Eight Gigs: Coco Montoya

Blues on the Patio opens its 2015 season with Coco Montoya, one of today's great contemporary electric blues artists. His rendition of “Slow Blues” lasts a quarter of an hour with him on lead guitar and vocals. He knows how to make his guitar sing, talk and weep, and he knows how to take the audience on that long journey to experience what the blues can be. After all, his mentors include Albert Collins and John Mayall. “Last Dirty Deal” is a more rock-based blues while “You Don't Love Me” pulls directly from the roots of Delta and Chicago blues. Val Starr and the Blues Rocket will open. 3410 Westover Street, www.cocomontoyaband.com.