Blues Firebrand Paulie Boy Blues Reflects on His First Canadian Show and What Comes Next
- jaybroderick
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
By: Jay Broderick - Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern has hosted legends for decades... The Rolling Stones, Roy Buchanan, the Blues Brothers, and a long list of artists who shaped the DNA of modern rock and blues. On November 4, 2025, rising American blues guitarist Paulie Boy Blues added his name to that lineage with his first-ever Canadian performance. Unfortunately, it was not a show that LoudTO was able to make it to, but we were able to hook up with the guitarist early in January, and the Toronto show was a night Paulie Boy now calls one of the band’s strongest shows to date.
“It was crazy,” he told LoudTO during our conversation. “I was looking down thinking, dude, we’re sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones right now… and Roy Buchanan. Some real big names. It was an honor.”
For Paulie Boy, the venue wasn’t chosen by accident. He openly admits he researches every venue he plays... and in this case, he was following in the footsteps of one of his biggest influences.
“A lot of people that I look up to have played at that stage, and that's the reason why I was keen on playing there. Specifically, it was Philip Sayce" he explained, speaking of the Canadian guitarist who played the bar scene here in Toronto since he was 16. Sayce eventually joined The Jeff Healy Band in 1997. "I like to go play the venues that Philip Sayce played. That’s kind of my thing,” he said.
Despite the band’s enthusiasm for the performance, one thing didn’t go as planned... the soundboard recording never made it into their hands.
“Sometimes the sound guys will give you the audio and sometimes they won’t,” he explained. “I asked for it, and I don’t know what happened, but he just didn’t give it to me.” For a musician who grew up obsessing over live recordings, especially Jimi Hendrix tapes, losing a show like that stings. But Paulie Boy is honest about the flip side... sometimes he doesn’t want the audio at all.
“In New York a couple weeks ago, the sound guy wanted sixty bucks for the audio. I was like, never mind. We’ve done better than what we did tonight,” he laughed. Still, he trusts his instincts. “I know by the end of the set if it was perfect or not. I don’t need to hear it back.”
Paulie Boy Blues heads back to the UK for an eight‑show run with "The Yorkshire Puddings", starting January 14th in Sunderland, England. It's the guitarist's third tour in the UK. While he’s careful not to disparage his home country, he’s candid about where he feels most at home musically.
“I hate to say it because I’m American,” he admitted, “but I like playing the UK scene more than the US scene. I get better results in England and Scotland than I do in Maryland for sure.”
He’s also eyeing Australia next, hoping to line up festival dates that sync with the opposite-season touring cycle. But I say "Australia 'schmalia!" Will we see Paulie Boy Blues again here in Toronto?
Absolutely... and sooner than later! The musician has been in touch with Horseshoe Tavern management about a return, but he’s hoping to anchor his next Canadian run around a festival slot.
“As soon as we can get a festival landed, we’re going to try to get into Quebec and Toronto again,” he said. Ottawa is also on the radar, though he jokes that his favourite Canadian export remains simple: “Tim Hortons, dude. That’s the best thing I’ve had in Canada.”
He’s already been featured on the Canadian blues society’s listings and is eager to join events like The Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle. “I would love to play any of these festivals in Canada,” he said. “I really hope we can get on one.”
Regarding touring itself, he says it's a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. “I like seeing new cultures, new cities, new people. Trying the food is cool. The sightseeing is cool. It can be draining, but it’s really cool.” He’s used his downtime abroad to explore castles, historic sites, and landscapes, especially in Scotland and England, where he’s built friendships that double as tour guides.
Again, for us proud Canadians, Paulie Boy Blues left Toronto with a strong impression, and he’s eager to return. “I really liked Canada and Toronto,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming back.”
We'll certainly be watching for the next announcement.
Paulie Boy Blues Online
Great article. We're proud to see Paulie gettin' it - greeting from Maryland