Blind Willies is a San Francisco rock Americana band led by singer/songwriter Alexei Wajchman. The band began at San Francisco's High School of the Arts as a duo playing covers of American folk songs and Alexei's originals which he began writing when he was 15. After their professional debut at San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, the band's first two releases of all original songs, The Unkindness of Ravens(2007) and Everybody's Looking for a Meal(2008), were highly praised. The albums defined their sound and provided them the opportunity to perform extensively at eclectic venues, from New York's Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and San Francisco's Djangofest to Brooklyn's intimate back room at Barbes. They shared stages with punk icon Penelope Houston (Avengers), Dawg Music innovator David Grisman, and folk iconoclast Peter Stampfel (Holy Modal Rounders).

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​​​Following their sophomore release, and in search of a larger canvas, Alexei assembled a full band of experienced young musicians accomplished across diverse genres including rock, jazz, classical, world, and hip-hop. The band recorded

 

A new album, Every Day Is Judgment Day, was released in July 2014. A blend of folk, blues, Americana, and rock ‘n’ roll, the songs on Every Day Is Judgment Day were written by Alexei Wajchman, produced by Blind Willies, recorded by Justin Phelps(Dresden Dolls, CAKE), and mastered by John Baldwin (Neil Young, White Stripes).

 

Alexei's songs have been played on more than 200 radio stations around the world, including the UK, Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, Israel, Australia, and Canada. In Fall 2013, the band played 36 shows in Ireland, England, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. 

 

Members of Blind Willies also perform with Rupa and the April Fishes; George Watsky; Goodnight, Texas; Kev Choice Ensemble; and Marcus Cohen and the Congress.

 

Alexei Wajchman: vocals, guitar

Misha Khalikulov: cello

Max Miller-Loran: trumpet, keys

Daniel Riera: bass, flute

Adam Nash: lead guitar

Alex Nash: drums