Historic Folsom’s Powerhouse Pub continues its Powerhouse of Blues series this Sunday with a deeply rooted and emotionally driven performance by Derek Fresquez & Cuttin’ the Chord, a Sacramento-based blues band known for contemporary, guitar-driven blues delivered with grit, soul, and uncommon feel.
Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Derek Fresquez, the band represents a new generation of blues artists who remain firmly anchored in the genre’s traditions while bringing a modern energy and intensity to the stage. Though now in his early thirties, Fresquez has been immersed in the blues for nearly two decades, having first picked up the guitar at age 14 while playing in his family blues band.
From those early years, Fresquez developed not just technical ability, but a deep emotional connection to the music. His approach to blues guitar is grounded in feel, phrasing, and tone, favoring expressive lines over flash and allowing each note to breathe. Whether delivering searing, rock-influenced blues guitar or slowing things down for gut-wrenching ballads, Fresquez carefully selects his licks and effects from a well-honed arsenal, pairing them with gritty, soulful vocals that reveal a musician who plays from instinct and experience.
Fresquez’s influences are evident throughout his playing, drawing heavily from Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Robert Cray, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, while also incorporating elements inspired by Daniel Castro. Fresquez followed Castro’s career closely as a teenager, studying his phrasing and tone, and those lessons surface organically within his own style. The result is a sound that feels both familiar and personal, rooted in tradition yet unmistakably his own.
Audiences often remark that Fresquez plays with the depth and nuance of a musician decades older. His ability to move seamlessly between Texas rockin’ blues, funky blues, jump blues, rock and roll, and slow, emotionally charged numbers has earned him a reputation as an old soul in a young man’s body. Every performance is delivered with full commitment, with Fresquez giving everything he has from the first note to the last.
Cuttin’ the Chord was formed in 2017 following the conclusion of Fresquez’s family band, Rumpshaker, when its members chose to shift their focus to other priorities. Rather than stepping away from music, Fresquez used the transition as a turning point, launching Cuttin’ the Chord as a way to honor his roots while carving his own path forward. The band’s name itself reflects that moment of evolution, symbolizing both independence and continuity.
Fresquez credits much of his musical foundation to his family, offering special thanks to his father, Mike Fresquez, for the guidance and lessons passed down over the years, and to his brother, Eric Fresquez, for the countless musical experiences they shared growing up. Those early influences remain woven into every performance, grounding the band’s sound in authenticity and lived experience.
For a brief period, Fresquez also performed as a rhythm guitarist with the Ryder Green Band. During that time, the group won the Bay Area International Blues Competition and went on to compete in Memphis. The experience proved formative, but short-lived, as Fresquez ultimately felt called to lead his own project and fully express his musical vision as a frontman.
Backed by a lineup of seasoned musicians, Cuttin’ the Chord provides a strong rhythmic foundation that allows Fresquez’s guitar and vocals to shine while keeping dancers moving. The band’s grooves are tight and purposeful, supporting performances that feel as good as they sound and reinforcing the communal spirit that defines live blues.
This Sunday’s Powerhouse of Blues performance offers an opportunity to experience a blues artist who bridges generations, channeling the emotional weight of classic blues while pushing it forward with modern energy. It’s an afternoon built around connection, musicianship, and the kind of live performance that rewards listeners who want to feel the music as much as hear it.
The show takes place Sunday, January 25, at Powerhouse Pub, located at 614 Sutter Street in Historic Folsom. Music begins at 3:00 p.m. This is a 21-and-over event.
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