Jo' Buddy & The Uplifters

Imagine a junction, where raw Link Wray-ish garage rock and gospel collide with delta blues and mariachi, and you have a good idea about this unique trio. Like their name suggests, these guys want to cause ecstasy, lift everybody higher. Though the electric side rules, their set also includes acoustic parts with banjo, washboard and guitar bass.

Jussi “Jo’ Buddy” Raulamo is a bona fide roots music master, both on vocals and on guitar. Bass man Tommi Laine and drummer Kingfish Willie have already locked their rhythm together in The Suprafonics.

Jo’ Buddy has played with several blues masters and they all have been amazed by his depth and soulfulness. Those qualities stem from his extensive understanding of the whole African-American music tree with its many branches and his endless love for the whole thing. His first band, One O’clock Humph, played New Orleans-style R&B. Then The Groovy Eyes measured the space between jump blues, swing and funk, while Tiny Tones leaned towards folkier styles. The last few years Jo’ Buddy has played rocking delta blues as a duo with drummer Down Home King III. All the records by these bands have been received enthusiastically by international music magazines.