Piper & the Hard Times
Though it may seem like they’re an overnight success, the trio at the core of the superb blues-rock band Piper & the Hard Times has been making music for more than two decades. Powerhouse vocalist Al “Piper” Green, guitarist Steve Eagon and drummer Dave Colella came together from varied backgrounds, but have managed to combine soul, gospel, jazz and blues into a fresh, distinctive and highly personal sound. Their sudden rise began in January 2024, when they won the International Blues Challenge, followed by their first-rate debut album Revelation. A critical and commercial success that hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Blues Chart in August 2024, the album yielded the band a third triumph, earning Best Self-Produced CD at this year’s IBC. In the wake of a cancer diagnosis this year, Piper’s spirits (and those of the band) remain high. They’ve certainly proven themselves a stalwart and impressive unit, one that should continue dazzling audiences and critics alike for years to come.
