Artist Spotlight: Big Johnson Blues Band
Written By: Adam T. Rossi on December 19, 2008 Saratoga Today
The Big Johnson Blues Band has been offering a high energy assortment of blues classics to audiences throughout the Capital Region since forming in 2001.
Although the band has changed members over the years the current line-up features Greg Drake (guitar/vocals), John "Mac" McNamara (lead vocals), Bruce Gautie (drums), Paul Cooke (percussion/vocals), Jim Robinson (bass) and Bob Krull (keyboard).
Throughout the years, the group has performed at popular area music events such as the Fleet Blues Festival and the Albany Lobster Festival, not to mention at popular music establishments in Saratoga Springs, Troy, Amsterdam and elsewhere.
Today the group continues to perform blues classics from the likes of Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy to rock tunes from the Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Beatles.
In Saratoga Springs, they can be heard performing their cocktail of blues at the Saratoga City Tavern on Saturdays once a month. I recently spoke with the band about how they came together, their songwriting and what separates them from other blues bands in the area.
How did you come together as a band?
Paul: Our original guitar player put an ad in Metroland in January of 01. He left in 04. Mike Rozicki (drummer) and myself responded to the ad. Jim Robinson (bass guitar) and Greg Drake (lead guitar) were people whom Paul knew. Paul found John McNamara (lead singer) through Little League baseball and he suggested that Mac join. He had him sit in once. Bob Krull (keyboard) met Paul Cooke at an open mic night run by the Northeast Blues Society.
Who have been your biggest influences?
Mac: I like everything from blues shouters like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf to 60's and 70's blues rock bands/singers like the Stones, Led Zeppelin (Robert Plant), Free (Paul Rodgers), the old J. Geils Band, Allman Brothers, The Doors and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I also like more poet-type music from guys like Van Morrison. Let's not forget Motown and Atlantic records artists like The Temptations and Otis Redding. I guess I like a lot of styles.
Bob: I started with folk music and jazz. My father brought home a wind-up record player that he got at an auction sale, along with a set of 78 big-band records. From that I got my taste for horn bands and still like bands such as Tower of Power and Earth, Wind and Fire. I love rhythm & blues, gospel and salsa. In fact, I like everything except rap and German lieder. I don't like German lieder despite having been born in Germany.
Greg: John Hiatt, Eric Clapton, BB King, Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Joe Walsh, Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Paul: John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson.
Where did the name Big Johnson Blues Band originate from?
Greg: When the band formed several names were tossed into the air. "Big Johnson" was the least offensive and after some debate we settled on it. Some months later, for PR reasons "Blues Band" was tacked onto the band's name in an effort to further define what the band was about.
What separates your band from other blues acts in the area?
Mac: I think what makes us appealing to a wide range of people - range is the diversity of our music. We play traditional blues, soul, psychedelic, some pop and songs with a country rock flavor. Sometimes we have more than one genre happening in the same song!
Bob: I think we try to remember that we are there to entertain the audience. Our primary purpose is to get the audience to have fun. We also try to have fun ourselves. As I say to my wife, "When I am finished lecturing at RPI, nobody screams for just one more." I have to say that that has been true for the 35 years that I have been at RPI. More people scream for one more in one night when the band plays than have done so in all my time at RPI. Maybe I should bring a keyboard to class more often.
Over the years, you have introduced new members to the band. How has that changed the group's sound?
Greg: The change-over of singers broadened our possibilities and our set lists. Different musical tastes and influences on the singer have a ripple effect and give a different feel to the music. Bringing in keyboards was something we chewed on for a while. Getting "Dr Bob" was a positive influence and opened us up to the barrel house piano and Hammond B-3 organ stuff that were previously outside of our sphere of possibilities. The most recent change was that of drummers. Our former drummer was heavily rock influenced and gave us more of a rock groove, whereas Bruce has a lighter touch, more of a jazz feel which gives the band an entirely different groove or should I say "swing."
How do you go about writing a song together?
Mac: Songwriting is something I want to get into in 2009. I'm not sure how it will happen, but it may begin with a riff and build from there. It will be interesting.
Greg: We haven't gone this route yet with the current line up. We have fun playing with arrangements while keeping ourselves alert and loose for live interaction among band members. Any one of us is free to take a tune into a different direction. For a live band that's where one of the real joys of playing comes in.
You perform at the Saratoga City Tavern on a monthly basis. What do you like about performing in Saratoga Springs compared to other areas of the Capital Region?
Mac: I like Saratoga's energy. No matter the time of year, people come out and have a good time. The other night we played in an ice storm that may go down in local history. The place was still hopping and nobody was complaining about the weather. Track season is out of this world in Saratoga and at the Tavern.
Greg: Saratoga is wild! We have a faithful following and the question we hear most frequently is "when are you playing Saratoga again?" What that tells us is that the fans love Saratoga as much as we do. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
Bob: It can't get better than when the audience is dancing and screaming. Saratoga audiences in particular seem ready to do that.
What is in store for the future?
Mac: As I said previously, I'd like us to get into songwriting and also to expand the number of places we play so we get a name over a wider region. Also, I think we should constantly update and change songs so we feel fresh and energized when performing.
Greg: Maybe we'll write a bit during the winter months or go back in to the studio "as is" and lay down some of our favorite tunes. There's no pressure, no goals... just the music.
