GA-20

Matthew Stubbs formed GA-20 in early 2018 during a hiatus from playing guitar with Charlie Musselwhite, due to Musselwhite touring with Ben Harper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vintageguitar.com/48826/ga-20s-matt-stubbs-and-pat-faherty/|title=GA-20’s Matt Stubbs and Pat Faherty | Vintage Guitar® magazine|first=Ward|last=Meeker|date=August 8, 2023}} Stubbs sought to put a new project together to do blues gigs aside from his psych-rock group The Antiguas. Stubbs met original vocalist Pat Faherty through his many local Boston gigs. Faherty was a regular at these gigs and even took Blues guitar lessons from Stubbs. Early performances by the band had a rotating group of musicians with Faherty and Stubbs as the core members. Some early performances used various other musicians, sometimes playing as a four-piece band. They adopted the name GA-20 and the group became a trio by early 2018 consisting of two guitars (Stubbs & Faherty) and drums (sideman Tim Carman). About a year after their formation, they scored a deal with Colemine Records imprint Karma Chief Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/api/content/7064311a-3533-11e9-91d5-120e7ad5cf50/|title=Naggin' On My Mind|first=Marc|last=Michael|date=February 20, 2019|website=Chattanoogapulse.com}} The group has been described as a trio that plays stripped down 1950s/1960s-style Chicago blues with a lot of distortion and no bass.{{Cite web|url=https://www.improper.com/arts-culture/top-10-local-acts-on-the-rise/|title=Top 10 Local Acts on the Rise | Improper Bostonian|website=Improper.com}}

After signing with Colemine/Karma Chief Records in December 2018, the band released the single "Naggin' On My Mind" which featured Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson.Vanyaland, February 1, 2019 - [https://vanyaland.com/2019/02/01/studio-52-featured-band-of-the-week-ga-20/ Studio 52 Featured Band of the Week: GA-20
Electric blues duo of Matthew Stubbs and Pat Faherty play Toad in Cambridge tonight (February 1)]{{Cite web |last=Anders |first=Simon |date=February 16, 2019 |title=New Blues single from GA-20's Naggin' On My Mind w/ Charlie Musselwhite and Luther Dickinson • WithGuitars |url=https://www.withguitars.com/new-blues-single-from-ga-20s-naggin-on-my-mind-w-charlie-musselwhite-and-luther-dickinson/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=withguitars.com |language=en-GB}}The Joy of Violent Movement, /February 17, 2019 - [https://joyofviolentmovement.com/new-audio-jovm-mainstay-matthew-stubbs-teams-up-with-pat-faherty-charlie-musselwhite-and-luther-dickinson-on-a-boogie-blues-number/ New Audio: JOVM Mainstay Matthew Stubbs Teams Up with Pat Faherty, Charlie Musselwhite, and Luther Dickinson on a Boogie Blues Number by William Ruben Helms] It was recorded at Q Division Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts and was produced by Stubbs. Musselwhite performed harmonica on the track, Dickinson was on slide guitar. During the session Matthew Prozialeck provided background vocals and played harmonica on what would become the B-side to "Naggin' On My Mind". Additional recordings from this session became the Lonely Soul album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/GA-20-Lonely-Soul/release/14167150|title = GA-20 – Lonely Soul (2019, Red Translucent, Vinyl)|website = Discogs}} Stubbs and Faherty co-wrote the original material featured on Lonely Soul. Their co-writing collaboration would continue through subsequent releases until Faherty’s 2024 departure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/ga-20-plays-the-blues-with-a-modern-twist-14740459|title=Make No Mistake, GA-20 Plays the Blues|first=Tom|last=Richards|website=Houston Press}}

Their first record, a 7" single, was released in August 2019 with "Naggin' On My Mind" and "Sit Down Baby" on Karma Chief Records.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/GA-20-Naggin-On-My-Mind/release/13901754|title = GA-20 – Naggin' on My Mind (2019, Blue, Vinyl)|website = Discogs}} Their debut album Lonely Soul was released on October 18, 2019. The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Blues Chart. In September 2020 they released an EP called GA-20 Live Vol. 1. The EP debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

Their August 2021 album GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It...You Might Like It! also debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart of September 4, 2021 and was the first album ever to be played in its entirety on the Dr Boogie radio show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/la-playlist-du-lundi-4-octobre-2021-10853909|title=La playlist du lundi 4 octobre 2021|website=Rtbf.be|access-date=12 February 2022}} Released to mark the 50th anniversary of Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, Taylor's first disc, the GA-20 tracks are cover versions of songs from both that album and Taylor's second record Natural Boogie. The album is a co-release by Colemine/Karma Chief Records and the legendary Blues label Alligator Records (Hound Dog Taylor's label). The album received 4-star reviews in both The Guardian{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/14/ga-20-try-it-you-might-like-it-review-hound-dog-taylor-chicago-blues-alligator|title=GA-20: Try It... You Might Like It! review – a rowdy blast of primal blues|first=Neil|last=Spencer|date=August 14, 2021|via=The Guardian}} and Rolling Stone France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.fr/ga-20-coming-back-to-my-roots/|title=GA-20 : Un retour aux sources 100% blues|first=La|last=Rédaction|date=August 20, 2021|website=Rolling Stone}}

In September 2022 the band released the studio album Crackdown which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. They followed up Crackdown with the live record Live In Loveland, which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

In July 2024, it was announced that Tim Carman would be replaced, on drums, by Josh Kiggans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1023808753085871&set=pb.100063702667006.-2207520000&type=3|title=Facebook|website=facebook.com}} In December 2024, it was announced that Pat Faherty had parted ways from the band due to artistic differences,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BmU7Z7kKU/|title=Facebook}} and that Cody Nilsen would take his place moving forward.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2024/12/ga-20-ushers-in-new-era-with-cody-nilsen-and-cryin-and-pleadin-cover/|title=GA-20 Ushers in New Era with Cody Nilsen and ‘Cryin’ and Pleadin’' Cover|date=December 10, 2024}} Nilsen is an acclaimed touring, session, and solo musician.https://twangville.com/2022/06/02/introducing-cody-nilsen-a-twangville-premiere Nilsen's debut with the band, "Cryin' & Pleadin'", was released December 10, 2024.{{Cite web |title=GA-20 Cover Billy Boy Arnold |url=https://www.ifitstooloud.com/2024/12/ga-20-cover-billy-boy-arnold.html}} "Cryin' & Pleadin'" reached number 1 on B.B. King's Bluesville Top 15 Rack of Blues in March 2025.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/951915673754683 |title=3.2K views · 187 reactions {{!}} Thrilled to find out #that CRYIN’ & PLEADIN’ is now #1 on SiriusXM BB Kings Bluesville Top 15 chart. 🍻 {{!}} GA-20 |language=en-US |access-date=2025-05-17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250321160720/https://www.facebook.com/reel/951915673754683 |archive-date=2025-03-21}} It remained at number 1 for five consecutive weeks. In May of 2025 the EP GA-20 Volume 2 was released.{{Cite web |last=Corbridge |first=Ian |date=2025-04-30 |title=GA-20 {{!}} Volume 2 {{!}} EP review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/ga-20-volume-2-ep-review/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}

Current members

• Matthew Stubbs – guitar (2018–present)
• Josh Kiggans – drums (2024–present)
• Cody Nilsen – lead vocals, guitar (2024–present)

Past members

• Pat Faherty – lead vocals, guitar (2018–2024)
• Tim Carman – drums (2019–2024)

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Category:American blues musical groups

Category:Chicago blues ensembles

Category:Musical groups from Boston