Monique Weldon: Lead Vocals
Monique joined Blues Torch as lead vocalist in July 2008, bringing great energy and excitement. Her presence has helped expand the band's repertoire, thanks to the power and range of her soulful voice. The band’s shows and rehearsals are also continually punctuated by her infectious laughter.
Monique has been singing since she was two years old. She ate, drank, and slept thinking about music growing up and came of age in the days when Madonna, hip hop and R&B dominated the airwaves. Unmoved by the `80s musical environment, the “material” this girl prefers covering spans Blues, Cajun, and Rock to create a sound all her own.
A Denver native, she discovered that she attended the same high school as Blues Torch’s drummer – although enough years afterward to make him feel really decrepit. Monique revels in performing in front of live audience and enjoys an easy rapport with crowds large and small.
Steve Ciancio: Drums
Steve’s earliest recollection of his percussionist bent was his father’s admonishment “if you don’t stop that pound, pound, pounding, I’m gonna tie your hands up.” These threats failed to materialize, even though such tactics weren’t considered child abuse in the sixties. Then Ciancio’s first band, Electric Storm, started pounding out Clapton, Blind Faith, and Traffic tunes in his parent’s basement.
By high school, Steve was pulling “respectable” duty anchoring the jazz-rock ensemble, and for the Latin-jazz Gala Lewis Trio. In his twenties, Ciancio discovered that promoting auto racing offered far greater potential for hearing damage, and a musical hiatus ensued.
But the skins continued to beckon. Before long, stints as a “stunt drummer” for Toasterheads, BPS All Stars and other bands enabled Ciancio an outlet apart from pounding on his steering wheel. He co-founded Blues Torch, not that the streets are any safer for it.
AC (Andras Csapo): Harmonicas/Keys/Vocals
Even though AC was born and raised in Hungary he has been on a steady diet of Blues and the music of The Rolling Stones since birth. An aspiring drummer early on, AC changed focus in his teens and was introduced to the thrill of playing the harmonica and the piano which has been his devotion since. AC has the most wonderful talent of being able to bore anyone to tears with harmonica theory and is one of the few harmonica players in the world dedicated to the use of the "diminished tuning" on the diatonic harmonica. The explanation of this will bring about the aforementioned tears, and AC will be happy to administer the ritual in person - just dare to ask.
AC's style of harmonica playing also carries over to playing the piano and keyboards creating a unique sound that is raw and dynamic.
David Johnson: Guitar/Vocals
Dave has had a long, sordid musical career. Once a member of stellar cover groups such as Equinox (high school headbangers) and Rhythm Method (snotty punk meets the Beach Boys). In addition to Blues Torch, Dave's makes occasional outings with the Toasterheads, a merry band of three eye doctors plus a law professor who play originals and have a lot more fun than it sounds. That band's vibe has been described as “Early Rolling Stones meet Elvis Costello in a dark alley, steal his thesaurus, then go drinking with Steely Dan”, whatever that means.
Dave enjoys playing his own “special” version of venerable blues songs and appreciates the fact that he hasn’t yet been asked to leave. On any given day he can fool most blues fans with mutated Chuck Berry riffs; he has no plans to quit his day job.
Steve Rippe: Bass Guitar/Vocals
Steve started his musical odyssey playing trombone in the high school marching band, then started playing bass for the group "Exit and the Wayouts", gigging at local venues in southeastern Nebraska and Kansas. He attended the University of Nebraska as a voice major, continuing to play in the marching band at Husker games. Steve’s musical highlight in college was singing and dancing the lead role of “Tommy” in a campus production of the Who’s rock opera before a combined audience of 16,000.
Steve continued his affiliation with music after college, managing a retail record store in Lincoln, Nebraska and later working for PolyGram Records in sales and sales management (experience that enables him to consistently identify the most unique versions of tunes to cover). After a 20 year musical hiatus to raise a family, Steve picked up the bass again and co-founded Blues Torch.
Eddie Salcido: Keyboards/Saxophone
A Blues Torch stalwart for over two years, virtuoso of the keyboard and saxophone, singer who can channel Ray Charles at will. Sadly, Eddie moved back to his childhood home in Woodland Hills, California as of November 2010. However, Eddie may be making guest appearances from time to time. We love that guy and he'll always be a member of Blues Torch in spirit, if not in person.
