Representing the Blues
Society of Omaha, Hector Anchondo competed against over 200 acts at the 35th
Annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) and won first place for his Solo/Duo
performance. He also garnered the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award for Best Acoustic
Solo/Duo Guitarist.
“I’m so honored by these
awards,” Anchondo said. “I love what I do, music in my passion and not very
many people get this recognition. It’s truly an honor and I’m just so happy
right now, overwhelmed with pride and thanks to all my fans and the people that
support my music.”
Growing up on a Missouri
farm, Anchondo soaked up Roots music, Latino music, bluegrass and old blues. He
picked up the guitar as teen, and as soon as he finished high school, he headed
for Omaha, to make a life playing guitar. When the recession of 2008
happened, work dried up in the music scene, and the stress took its toll.
Anchondo found himself without a band, working as a dishwasher in a Cuban
restaurant.
When you put your mind to
doing the thing you were born to do, the universe helps. Anchondo got an
unexpected call from an old friend in St. Louis. He’d been a fan of Anchondo’s
Latin music, but he had always loved those blues songs Anchondo snuck in even
more.
Anchondo wrote 30 songs
that summer, narrowed it to five, and put out an EP called Kicking Up Dust.
The album did well; he did Young Guns two years later. The band started
sharing stages with the biggest names in blues, including Coco Montoya, Magic
Slim and the Royal Southern Brotherhood. His most recent CD, Roll the Dice,
is saturated with his history of blues, with flavors of Latin, rockabilly and
Americana. It showcases the flawless, fluid and brilliant style that he earned
in 20 years of love and discipline. The album leaped to the top of blues
charts, including the top 25 on the Living Blues chart, and had spent
many weeks on the Roots Music Report blues and blues rock charts.
Anchondo’s previous
appearances at the IBC included a prestigious finalist
performance in the band category (among the top eight vote-getters
performing in the IBC finals in 2016). The Hector Anchondo Band also made it to
the semifinals in 2015. The International Blues Challenge finals are
judged by a panel of blues industry professionals according to criteria
established by The Blues Foundation.
Upcoming
tour dates:
MAR 6:
Sylvester’s – Broken Bow, NE
MAR 7:
Corner Bar – Fremont, NE
MAR 10: The
Omaha Lounge – Omaha, NE
MAR 12:
House of Blues Chicago – Chicago, IL
MAR 13:
Kavanaugh’s Hilltop Bar & Grill – Rock Island, IL
MAR 14:
Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ – Bellevue, IA
MAR 17: The
Omaha Lounge – Omaha, NE
MAR 18:
Stocks n Bonds – Omaha, NE
MAR 21:
Full Fledged Brewing Company – Council Bluffs, IA
MAR 22:
(kol) – Rapid City, SD,
MAR 24: The
Omaha Lounge – Omaha, NE
MAR 25-29:
Saloon No. 10 – Deadwood, SD
MAR 31: The
Omaha Lounge – Omaha, NE
Upcoming
special events include…
MAY 22:
Silver City Blues Festival – Silver City, NM
JUN 6:
Chicago Blues Festival – Chicago, IL
JUN 19:
Fort Smith Blues Festival – Fort Smith, AR
JUN 24-28:
Blues On Whytem – Edmonton, AB, Canada
OCT 25-Nov
1: Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise – Fort Lauderdale, FL