BLUES/ROCK Waiting on Texas Scratch · project, a new release is on the horizon. Texas Scratch is a...
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10 BUDDY APRIL 2013 Waiting on Texas Scratch Jim Suhler’s collaboration with friends Buddy Whittington and Vince Converse is due for release later this year. by Dana Jones, photo by Chuck Flores BLUES/ROCK The Dallas native has been a fixture in and all over the na- tional blues scene for years. He has worn and still wears many hats in the Blues industry, some with his own projects, some with others. Besides years of touring, writing and performing with his own band Monkey Beat, since 1999 he’s handled the lead/ rhythm guitar duties with George Thorogood & the Destroyers, and has just finished another tour with him. He will be making a return appearance at the 36th Annual Dallas International Guitar Fes- tival, to be held April 19, 20, and 21, 2013 at Dallas Market Hall. His guitar collection includes: 2006 Fender Stratocaster Cus- tom Shop Red Sparkle Stratocaster, a 1975 Fender Stratocaster (slide). 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline (slide), 2002 Charley’s Custom Telecaster, 1931 National Duolian Resona- tor (slide), 1965 Harmony, 1952 Regal Milwaukean Lap Steel (slide), 2000 Gibson SG (slide), 2010 Gibson Les Paul Custom Gold Top, 1995 Epiphone Riviera, and a 2000 Gibson S-J 200 acoustic. A mentor SUHLER IS CONTENT WITH his very busy life, whether tour- ing with band mates, or just do- ing his own thing. He seems to thrive on mentoring, collaborat- ing with and helping along qual- ity fellow and up and coming artists. Suhler is always happy to appear at the annual guitar show, and thoroughly enjoys being able to act as a liaison of sorts for new artists and for those who have been “under the radar.” “There are some really out- standing newcomers out there. There’s Eric Gayles. There’s also a young band from Irving called The Peterson Brothers who are really great.” The Peterson Broth- ers were awarded winners of “Best Blues Group” in the 18 and Un- der category at Austin’s South by South West. It’s not surprising that Suhler would be so interested in help- ing others. He’s grateful for the help and encouragement he re- ceived along the way. Suhler grew up in the Lakewood area, and began playing guitar at 14. He knew then without a doubt that he wanted to be a musician. KLIF AM Radio was his first exposure to music, in which the top 40 music being played at the time was heavily featuring the British Invasion bands. Next came the more south- ern rock type influences, and finally his immersion into hear- ing Texas guitar talents such as the Vaughan Brothers, Bugs Henderson and Anson Funderburgh. He played in a variety of cover bands and backed others artists for a time. But, it was seeing and meeting legend- ary artist Son Thomas for the first time that cemented his deci- sion to be a bluesman. He played in several more bands, during which time he also did a three-year stint as DJ with a three hour Tuesday night blues show at KNON. In 1991, while playing with The Homewreckers, blues/rock icon George Thorogood heard him for the first time and their longtime friendship was born. After The Homewreckers split up, Suhler formed Monkey Beat with drummer Paul Hollis and bassist Carlton Powell. They re- corded and released their first and second CDs with Thorogood’s producer/engineer on Lucky Seven records. The band did several tours opening for Thorogood and the Destroy- ers, with Thorogood really help- ing promote Monkey Beat with shared interviews and record store appearances. And, while keeping Monkey Beat intact, in 1999 Suhler joined the band and continues with the Destroyers as lead/rhythm guitar as well as of- ten a co-writer. Another of his more recent favorites is Jason Elmore, who along with Carolyn Wonderland, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, and Kim Wilson will all make appearances on Suhler’s newest project. “We’ve recorded a few songs already and are really enjoying playing together. Jason and I have a really nice synchronicity between the two of us. We’ve been do- ing some writing together and I re- ally like what we’re coming up with.” There isn’t really a projected date on this one “It’s a busy year, but I’m al- ways happy if I’m busy.” Folks like Elmore, Hunter Hendrickson, and Mothership in- spire Suhler to stay on his toes. There are a lot of bands out there, but not a lot of places to play. Suhler feels he was lucky to get started in the era he did. There were lots of venues, especially in the Dallas area, to hone the craft and make some money while do- ing it. “I got into this on the gravy train, when there were lots of places to play and money to be made. But I still believe that the cream will always rise to the top. It really takes deter- mination and a lot of hard work. Back then the economy was better, and there was no internet to hear live music on. The audience is different now.” Suhler has seen his audiences grow older and more re- sponsible, espe- cially with the changes in the drinking and driv- ing laws as the years have contin- ued on. “They’re choosing to spend their dollars more wisely, and not drinking and driving so much any more. It’s not a bad thing, in fact, that’s a good thing, but it means you have to work that much harder to earn their time and money.” Suhler feels his longevity and success have much to do with his work ethic, modeled after an icon he admired who became his friend, the late Bugs Henderson. “His work ethic and approach were that of a musician’s musi- cian. He worked hard, never compromised, and always did things his way.” It seemed to work well for Henderson, and Suhler has found it to be a key to his own success. Texas Scratch BESIDES THE CURRENT project, a new release is on the horizon. Texas Scratch is a com- pleted CD project slated for re- lease this year. Suhler, along fel- low artist friends Vince Converse and Buddy Whittington com- pleted the collaboration some- time back. “It’s a great record, I’m ready for it to be out, I want it to be heard.” It wasn’t the normal experi- ence when heading to the studio for this one. Suhler will never forget their eclectic and unique location. They recorded Texas Scratch at Showplace Studios in New Jersey, which was located in the back of a building. The front was a strip club called the Showplace Go-Go Lounge. Russian dancers were bussed in to perform each day, giving it sort of a “mob feel” Suhler de- cided to take a break from the recording one day and grabbed a drink at the lounge. He was im- mediately approached by work- ing girls. He didn’t stick around long, but left the lounge with another good story under his belt. After recording was com- pleted, the trio headed to Canada for a few festival dates together. They’d hoped to have the disc to the public while together, but Suhler is just glad it will release this year. He won’t be hard to find to grab one when it does. Between the Destroyer tours, Monkey Beat (which now in- cludes keyboardist Shawn Phares and drummer Beau Chadwell) shows, festivals, local gigs gigs across the country, sitting in with or just listening to some of his local favorites, Jim Suhler will continue to be a player and promoter of blues at its finest. ■ In addition to the Dallas Guitar Show on April 20, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat are scheduled to per- form at Tolberts on Apirl 19, Key’s Lounge on April 26, The Denton Arts & Jazz Festival on April 28, and Moore’s Store in Ben Wheeler on May 4 I’VE GOT LOTS OF IRONS IN LOTS OF FIRES. IIt’s hard to say ‘no’; sometimes it’s hard to find Ibalance and make room for things I want to do. But I love to play and I love to work and get to do both.” Dallas blues mainstay Jim Suhler’s longevity in the music business indicates he’s doing some- thing very right. The 1989 BUDDY Texas Tornado guitarist and his band , Monkey Beat, will perform at the Dallas International Guitar Show April 20 at 4:45 pm on the Bugs Henderson Stage: Jim Suhler
Transcript of BLUES/ROCK Waiting on Texas Scratch · project, a new release is on the horizon. Texas Scratch is a...
10 BUDDY APRIL 2013
Waiting on Texas ScratchJim Suhler’s collaboration with friends Buddy Whittington and Vince Converse is due for release later this year.
by Dana Jones, photo by Chuck Flores
B L U E S / R O C K
The Dallas native has been afixture in and all over the na-tional blues scene for years. Hehas worn and still wears manyhats in the Blues industry, somewith his own projects, some withothers. Besides years of touring,writing and performing with hisown band Monkey Beat, since1999 he’s handled the lead/rhythm guitar duties with GeorgeThorogood & the Destroyers, andhas just finished another tourwith him.
He will be making a returnappearance at the 36th AnnualDallas International Guitar Fes-tival, to be held April 19, 20, and21, 2013 at Dallas Market Hall.His guitar collection includes:2006 Fender Stratocaster Cus-tom Shop Red SparkleStratocaster, a 1975 FenderStratocaster (slide). 1972 FenderTelecaster Thinline (slide), 2002Charley’s Custom Telecaster,1931 National Duolian Resona-tor (slide), 1965 Harmony, 1952Regal Milwaukean Lap Steel(slide), 2000 Gibson SG (slide),2010 Gibson Les Paul CustomGold Top, 1995 EpiphoneRiviera, and a 2000 Gibson S-J200 acoustic.
A mentorSUHLER IS CONTENT WITHhis very busy life, whether tour-ing with band mates, or just do-ing his own thing. He seems tothrive on mentoring, collaborat-ing with and helping along qual-ity fellow and up and comingartists.
Suhler is always happy toappear at the annual guitar show,and thoroughly enjoys being ableto act as a liaison of sorts for newartists and for those who havebeen “under the radar.”
“There are some really out-standing newcomers out there.There’s Eric Gayles. There’s alsoa young band from Irving calledThe Peterson Brothers who arereally great.” The Peterson Broth-ers were awarded winners of “BestBlues Group” in the 18 and Un-der category at Austin’s South bySouth West.
It’s not surprising that Suhlerwould be so interested in help-ing others. He’s grateful for thehelp and encouragement he re-ceived along the way. Suhler grewup in the Lakewood area, andbegan playing guitar at 14. Heknew then without a doubt thathe wanted to be a musician. KLIFAM Radio was his first exposureto music, in which the top 40
music being played at the timewas heavily featuring the BritishInvasion bands.
Next came the more south-ern rock type influences, andfinally his immersion into hear-
ing Texas guitar talents such asthe Vaughan Brothers, BugsHenderson and AnsonFunderburgh. He played in avariety of cover bands and backedothers artists for a time. But, itwas seeing and meeting legend-ary artist Son Thomas for thefirst time that cemented his deci-sion to be a bluesman.
He played in several morebands, during which time he alsodid a three-year stint as DJ witha three hour Tuesday night bluesshow at KNON. In 1991, whileplaying with The Homewreckers,
blues/rock icon GeorgeThorogood heard him for thefirst time and their longtimefriendship was born.
After The Homewreckers splitup, Suhler formed Monkey Beatwith drummer Paul Hollis andbassist Carlton Powell. They re-corded and released their firstand second CDs withThorogood’s producer/engineeron Lucky Seven records. Theband did several tours openingfor Thorogood and the Destroy-ers, with Thorogood really help-ing promote Monkey Beat with
shared interviews and recordstore appearances. And, whilekeeping Monkey Beat intact, in1999 Suhler joined the band andcontinues with the Destroyers aslead/rhythm guitar as well as of-ten a co-writer.
Another of his more recentfavorites is Jason Elmore, whoalong with Carolyn Wonderland,Ray Benson of Asleep at theWheel, and Kim Wilson will allmake appearances on Suhler’snewest project. “We’ve recordeda few songs already and are reallyenjoying playing together. Jason
and I have a reallynice synchronicitybetween the two ofus. We’ve been do-ing some writingtogether and I re-ally like what we’recoming up with.”There isn’t really aprojected date onthis one “It’s a busyyear, but I’m al-ways happy if I’mbusy.”
Folks likeElmore, HunterHendrickson, andMothership in-spire Suhler to stayon his toes.
There are a lotof bands out there,but not a lot ofplaces to play.Suhler feels he waslucky to get startedin the era he did.There were lots ofvenues, especiallyin the Dallas area,to hone the craftand make somemoney while do-ing it.
“I got into thison the gravy train,when there werelots of places toplay and money tobe made. But I stillbelieve that thecream will alwaysrise to the top. Itreally takes deter-mination and a lotof hard work. Backthen the economywas better, andthere was nointernet to hearlive music on.
The audience isdifferent now.”Suhler has seen hisaudiences growolder and more re-sponsible, espe-cially with thechanges in thedrinking and driv-ing laws as theyears have contin-ued on.
“ T h e y ’ r echoosing to spend
their dollars more wisely, andnot drinking and driving so muchany more. It’s not a bad thing, infact, that’s a good thing, but itmeans you have to work thatmuch harder to earn their timeand money.”
Suhler feels his longevity andsuccess have much to do with hiswork ethic, modeled after an iconhe admired who became hisfriend, the late Bugs Henderson.
“His work ethic and approachwere that of a musician’s musi-cian. He worked hard, nevercompromised, and always didthings his way.” It seemed towork well for Henderson, andSuhler has found it to be a key tohis own success.
Texas ScratchBESIDES THE CURRENTproject, a new release is on thehorizon. Texas Scratch is a com-pleted CD project slated for re-lease this year. Suhler, along fel-low artist friends Vince Converseand Buddy Whittington com-pleted the collaboration some-time back. “It’s a great record,I’m ready for it to be out, I wantit to be heard.”
It wasn’t the normal experi-ence when heading to the studiofor this one. Suhler will neverforget their eclectic and uniquelocation. They recorded TexasScratch at Showplace Studios inNew Jersey, which was locatedin the back of a building. Thefront was a strip club called theShowplace Go-Go Lounge.
Russian dancers were bussedin to perform each day, giving itsort of a “mob feel” Suhler de-cided to take a break from therecording one day and grabbed adrink at the lounge. He was im-mediately approached by work-ing girls. He didn’t stick aroundlong, but left the lounge withanother good story under hisbelt.
After recording was com-pleted, the trio headed to Canadafor a few festival dates together.They’d hoped to have the disc tothe public while together, butSuhler is just glad it will releasethis year. He won’t be hard tofind to grab one when it does.
Between the Destroyer tours,Monkey Beat (which now in-cludes keyboardist Shawn Pharesand drummer Beau Chadwell)shows, festivals, local gigs gigsacross the country, sitting in withor just listening to some of hislocal favorites, Jim Suhler willcontinue to be a player andpromoter of blues at its finest. ■
In addition to the Dallas GuitarShow on April 20, Jim Suhler &Monkey Beat are scheduled to per-form at Tolberts on Apirl 19, Key’sLounge on April 26, The DentonArts & Jazz Festival on April 28,and Moore’s Store in Ben Wheeleron May 4
I’VE GOT LOTS OF IRONS IN LOTS OF FIRES.IIt’s hard to say ‘no’; sometimes it’s hard to findIbalance and make room for things I want to do.But I love to play and I love to work and get to doboth.” Dallas blues mainstay Jim Suhler’s longevityin the music business indicates he’s doing some-thing very right.
The 1989 BUDDY Texas Tornado guitarist and his band , Monkey Beat, will perform at the Dallas International Guitar ShowApril 20 at 4:45 pm on the Bugs Henderson Stage: Jim Suhler
