Artist Mark "Porkchop" Holder

Formerly the third leg of Black Diamond Heavies, Mark "Porkchop" Holder went his own way in 2006. The amicable separation did neither side any harm musically: The Heavies now rock harder than ever, and Holder, playing solo, creates fiery, furious traditional country-blues that needs no embellishment other than what he can provide. And he can provide a hell of a lot: Making a big noise to match his ample frame with a steel guitar, harmonica, and stompboxes, Holder plays like he's wrestling with the devil for the thrill of it. He knows and clearly loves the old blues canon, slamming out terrific covers of tunes by Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson. His latest disc, Fry Pharmacy, keeps things raw and simple—one-take recordings of songs he's been perfecting on Nashville street corners.

Updated 07/21/2009