Johnny Main is serious about his Blues. Just ask him.
The self-described “bad boy of the Blues,” and lead guitarist for the East Los Angeles band the 44s is gearing up to hit it hard in 2013 after a few setbacks that in his words, “Made me a stronger songwriter and a stronger musician.” One of the planned stops is the much-anticipated headlining show at this year’s Blues Blast 13, taking place March 9 at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix.
The rough and tumble sound generated by original 44s, Main on guitar, harpman Tex Nakamura and returning drummer Jason Losano, plus a not-yet- permanent bassman Bobby Abraca, promises to be an afternoon not soon forgotten by Blues fans. If you’ve never heard or seen these guys you are definitely in for a treat.
Touring on the strength of their second album, “Americana,” Main and company showcase a style reminiscent of the old masters such as Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King and Collins, and of course, Muddy.
Main’s story is a familiar one in that he fell into the Blues after hearing some of his parents’ records as a middle-school student wondering where this new-found guitar business would take him.
“I started out on the violin when I was about in the 4th grade,” Main recalls. “My grandmother was a violinist or a fiddler, whatever you want to call it, and I took lessons until I was in my first year of middle school. My mom had this idea I was going to be a great virtuoso concert violinist. I also played the viola but I treated it like a guitar.
“I just had to give it all up in 7th grade because it was just too dorky,” he says with a laugh. “The truth was I never could read music (still can’t) and I would watch the little genius Asian girl next to me and watch her fingers and see what she was doing. About that time I decided I wanted to play the guitar and started bugging my dad to get me an electric one. He made a deal with me if I would help him paint the house he would buy me a guitar. We painted the house inside and out and he bought me a little cheap (Fender) Squier. I keep it locked up now. It’s got a lot of miles on it. I played it for a long time.”
Then his dad inadvertently turned Main on to the music that would guide his life.
“My dad brought three albums into my room one day and said ‘Listen to these,’ ” Main remembers. “They were Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and BB King “Live at the Regal.” I think the Stevie Ray album was “Texas Flood.” I remember being really intrigued with Stevie’s playing. I thought,” Man, this guy is great,” and I started learning his stuff. He and Albert King were a huge influence on me. I was amazed at how much Stevie could sound like Albert. They were both just so cool musically.”
Main also handles the vocals for the band and cites Howlin’ Wolf as his main influence.
“Not only was he a great singer, he was an original and I really like that about him,” Main says. “As for the harmonica I really like James Harman and Kim Wilson. Those guys are two of the best in the business.”
The 44s have been on the go non-stop since 2010 and show no signs of slowing down playing about 200 dates a year and counting.
“The highlight so far has been recording two albums with Kid Ramos (The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, James Harman, Roomful of Blues, among others),” Main says.
Their first Release “Boogie Disease”, was self-produced for $800 with the help of Ramos and was quickly snatched up by Rip Cat Records, peaking at No. 12 on the national “Living Blues” radio charts and No.2 on BB King “Bluesville” Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
“They play like their life depends on it and you can quote me,” Ramos said of the 44s experience.
But, not everything has been sunshine and roses, Main says.
“Right after we released “Americana” my mom had a stroke,” he says. “It was a bad year all around. After my mom recovered from the stroke she went through her third run with cancer. On top of that I got all of my gear stolen out of my truck. I went in the store and just covered mu equipment up in the back with a blanket. When I came out it was gone. I didn’t have any guitars in the truck but they got my (Fender) Bassman amp.
“Right before my son was born my wife and I were going in Babies R Us for some things,” Main recalls. “I was wearing my sun glasses and when I got in the store I remembered I’d left my regular glasses and checkbook in the truck. I went back outside and the truck was gone. Surveillance cameras caught it and it was a repo truck. I called the finance company and told them they got the wrong truck, I was current on all my payments. Turns out it wasn’t them. It took 45 seconds and I never got the truck back. I’d lost my job. My wife lost her job. I had a lot invested in that truck. That really hit hard. But I think it made me a stronger song writer and a stronger musician.”
Then some underhanded dealing from the band’s former manager and bass player led to severe financial trouble and a change in lineup for the group.
“That (manager episode) was the biggest learning experience of my life,” Main says. ‘Rip Cat (Records) said “I’ll bet you never do something like that again.’ They were right.”
The 44s vintage instruments and channel a Blues style of days past, but there is a distinct rawness to this award winning group. Each member has a distinct place in the mix. Main’s outstanding singing and guitar playing come from real experience. Tex Nakamura has forged his own niche after studying the likes of Little Walter and other legendary harmonica mentors. Drummer Lozano hails from East LA Blues royalty as his dad is the bass player for Los Lobos. For their one-of-a-kind blues, The 44′s bring it each and every night.
“Bob Corritore (Rhythm Room owner) told me we bring in a distinctive blue collar crowd when we play there,” Main says. “He said they sell a shitload of Pabst Blue Ribbon every time we’re there. That’s the kind of image we have. We’re the bad boys of the Blues. We are all about a greasy low-down image. Hide your moms and daughters boys, here come the 44s.”
So, there you have it. Forget about any pretension with these guys. What you see is what you’ll get with The 44s at Blues Blast 13. It’s gonna be a helluva show!!
Johnny Main is serious about his Blues. Just ask him.
The self-described “bad boy of the Blues,” and lead guitarist for the East Los Angeles band the 44s is gearing up to hit it hard in 2013 after a few setbacks that in his words, “Made me a stronger songwriter and a stronger musician.” One of the planned stops is the much-anticipated headlining show at this year’s Blues Blast 13, taking place March 9 at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix.
The rough and tumble sound generated by original 44s Main, harpmanTex Nakamura and returning drummer Jason Losano, plus a not-yet- permanent bassman Bobby Abraca, promises to be an afternoon not soon forgotten by Blues fans. If you’ve never heard or seen these guys you are definitely in for a treat.
Touring on the strength of their second album, “Americana,” Main and company showcase a style reminiscent of the old masters such as Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King and Collins, and of course, Muddy.
Main’s story is a familiar one in that he fell into the Blues after hearing some of his parents’ records as a middle-school student wondering where this new-found guitar business would take him.
“I started out on the violin when I was about in the 4th grade,” Main recalls. “My grandmother was a violinist or a fiddler, whatever you want to call it, and I took lessons until I was in my first year of middle school. My mom had this idea I was going to be a great virtuoso concert violinist. I also played the viola but I treated it like a guitar.
“I just had to give it all up in 7th grade because it was just too dorky,” he says with a laugh. “The truth was I never could read music (still can’t) and I would watch the little genius Asian girl next to me and watch her fingers and see what she was doing. About that time I decided I wanted to play the guitar and started bugging my dad to get me an electric one. He made a deal with me if I would help him paint the house he would buy me a guitar. We painted the house inside and out and he bought me a little cheap (Fender) Squier. I keep it locked up now. It’s got a lot of miles on it. I played it for a long time.”
Then his dad inadvertently turned Main on to the music that would guide his life.
“My dad brought three albums into my room one day and said ‘Listen to these,’ ” Main remembers. “They were Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and BB King “Live at the Regal.” I think the Stevie Ray album was “Texas Flood.” I remember being really intrigued with Stevie’s playing. I thought,” Man, this guy is great,” and I started learning his stuff. He and Albert King were a huge influence on me. I was amazed at how much Stevie could sound like Albert. They were both just so cool musically.”
Main also handles the vocals for the band and cites Howlin’ Wolf as his main influence.
“Not only was he a great singer, he was an original and I really like that about him,” Main says. “As for the harmonica I really like James Harman and Kim Wilson. Those guys are two of the best in the business.”
The 44s have been on the go non-stop since 2010 and show no signs of slowing down playing about 200 dates a year and counting.
“The highlight so far has been recording two albums with Kid Ramos (The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, James Harman, Roomful of Blues, among others),” Main says.
Their first Release “Boogie Disease”, was self-produced for $800 with the help of Ramos and was quickly snatched up by Rip Cat Records, peaking at No. 12 on the national “Living Blues” radio charts and No.2 on BB King “Bluesville” Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
“They play like their life depends on it and you can quote me,” Ramos said of the 44s experience.
But, not everything has been sunshine and roses, Main says.
“Right after we released “Americana” my mom had a stroke,” he says. “It was a bad year all around. After my mom recovered from the stroke she went through her third run with cancer. On top of that I got all of my gear stolen out of my truck. I went in the store and just covered mu equipment up in the back with a blanket. When I came out it was gone. I didn’t have any guitars in the truck but they got my (Fender) Bassman amp.
“Right before my son was born my wife and I were going in Babies R Us for some things,” Main recalls. “I was wearing my sun glasses and when I got in the store I remembered I’d left my regular glasses and checkbook in the truck. I went back outside and the truck was gone. Surveillance cameras caught it and it was a repo truck. I called the finance company and told them they got the wrong truck, I was current on all my payments. Turns out it wasn’t them. It took 45 seconds and I never got the truck back. I’d lost my job. My wife lost her job. I had a lot invested in that truck. That really hit hard. But I think it made me a stronger song writer and a stronger musician.”
Then some underhanded dealing from the band’s former manager and bass player led to severe financial trouble and a change in lineup for the group.
“That (manager episode) was the biggest learning experience of my life,” Main says. ‘Rip Cat (Records) said “I’ll bet you never do something like that again.’ They were right.”
The 44s play vintage instruments and channel a Blues style of days past, but there is a direct rawness to this award-winning group. Each member has a distinct place in the mix. Main’s outstanding vocals and guitar playing come from real experience. Tex Nakamura has forged his own niche after studying the likes of Little Walter and other legendary harmonica mentors. Drummer Lozano hails from East LA Blues royalty as his dad is the bass player for Los Lobos. For their one-of-a-kind Blues, The 44′s bring it each and every night.
“Bob Corritore (Rhythm Room owner) told me we bring in a distinctive blue collar crowd when we play there,” Main says. “He said they sell a shitload of Pabst Blue Ribbon every time we’re there. That’s the kind of image we have. We’re the bad boys of the Blues. We are all about a greasy low-down image. Hide your moms and daughters boys, here come the 44s.”
So, there you have it. Forget about any pretension with these guys. What you see is what you’ll get with The 44s at Blues Blast 13. It’s gonna be a helluva show!!