KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD - 'The Traveler'
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD - 'The Traveler'
The Louisiana guitar gunslinger continues his 25-year career journey with his firey new album 'The Traveler'. Two years on from 'Lay It On Down', Kenny Wayne Shepherd has returned with another strong album that combines the fervour of modern blues with the finest songcraft. His band are on-tour now and will be headlining the Outlaw Country Stage at The Ramblin' Man Fair on Saturday 20th July 2019
KWS
Recorded with his regular band members, that includes SRV Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton and the wonderful voice of joint frontman for the last twenty years, Noah Hunt, the album swoons, swings, rocks and rolls and is full of Kenny's expressive and dynamic playing, with 'I want you' Kenny's personal pick of the album.
Interviewed by Andy Rawll (live reviews writer for RecordCollectorMag; DecibelReport.com; NationalRockReview.com; MetalTalk.net), Kenny talks about the background to the album, his influences and most recent live performances.
Click-in and watch-out for a traveler's tales of voodoo, vintage strats, guerilla trumpets, crossroads, hair-metal, touring and new music from this Louisiana-born contemporary blues maestro"
#TheTraveler
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https://www.kennywayneshepherd.net
https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/kws/biography/
@kwshepherd
@kennywayneshepherd
@mascotlabelgroup
@MLG_rocks
@reccollmag
VIDEO: Making of 'The Traveler': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsabC4o1NfE
VIDEO: 'Woman like you': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooW5qI_wq3E
VIDEO: 'I want you': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIOYtRGECZg
VIDEO: 'Tailwind': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rX_ae5M3iM
VIDEO CHANNEL: Mascot Label Group: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDim5iiX_g1Q4He1N-o-avg
VIDEO CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/user/KennyWShepherd/videos
INTERVIEW TIMELINE (detail)
00:00 - Start
00:40 - Touring in England. Experience of Ramblin' Man Fair
01:35 - Evolution from 'Lay it on down' to 'The traveler'. Slightly harder rocking
03:03 - 'I want you' is a great example of what Modern Blues sounds like
03:50 - Recorded live in the studio with horn section added later
04:25 - Development in the richness of Kenny's voice
06:04 - 'Tailwind' has a country edge. Kenny discusses country influences and mixing genres
08:50 - Playing Montreux Jazz festival and most recently North Sea Jazz festival, which embrace broad genres
10:26 -'Blue on Black' recorded by Five Finger Death Punch with guest guitarists, including Brian May and Brantley Gilbert
12:00 - Early gigs with his father (who was a local DJ in Louisiana), including all types of music, even hair metal bands like: Poison, Warrant, White Lion. Seeing SRV at 7 was a turning point)
13:44 - What's in a name ? How Kenny Wayne become Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Rather than picking a blues nickname, he added his mother's maiden name
15:54 - Guitar influences. Albert King, SRV, Hendrix. Play with passion and intensity
17:32 - Responsibility to carry the torch for the blues as the original elder statesmen are passing.
19:00 - Collaborations, including new material with 'The Rides'
19:57 - 'Talk to me baby' (Elmore James cover on 1st Rides album) is in current set
21:25 - The story of Kenny's 1961 Stratocaster and LA Guitar Center
23:00 - Latest Fender signature guitars. A new model coming next year as well as the custom shop 'Crossroads' guitar (highway 41 and 67)
24:25 - Other guitarists he'd like to play with ? He prefers to wait and see what happens. His participation with the Experience Hendrix tour series from its inception up until lasy year.
26:15 - Voodoo Chile has always been his go-to Hendrix song and traditionally closes every show. He has also played other less obvious Hendrix songs in the past including: I don't live today; Them changes; Come on. As well as the alternative slow bluesy version of Voodoo Child (or is it Chile ?)
27:28 - Recap of current set-list and 'enthusiastic guitar playing and musicians giving 150%'. Doesn't encourage people to bring their own instruments and play along in the crowd
29:20 - Conclusion. Back in the UK in November for five dates, include Shepherds Bush Empire.