BUDDY THE ORIGINAL MUSIC MAGAZINE JUNE 2016 VOLUME XXXXIII, NUMBER 12 Striving for the emotional connection Jim Suhler combines and rock to get the sound and feel he’s after on new Live at the Kessler Theater CD By Jan Sikes SO … THIS GUY WALKS INTO A BAR. OH as well. I knew we’d have a happy, Alexander played bass wait, that’s not the way it goes. So, this girl loving and appreciative crowd on the live recording S … which we did!” at the Kessler. Swalks into a wine bar in Frisco, Texas and is Here are a couple instantly spellbound by the intensity and expertise Songwriting of quotes from other All of the songs on this new CD people about Jim of a tall, lanky man hunched over a slide guitar, were penned by Jim, which led Suhler: wringing the absolute most out of every note. me to explore his approach to “Soulful, inven- That girl was me. The bar was New CD songwriting. tive, and nothing “Usually, when I’m writing short of true to his a small intimate venue where Big And, now he’s releasing a brand Gus Samuelson hosts a lyrics, I start with a title, as that craft ... his talent is as new smokin’ hot CD. gives me a direction or place to himself, pure gold,” songwriter series every other He explained, “The CD com- Thursday. The man intently ham- begin from and return to,” Jim from Big Gus ing out on July 15, is Jim Suhler & explained in his slow, easy way. Samuelson. mering away on the guitar was Monkey Beat Live at the Kessler none other than the phenom- “Normally, that winds up being Tom Kreason, cu- and it’s kind of an overview of the chorus, something that you rator of the Texas enal Jim Suhler. my mid-period stuff to my more The bartender tapped me on repeat, a catchy phrase or memo- Musicians Museum in recent.” rable phrase - the hook. Then I’ll Irving had this to say: the shoulder twice before I could Live at the Kessler showcases pull myself away from the magic try to join that with whatever “Jim Suhler is not only 14 songs from previously re- music I have in the pipeline that a great guitar player, happening in front of me and leased CDs. Taken from Panther I’m working on. If it feels right, but an all-around order a glass of wine. I walked Burn are “I Declare,” “Across the I’ll try it. I met John Fogarty great guy. I respect away that night a huge fan and Brazos,” “Texassippi” and “Pan- once, and he told me he writes him so much because admirer of the native who ther Burn.” From the Tijuana Bible songs the same way. Since I had he’s always trying to puts his own unique spin on CD comes “Tijuana Bible,” “Devil come up with the idea indepen- achieve the best … all blues and rock with a voice dis- in Me,” “Po’ Lightnin,” and “Sun- dently, I felt validated knowing the time, as a guitar tinctly reminiscent of Eric day Drunk.” Bad Ju Ju gives us that he did it like that. It made player, performer and Clapton. “Deja Blue,” “Restless Soul,” me feel pretty good.” writer, and that is When I sat down with Jim for “Scattergun” and “Prayin’ for As far as the melody, he just what sets him apart an interview, I learned that there Rain.” “My Morning Prayer” is is much more behind the man off the Dirt Road album. starts playing and sees where his from others. We are than being a remarkable guitar Jim continued, “Due to se- fingers take him, putting differ- looking forward to player. Jim shared his approach quencing and time allotment, I ent chords, notes, rifts together. having him back at to music. “I’m not a purist by any couldn’t put everything I wanted That is the definition of pure the museum for a means. I play music that I feel, on the record. So I focused on creativity. show in the fall.” music that moves me. I combine newer songs and actually have a I asked Jim about the instru- I think nothing ments he plays and if he has a blues and rock to get the sound couple on it that have never been CHUCK FLORES could sum up Jim favorite. His answer surprised and feel I’m after.” released. One is called Reverie He will host a CD release party on July 15 at the historic Kessler Theater in Dallas with Suhler better than Jim’s received many accolades that’s an instrumental. The other me. I didn’t know I was going to Gary Nicolson opening:: Jim Suhler these words directly for his accomplishments. He was is a straight-out roadhouse rocker get a history lesson. from him: “If I fall on best and most unique sound for my face, doing my own thing, I a multiple nominee in the Dallas called “Doin’ the Best I Can.” The guitars Monkey Beat Observer Music Awards and has About the venue, Jim said, “I it. In my opinion, this too, sets Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat have can live with that. I wouldn’t “I’ve always loved the slide gui- him apart from the herd. “What- been a Buddy Texas Tornado chose the Kessler Theater in Dal- played together for over 22 years want to try to force myself into a tar because it’s an expressive way ever the song calls for,” were his since 1989. He expressed how las for the recording of this CD and have built a substantial fan mold to accommodate somebody much that induction meant to because it is hands down, the to play,” he started, “and folks words. This could not be more base around Texas and world- else’s pre-conception. I’d rather always react to it during the evident than the live perfor- him because he’s been a reader of best listening room in the north wide. They are known for their define what I’m doing than let shows. People may not know mances on the new CD. Buddy since he was a kid. Texas area. The sound is stellar, no-holds-barred approach to some genre define it for me. that the slide guitar was intro- Something worth mention- blues inspired rock and roots People will remember how you duced to the mainland from ing about Jim Suhler is the fact music. Again, at the risk of rep- make them feel and I strive for Hawaii about a hundred years that he is an avid reader. He etition, this is most evident on that emotional connection with ago. It was a big influence on learned about Delta bluesman, their latest release, Jim Suhler and my audience.” “If I fall on my face, doing my some of the early country blues Son Thomas, from a book, Deep Monkey Beat Live at the Kessler. Jim Suhler is very proud of practitioners like Casey Bill Blues by Robert Palmer. In 1985 own thing, I can live with that. Besides working with pro- his connection to Dallas and Weldon. You could definitely or 1986, following a divorce, Jim ducer , he has also would like to see more effort hear a Hawaiian influence in went to visit relatives in the Mis- worked with Jim Gaines and made to preserve and honor its I wouldn’t want to try to force some of their playing.” sissippi Delta. While there, he Grammy Award-winning pro- rich music history and heritage. Jim owns about 25 guitars. decided to find Son Thomas and ducer/songwriter Tom There will be a CD release myself into a mold to Does he have a favorite? It was what he told me brought chill Hambridge. party on July 15 at the historic hard to wrangle it out of him, but bumps. accommodate somebody else’s When he’s not playing or re- Kessler Theater in Dallas with he finally admitted that his fa- “Son Thomas lived in Leland, cording with his own band, Jim Gary Nicolson opening the show. vorite guitar is a 1975 Fender ,” Jim recalled, “but I Suhler is the lead guitarist for You can find all of Jim Suhler’s pre-conception. I’d rather Stratocaster which he bought didn’t know where. So, I went & the De- tour dates on his website, brand new as a teenager. It car- over and drove around parts of stroyers and has been since 1999. jimsuhler.com. define what I’m doing than let ries a great deal of sentimental that town until I found him. His Jim has toured the entire world, Suhler is offering fans two value to him. house was a little shotgun shack. some genre define it for me. garnering fans all across the special free digital downloads at He expanded on that by say- I went up and knocked on the United States and Europe. He his website — ing he takes at least four guitars door. He had a gas heater going has also had his songs used in “Lipstick Pickup,” co-written People will remember how you with him to every show. Each and the walls of the shack were feature films. by Jim with Ray Wylie Hubbard make them feel and I strive for has different tuning for different papered with newspapers. It was With this new CD, he’s re- and performed by Jim Suhler & songs, sounds and approaches. about 120 degrees in there. But leased a total of ten albums. His Monkey Beat, and “Chasin’ Down The same is true with his ampli- he let me in and talked to me and that emotional connection with band, Monkey Beat, currently the Devil,” written and recorded fiers, although I couldn’t pin him then invited me to play guitar consists of himself on guitar and by Jim with the Tejas Brothers. down on a favorite amp. with him. He was sweet and gra- vocals, Beau Chadwell on drums, Pre-Sales for the album and digi- my audience.” Through this part of our con- cious and he didn’t have to be. I Shawn Phares on keyboards and tal download tracks are available —JIM SUHLER versation, I was struck with the was just some punk kid knock- Patrick Smith on bass. Jim did on outlets such as Amazon and

fact that Jim does look at each ing on his door. It was truly a specifically mention that Chris iTunes. ■ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○ song individually and creates the great experience.” 8BUDDYJUNE 2016