Dunno if any of you have heard this guy Popa Chubby. This is his webbie:
http://www.popachubby.com/
He's not so well known, but his blues really kickass. He did some Hendrix covers ("Fire", etc) really hot stuff. "Same old blues" is a down to earth blues number with some lovely guitarring.
Some of these guys are not really hard rock but more towards blues, but check out Albert Collins, Anthony Gomes, Arsen Shomakhov, Chris Beard, Cold Blood, Corey Stevens, David Gogo, Joanna Connor, Joe Moss, Joe Vicino and the Smokedaddys, Johnny A (yeah just "Johnny A") - he plays a very interesting funky version of "the wind cries mary", and don't forget Jimmie Vaughan. Some others which I like are Kipori woods, Paul Rose, Robert Farrel, Ronnie Earl & the broadcasters, Tommy Castro, Frank Marino, Jamie LaRitz, Jeff Kollman, Gregg Bissonette, Robin Trower, etc. There's tons. Didn't have the energy to look up my collections.