PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: #840 > Brandon Santini - Live at CSPS 8-28-26~ (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Brandon Santini
Live @ CSPS
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
August 28, 2026

By Phillip Smith; August 30, 2026

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It’s always a damn good time when Brandon Santini is performing on stage. Friday evening Santini played CSPS in Cedar Rapids and released two tremendous sets of smoldering blues. With Santini on vocals and harmonica, his band that evening was comprised of guitarist Sean McKee, bassist Jeff Cunningham, and drummer Ron James.

Santini ignited the show, starting off with “See That Pony” from his latest album Which Way Do We Go. That’s such an infectious song. It’s one of my favorites. It made me happy to hear the Delta blues classic “Rollin’ & Tumblin’”. That song always delivers. I appreciate that he played “Which Way Do We Go” and “The War Ain’t Over” back-to-back. Both from his latest album as well and positioned as the first two tracks. They’re such meaningful songs and promote a worldly message of hope and love. Covers of harmonica luminaries James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson II kept everyone’s attention with “Cookin’ With Cotton” and “Nine Below Zero”. Santini ended the first set with “One More Day” and dedicated it to everyone going through despairing times. That was really special.

With a riveting delivery of “Back to You” off his album The Longshot, the second set began. It was great to see guitarist Sean McKee (Sean McKee Band) get the spotlight and rip it up on guitar as he belted out “Hard Feelings”. He’s such a tremendous player. Iowa bluesman Kevin Burt happened to be in attendance for the show and joined the band for a “The Thrill is Gone”. That was a real treat indeed. Santini brought the set to a close with an amazing performance of “Turn on Your Lovelight” which featured an awe-inspired, extended drum solo from James. After exiting the stage, the band returned for an exhilarating, groove-filled encore of “Come on Everybody”, which coincidentally was also the same track he closed out his Live & Extended! album. It was a terrific show from start to finish, and can’t wait to see Brandon Santini again.