Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 07/03/2021

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Blues-rocker Debra Devi plays her first post-pandemic live show Sunday, July 11 at 4:00pm at Transparent Clinch Gallery in Asbury Park. Devi will open this show with the “Language of the Blues” talk she has given at universities, theaters and TEDx events. It’s based on her award-winning book The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (foreword by Dr. John), and explores the origins of words like "mojo" and "hoodoo" from well-known blues songs. Next, Devi will perform a full set with her four-piece band.

Devi jams with Gov’t Mule bassist Jorgen Carlsson on her EP A Zillion Stars Overhead, “a collection of dreamy blues-rockers and blistering psychedelic jams” (Relix). The Jersey Journal says "A Zillion Stars Overhead emphasizes Devi’s formidable guitar prowess, the beauty of her vocals, and the depth of her songwriting." Devi’s book The Language of the Blues is blurbed by Bonnie Raitt and Joe Bonamassa and won the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Outstanding Book on Popular Music.

American Blues Scene hosts Devi’s popular “Jamification Station” livestream, and will also stream this event.

Devi’s growing acclaim as "one of the most remarkable guitarists on the East Coast." (Good Times) has led to opening slots for artists like Ana Popovic and Marshall Crenshaw, and festival dates from Memphis to Montana. Devi is the first female guitarist to endorse Homestead Amplifiers, which builds custom amps for Gov’t Mule, Gary Clark Jr. and Jimmy Herring. She is also a Fender and Shubb Capo artist.  

Devi fell in love with electric guitar as a girl, listening to her teenage neighbor play Led Zeppelin while he worked on his car, and her brother’s rock albums. “I always sang the guitar solos, instead of the lyrics,” Devi says. Growing up in that Milwaukee suburb, though, she got the message that only boys played in bands.  

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When she saw Bonnie Raitt perform in college, Devi couldn’t stifle her longing to play anymore. She bought a Fender Mustang at a pawnshop and moved to NYC. There, Devi joined punk bands, touring the US, Canada and Europe.  

As a solo artist, though, Devi created a classic rock-meets-Americana sound that enabled her to indulge her love of guitar solos. Devi’s self-produced debut, Get Free (True Nature Records/Redeye), received raves from Vintage Guitar, Jambase, Marie Claire (Italy), Guitar International.

Photo by Cool Dad Music

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