Rockin' blues that will take listeners back to the time before lip-synch tracks and drum machines, when great blues rock powerhouse groups ruled the earth.

10 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Rockin' Blues, ROCK: 70's Rock



Details:
Her guitar playing has been compared to everyone from Carlos Santana to Stevie Ray Vaughan and her voice has been compared to everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Janis Joplin.

Considered by many to be one of the top lead guitarists in the country, Liz Melendez is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new artists on the musical horizon. To her fans and professionals in the industry, she is a rare talent: a prolific songwriter, powerful vocalist, and super dynamic performer.

Melendez has garnered a sizeable following touring the southeast and beyond. She has headlined major festivals such as Riverbend Music Festival's Bessie Smith Strut in Chattanooga (the only female headliner in Riverbend history besides Koko Taylor), and co-headlined major festivals such as the Cape Fear Blues Festival in Wilmington, N.C. and the Blues 2003 Festival in New York and been invited to open for artists like the Nappy Roots. She has performed on stage with such notables as Bob Margolin, Henry Butler, Francine Reed, E.G. Kight,Hubert Sumlin, Chris Duarte and Candye Kane.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Liz was taught and heavily influenced by her father Dan Melendez. She began playing guitar at 5 with her father teaching her rock and roll and blues standards. "He taught me the fundamentals and what it meant to be a good musician." That combined with the unconditional support of her mother she says. "I can honestly say that everything I know and everything I've become I owe to being blessed with great parents."

"She rocks and swaggers and moans and sizzles as well as any current player-of any gender. "
-Jesse Fox Mayshark, MetroPulse, Knoxville, TN

Sweet Southern Soul, the new 10-song, all-original release from Atlanta blues rocker, Liz Melendez, interlaces her southwestern roots, her southern rock influences, and the great blues infused album rock of the 1970s that inspired her to pick up the guitar all tightly wrapped in an edgy and contemporary package.

In contrast to her first release Mercy, which was a great showcase for her song writing and guitar chops, Sweet Southern Soul focuses more on using songs to tell a story. The cover inscription reads, "Estas Canciones Son La Historia de Mi Vida. (These songs are the story of my life)."

Songs such as Justice County are inspired by her New Mexico outlaw heritage (her great great grandfather was a member of Billy the Kid's gang and fought in the legendary Lincoln County wars) written in true southern rock, outlaw anthem style while tracks like Battle Cry (The Rhythm of Suffering) infuse the pueblo indian drumming she heard as a child with the modern electric blues she loves today. More edgy tracks like No More Love and the title track Sweet Southern Soul will take listeners back to the time before lip-synch tracks and drum machines, when great blues rock powerhouse groups ruled the earth, while fan favorites like the delicate Drink from My Cup, the upbeat Again and Again, and the gospel juiced Third Degree round out the album making it a must have for LMB fans and rock and roll music lovers alike.