If you ask Ontario resident Susie Chase, there's nothing quite like spending a Saturday night listening to the blues in downtown Buffalo.
Chase was among 175 blues diehards who gathered in the WNED|WBFO studios for the the second annual Buffalo Blues Bash.
"Being Canadian, it's such quintessential American music for me," said Chase, a resident of Guelph, Ont. "It's so soulful, and it speaks of human condition. I find it really fascinating and moving."
The crowd was entertained by Billy the Kid and the Regulators, a high-powered rhythm and blues band based in Pittsburgh.
Alden resident Frank Altieri has been a long-time blues fan.
"The blues is something that comes from the soul. It isn't just another genre of music," he said as he waited eagerly for the show to begin.
The event, sponsored by WNED|WBFO Buffalo-Toronto, aims to lure top-performing acts to the region while fostering local talent. The Tommy Z Band, a popular local band, opened the event.
Billy the Kid and the Regulators was a finalist at this year's International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Lead Singer Billy Evanochko was interviewed days before the event by Buffalo Blues Bash host Pat Feldballe. Evanochko said he doesn't stick to one style.
"I'm just trying to tell my story, that's it. Trying to tell a story," he said.'
Kathy Aylsworth of Attica said that's exactly what lures her to blues shows.
"It's fun to hear the stories that they tell," she said.