Heartless Bastards encapsulates that all too classic story of the small Midwest band who quickly found an audience and rose to prominence. In their case, it was a hard-hitting approach to blues rock and frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom's lyricism which got them their accolades. The niche in music they helped to fill in the early aughts hasn't lost its importance — Heartless Bastards is still on the forefront of a scene which seems to be exploding in popularity.

Of course it doesn't hurt when fellow blues rockers and Ohioans like The Black Keys get ahold of your demo and pass it on to a record label at the beginning of your career. Add in the production talents of two members of the band Spoon and you've got a surefire success on your hands.

Songs performed: "Parted Ways," "Gotta Have Rock and Roll," and "Simple Feeling."

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