The Hounds may be Albuquerque’s newest blues band, but don’t let that fool you none—this group has some pedigreed blood running through it. “The Hounds is comprised of veterans of the local and regional blues and jazz scene,” says Steve Whitman. And he should know–Whitman plays bass for the venerable Albuquerque Blues Connection as well as the new blues group. He’s joined by Dave Paul on guitar, Jim Magnarella (drummer for Albuquerque cover-boys 8-TRACK and some various jazz projects) on the skins and Greg Overman (who, you may remember, played with another local “Hounds” act in the late ’90s—Anna Wolfe and the Hounds of Carlisle) on sax. “The tunes tend toward the funkier, jazzier side of blues, with a lot of less well-known numbers … and some old favorites, of course.” Steve concedes, “It is a blues band, after all.” The Hounds’ debut performance is Friday, April 14, at the Barley Room (5200 Eubank NE, 332-0800) from 8 p.m.-midnight. If you don’t make the inaugural set, Steve wants you to know the Hounds will follow up with a second full gig at the Barley Room on Friday, May 12.