Hadden Sayers

 Hadden Sayers, the frontman of a blues power trio comfortable with both the fiery side of Stevie Ray and the languid soul of Delbert McClinton, is in that "in-between" blues zone. His music works anywhere, from the smokiest roadhouse to the smokiest coffee house. With his live surf-guitar medleys and Texas-tested ax work (he's from Houston, after all), Sayers can hold his own with most slingers. But with his soulful baritone voice and his focus on creating memorable songs, he also works blues rock ground previously plowed by McClinton, Robert Cray and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Songs from last year's Supersonic, such as "Emotional," "Never Never" and the gentle, acoustic "Solitude," drift through listeners' minds long after memories of scorching licks have vanished. Sayers works hard to make your body move; even more important, he does everything he can to make you listen.