Blue Monday: Derek O'Brien, Malford Milligan, the Jo Hell Band

Derek "Big House" O'Brien is a Texas-style blues guitarist, sometime bassist and record producer based in Austin, TX.

A stalwart of the house band at the famous Austin blues club Antone's Nightclub, O'Brien is most often found backing up other Austin frontmen, including Delbert McClinton, Lou Ann Barton, The Texas Tornados and almost anyone recording on the Antone's Records label.

O'Brien has also backed up major blues names such as Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. Ted Drozdowski, writing on Gibson… Show more Guitars' website, says, "O'Brien has a terse, arrow-sharp and spare style comparable to Jimmie Vaughan's - light on flash, but soooo right. Check it out."

Jo Hell started playing in bars in the Montreal (Canada) area at the age of 16. After two years of playing jam nights seven nights a week, Jo Hell decided to start his own band which he names ''Jo Hell & The Red Roosters''. As years go by, the number of shows increases and the demand for Jo Hell & The Red Roosters became more and more obvious. They appeared at several festivals and the local popularity of the band was shooting to the top. Many articles in local newspapers, appearances at local radio stations, as well as on numerous websites confirm the charisma of the band.

JO Hell & The Red Roosters came to Austin for SXSW in March of 2006. They graced the stage of Nuno's on 6th and then were featured at the ''Red, White and Blues Festival'' at Waterloo Park in July of 2006.
Jo Hell & The Red Roosters returned to Quebec in July of 2008. Their sole purpose, to record their latest album "Jo Hell", at Victor Studios in Montreal. After completion of recording and gracing Quebec with numerous performances, they returned to Central Texas,November 2008, as simply The Jo Hell Band. December 2009, The Jo Hell Band returned to Belgium for the second time to headline "Pjeirablues" and will return to the Montreal Jazz Festival for the third time this June. Check them out five nights a week in the Austin area and through out Texas.

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