I was able to talk to josh for a while between shows.

Slant - How did you get into the blues? Most guys your age are into alternative or grunge. What was it that attracted you to the blues?

Josh - Since I was a young age, I grew up hearing it around the house, that's what my parents listened to, what I was raised to, and I knew right away that it was what I liked.

Slant - How's the tour going?

Josh - Its been going really great, I've been having a great time. There are a lot of really good people out there and people like us and I'm just having a ball right now. We're really excited.

Slant - You're putting some serious road time on this tour.

Josh - yeah...we've been really busy.

Slant - I noticed you have a lot of family support, your mother, father, sister and even your grandmother is here. Do they all travel with you on the tour?

Josh - Yeah, my dad travels with us on the tour, and my mom and sister fly out every now and then to see us. I wish they all could travel with us, but somebody's gotta stay home.

Slant - How long have you been playing guitar...professionally?

Josh - Professionally, I've been playing since I was thirteen, I've been playing guitar since I was six.

Slant - Did you take lessons or are you self taught.

Josh - I took lessons for a long time.

Slant - One thing I notice is that you seem to really understand what you are playing as opposed to copying other people, and that you put your own interpretation to what you are doing. You never seem to play anything the same way twice.

Josh - (laughing) Yeah, that's right. It seemed to really just evolve as I have been playing. I try real hard to develop my own voice and I'm getting closer to it every time I strap on a guitar.

Slant - There's an awful lot of new young blues players out there now such as Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Do you think this is helping you or hurting you?

Josh - It pleases the heck out of me. It just shows you that young guys can be successful, keep the blues alive and sell a lot of records.

Slant - Jimmy Thackery has been highly supportive of you.

Josh - Yeah, he goes on and on about me. He's a good guy. He's one of my best friends.

Slant - It really looks like you really enjoy yourself and have a good time on stage.

Josh - Yeah, that's what it's all about. I really enjoy playing guitar, and I just play as much as I can.

Slant - I have seen you several times in the last few years and it seems like your playing has really matured, particularly during this tour.

Josh - Yeah, I tried to play too fast when I was younger. I have been really working hard to get better. It just something you have to work at.

Slant - Have you noticed much difference with singing in the band as opposed to mostly playing the guitar in your previous band?

Josh - No, not really, I just work hard at it. You just gotta do it.

Slant - I notice on the new album that your dad wrote most of the lyrics.

Josh - He just writes stuff down in a notebook all the time, and I work with the lyrics and try to fit something to them until we come up with a song.

Murf Murphy Murf is a registered professional engineer....(i.e. haircut and a real job) who loves to play guitar. Vist Murf's home page. He lives with (1) wife who wishes he would grow up, (1) teenager who wonders how his parents got to this point in their lives without his help, (2) dogs who sleep a lot, (1) ferret who attacks when not looking and (1) cat who is basically useless. Other Articles I've Written