Joe Vanesky (harmonica, vocals),
Gary Shaw (lead guitar, vocals),
Denise Crouse (rhythm guitar, vocals),
Tony Theisen (bass, vocals),
Russell Allen (drums)
With Special Guests: David Will (trumpet, percussion), Rick Maki (vibes), Marc Golde (B3), Lee Tomboulian (keys), Vicky Daniel (percussion), Jimmy Clark (guitar), Cailyn Lloyd (guitar), Denny Vanesky (guitar), Joe "Boneman" Kox (trombone), Bill Engel (B3), Curly H. (B3), Brian Gruselle (B3).
Influences
Blues. Jump blues, swing blues, west coast and east coast swing, alternative beat blues, lounge blues. Blues harp. Mississippi saxophone. Harmonica Tone. Harmonica gurus. Harmonica masters. Harmonica heavy breathing. Fat tone. Thin tone. Tight lips. Tongue blocking. Octaves. Fast runs. Harmonica mouth. Blues. Blues Scale. Creativity. Ensemble playing. Dynamics. Rhythm. Melody. Practice.
Musicians: Anyone writing and playing original music. I try to learn something from every harp player -- and most musicians I meet. Specific harp players: Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, Gary Smith, James Harman, John Hammond, Paul Butterfield, Mark Ford, James Cotton, Billy Branch, Sugar Blue, Sugar Ray Norcia, Carey Bell, Walter Horton, George Smith, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny Boy Williamson, Slim Harpo, Paul DeLay, Toots T., Magic Dick, Junior Wells, Norton Buffalo, Annie Raines, Louis Myers, Raful Neal, Frank Frost, Snookie Prior, Lazy Lester, Howlin' Wolf, John Mayall, Jazz Gillum, Deford Bailey, and anyone who ever blew a good note on a harp, Muddy Waters, the Aces, Robben Ford, Steve Cropper, Booker T and the MGs, BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Billy Flynn, Freddy King, Junior Watson, Alex Schultz, Ry Cooder, Kenny Burrell, Hollywood Fats, Boz Scaggs, Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Kenny Dorham, Herb Alpert, Lee Morgan, Dizzy G., Charlie Parker, etc,----Tom Waits, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Joan Armatrading, Fleetwood Mac, and anybody influenced by blues music....
Artists: Paul Cezanne, Mark Rothko, George Inness, John Constable, Piet Mondrian, JMWTurner, CMonet, Kandinsky, Munch, Akiro Kurosawa, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Richard Sale, Frederick Nebel, Frank Gruber, Norbert Davis, Paul Cain, ES Gardner, Lester Dent, ee cummings, Emily Dickinson
Others: People who dwell in possibility.
Sounds Like
Neo-Americana Alt-Blues, vaguely reminiscent of 1950s-1960s jump-swing-groove blues -- blues with an upbeat. "We are interested in the notes we play and the spaces between the notes." Ensemble sound.
Musically, we have the vintage Stax Records attitude. As Steve Cropper once described it: "It had to do with the atmosphere -- find a hole and plant something in there that meant something. The main idea was not what you played; it was what you didn't play. The less you played, the more it meant."
The Joe Tones originated September 2005 with Harmonica Joe Vanesky, Denise "Tele-Baby" Crouse, Tony Theisen and Russell Allen. Gary "Guitar" Shaw joined the band in summer 2006. The Joe Tones are a jump blues band, mixing blues with Americana, R&B, west coast swing, boogie, funk, jazz, and world rhythms. Veterans of the music scene in Wisconsin, members of The Tones have played practically every major (and minor) festival in Wisconsin, from blues fests to Summerfest. After years of touring (the band members have about 140 years of experience playing music) the Tones are doing their own thing --- playing to audiences that enjoy that rich, ensemble blues sound.
What People Are Saying About The Joe Tones
"Seriously, I'm pleasantly surprised by how tight this band is, and actually relying on musicianship rather than being overpowering like so many groups. Good soloing all the way around, and nothing personal but the rhythm section is really good....Tasteful harp right in the Walter tradition, and good guitar. Overall, a very enjoyable performance....Plus you get points for so many originals....I like the groove and the playing." Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
"THANK YOU for your FABULOUS performance. And--No, not just a performance, but TRULY a SHOW!! The group IS tight! Very solid,very SEASONED and VERY Dedicated to QUALITY, these were just a few of my personal observations." Valley of the STARZ, LLC.,review of the JoeTones at a May 2008 performance.
"Why it's cool: Joe Vanesky is a harmonica virtuoso. What does that mean? He doesn't merely play the harp, he makes it sing. Not an easy thing to do. There's some tasty guitar and keyboard playing on this song, too." Eric Klister, Post-Crescent, reviewing the title track of the JoeTones 2007 disc "On and Off".
"Diggin' your harp playing - nice tone, understated, original approach, very very tasty!" Cool-Tone Music
"Joe is the real deal harmonica player. Not some guy who just plays licks. He plays music from the heart and gives a damn. Thats the best praise I can give anybody." Bobby Evans, Alimony Blues Band.
"Your harp playing is actually Original.. a real accomplishment in my view.." Harpco, San Diego
"When I heard Joe's singing from outside the Time Community Theater, I thought it was John Mayall." Joe Grier, Thursday Night Rain.
The Joe Tones: Live and In-Color!
Joe Vanesky is a spirited student of the harmonica who continues to bring invention to the instrument and to the blues he creates. Joe likes to write original music. Besides the Tones "On and Off" disc, he has produced two other discs of original music in the past 3 years -- check out Root Cellar Music for the latest. Standing by his side, Denise Crouse soulfully strums and picks her candy apple red Telecaster. Denise is an unapologetic, rock solid rhythm guitarist who lays the foundation for the myriad of the Tones rhythmic influences. Denise also has a rich, inviting voice that has been compared to Fleetwood Mac's Christie McVie. On lead guitar, Gary Shaw is a master of the understated line, recalling the innovative, vibrant playing of early amplified jazz and blues guitarists (think 1950s). An ecclectic player, Gary is a session guitarist whose early prowess on the instrument was recognized by Dobie Gray (Drift Away), and he was subsequently whisked onto the national scene as Dobie's guitarist. Look for Gary to bring both fire and finesse to the Tones' music. Gary also tours with Grand Ole Opry's Little Jimmy Sizemore, who is known to have discovered the great Patsy Cline. Needless to say, Mr. Sizemore knows something about talent and inspired playing. The rhythm section features Denise Crouse,Tony Theisen (bass) and Russell Allen (drums). Honestly, there's no bigger compliment than having Bruce Iglauer say "the rhythm section is really good." We'll leave it at that.
About the Tunes
The band finished recording "On and Off", a CD featuring 11 songs (9 original songs) of the blues fusion variety, in May of 2007. The songs were recorded at Rock Garden Studio in Appleton, WI by Marc Golde. Marc also adds his considerable talents as a Hammond B3 player to two songs on the disc (Blues Are Back and the title track On and Off). The songs listed above are original. The title track, "On and Off", and the Latin inspired "Modern Ag" were written by the Joe Tones. "What You Been Doing?" was written by Joe Vanesky and Denise Crouse, and "Step in Line" was written by Joe Vanesky.
These songs were essentially recorded live, with no musical overdubs except for vocals and Marc's B3 tracks. Also, the tune "On and Off" was a spontaneous selection -- the band had only just conceived of the song a couple weeks prior to the recording date and had not played it out before recording it.
Jody, I booked two gigs at IQ's Bar in Green Bay. Please check them out on my page here and see if they're both good! I'm gonna need to get a drummer for each. Billed as Dale Anderson & The Delta Flyers. Thanks, Dale
Thanks for the add you are very welcome.Thanks for liking our music.Good to see Junior Wells in yr mates - we play Messing with the Kid a lot in our rock/blues set.Cheers from all the crew at COLDFLAME. COM
Hey! I got a new band! Thinkin' of callin' it 'The Delta Flyers'! What do you think?!? Guitar-harp duo with a drummer at times for loud festivals like the Michigan Blues Curcuit I'm doin' this summer and fall!
