Black Kat Benders

Black Kat Benders
By Bill Martin
It’s looking like the latest incarnation of
the Tulsa blues rock band Black Kat Benders
may be around awhile. It’s not difficult
sensing when a band enjoys performing
together and that is evident when watching
guitarist Bruce Jones, drummer Bob
Bledsoe, bassist Danny Nichols and vocalist
Kara Conrad.
The band had only one gig in 2010,
playing for Bruce, Danny and Bob’s alma
mater, a car show for the Nathan Hale High
School alumni. It wasn’t until February
2011 the band was really able to put it
together.
“Bob and I get along real well and seem
to click,” Bruce relates. Then we came
across our bass player, Danny, through a
mutual friend on Face Book. Then we
picked up our singer, Kara. There was an
old band called Circus. They had reformed
and called themselves Neptune Blue and
she was singing with them. I knew her
from years ago and approached her…
and everything worked out great.”
Black Kat Benders’ music reflects some of Bruce’s major influences
ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Deep Purple, Led Zepplin
and the Texas blues of the Vaughn brothers, Stevie Ray and Jimmy.
Bruce was married at an early age, played in bands during the
1980’s and then stopped to help raise their children. “During this
time I never really quit playing and had all these ideas for an original
sounding band taken from the things that influenced me. I just
wanted to throw it out there and see where it would go. We have had
a pretty good reception so far,” Bruce observes.
Having a vehicle to get their original music out was the primary
reason for forming the Black Kat Benders. In their strong showing
at the Tulsa Blues Challenge last August, the band’s entire performance
was comprised of original tunes.
Atypical approach to creating new music is Bruce writing the music.
The lyrics are usually spread around between Bob, Kara and Bruce.
“I generally have an idea and throw it out there,” Bruce says.
“Danny will write the bass part. He’s really versatile and not like a
guitar player playing bass. He will write a good bass line for it. I
try to give everyone the freedom to do what they want with it.”
BKA has been playing a good number of gigs around Tulsa during
the past year. At this writing in late November they were preparing
to go into the studio to record. Look for their new release in
early 2012 – and expect some excellent rockin’ blues tunes with
Kara’s great vocals and a really tight, solid band behind her. - Blues Society of Tulsa

Black Kat Benders
By Bill Martin
It’s looking like the latest incarnation of
the Tulsa blues rock band Black Kat Benders
may be around awhile. It’s not difficult
sensing when a band enjoys performing
together and that is evident when watching
guitarist Bruce Jones, drummer Bob
Bledsoe, bassist Danny Nichols and vocalist
Kara Conrad.
The band had only one gig in 2010,
playing for Bruce, Danny and Bob’s alma
mater, a car show for the Nathan Hale High
School alumni. It wasn’t until February
2011 the band was really able to put it
together.
“Bob and I get along real well and seem
to click,” Bruce relates. Then we came
across our bass player, Danny, through a
mutual friend on Face Book. Then we
picked up our singer, Kara. There was an
old band called Circus. They had reformed
and called themselves Neptune Blue and
she was singing with them. I knew her
from years ago and approached her…
and everything worked out great.”
Black Kat Benders’ music reflects some of Bruce’s major influences
ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Deep Purple, Led Zepplin
and the Texas blues of the Vaughn brothers, Stevie Ray and Jimmy.
Bruce was married at an early age, played in bands during the
1980’s and then stopped to help raise their children. “During this
time I never really quit playing and had all these ideas for an original
sounding band taken from the things that influenced me. I just
wanted to throw it out there and see where it would go. We have had
a pretty good reception so far,” Bruce observes.
Having a vehicle to get their original music out was the primary
reason for forming the Black Kat Benders. In their strong showing
at the Tulsa Blues Challenge last August, the band’s entire performance
was comprised of original tunes.
Atypical approach to creating new music is Bruce writing the music.
The lyrics are usually spread around between Bob, Kara and Bruce.
“I generally have an idea and throw it out there,” Bruce says.
“Danny will write the bass part. He’s really versatile and not like a
guitar player playing bass. He will write a good bass line for it. I
try to give everyone the freedom to do what they want with it.”
BKA has been playing a good number of gigs around Tulsa during
the past year. At this writing in late November they were preparing
to go into the studio to record. Look for their new release in
early 2012 – and expect some excellent rockin’ blues tunes with
Kara’s great vocals and a really tight, solid band behind her. - Blues Society of Tulsa

Web page showing Winners and other events at the Nathan Hale Car show.
BKB have a pic on this page. - Nathan Hale Alumni

Web page showing Winners and other events at the Nathan Hale Car show.
BKB have a pic on this page. - Nathan Hale Alumni