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Las Vegas Weekly - Issue 24th July 2008
Nothing But the Blues featuring The Andy Walo Trio - The House of Blues concert series tries to cure you of your blues
Inspired by classic rockers like Led Zeppelin and The Who and Texas bluesy rockers like ZZ Top and Johnny Winter, The Andy Walo Trio brings their modern blend of bluesy rock to the House of Blues for a free concert in the courtyard.
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 Swedish-born and
now California based blues rocker Andy Walo,
former co-frontman of the Mama’s Boys,
has placed three of his original songs in the upcoming
feature film, Two
Tickets to Paradise. Directed by D.B.
Sweeney, starring Ed Harris and John C.
McGinley, the film will feature the compositions
“Told You So,” “Flamenco Blues,” and “What
Happened To My Power.” Hear the songs for yourself
when Walo performs as part of the Las Vegas Blues
Festival on Apr. 15th. For further information,
contact Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, 213-924-4901.
Producer D. B. Sweeney has assembled one of the great soundtracks in recent memory featuring songs from such legends as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, U2, Del Amitri and Emmy Lou Harris.
Along side this Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame lineup, he has added tunes from such current sensations Al Kapone (Academy Award Winner for Hustle and Flow), American Minor, Andy Walo and Kim Kline. Bowling for Soup contributes an original composition entitled “Ride of a Lifetime”.
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Andy Walo is not your average kind of Blues rocker.
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden and now residing in L.A., the 30-something Blues rocker has had an impressive career after moving to Chicago from Sweden in the mid-90s.
“I was playing with a local Blues guy in Chicago and I got hired by Junior Wells as the lead guitarist,” Walo says. “I toured with him for a couple of years and we ended up with a Grammy nomination in 1997. It was my peak in the Blues scene in Chicago.”
Even though the nomination was for Wells and not for Walo individually, the acclaim was, without a doubt, a step up in his professional music career.
Walo, who wanted more in his career after Wells’ death in 1998, aimed to establish himself as an independent professional musician.
“It was cool [working with Wells in Chicago], but � I was not happy being a sideman.” Walo says. “I wanted to do my own stuff and make my own songs.”
His career with Wells behind him, Walo set on a path that took him from The Windy City to the City of Angels, where he started up his own Blues rock band.
Now, he tours the country constantly and finds himself performing in Vegas’ small but loyal Blues and Jazz scene, including the Sand Dollar Blues room and a number of other small venues outside of the major casinos.
“I refuse to play casinos,” Walo says. “I don’t do top-40 stuff so I wouldn’t fit in.”
Top-40 music aside, Walo has never really been concerned with “fitting in.”
In his native Stockholm, the guitarist found himself bucking the trends of Swedish metal in the early ‘90s and concentrating himself in the imported Jazz and Blues scene unique to the Scandinavian country.
“Death Metal was big in Sweden, but Sweden has a lot of great players who do Jazz and Blues,” Walo says. “It was a good climate for American Blues and Jazz artists.”
This kind of strange musical diversity comes mainly out of the Swedish radio station’s ability to play whatever genre of music they wish to, rather than be stuck in certain formats like in America.
“The radio is not as segregated in Sweden on the radio as it is in the U.S.,” Walo says. “You’d hear (Black) Sabbath and Beyonce on the same station all the time.”
But despite his preference for Blues, which he admits isn’t as popular as many forms of music now, Walo, a music consuming machine, says that he finds a lot of solace and inspiration in the garage rock stylings of groups like The White Stripes.
Led by Detroit rocker Jack White, The White Stripes are known for using many of the same cord progressions that Walo attributes to Blues masters like
Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters.
“The White Stripes, it’s bluesy stuff but it’s also rock,” says Walo. “Jack White knows his stuff and I love the Stripes because they brought that Blues rock sound back to the kids. That’s what I try to do.”
ROSS ANTHONY'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT CARD : September 2006
ANDY WALO : CONNECTED!
I'm was tired and overworked, but on my way home from the grocery store, I happened to hear some live music, I walked over to the local grill and there in my own neighborhood -- Andy Walo and Group. I love good live music. I've seen some fine acts lately, even here in the Pasadena area. But, this guy, this guy wasn't interested in providing me high quality live rock/blues. This guy, was connect to the music Gods. Heck, he musta takin' his quarter inch phone jack and plugged that thing right into the universal flow of music. He wasn't damn good, he was special. I felt privileged to witness him enjoying the heck out his guitar and the night. Backed by a solid bass player and a drummer who slung his head backwards, rolled his eyes up so that only the whites shown as he beat up those skins with heart and soul. Very appropriately, he was tuned in or out, or whatever. Both of those guys were off in space and we were witnessing them like lightening or Bigfoot or or ... somethin' worth not missin'.
Thank you, Andy for that kind of inspiration, for reminding me to make my life like you make music.
http://www.rossanthony.com/A/andywalogroup.shtml
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MUSIC
CONNECTION MAGAZINE : DECEMBER 2006
ANDY WALO
Hermosa Saloon
Hermosa Beach
The
Players: Andy Walo,
lead vocals, guitar; Roger Bueno, bass, backup vocals;
David Goodstein, drums; Rayzur, harmonica, backup
vocals.
Material:
Andy Walo’s show is
catchy blues and rock originals enhanced with classic
rock favorites. Walo’s meaningful and thoughtful
lyrics create emotional relationship songs such as
‘Mama’s Girls” and “Open Up the Door.” Both
lyrics and arrangements are strong.
Musicianship:
Walo is a seasoned
musician with incredible backup provided by Roger Bueno,
David Goodstein, and Rayzur. These guys have what it
takes to play multiple sets with nonstop energy and
bountiful material. Rayzur sets down the harmonica to
sing “Sweet Home Alabama,” and Goodstein enhances
Walo with drum solos. Walo does double duty with smooth
vocals, complimented by sensational guitar riffs and
solos in tune with Bueno’s bass lines.
Performance:
Andy Walo put on a
charming Halloween performance to a sold-out venue with
elaborate costumes, a costume contest, and a top-notch
dose of classic rock and blues. An enthusiastic,
appreciative crowd became part of the party and
celebrated full blast late into the night. Starting the
first set with a Viking hat, native Swede, Andy Walo
connected instantly with the audience and remained
lively and connected for several sets.
Summary:
The former session
guitar player has launched a successful solo career that
has taken him on the road with a loyal following that
crosses generations. Andy Walo is a popular
musician with outstanding talent and easily puts on an
extremely entertaining stage show.
––Laura
Phillips |
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