Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts

About Me

Dubbed "Young East Coast masters of the jumpin' West Coast sound" by Blues Revue magazine, Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts have been at the forefront of the New England blues scene for the last five years. Formed in 2000 by lifelong friends Ryan Hartt (vocals/harmonica) and Eric Ducoff (guitar), the band has consistently strived to keep the classic sounds of 40s, 50s and early 60s blues stylings alive and well.
Playing the same mixture of Chicago,Texas and Jump blues that filled post-war California, singer/harmonica player Ryan Hartt, guitarist Eric Ducoff, upright bassist Jeff Berg and drummer Nick Toscano have performed at some of the best clubs and festivals in the Northeast.
In 2004, the Blue Hearts qualified as semi-finalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. Their debut CD, "Empty Wallet", produced by Rick Holmstrom, has won praise from fans, critics, DJs and musicians throughout the world. Their latest release, "Yeah Man!", featuring special guest Junior Watson, adds swamp blues, organ trio jazz, West Side blues, 40's R&B and just a dash of roots rock to the 50s styled Chicago and Jump blues they have become known for.
Ryan Hartt and the Blue Hearts were voted "Best Blues Band of 2005" by the readers of the Hartford Advocate's Grand Band Slam poll!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/22/2005
Band Website: ryanhartt.com
Band Members: Ryan Hartt: Vocals and Harmonica, Eric Ducoff: Guitar and Vocals, Nick Toscano: Drums, Jeff "J.B." Berg: Bass and Vocals
Influences: Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Rod Piazza, William Clarke, Hollywood Fats Band, Lynwood Slim, Tiny Grimes, T-Bone Walker, Robert Nighthawk, Fabulous Thunderbirds
Record Label: Far-Tone Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Nominate the Blue Hearts for the Grand Band Slam

Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts need your votes!!!It's that time of year again...it's time to nominate your favorite blues band Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts in the "Hartford Advocate Grand Band Slam"...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:40:00 PST

New Top Friends - The International Edition

So I got off my butt (actually ON my butt if you want to get technical) and made a new top friends. I like to have some sort of theme to them and this one is musicians I enjoy and admire from ALL over...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:35:00 PST

Blurb from Hartford Advocate on Grand Band Slam show

Hartford Advocate 8/9/07Local Motion: Grand Royal Our Band Slam is flush with musical ideas ? good, bad, and just plain weird "So I stopped over at Black-Eyed Sally's to catch some tun...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:39:00 PST

New Website

Just when you thought MySpace was replacing band websites...behold the new Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts website!Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts New SiteWe hope to update it frequently with video,...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:03:00 PST

Blue Hearts Win Hartford Advocate Grand Band Slam!!!

Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts are the "Best Blues Band" for the Hartford Advocate's 2007 Grand Band Slam reader's poll.We'll be playing Balck Eyed Sally's Thursday August 2 at 11:45 follwong...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 05:27:00 PST

Memphis

IBC Report After a 19 hour drive (of which I drove 11 ½) we arrived in Memphis at 1 pm. Just in time for some Blues City Café ribs! Eric, the flyer, joined us in time for lunch. As I'm sitting wi...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:15:00 PST

Check out this event: Blue Hearts "Memphis or Bust" @ Black Eyed Sally's

Hosted By: Ryan Hartt & the Blue HeartsWhen: Saturday Jan 06, 2007 at 9:30 PMWhere: Black Eyed Sally's350 Asylum AveHartford, CT 06101USDescription:Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts Click Here To V...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:08:00 PST

International Blues Challenge Top 8

Everyone in the top 8 is competing in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN Frebruary 1-3. It's the world's largest assemblage of Blues bands and a hell of a good time.http://www.blues.org/...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 08:31:00 PST

New Top 8

Eric complained and said I needed to update the top 8, so here it is. There is no rhyme or reason to it except that I picked things that have nothing to do with Blues or even music. some Ska ban...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:11:00 PST

Blue Hearts Win CTBS Blues Challenge

We are pleased and proud to report that Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts have wonthe Connecticut Blues Society's 2006 Blues Challenge! We will be heading tolegendary Beale Street in Memphis Tennesee, ...
Posted by Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:54:00 PST