Alligator Recording artist, award winning blues vocalist, harmonica master and songwriting legend Rick Estrin, leader of the musically fearless, wildly entertaining, award-winning band Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, doesn't like to talk much about his own musical superpowers. But ask him about the Nightcats—multi-instrumentalist/musical mastermind/producer Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, keyboardist/organ wizard/bass player Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick "D'Mar" Martin—and he'll be happy to sing their praises. "This band is killer. I'm enjoying this all more than ever," says the man who's been performing and recording professionally since the early 1970s. "It's a blessing—there's so much energy, so much collaboration. The band is just so good right now. And the live show is better than ever." Living Blues calls Rick Estrin & The Nightcats "a terrific blues band with a real character for a front man," continuing, "Clever, well-crafted songs framed by first-flight musicianship...hugely entertaining, intelligently conceived and executed roots rock with a wickedly cool and otherworldly twist on tradition. Estrin's harp work is masterful."

In addition to Estrin's celebrated songwriting and peerless blues harmonica playing, he and the band are among the most entertaining and colorful showmen around. Estrin's signature streetwise vocals and hipster-cool look, Andersen's eye-popping, off-the-cuff guitar pyrotechnics, Farrell's mighty organ, piano and bass work and D'Mar's dynamic, acrobatic drumming make every one of their live performances a must-see event. "People don't go out to see people who look like themselves," says Estrin. "They want to see something special. I was schooled in this business to be a showman, and that's what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us."