Baltimore’s hip-hip fusion Joint Effort to play the Tree House Lounge, 1/22

They may only be three-strong, but Joint Effort have the musical chops and talent of a dozen. With guitar riffs supplied by Neil Durr, the musicality has strong similarity to the jams of Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan, capturing some of the essence of blues and blending it with their rock and hip-hop bedrock. Flawless bass lines from the hands of Durr’s brother Evan tie together the sick string work with the lyrically-rich verses spilled by vocalist Eric Means. Laying down equal parts philosophy and commentary, Means freestyles are as poignant and evocative as Flobots or Lupe Fiasco. You can catch this fantastic trio take the stage at the Tree House Lounge, 1/22, with Mary El and Edjacated Phools. -Jonathan Goodwin