By: Joe Lang
If you are anything like me, when you go see Ross William Perry and get so much as a whiff of his guitar playing, you will probably ask yourself, “Why the hell haven’t I heard of this guy before?” After meeting his drummer, Scotty Schultz, at the Artists’ Quarter one night, I was told to check him out and that he was a fine blues guitarist. I wasn’t too enthused, frankly. Nowadays, if you are dubbed a blues guitar player, chances are you are a carbon copy of another player Stevie Ray Vaughan a la Kenny Wayne Shepard, or another reputed player. I was pleasantly surprised at this was not the case with Perry.
Backed by Schultz and Jared Camic on bass the trio, well, smokes. According to Perry’s band mates, his original influence is Eric Johnson, but now he is more influenced by bluesy players, namely Jimi Hendrix. The refreshing thing about his playing is that he is able to incorporate Johnson’s melodic ideas with more of a mature blues reserve to create an original sound and feel; that is to say he captures the strength of melody and spontaneity of Johnson, but never compromises his tasteful phrasing and continuity of ideas. Sure, when you go see Perry play, you may well hear Cream, Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan covers, but you probably aren’t going to get the same old regurgitated Albert or Freddie King licks.
The band played three sets, drawing on originals and blues-rock covers to put in a DVD that was being recorded. In between songs from Ross’s own catalog the band sprinkled “Manic Depression,” “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” and Cream’s raucous version of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads.” The problem with some of the covers is that at times, you want Perry to cop more of the older blues licks that even garnered Eric Clapton with the title, “master of the cliché.” But overall, it is far more refreshing to hear an original style than hear a truer, bluesier version of some of the band’s covers.
One reason offered up as to why Perry isn’t more renowned is that he isn’t “marketable.” Unlike other young blues guitarists like Kenny Wayne Shepard, John Mayer, or local Johnny Lang, he doesn’t dance around the stage and pander, croon or play to the audience. He’s reserved, almost oblivious to the audience and lets his playing do the talking, and it says a lot more than the aforementioned guitar players. It’s unfortunate that some can’t recognize it. He’s also one of the nicest musicians you could ever meet; there isn’t a trace of arrogance in his shy demeanor. Miles Davis once said there is a vibe on stage, and a vibe in the audience. If you can dig the fresh blues and rock vibe coming from the stage without frills, whistles and bells – just smoldering rock – then the RWP band is definitely worth checking out.
Location Info:
Minnesota Music Café
Artist Info: Ross William Perry
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