Lexington's Mike Welch emerges from year of long COVID with new album, 'Nothing But Time'

“It has been an interesting four or five years,” said Mike Welch, in what is one of the larger understatements of the year.

The Lexington native is celebrating the release of his new album, “Nothing But Time,” on Friday, June 30, on the Gulf Coast Records label, but more than that, he’s celebrating his own return to music and the world in general.

Welch was first known as the Boston-area teenage guitar phenom who delighted fans and prompted Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd to dub him “Monster Mike,” when, as a 14-year old, he stole the show at the opening ceremonies for the original House of Blues in Harvard Square in 1992. By 1996, Welch had made his debut album, “These Blues Are Mine,” on Newton’s Tone-Cool Records, and he spent much of the next three decades touring the world with various groups, while releasing half a dozen albums under his own name.

Branching out

But mainly, Welch toured with stellar bands as a sideman, one of the most widely acclaimed guitarists of his generation. His longest stint was with New England legends Sugar Ray Norcia and the Bluetones – often alongside Marshfield keyboard ace Anthony Geraci. But by 2016, Welch was out on his own, exploring solo options, when he met the perfect match. Paired up with vocalist Mike Ledbetter at an Otis Rush tribute show at the 33rd Annual Chicago BluesFest, Welch knew he had found a musician with whom he was simpatico. Their alliance produced incredible music almost immediately, and the “Right Time, Right Place” album by the Welch-Ledbetter Connection won a Blues Music Award in 2018 as traditional blues album of the year.

Bandmate's death was a blow

But Ledbetter died suddenly in January 2019 at 33 from effects of epilepsy, leaving a wife and two kids and a brief musical legacy. In May 2019, the Welch-Ledbetter Connection won the Blues Music Award as band of the year, while the late singer won as vocalist of the year and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.  And if music fans were heartbroken at the sudden loss of the talented singer, Welch was stunned and had to step back from the stage for a while.

“After Mike died, I couldn’t even think of moving forward,” Welch said from his Somerville home last week. “For most of 2019, my other musical friends kept me afloat, asking me to sit in here and there.”

Long COVID took a toll

Welch had gradually begun getting back into the music scene again, writing and performing new music, when he caught COVID-19 in December 2021. While the initial illness was not severe, Welch became one of the "long COVID" victims and was sidelined for more than a year. While he was on the comeback trail from that, he also dealt with a nagging weight problem.

“I had COVID probably a week at first, and thought it wasn’t going to be that bad,” said Welch. “But I ended up dealing with the aftereffects for over a year. For a lot of 2022, I could work or do physical activity for no more than an hour before I had to lie down. I’ve put a lot of work in, building myself back up. I also had surgery and lost 130 pounds. I’ve stretched myself from walking a half hour a day to now two hours a day. I’m finally back to feeling normal.

“It was a comedy of errors,” he said. “We live in a three-family house, with my parents on the upper floor, so when COVID first hit we really locked down. By November of ’21, I was ready to try and play out again and had a few good gigs – the best one was at a Denmark blues festival. But then I caught COVID. So, it was a lot of stop and go for quite a while.”

New album has 14 songs

Welch’s new album was recorded in March of this year, with his friend and fellow guitarist Kid Andersen producing. The album includes 14 cuts, totaling almost 66 minutes, with 10 of them penned by Welch. The format features Welch in a quartet setting, with several tracks also including a three- or four-piece horn section. While it is a dazzling reminder of what an incendiary guitarist Welch can be, the most striking thing is what a versatile and evocative vocalist he has become.

While a performer with his background might be expected to be in hot demand, Welch didn’t want to just sign with any record company. He did feel comfortable with the deal that was offered by Gulf Coast Records, which is owned by fellow guitarist (and big Welch fan) Mike Zito.

“Maybe I could’ve had more options if I pursued them,” said Welch. “But I knew, for me, it’d be a process this time. I had to start over, and so Gulf Coast was taking a leap of faith with me. These were people I trusted, who became part of the process with me. I’ve had a uniformly positive experience with Mike Zito and everyone we worked with. Making this record became an inspiring experience.”

A vibrant collection

The new album is a vibrant collection of rockin’ blues, from the Otis Rush-like boldness of “Walking to You,” to the midtempo sizzle of “Nothing But Time,” to the exhilarating blues-rock of “Time to Move,” where Welch’s full-throated vocals are framed by his stiletto-toned guitar lines. But it is his vocals which continually surprise, from the brisk growl of “Offset Blues” to the midtempo musing on lost love “In Case You Care.”

Among the four covers, Welch turns George Harrison’s “I Me Mine” into a soul rocker, with tempo shifts that allow him to stretch out vocally and present the mantra as a story.

"That George Harrison song is the one that unlocked what my record became," Welch said. "I'm a huge Beatles fan, and I always heard that song as a blues shuffle. When we came up with that arrangement, I could sing it my way, dig in, and really express myself."

Working on his vocals

“I put a lot of work into my vocals here. During the pandemic, I had a lot of time to practice,” said Welch. “More than anything else, the brand I had built was as a guy who accompanied singers, from Shemekia Copeland to Danielle Nicole, to Sugar Ray, and of course Mike Ledbetter. I knew if I was going to come back, I had better have my vocal chops.

“I knew what I had with Mike Ledbetter was a blessing because we were on the same page and I never felt creatively limited,” Welch said.  “At that point, if you heard a Mike Welch show, it wouldn’t have sounded much different than a Welch-Ledbetter show – just a different singer. But I didn’t want to go back to being a sideman, and I knew if I wanted that creative freedom, I’d have to sing. I’ve been working on my singing for years, but it was under the radar. I am pretty happy with how I sound now, and it’s just been a case of getting myself physically up to the challenge of doing it every night.”

Perhaps a key to Welch’s superb performance as singer and musician can be found in the record’s only instrumental, “Afraid of My Own Tears,” which goes nearly nine minutes, has several movements and tells a story with just his guitar.

Telling a story with his guitar

“Telling a story without words is what I’m trying to do,” said Welch. “The more I played with great singers, the more I tried to play my guitar like singing. And then now we get back to my own singing, and it’s like an extra instrument, which I can play off of, so every song can have contrast and be like a conversation.”

Welch just made a guest appearance at Rhythm Room Afternoons in Plymouth, where he sat in with Jason Ricci’s band. He is hoping to do more drop-in guest shots like that and aiming to get back in full performance mode in 2024, starting with The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise and then a European tour.

“We’re still booking gigs, but you’re going to be seeing me out and about more,” said Welch. “I’m feeling really good about this new record, and it feels good to be playing out again.”

Tedeschi Trucks Band update

The Tedeschi Trucks Band, fronted by Norwell’s Susan Tedeschi and her husband, Derek Trucks, opened its summer tour last week in its hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. The set list included a handful of intriguing new covers, including “Woman to Woman” by Joe Cocker, “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)” by the Rolling Stones, “Beck’s Bolero” by the late Jeff Beck and “Keep on Smilin’” by Wet Willie. The TTB tour hits the TD Garden on Sept. 27.

Here's where to see live music this weekend on the South Shore

THURSDAY: Americana star Eilen Jewell headlines The Sinclair tonight (and The Narrows Center on Saturday). Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade rocks MGM Music Hall. The female vocal trio The Ladles at Club Passim. Capricorn Records session legend Eddie 9V at the Narrows Center. Peruvian guitar master Carlos Odria at The Spire Center. Jackopierce celebrates their 35th anniversary, with an all-requests show at City Winery. Kami Lyle sings at Boston Harbor Distillery. Singer/rapper Anees headlines Royale. The Barren Youth rock Brighton Music Hall.

FRIDAY: The Spire Center has a remarkable night, with J2B2, or The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, featuring six-string virtuoso Jorgenson and his pal Herb Pedersen – the duo founded The Desert Rose Band with Chris Hillman – and this is their new quartet project. Pop chartbuster Ed Sheeran opens two nights at Gillette Stadium. Michael Franti and Spearhead get you dancing at Leader Bank Pavilion. Four Sticks does a Led Zep show at Soundcheck Studios. Nigerian songsmith Lojay at The Sinclair. The BT-ALC band, big band jazz at Boston Harbor Distillery. Vermont roots band Low Lilly at Club Passim. Rapper Ab-Soul at Brighton Music Hall. Section 8 rocks The Jetty. Rhythmic fun with The Pedrito Martinez Group at City Winery. Matt Swanton at The C-Note, with Bees Deluxe. Country singer Chase Rice’s show at The Cape Cod Melody Tent is sold out.

SATURDAY: Get an early start for a free day of music as the third annual Franklin Bluesfest runs from noon to 10 p.m. at the Franklin Town Common, with a veritable all-star cast of musicians, including Sugar Ray Norcia and the Bluetones, Neal and the Vipers and former Marshfield resident Bruce Katz. Later in the afternoon, your New England Free Jacks pro rugby team is in the playoffs at Quincy’s Veterans Stadium, but before the game kicks off at 5:30 p.m., the Hipshot Band gets things warmed up at 4 p.m., and there’s an on-site beer festival too. One of the Boston area’s hardest working and most entertaining acts, Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers, take over The C-Note. Lisa Fischer’s long singing career includes backup vocals with The Rolling Stones, but she’s got her own music tonight at City Winery. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe brings serious groove to Soundcheck Studios. Tori Amos sings at Leader Bank Pavilion.  Rocker Gary Hoey at The Spire Center.  Dead to the Core is an acoustic tribute to the Grateful Dead, at Club Passim.

SUNDAY AND BEYOND: Rock/jazz guitar ace Pat Travers is at City Winery on Sunday night with his trio; and there’s a special show at The Lilypad on Sunday when jazz bass star Bruno Raberg plays one set solo, and then  one set with his trio. Monday, Just Fine is a Mary J. Bligh tribute, at City Winery. Tuesday (July 4) catch your local Aldous Collins Band at the Levitate Backyard. July 6, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets light up MGM Music Hall. July 7 marks the opening night of the three-day Levitate Festival at the Marshfield Fairgrounds. Rumours – the Fleetwood Mac tribute – plays South Shore Music Circus on July 7, and The Cape Cod Melody Tent on July 8. Irish trad-rockers The Saw Doctors hit MGM Music Hall on July 8. Head to the TD Garden on July 9 for the inimitable Alicia Keys. The July 12 show by Louisiana bluesman Tab Benoit at The Narrows Center is already sold out.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Recovered from long COVID, 'Monster' Mike Welch releases new album