ABOUT
I am a proudly Retired Road Musician. I sing lead & harmony; my main instrument is the harmonica, but I'm also strong on acoustic & electric rhythm guitars & Bass. I compose in many styles, and I'm still playing a couple of times a week @ gigs, jams, parties, events, festivals,...
...Along with the acts I've sided with I have to mention my own bands through the years: in the mid '70's we had a heavy act called Thunderfu*k and a lesser band named Pookah; before that (in High School)we had a band called Tequila Mockingbird (and I was Blind Lemon Pledge)...that name we used again in the very early '80's;
Tung'n'Groove, Fubar, and 'Cid II were my college era bands as well as a country/punk band called Tomahawk Rock, and 8 Miles Of Corduroy - playing serious country; after college I meddled with a proto-punk-folk group called The Tofu Carnivores and a hillbilly band named Cletus the Bluegrasshole. Country-Swing units "One for the Road" and (the original and oft-copied) "Heartland" were founded in the early '80's and still continue as "Willoughby's Rope"; starting as an original rock side project in the late '70's, "Nat King Kong" is still going strong as a Classic-Rock cover band, although the name has been usurped at least twice (in the '90's by an American band and 5 years ago by a B.C. rap band).
I still perform a few times a year at Town functions in Aurora with friends in a classic rock combo; I'm on Bass in Sturgeon Lake's favourite rock cover band, "Usual Suspects"; I'm on Harp, Guitar, and mouth in a Folk/Rock/Country group called "Northern Flame" up in Muskoka (coming soon to a First Nation Reservation near you!); My pal Jay and I have a genre-defying duo called - wait for it - "Jo & Jay"; and We're also part of a mischievious trio called HiJinx, based in Georgina. Currently on hiatus, "The Beavertones" were a brief Brock Township Jam Band (We were also known variously as The Brock Lobsters, Brock'n'Roll, and Zippo Flintz.)My original Folkie trio "Grace and Witt" still plays at festivals as does our blues project "Catfish Turner",( aka the "Bloosburds"); and of course I still get out regularly as a solo singer/guitarist doing folk/pop/country/blues.
- Screen name:
- J C Gamebridge
- Member since:
- Jun 02 2009
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Very Committed
- Years playing music:
- 40
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- 2-3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 2-3 nights a week
- Most available:
- Nights
Influences
I'm influenced by all types of good melodic music including Acoustic, Blues, Classic Rock, Country & Country-Swing, Ethnic, Folk, Funk, Light Jazz, R'n'B,...I've played with a lot of really great Musicians over the years, and I credit them as much as all the music I've listened to. Other important influences include all the audience feedback I've received both from huge festival crowds and intimate late night gatherings. Oh yeah, and I've also learned a lot from some of the lousy players and gigs I've had to endure, but that's a different kind of influence.
EQUIPMENT
I have good ears, experiences,& attitude; along with quality Harps, mics, & amps; high-end acoustic Guitars w/pickups & amps; name brand/pro electric Guitars, pedalboards, & amps; pro electric & acoustic Bassi, Bass processors, & amps; good mixers, effects rack, sets of P.A. & mon. cabs, dozens of mics, stands, D.I.s, lights,kazoos,...
...although it's been said that I have an almost toxic amount of instruments and gear, I must mention two of my favourite axes: one made of gorgeous mahogany with a deep soulful voice and the other is a bright beautiful maple construct. I named them Gladys and Doris, because they are as different as Knight and Day.
