Tripp & The Breakers have entertained audiences in the Atlanta area for over 20 years. Having played hundreds of clubs dates, private events, and festivals, there is a ton of sweat under their guitar straps.
Until the summer of 2022 the band was known as 7 Licks and played a variety of music genres. But they’ve always been at their best when moaning and groaning the blues and playing blues influenced rock. They are more than thrilled to share with fans their enthusiasm and love of the blues as a base for everything that they do.
Tripp Blunschi
For over 25 years, Tripp Blunschi has played hundreds of shows and events as the lead singer and guitar player of long running rock and blues bands. He has opened for and played festivals with acts such as Mother’s Finest, Saving Abel, Run DMC, Rehab, Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, and Bob Burns.
His musical journey started in the early 90’s. While most of the world was focused on the transition of 80’s music to grunge, Tripp was focused on the blues music of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Duane Allman. Having no doubt influenced thousands upon thousands of others, this trio of fantastic musicians provided Tripp a pathway to the blues that he has never turned his back on.
After serving his country in the United States Air Force during The Gulf War (where he actually packed a disassembled Fender Stratocaster into his duffle bag so that he could practice while in Saudi Arabia) Tripp got his first gig in a twin guitar blues band called Second Hand Smoke in the late 90’s. There, mostly due to necessity, Tripp discovered he could actually sing the blues as well as play the blues on guitar.
For the next several years, and well into the 2000’s, Tripp was the lead singer in Second Hand Smoke and played blues gigs, festivals, and competitions all over Georgia. The band was interviewed and performed live on the air for WRFG 89.3 FM in Atlanta. They also played Blues Society events and blues festivals in Atlanta such as the annual Sweet Auburn Festival.
After honing both his guitar playing and singing skills in Second Hand Smoke and another band called Freeway Jam (that still occasionally performs), Tripp formed 7 Licks in 2003 along with bassist Paul Arredondo. While being influenced by the three “Kings” (BB, Albert, and Freddie) and other classic blues artists, as well as newer bands such as Gov’t Mule, Derek Trucks, and later Tab Benoit, this power trio played rock, blues, dance music, and a wide variety of covers that kept fans entertained and dancing with powerful vocals and gritty guitar for the next 20 years.
During the middle of the 7 Licks era, Tripp was also the lead singer and guitarist of the Southern Rock band Trippin’ The Breakers, not to be confused with the name of his newest band — although he admits there may have been a tad bit of influence on his recent band’s name :-). With Trippin’ The Breakers, Tripp had the opportunity to play with Bob Burns from Lynyrd Skynyrd, the loudest drummer by far that he’s ever shared the stage with.
Now, as 7 Licks transitions to Tripp & The Breakers, Tripp is thrilled to get back to his blues roots and to perform for audiences and aficionados of the blues.