Big Pete Pearson remembers a time when Phoenix was a swinging blues town.
He was 19 when he moved to the Valley of the Sun from Austin, Texas.
"It seemed like there was a blues bar on every corner," Pearson said in a recent phone interview. "You couldn't even move in most bars on the weekend, they were so packed."
Times have changed. Most of the clubs that Pearson played have shut down. A lot of his buddies from back in the day have either died or moved on.
"Some bars and grills hire bands to play, but they are not really blues bars and still have some learning to do," he said.
Pearson has kept on going. He still plays regular gigs both in and out of the city. Most of his shows are at the Rhythm Room, one of the last juke-joints standing in Phoenix, with owner, harominca player Bob Corritore and Corritore's Rhythm Room All Stars.
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Late last month, Pearson came through Tucson and Bisbee to celebrate the release of one of two new albums this year, "Finger in Your Eye."
He's now making the media rounds, promoting his August release, "The Screamer," recorded on his own label, Modesto Blues Records.
The album brims with timely tunes driven by Pearson's thunderous delivery.
" 'The Screamer' kind of falls into place with today's lifestyle," Pearson said. "Things are so screwed up right now. The economy is messed up. We wanted to try and get some blues in for today."
One of the album's most topical works, "Blues Bailout," sings about "going to Washington to see the president," Pearson said. "Saying all my money's been spent. You had a job but it's gone now. You can't pay your mortgage so they kick you out on your (backside)."
Those who know his work with the Rhythm Room All Stars might notice that "The Screamer" was created a little differently.
"I wanted it to be different," he said. "I didn't want a Chicago style. I wanted my own style, straight-ahead, down-home blues."
Pearson said the economic downturn has resulted in terrible times for musicians.
"A musician's life is hard anyway," he added. "It is not easy. Things slow down and you wonder where your next paycheck is coming from."
He's just happy to still be making music.
"We've managed to keep going," he said. "This is a full-time thing."
Find out more
Information about Big Pete Pearson's album "The Screamer" can be found at modestoblues records.com. Pearson's upcoming schedule of shows at the Rhythm Room can be found at rhythmroom.com
