The cultural soil that made the blues great has all been plowed down to sterile ground and eroded away down the long Mississippi. So the challenge for a band like Cherri and the Violators is to reinvent the blues and bring something fresh to the table. Happily, even triumphantly, the band has done just that on an album that manages to be both experimental in its reach while saying something new. The Benzie/Manistee County-based band labels their music "contemporary blues," and you have to hand it to them: they have succeeded in slapping the paddles on the old zombie blues and reviving it as their own personal creation with songwriting that is exceptionally strong.

CNV formed in 2000, with original members Cheryl & Paul Bendig. The current lineup includes Hank Cupp on percussion & Herb Cottier on lead guitar. The band released "First Offense" in 2004, and immediately began work on "Empty Pockets", released in 2005, and "Processed American Blues Product" in 2007.

Throughout Northern Michigan. Live performance is always special.

Vocally, Pat Benatar, Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi, Heart. Instrumentally, blues rock and rock bands such as SRV, Foghat, ZZ Top, Lucinda Williams.

I'm not sure what it all does but it's damn heavy.

Band members include: Cheryl Bendig - Vocals, rhythm guitar Paul Bendig - Bass, vocals Hank Cupp - drums Herb Cottier - lead guitar