The Blues Emergency is a renegade band of misfits channelling original music that is stylistically and sonically fitting for the ears of your mama and her misbehaving posse. Their sound is hard, cranked up, blues-rock infused with the elements of stoner-rock and psychedelia. Socially conscious lyrics, hard hitting guitar riffs, coupled with raspy vocals - the band packs a punch.
THE TORONTO BAND consists of Andy du rego (vocals), Emir Halilovic (guitar), John Anthony Brand (bass), & marshall baglieri (drums).
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The Blues Emergency has experienced an extraordinary journey over the past two years. In 2024, they released their latest power single, "Quicksand," accompanied by a visually striking music video, which garnered significant traction on streaming platforms, amassing over 100,000 views on YouTube and over 8,000 streams on Spotify, further solidifying the band's growing popularity. "Quicksand" was featured on numerous local radio stations and received glowing reviews from prominent outlets such as 102.1 The Edge.​
Adding to their accolades, The band won the Best Rock Performance award at the International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) for their 2023 single, "A Love Revolution." The IPMAs celebrate outstanding achievements in music by Portuguese and Lusophone artists worldwide. With a global broadcast reaching over 60 million viewers, this recognition positioned the band on an international stage, showcasing their talent to audiences around the world.
The Blues Emergency puts on an electric live show, combining a palpable onstage energy with technical excellence. The highlight of the band’s 2024 performance schedule was headlining at Gussapalooza, following up their 2023 reception of The Rising Sun award at the Cookstown, Ontario festival.
​In 2017, The band released their debut album, "The Machine", which showcases 8 original songs and one Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers cover tune, "Good Enough". It contains tunes of epic proportions, with impressive guitar work, super tight rhythm section, powerful vocals and sharp political message.
It all started as a bluesy jam trio making some noise at the rehearsal studios near Cherry beach, Toronto with members John Brand, Emir Halilovic & former drummer, Milan Pejcic. Initially, the band had no singer but that didn’t stop them from playing music, exploring new sounds, improvising, and honing their craft.
Wanting to elevate their game, the trio decided to put an ad out to recruit a singer and found vocalist Andy Du Rego. The energy, vibe and connection during the first jam felt organic, genuine, and real. The Blues Emergency was born. Soon after, the outfit started gigging in & around the local Toronto scene, finding a home at the legendary Silver Dollar Room. The band’s most notable appearance was opening for Toronto’s very own powerhouse, Philip Sayce. The band entered Edadic studios to begin recording their debut album "The Machine". It was recorded the old-school way, live off-the-floor and without the use of a click track.
In 2023, they added drummer Marshall Baglieri, whose powerful rhythm has energized the band’s two recent single releases.
Quicksand
Single, 2024
"Hovering somewhere between heavy, lo-fi, guitar-led alternative rock, and cutting-edge metal, The Blues Emergency is a Toronto-based band that is among those we can imagine as Led Zeppelin if Led Zeppelin were something for the 2020s. Indeed, with an undeniable, one-of-a-kind swagger, and a solid grasp over a terrific musicianship between the band members, The Blues Emergency easily delivers some of the most engaging, frenetic, and best-written hard rock I’ve heard for a good chunk of time. ‘Quicksand’, as its title suggests, deals with the volatility that plagues the lives of drug addicts, homeless people, and mental health victims, all of them much more prevalent in our societies nowadays. The band says the title is “..used as a metaphor for someone struggling with these issues as they sink deeper into an abyss of darkness with a feeling of no way out”. The music… well the music is heavy. Emir Halilovic’s stoner guitar riffs, with gritty distortion, go hand in hand with Andy du Rego’s hellbound howls, while a syncopated rhythm is kept under control via John Anthony Brand’s deep-hitting bass and Marshall Baglieri’s inventive drum part and terrific groove. Ominous and dark, in music, words, and delivery, ‘Quicksand’ is a gritty and sludgy piece of rock music that will get your blood pumping with ease."
- Moataz Gwaily | Rock Era Magazine
A LOVE REVOLUTION
Single, 2023
"I love a song that when you’re done listening to it, you feel like you need a shower. That’s normal right? What I’m getting at is, if you like your rock music dirty - grab some soap & a loofa sponge and dig into this band. That’s not to say The Blues Emergency is one dimensional, they are most certainly not. Elements of Classic, & the best stoner rock as well as hard living Blues are all over this thing. With socially conscious lyrics & a piercing delivery by vocalist Andy Du Rego, you feel like you’re at a concert at the Rose Bowl circa 1975 with 70,000 of your best friends, your Trans Am parked in the lot, and even kites are jealous of how high you are. The band digs in hard on guitar riffage and the rhythm section is as tight as it gets. I don’t know about you, but I’m calling for an ambulance and getting myself to the next Blues Emergency show, you can do that right?”
- Christian Tanna | 94.9 The Rock Fm - Generation Next
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"Toronto band The Blues Emergency released a strong new track. This is the first single the band has put out since their debut album back in 2017. A Love Revolution is another addition to their crashing and impactful discography. The track immediately grabs you with bold riffs and holds you in a tight grip while keeping you grounded. A Love Revolution keeps you charging forward through the rhythm. The song is a “statement of love, unity, and peaceful protest” the group said in a press release. The rough gravel in the vocals are meticulously planted to bring the maximum impact to each line delivered. A Love Revolution continues to stomp forward and there is no stopping it."
- Octavia Allison | 102.1 The Edge MNTV
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"The opening to “A Love Revolution” is infused with a wonderful and heavy guitar riff and the bass and drums match the heaviness perfectly, but what intrigues me the most are Andy’s vocals. His vocals are a mix of every rock and blues vocalist, yet uniquely his own. It’s the edgy rasp to his vocals that are captivating. At moments, he reminds me of one of my favourite vocalists, Stephen Shareaux (Kik Tracee, Zen from Mars) and at other moments his vocals remind me of the late Scott Weiland.
“A Love Revolution” is not merely a song; it’s an electrifying anthem of change and an infectious rally cry for peaceful dissent. It just so happens to be in the disguise of a high-octane musical adrenaline rush that demands maximum volume."
- Sheila Taylor | Amplify the Noise
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Photo Credit: Dropout Entertainment
"The release of "A Love Revolution" is exciting for the fans who have been eagerly waiting for new material from The Blues Emergency."
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- Andres Schiffino | Death Moth Press
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THE MACHINE
Album, 2017
"‘I’m Alright’ shows ‘The Machine’ raging on, or is it Rage Against the Machine? Certainly sounds like the kind of song that Tom Morello and Co would be proud of. There’s a nice change of pace with ‘Strange World’ which has a Dire Straits feel to it, and ‘Good Enough’ sounds like a Tom Petty song. Oh, actually it is. Then there’s title track ‘The Machine’, quite simply Pink Floyd with rasping vocals.
With so many influences it would be easy to create a muddled and imprecise sound, but to The Blues Emergency’s credit this is a coherent and polished album, rooted in the Blues and the sound of 1970s Southern Rock. Bands such as Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd may have started the craze, but The Blues Emergency are worthy standard bearers for this noble rock. So, well done to The Blues Emergency for producing such a fine album. Shine on you crazy diamonds. "
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