SCOTT FINCH & BLUEHAND Scott Finch, who has become internationally recognized for his expert and heart-felt Hendrix-style psychedelic blues/rock electric guitar riffs, continues his creative exploits with the release of a fifteen track CD called, Gods and Freaks produced by Comet Records, Italy. Indeed, Comet, which had originally pursued Finch for his uniquely accurate interpretations of classic Hendrix tunes, has become enamored with the innovation and talent displayed in this, Finch's most recent masterpiece: In a world where so many of our saviors have gone belly-up, lost their hearts or sold their souls, Wisconsin-born and based Scott Finch has now been pumping out his own eternally evolving vision of what great music should sound like since the mid-1960s. And 40 years on, he's still not finished...is still evolving. Dave Thompson for Comet Records, Italy, October 2003. Indeed, Gods and Freaks is considered Finch's most ambitious and impressive collection of original songs to date. This is quite a feat, considering the instrumental guitar wizardry displayed on his sleeper album: Pipedreams (Velvet Sky Records, 1997). For assistance in writing the lyrics to the album's fourteen original songs, Scott enlisted the genius of several local, accomplished songsmiths, among them: Bob Olson, Peter Alt, Char Fiore, and Deirdre Fellner. Meticulously recording and mixing each song at his Velvet Sky Studio in Milwaukee's Riverwest, Scott garnered the musical talents of his Bluehand associates, lead vocalist Peter Alt and drummer Gregg Slavik, and the occasional assistance of drummers Vodie Rhinehart and Dave Braun, to convey the most authentic vibe for each song and to ensure the highest quality product overall. The album begins with a classy acoustic blues overture entitled, Changer, followed by the dark and mystical musings of title track, Gods and Freaks, and subsequently, The Cheap Detective, and Gypsy Woman. The album also contains a masterful and uniquely powerful rendition of Miles Davis' All Blues and an equally compelling original instrumental blues piece: Groove King. Throughout his projects and performances with numerous successful bands, including nationally touring White Lie in the 1980s, locally famous Gypsy in the 1990s, and his current band, Bluehand, Scott has consistently won over audiences with his creativity and mastery of his instruments--both lead guitar and keyboard--and the blues/rock music he loves. Now, with the exceptional vocals of lead singer Peter Alt, and perfect timing of drummer Gregg Slavik, and expert bass playing of Mike Haasch, Scott Finch is in top form, performing locally as Scott Finch and Bluehand --which covers both Finch's originals and the psychedelic blues/rock music of a wide variety of sixties and seventies music greats, including: Hendrix, the Stones, the Beatles, Cream, the Doors, and Joe Cocker, among others. Alt also plays backup guitar, harmonica, and flute, to round out Bluehand's phenomenal sound. Finch, Alt and Slavik also play occasionally as a three piece with Alt on bass, for a more jazz/blues feel and a particular emphasis on Finch's originals. Originally called Scott Finch and the Blues-O-Delics, with drummer Dave Braun instead of Slavik, the three-piece band toured Italy and headlined at an internationally advertised Italian event, the 2001 Torrita Blues Festival.
