​Tough Deal is a Richmond, VA-based blues band that brings good times rockin’ and swinging blues straight on! From that beautiful West Coast Swing, to smokin’ Chicago-driven tunes, this group of seasoned musicians delivers… and then some! Our debut CD entitled “Don‘t You Fold“, consisting of 14 Tough Deal originals, came out in the fall of 2011 and is available on iTunes, cdbaby.com.​

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Some of the venues Tough Deal has performed at are: Capital Ale House, 219 Restaurant/Basin Street Lounge, Tobacco Company, Diamond Billiards, Legend Brewing, O’Banks, Daddio’s Grille, McCook’s Lakeside Grill, Lulu's, Hard Times Cafe, The Diamond (Flying Squirrels baseball), Old City Bar Chophouse, Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival, The Jewish Mother, Colonial Tavern, CBS News Channel 6 “Virginia This Morning” show.

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​"Tough Deal grooves with the blues covers you respect and love. If the songs were any tighter, it just might be a crime because this blues band are masters of 4/4 time, regularly ending songs on top of a dime. Front lady Kathy leads the dynamic group in both joyful and colorful fashion. Mark Saurs delivers superior guitar hooks, leads and fret walking, and the grooving pocket power rhythm section is a pleasant blues shower... A Top Gun Blues band... My advice is for would-be listeners... Get the blues, it will soothe your soul."
--Chris Lythgoe

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BAND BIOS:

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Lead vocalist Kathy Gregory captures Blues, R&B, and Soulful sounds with every performance. Growing up in the music world, she primarily sang country all her life and now adds her amazing talents to the blues of Tough Deal. She’s Richmond-bred and a huge Elvis fan.

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Guitarist Mike Souder has been a professional musician since 1965. He grew up with the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. In the 70’s he was involved with major acts, largely with sound crew work for Todd Rundgren, George Harrison, Robben Ford and others. He became stuck on the original blues stuff in the late ‘90s. Mike also plays locally with Blues Flash.

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Guitarist Mark Saurs is a veteran of the Richmond blues scene. He started playing at a young age, and his playing has since spanned the gamut from standards to Top 40, to downright “dirty” blues. His musical influences include Eric Clapton, Foghat, Allman Brothers and “anyone else that knows how to kick up the back beat and turn it up to 11”.

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Bass player Matt Martin’s blues roots go back to Memphis where he was raised. He credits his Dad’s New Orleans heritage as having a big impact on his broad musical education. Southern Rock, Delta Blues, and Classic Rock have also played a part in his development as a musician. Whether it be in local clubs, special events, huge festivals or in the recording studio, his roots in the blues have provided the foundation for his playing style. In the early 1980’s he played in a band that opened for Alabama, Tony Joe White and John Anderson. 

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Drummer Bob Saydlowski started playing drums at age 10. He was the drummer in many top bands in the western Massachusetts area, including many years in the house band at the famed Eastover Resort. He also toured and recorded with jazz/rock guitarist Joe Beck. Bob was the original “Product Close-Up” columnist for Modern Drummer magazine for 10 years, as well as writing for other publications. Later, he was Artist Relations and Marketing Manager for Sonor Drums for six years. He’s logged over 2,200 gigs plus numerous recording sessions. Some of the bands he’s performed with recently include Forrest McDonald & the Blues Train, The English Channel, Big Ray & The Kool Kats, The Wrest, Dr. Grin and Elegance. Visit his website at www.bobsaydlowski.com