Gary Primich

Rare indeed is the blues harp player who knows as much about taste and restraint as Gary Primich does; rarer still is one who combines that trait with the abilities to sing and write smart songs. (Think of him as the polar opposite of noodlemeister John Popper.) As a youth, Primich sharpened his skills in Chicago's famed Maxwell Street market, where he learned his blues from masters like Carrie Bell and Big Walter Horton. More recently, the Austin-based Primich has resurfaced after the Black Top records meltdown with this year's Dog House Music, a choogling ten-song set showcasing Primich's authoritative, intelligent blowing and a vacuum-tight band.