The
Scene (Atlanta GA)
Blues
Man Motor City Josh : By Phranc D'Lux
Seeing Motor City Josh (Ford) and his band live is like
riding on a Mississippi river boat during a storm. The rhythm
section churns the waters like a paddle wheel and Josh's
guitar brings on the lightning. He extracts sounds from
his Fender Telecaster like a mad surgeon who knows exactly
what he's doing, but is having a little too much fun doing
it. As a man who has shared the stage and or opened up for
such Blues greats as Buddy Guy and members of Albert Collins'
Band The Ice Breakers, Motor City Josh isn't shy about infecting
Atlanta with his own contagious Blues style.
Phranc
D'Lux : You call your self Motor City Josh because you are
from Detroit, I take it. What Brings you to Atlanta?
M.C.J. : I was born and raised in Detroit. I spend the last
10 years performing there and I decided it was time to move
somewhere else. I came to Atlanta to spread my infectious
love for The Blues to the Southeast.
Phranc D'Lux : How would you compare the Blues Scene in
Atlanta to the one in Detroit?
M.C.J. : It's very similar because there are a handful of
good clubs to play and some that are just ok. A big thing
that stands out in my mind is that Detroit has more committed
bands and Atlanta has more hired guns. Everybody (in Atlanta)
is playing with everybody and not really giving 100% to
one particular band.
Phranc D'Lux : Are the members of your band the same guys
you played with in Detroit?
M.C.J. : No The guys in Detroit could not relocate, So I
started from scratch and put a new band together with some
great GA. musicians. Now I have Keith Otterbeck on bass,
Mac McDowell on Drums and Jay Mourice on Keys.
Phranc D'Lux : Was it hard luck that drew you to The Blues
or more just the love for the music?
M.C.J. : More love for the music, But hard luck is sure
to follow. My Dad had a good variety of music and exposed
me to some of everything. The Blues is just what I liked
listening to the most. It has a feeling like nothing else.
Phranc D'Lux : So do you have musicians in your family?
M.C.J. : My father, mother, brother and sister all play
an instrument and sing. We played together in a church band
growing up.
Phranc D'Lux : What is it about the Telecaster that makes
it your axe of choice?
M.C.J. : Well it's simple, and Telecaster is just about
the most simple guitar you can play for an electric. One
volume, one tone and one 3 position switch. It sounds good
and it's easy to play. It's simplicity at it's best.
Phranc D'Lux : When you are playing live, are you concentrating
more on your guitar or the audience?
M.C.J. : It depends on the crowd. One night it's one way
and the next it's the other. I come in and out of the zone.
When it's a fun audience it's great. I give them some energy
and they give me some back. It becomes one big feeling frenzy.
Phranc D'Lux : Would you call your self a country boy or
a city slicker?
M.C.J. : I'm both, really. My moms from Alabama and my dads
from Tennessee, and they got together in Detroit and that's
where they made me. I wrote a song about it, and it's on
my second C.D.. I love to hunt and fish and get out in the
country. I guess I'm really a country boy who is forced
to be in an urban area to practice my art form.
Phranc
D'Lux : Where do you see Motor City Josh a year from now?
M.C.J.
: I see my self playing 300 nights a year all over the southeast.
So I hope to be traveling and playing the Blues, Making
money and having fun. |
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