues with a lot of distortion and no bass.[2]

Career

In December 2018, the band released the single "Naggin' On My Mind" which featured Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson.[3][4] The band was signed to Karma Chief Records Their debut single "Naggin' On My Mind" was released in December 2018.[5][6] It was recorded at Q Division Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts and was produced by Stubbs. Grammy award winner Musselwhite performed harmonica on the track and Dickinson was on slide guitar. Chris Anzelone played drums while, Dave Brophy was brought in for backing vocals and Matthew Prozialeck provided harmonica on a couple of tracks from the session. This session became the Lonely Soul album. [7]

In early January 2019, the group played at Theodores on Worthington Street, Springfield, MA. In early 2019 Tim Carman began playing drums at a lot of the bands shows and took over as the primary drummer. [8] Also that month, the band played an opening slot for Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds at The Narrows.[9] The band then went on tour in support of Eli "Paperboy" Reed. On May 18, 2019, they played at the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, CA. Their first record a 7" single was released in August 2019 with "Naggin' On My Mind" and "Sit Down Baby" on Karma Chief Records.[10] Their debut album Lonely Soul was released on October 18, 2019. Their album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard top 15 Blues albums. In September 2020 they released an EP called "Live Vol. 1". The EP debuted at number 1 the Billboard Blues Charts.

Recognition

In 2018 they were nominated for a Boston Music Award for blues act of the year.[11] They were nominated a second time in 2019.

Band Members
  • Matthew Stubbs, Guitar (2018-present)
  • Pat Faherty, Lead Vocals, Guitar (2018-present)
  • Tim Carman, Drums (2018-present)
  • Chris Anzelone, Drums (2018-2019)

Discography
Singles
Act Release title Catalogue Year Fmt Notes #
GA-20
feat.
Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson
 "Naggin’ On My Mind" Karma Chief Records KCR12004dig1 December, 2018 Digital [12][13]
GA-20
feat.
Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson
 "Naggin’ On My Mind" / "Sit Down Baby" Karma Chief Records KCR-105 August, 2019 Vinyl [14]
Albums
Act Release title Catalogue Year Fmt Notes #
GA-20
 Lonely Soul Karma Chief Records KCR12004 October, 2019 LP, CD, Tape, Digital Debut on Billboard Blues Albums at #2
GA-20
 Live Vol. 1 Karma Chief Records KCR110 September, 2020 EP, CD, Digital Debut on Billboard Blues Albums at #1

References
  1. The Pulse, February 20, 2019 - Record Reviews, Naggin’ On My Mind by Marc Michael
  2. The Improper Bostonian, July 20, 2018 - Music, Top 10 Local Acts on the Rise
    Our list of 10 local acts making waves across the past year, Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas - By Paul Robicheau
  3. Vanyaland, February 1, 2019 - Studio 52 Featured Band of the Week: GA-20
    Electric blues duo of Matthew Stubbs and Pat Faherty play Toad in Cambridge tonight (February 1)
  4. With Guitars, February 16, 2019 - New Blues single from GA-20’s Naggin’ On My Mind w/ Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson
  5. The Joy of Violent Movement, /February 17, 2019 - New Audio: JOVM Mainstay Matthew Stubbs Teams Up with Pat Faherty, Charlie Musselwhite, and Luther Dickinson on a Boogie Blues Number by William Ruben Helms
  6. Vanyaland, February 1, 2019 - Studio 52 Featured Band of the Week: GA-20
    Electric blues duo of Matthew Stubbs and Pat Faherty play Toad in Cambridge tonight (February 1)
  7. https://www.discogs.com/GA-20-Lonely-Soul/release/14167150
  8. Downtown Springfield - GA-20 Featuring Matthew Stubbs at Theodore’s January 5 @ 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm
  9. RockAtNight, January 28, 2019 - Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds Rock the Flock at The Narrows by Mike McKenney
  10. https://www.discogs.com/GA-20-Naggin-On-My-Mind/release/13901754
  11. Wbur.org, September 21, 2018 - Here Are All The 2018 Boston Music Awards Nominees, BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR By Amelia Mason
  12. boomkat - GA-20 Naggin’ On My Mind
  13. iTunes - Naggin’ on My Mind (feat. Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson) - Single GA-20
  14. https://www.discogs.com/GA-20-Naggin-On-My-Mind/release/13901754
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