April 2008
Hey you all!
Hope April is treating you well so far. A nice hail-snow-rain-sun mix means it is Springtime in Colorado! I am looking forward to more sun and warm weather to head to the hills and the skatepark…
Not to mention summer shows at Front Range BBQ, Shuga’s and all the cool festivals that will involve outdoor music! Before the Chinooks finish eating all the snow though, there are places to go and shows to play.
This weekend has me playing three great venues in Colorado. Friday night at the Salida Café, Saturday night at Swallow Hill in Denver, with a slide guitar workshop that day as well, and Sunday up at Osker Blues in Lyons. Also Sunday I will do a brief performance at Kinfolks in Manitou that will be recorded and hopefully included in a benefit CD for the Fountain Creek Restoration Project. Check the schedule below or on my website for details.
Next week I will be heading to Mississippi to play Thacker Mountain Radio and the Juke Joint Festival. I am thrilled to be involved with both and am looking forward to whatever Mississip has in store for me this time around.
Looking back this has been an amazing start to 2008. The support that you all have shown for my new record has been profound and very much appreciated. Please keep spreading the word about my tunes. (Check out my Reverbnation page for cool little widgets you can through on your MySpace and Facebook pages.) Reviews continue to come in and I have posted many on my blog on my MySpace page. For those of you who have XM, tune to channel 74, you are sure to hear some tunes from Town and Country. And for the rest of us, keep hitting up your community supported station to play the record. They no doubt have it and I am sure would appreciate hearing from you.
Happy Spring. Thank you. As Always, John-Alex
PS- I finally have my video camera back functioning and will be posting some new youtubers soon...check it out....
March 2008
Hey everyone, fell behind a bit with that nasty bug that was floating around…sorry this is late!
ebruary was great, Town and Country continues to get big radio play. Hit #9 on the Living Blues Chart for the month of February! Thanks for all the spins and support!
Was out in Memphis for the Folk Alliance conference and had an absolute blast. Heard some amazing acts, be sure to check out Deering and Down, John Boutte, Raining Jane and Suzanna Choffel.
I am working on assembling all the reviews and comments that have come in on the new record. I should have them posted in some form on my website and myspace in the next few days.
The summer is coming together well, some cool shows and trips in the works. I look forward to seeing you soon. Thanks for all your support please help spread the word. As always, John-Alex
February 2008
Hey Y’all,
Just a quick note here… Lots of news… Suffice to say that January was a HUGE month for me. The support that you all have shown through CD purchases, show attendance, reviews and radio spins has been amazing and I appreciate it very, very much.
The week following the release date, Town and Country, hit #1 on the Roots Music Report Blues chart. This is an international chart that tracks a ton of different stations across the world and a huge honor to be on the top. The next week it dropped to #31 but still remain on the chart! I also got word that the record is #16 on the Living Blues Chart for January. Excellent news especially considering that we only had two weeks to work with for the mid-month release date. Thank you for all the spins...keep calling your blues DJ's.
Town and Country has garnered some excellent reviews across the country. I will be posting soon on my website, but in the meantime Google me and click on news. Plenty to sort through there while you wait...
My release party at the BAC in Manitou was an absolute hoot! Thanks to all you who came and help the launch. What a great night. Extra special thanks to Grant Sabin and the Revelators, the Shuffletones, Pam Martinez and Rod Tanaka for sharing their talents with us. What a great night…did I say that already?
January’s end found me in Memphis playing in the International Blues Challenge, a huge conglomeration of acts from across the world “competing” for some big prizes. I was happy to make it to the finals, where four of us lost out to Colorado’s own Lionel Young and Florida’s Ben Prestage. I had an excellent time and met some very cool musicians that you should check out. My Favorites from the weekend that you may not have heard of: Garrett Mason, The Mountain Men, Walter Torre, Dan Stevens and Chris D’amato, Trampled Under Foot (winners of the Band side), and KM Williams. I wish I could have seen more acts!!!
February looks to be a blast too. Back to Memphis for the Folk Alliance and shows around Colorado… Thank you, for everything!
As Always, John-Alex
January 25, 2008
Town and Country Hits #1 on the RootsBlues Chart! http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/2.0/charts.php?name=blues
January 2008
Howdy, Happy New Year!
What a great start to 08 so far, Aspen with Rose Hill Drive, and Steamboat and the North Routt shaking it in the snow!
Big news this week: my CD release party is coming up Friday night in Manitou Springs. The show is going to be a blast with performances by yours truly, the Shuffletones, Grant Sabin and the Revelators and members of my old band the Pea Vine Line. In addition to all the fine juke joint dance party music, there will be food from Front Range BBQ, a cash bar and a beautiful exhibit of rock and blues photographs by my pals Rod Tanaka and Pamela Martinez. Please make it out if you can! For more details see the new johnalexmason.com .
Yes, the NEW johnalexmason.com. Check it out! I like the way it has turned out, hope you do to.
Please check out the calendar for shows near you. Things are still in the works for trips to the NW, Atlanta, and SF. I will keep you posted.
Town and Country is continuing to build a buzz for me and I am excited for the official street date 1/15/08. The CD will be available in your local music retailer and always online. For those of you patiently waiting for your fan packs who bought (or may still buy) the album online before 1/15, the posters are here and the stickers are on their way. I will mail them out ASAP.
Thank you all for your continued support. Happy New Year, John-Alex
December 2007
Town & Country Highlights
Happy Holidays!
I hope this finds you well in the last days of 2007. I will be spending the rest of December preparing for the release of Town & Country 1/15/08. But I get to hit Salida, Winter Park, Manitou and Front Range BBQ before 2007 is all finished. Please check the schedule below for details...hint…Front Range Barbeque…New Year’s eve…yum!
Early ‘08, I’ll be heading up to Steamboat for shows and then back home to the Front Range to Celebrate the new release with three events at the BAC’s Venue 515 http://www.thebac.org. 1/11/08 - CD RELEASE PARTY! To feature a live show with musical guests and snacks by Front Range BBQ, $10 suggested donation at the Door. 1/12/08 PEAK VINTAGE GUITAR SHOW! To feature Buy/Sell/Trade with 12-15 guitar dealers and luthiers from the Rocky Mountain region, $5 at the door. MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT – 1/3-1/13/08 To feature the work of Pamela Martinez and Rod Tanaka in the espresso bar at Venue 515. I am also hoping to put a COUNTRY BLUES GUITAR WORKSHOP SERIES together in January. If you have interest in this, please let me know.
Some early reviews have begun to come in on Town & Country. Some highlights:
"This is how blues was meant to sound... pure delta blues truth." Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue and BluesWax.
"Even though Mason hails from Colorado, he sounds as if he was sprung full grown from the soul of Charley Patton." Brett Fleming, WEVL, Memphis
"Going to the 'crossroads' and trading one's soul to Old Scratch for musical prowess is a myth, but if it was true, young John-Alex Mason could claim bragging rights. With real roots in gospel and classic rock, Mason channels Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Skip James, Elmore James and others along with his own originals that eerily resonate with the spirit and soul of the traditional country blues." Dave Rubin, Guitar Edge Magazine
You can still purchase Town and Country, at my shows or online at CDBaby http://www.cdbaby.com/jamason6 . These will always be an option but if you buy before 1/15, I’ll give you something extra: at the shows, a copy of the Barefoot EP to give to a friend or complete your collection, and from CD Baby, a goodie pack with a signed poster, some stickers and more. For those of you patiently waiting for the goodie pack, they will mail at or within a few days of the release date.
Thanks for all your support. Hope to see you out soon!
Your Pal, John-Alex
