The Neal McCarthy Problem has, had, can, will, and just might often include the following musicians/people of great talent and personality: Kyle Spark, Marcus Montiero, Mike Lavoie, Casey Tebo, Matt Antunes, Mike Levesque, Peter Antunes, John Perkins, Mark Rasmussen, Chris Branco, Adam Colluci, Jake Moses, Jude Kingston, Jamison Toomey, John Farrell, Adam Hanson, Hoyt, Felix Wrenchler, Gary Langevin, Terry Sullivan, Ivo Matos, Matt Shtgny, Bill Ferrie, Jessie Bastos, Ken Richards, Mark "Buddha" Pires, Jay Quintin, Thom Hiller, DJ Tom Cooney, Sean Simmer, Hank Walther, Harry Smith, Rebecca Correia, Steve Mazza, Thatcher Zembo, John and Aaron the horn players, and a few others I'm sure I forgot.
Influences
These are people who influence me as a person involved in a musical life: J Garcia, Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Miles Davis, Beck, Flaming Lips, Willie Nelson, The Beatles, B.B. King, Run DMC, G Love, Paul Pena, Ray Charles, Taj Majal, Bonnie Raitt, G Love, Eric Clapton, Meat Puppets, Little Feat, R.E.M., Scott Weiland, STP, Morphine, Bruce Hornsby, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Dire Straits, The Eels, Johnny Cash, Sean McCarthy, Aaron Burke, Van Morrison, Floyd, Zep, Stones, Gr8tful Dead, Elton John, WILCO, Ryan Adams, Jay Farrar, Son Volt, the list is just too darn long... everything I hear...
Sounds Like
Guitar: Try to go for BB King minimal notes w/ vibrato, Clapton blues style, Garcia spidery chromatic lines, Neil Young noise, Hendrix bends. These sometimes hit thier mark and sometimes not, but they mostly combine to form a style I am happy with time to time. VOCALS: Tyler said I sound like Leon Russell, who I dig, but I had never thought of really. Kyle once said I had a Willie Nelson vocal style. Willie I love, so that was nice to hear. I've also been told that I have a Dr. John thing goin at times and sometimes sound like an old, black, blues singer in some little joint down South. That is strange, but I suppose the blues is everywhere nowadays. dig...
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4Neal Thomas McCarthy (9/15/72) is a working musician (acoustic and electric guitars/vocals) who hails from the small town of Freetown, Massachusetts. He steadily performs a blend of his original music, (blues, country, funk, rock, noise, folk and jam musics), along with his favorite songs by popular artists such as: Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Jerry Garcia, Clapton, BB King, The Band, JJ Cale, Chuck Berry, Van Morrison, etc.. in bars, clubs, parties, festivals all over or wherever the heck he/we can do.
3 CD's have been independently released over the years. "Blue and Innebriated Sometimes" and "In The Company Of..." were produced with the vast group of music peoples that perform together and seperately and are often referred to as "The Neal McCarthy Problem". Jamie Toomey and Ivo Matos produced and engineered the first 2 CD's in thier respective home studios.
The most recent CD "The Sassaquin Sessions" was recorded and produced with Adam Coluci (Grand Army) in his home studio in Sassaquin, New Bedford, Mass. The acoustic selections that make up the disc are a raw and live-like take on original songs new and old. Kyle Spark, Jamison Toomey, and Kenny Richards contribute greatly on the disc.
Neal and the group have performed all over New England, and in a number of different combinations in Texas, NYC, Long Island, and Florida. (***NOT IN EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY*** )
They are happy to have been included in shows and been on stages with Stephen Bruton, Delbert McClinton, Bob Schnieder, Eric Johnson, Patrice Pike, Marcia Ball, Dan Dyer, Malford Miligan, Blueground Undergrass, Max Creek, Joe Ely, Seth Yacavone Band, JGB, Entrain, Buddy Miller, Pearly Baker, James McMurtry, Alejandro Escovedo, The Grand Army, Drawn Butter, Rebecca Correia, Meika Pauley, Carolyn Wonderland, Lou Ann Barton, Shipyard Wreck, Rooftop Suicide Club, Gruvis Malt, Brian Cass Overclock Orchestra, Marcus Montiero Quartet, and the list goes on. To remember all would take great research beyond current capability.
Neal was a member of the following musical groups; Snow Monkey Plum, Negative Earth, Bob's Day Off, Nana's Qunnt, Mama Sha, Vibrotica, Super Bummin', and The Art Ensamble of Fairhaven. There are varying tales of success and failure associated with the above mentioned groups. Most of them are true. All of them are of course waiting for the VH1 Behind The Music shoot.
The live CD is, of course, been recorded, over and over and over, but... uh...
Neal offers sincere thanks to the musicians he performs with and has performed with over the last 15 years. Also a sincere thank you to his brother Sean who inspired him and taught him his first guitar chords etc...
Rock and Roll with punk funk twist lives in the Southcoast....we bring it dawg!!! OH YEAH!!!...I forgot to mention the good ole americana we also bring to the table! Good music and great vibes abound!! Thanks my man!
Neal...we were cooking last night! Mark did a great job and gave us a deep and relaxed pocket to play with!! Great playing and great harmonies...I'm really enjoying the music!!
that was some real deal music being thrown down last night brother! Let's keep working on that sheeeet!! digging in and digging it... Peace....lookn forward to Saturday at Thames Waterside/Bristol
