Gone To Texas

Gone To Texas

Editorial Reviews
<"b00006aff02999"> About the Artist
Seriously, folks: John McVey has a long and varied history as a blues musician. He's been able to sometimes support himself for over 20 years, playing with such performers as Larry Davis, Fenton Robinson and Lavelle White, among others.

"Back when I first started out w/Larry Davis, we'd play places that were real blood-and-bucket joints. You just had to play like you were gonna fight somebody (yeah, you just hoped it wasn't your own band-members!)"

John's been shot at in places such as Foster's Blue Room in Kansas City and the Owls Club in North Little Rock. After 6 years on the road with Larry Davis, including stints of working with Fenton Robinson, Chick Willis, Frank "Crying Shame" Clark, Lavelle White, Zora Young & Jeanne Carroll (Blues with the Girls European Tour around '83), getting to play with the Great Johnnie Johnson, Albert King, Albert Collins, Johnny Little John, Bigtime Sarah, and being on shows with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and many others, John moved to Austin, TX.

For the next 4 or 5, maybe 6 years (he doesn't remember too well) John worked with a number of harmonica-based blues bands, traveling extensively with Hook (Herrera) & the Hitchhikers and then with Paul Orta & the Kingpins. One day in the early 1990s, 2 weeks after the coup against Gorbachev, John found himself onstage in Nickel, Russia at the legendary Harmonica Rumble sponsored by blues entrepreneur Eddie Stout.

It was there, sharing the stage with 8 Texas blues harmonica blowers all playing "Sweet Home Chicago" at the same time, that John had an epiphane: "NEVER AGAIN!"

Upon his return to Austin, John formed his own band, the Stumble.

After a very profitable Miller Genuine Draft Light television spot and a tour of Italy, John was invited to join the Lavelle White Band as guitarist and band leader. With Lavelle, he played the major festival circuit for several years, on shows with Luther Allison, John Lee Hooker and more.

In 1999, McVey decided to get off the road and re-form the Stumble. If you see John today you'll probably catch Erin James playing bass and singing, Matt Sessions or Jason Moeller on drums and Matt Farrell or Mark Goodwin on keys and vocals.

John's first solo CD, "Gone to Texas," was released in March of 2002. The album was produced by Derek O'Brien and engineered by Stuart Sullivan. It features John on guitar and vocals, Joel Guzman on button accordion, Kim Wilson on harmonica, Larry Fulcher on bass, Barry "Frosty" Smith on drums and percussion, Mike Buck on drums, Derek O'Brien on rhythm guitar where noted, Riley Osbourn on keys and Erin James and Eve Monsees on harmony vocals. 9 of the 12 songs on the album are John's originals.

McVey can also be heard around Austin playing with Erin James and her band (formerly named "the Dupes").

<"b00006aff04999"> Album Description
My take on John McVey is pretty straightforward: He greas'd his skillet & lit his fire in Little Rock, Arkansas and moved to Austin, Texas and cook'd. Starting out with Blues great Larry Davis and literally playing in "buckets of blood" on Little Rock's north and east sides, John noted: "You just had to play like you were going to fight somebody." He hung in there, gigging with Fenton Robison and former Earl Hooker vocalist Frank "Crying Shame" Clark. One evening, Albert King told a blues crowd, "Slim plays just like me. Trouble is, I'M Albert King!" John paid attention and started to develop his own sound. His Arkansas funk, playing-from-the-gut guitar stylings were further enhanced when Larry Davis turned him on to the classic recordings of Earl Hooker and Magic Sam. Moving to (Gone to) Austin, Texas in '86, John began working at the Continental Club and at Antone's with Hook Herrera and the Hitchhikers, which included Alex Napier and Mike Buck. Having already! travel'd overseas with Larry Davis' "Blues with the Girls" tour, he also tour'd nationwide and internationally, first with Paul Orta and then with Lavelle White. John and I first crossed paths in the early '90s, when he came through Wichita, Kansas, backing up Harmonica Man Lewis Cowdrey. Since then I've "Gone To Texas" myself and, living in Ft. Worth, get a chance a couple times a year to hear John and his group, the Stumble, smoke the house down in Ft. Worth at J.&J.'s Blues Bar or down at Joe`s Generic Bar or Babe's on 6th Street in Austin. For his "Gone To Texas" CD, John enlisted the aid of Austin's finest from producer Derek O'Brien on down, with Blues "Goners" like Mike Buck, Barry "Frosty" Smith, Larry Fulcher, Joel Guzman, Riley Osborne and Kim Wilson laying it on the line.Ê All of the "Gone To Texas" cuts have a funky-tone-feel that oughta suit you to a tee. In early 200l I started praying fervently to have a new CD on my turntable that would satisfy my insatiable Blues listening lust. Thanks to John Mcvey and "Los Gone Ones," my prayers have been answered. Wes Race Blues Spectator At Large

Gone To Texas, Music, John McVey, Blues, Contemporary Folk, Folk & Traditional, Pop, Singer/Songwriter

Gone To Texas

google.com

Music: