Some bands survive. Some bands evolve. And then there are bands like Misty Blues, who seem determined to keep tearing up the rulebook every time they enter the studio. Twenty-seven years, eighteen studio albums and countless twists and turns into their career, and Still Ticking sounds anything but tired. In fact, this may be one of their most adventurous and compelling records yet.
Released on 31 July 2026 via Guitar One Records, Still Ticking finds founder, singer and guitarist Gina Coleman leading the Berkshire County, Massachusetts outfit through eleven tracks that prove blues music doesn’t have to stand still to remain authentic.
The band’s description of their sound as “blues fusion” feels absolutely right. The blues remains the foundation, but around it Misty Blues build layers of funk, soul, jazz, folk, Americana and gospel. Think of it as taking the traditional twelve-bar blues, throwing open every door in the studio and allowing the music to wander wherever it wants.
And what makes it work is that Misty Blues never lose sight of where they came from. Opening with “State Of The Union”, Coleman and co-writer Seth Fleischmann immediately establish the album’s socially conscious edge. This isn’t blues purely for entertainment; it is blues as observation, commentary and emotional release. “I Don’t Wanna Be” continues that journey before the band loosen their grip and let the grooves take over on “Gimme Some More” and “On The Town.”
There is a wonderful sense of freedom running through these tracks. The musicians clearly trust each other. Aaron Dean’s saxophone, Diego Mongue’s bass, organ and percussion, David Vittone’s keys, Rob Tatten’s drums and Seth Fleischmann’s guitar create a musical foundation that feels simultaneously tight and wonderfully loose. Nothing is overworked. There is room for the instruments to breathe, interact and occasionally take the song somewhere unexpected.
That chemistry is crucial to Misty Blues. It is also why Still Ticking never feels like a band simply going through the motions. If anything, they sound more adventurous than ever. One of the album’s biggest moments comes with “Battle Cry”, the first single and arguably its defining statement. Coleman is joined by Chantell McCulloch, Candice Ivory, Carly Harvey, Alexis P. Suter and Kat Riggins, creating an extraordinary gathering of contemporary blues voices.
The result is an anthem about resilience, strength and refusing to give up. Six distinctive vocalists could easily have turned the song into a battle for attention, but instead the performances complement each other. There is power here, but also unity. The message is bigger than any individual voice. And that feels entirely appropriate for an album called Still Ticking. Twenty-seven years into the journey, Misty Blues are still moving forward. “Trifling Man”, featuring legendary vocalist Lady Bianca, takes the album into funkier territory. The mid-tempo groove gives Coleman and Bianca the perfect platform to trade vocals, creating a performance full of attitude and controlled tension. Rather than rushing towards the finish, the two singers circle each other musically, each waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
It is superbly executed. Then comes “Passion”, one of those songs that feels like the purest representation of what Misty Blues are all about. Gospel-rooted, soulful and unmistakably bluesy, it strips away the experimentation just enough to remind us where the band’s heart really lies.
And that balance is one of the album’s greatest achievements. Misty Blues can experiment without losing themselves. The darker material is equally important. Much of the album was written throughout 2025, with Coleman drawing inspiration from the social and political climate around her. The resulting songs carry a sense of frustration and disillusionment, but rather than becoming overwhelmed by negativity, the band turns those emotions into something powerful.
The title itself becomes a statement. After twenty-seven years and eighteen albums, Misty Blues are still ticking. The album was arranged by the full band during a long weekend on Nantucket in November 2025 before being recorded at their own Playing Field Studio in Williamstown, Massachusetts, during February and March 2026. That homegrown approach seems perfectly suited to the music. There is an organic quality throughout the record, a feeling that these songs were allowed to develop naturally rather than being forced into a predetermined shape.
That authenticity has been at the heart of Misty Blues’ success. Their previous album, Other Side Of Blue, received Recording Academy consideration across four categories for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards, while their Odetta tribute albums have earned significant recognition and chart success, including twenty-four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report Traditional Folk Album chart for Tell Me Who You Are: A Live Tribute To Odetta.
Yet none of that appears to have dulled the band’s hunger. Quite the opposite. still Ticking sounds like musicians who still have something to prove. There is a sense of celebration in the music, but also a determination to keep pushing boundaries. As Coleman says, the band continues to push the genre in “unique and wildly exciting ways,” and this album certainly backs up that claim.
Even the artwork follows that philosophy. Michael Mongue, who has created the artwork for every Misty Blues album, has produced his first piece specifically for the band – a mixed-media acrylic-on-paperboard relief featuring the six core members. It feels like another piece of the band’s history coming together.
Ultimately, Still Ticking is more than an impressive blues album. It is a celebration of longevity without complacency. It is blues music that understands its history but refuses to be imprisoned by it. Misty Blues have reached album number eighteen and still sound hungry, creative and gloriously alive. There are grooves, riffs, horns, gospel harmonies, soulful vocals and enough musical invention to keep returning listeners discovering something new.
Twenty-seven years in, Misty Blues aren’t looking back. They’re still moving forward – and they’re still ticking.
A superb example of how traditional blues can evolve without losing its soul. Adventurous, soulful, politically charged and packed with incredible musicianship, Still Ticking proves Misty Blues are nowhere near finished yet.
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