Artist description Bluegrass, folk, country music, timeless music, music sung around the moonshine still, sung on the back porch, sun setting; hills glistening . . . . . Americana and roots music has a long lineage. Bill Monroe, Bob Dylan, The Band, the Grateful Dead to today's heroes, Whiskeytown and Wilco, the family tree of roots music is enormous. John McGaraghan is just another in the longstanding tradition of this genre. While he is influenced by the sounds of his ancestors, he is by no means weighed down by the past as Nietzsche often warned. No, hardly, John creates his own disparate sound. Lyrics and instrumentation, which often call to mind the spirits of Monroe and Parsons, yet he refuses to become a side actor a purveyor of "show tunes". . . . . Six shooters on main street, dust and beer on their faces as they enter the saloon. "One beer, here, hell let's make it a whiskey", shouted through the menacing air. Boots, and spurs jangle . . . . . Imagine if you will, the best of all roots rock, ever. The high lonesome vocals of Bill Monroe, with the bluegrass chop, the harmonies of Crosby Stills and Nash. Mix in somber lyrics of love and loss ala Gram Parsons, then a dash of Merry Prankster psychedelia. That would be the perfect description of John's music and sound. Here, amongst us in the modern day, during the time of boy bands and hatred-fueled bands, he creates a sound that may not belong. A slip or tear in the space time continuum one can assume. For it seems strange that a man boding such an array of talents and thoughts could operate during this time period. Let's just say it is a secret. A treasure, like that old goldmine, or hidden patch of forest, with the flowing stream, trout jumping as you stand alone tying your fly. Yes, it is there and it is for you to enjoy. . . . . Appalachia, the high lonesome sound, banjo strings, rusting, while the porch planks squeak under the pressure of people dancing to that high lonesome sound. Leather hats become soaked in sweat, love sweet love under the stars, moon and stars . . . . . For nigh on fifteen years John McGaraghan has been creating this sound, this secret stream. His previous outfit, Oversoul, garnered serious attention for its groundbreaking psychedelic/bluegrass sound. After disbanding, John began to forge his way into the deep apotheosis of Americana. His pursuit for that sound, to not just copy the paradigm, but recreate it, has led him to Northern California. Land of gold rush, land of golden hills, of Western Americana. Slowly his music is bearing the fruits of the move. Songs like "Northern California in the Rain" and "Lost Along the Way" bear the innocence of his ancestors, yet are redolent with his life affirming adventures. We as the crowd can only enjoy this treasure, cherish it and hope that his pursuit and path continues. . . . . The suns set, and the folks sleep. Six shooters lay drunk on the bar as the ragtime chords keep emanating from the upright piano. Wet heads, wet leather hats smelling musty and old, moonshine, comfortable and known. The planks stop squeaking. Finally, the planks stop squeaking. And the moon and moonshine keep shining. . .

Music Style Folky, bluegrassy, country, poppy, acoustic, singer/songwriter stuff

Musical Influences Anything acoustic--bluegrass, blues, country, folk, etc.

Similar Artists Lyle Lovett meets the Grateful Dead at a Bill Monroe show at the Grand Old Opry. Dave Matthews, Paul Simon, Neil Young, David Grisman...

Artist History An accomplished and critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and string player, John McGaraghan has been playing original music for over fifteen years, both alone and with various ensembles, most notably San Diego's critically acclaimed psychedelic bluegrass rock band, Oversoul and San Francisco americana rockers King Harvest. John's songs have been praised as "vibrant, expansive sounds...featur[ing] splendid lead guitar work and absolutely breathtaking vocals" by Relix Magazine (Vol. 25, no. 3; pg. 64). Since King Harvest's breakup in July of 2001, John has been concentrating on solo performance, playing an engaging and unique blend of pop, folk, and country/bluegrass. John's slant on acoustic songwriting has revitalized the classic sound of Americana music, and provided listeners with lyrics that go straight to the heart and mind and melodies to stir the soul. Drawing on varied influences such as bluegrass greats Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, and David Grisman, folk artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and James Taylor, as well as experimentalists including the Grateful Dead, Phish, and Zero, John crafts songs that run the stylistic gamut yet retain a consistent identity. Along the way he has shared the stage with such artists as Fishbone, Merl Saunders, 311, The Pharcyde, Jambay, and Calobo, and sat in on various instruments with Jambay, Hot Buttered Rum, The Redwood Projects and Pure Noodle, as well as countless others. John's songs are heartfelt and sincere, and are carried by inspiring melodies and stirring rhythms. Themes of dreams of loves lost and found along the winding road of life permeate the music, and touch listeners, reminding them of the intense feelings of victory and defeat, of empowerment and of despair that they all have had in their own lives. The songs are crafted in a way that can appeal to technical musicians as well as casual listeners, and the combination of energy and intensity with simplicity and harmony gives John's songs an ability to appeal to a wide audience that is rare in today's music. In short, there is something in John's music for everyone!

Group Members John McGaraghan, with (where noted on the "song story" page):Matt Butler; Percussion, vocals, production . . . . . Robin Sylvester; Bass, engineering . . . . . Ian Waight; Banjo . . . . . Bryan Horne; Upright Bass

Instruments Acoustic, Electric, and Lap Steel Guitars, Mandolin, Dobro, Piano, Banjo, lead, harmony, and backing vocals

Albums Lost Along The Way, Alive and Pickin', Ideas & Drafts, B-Sides

Press Reviews GODS OF MUSIC: California is, to some, considered to be the birthplace of this sound of America, being able to lay claim to some of the great masters of this style of music. Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, the Grateful Dead, the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and others all assembled under the western stars to merge country with rock, and blues with bluegrass. Their music is legendary and has not only withstood the grandest tests of time, but continues to influence and impress legends of wannabees, as well as a few potential superstars in the genre. Here then enter John McGaraghan, an Oakland-ite with the heart, the soul, the passion and the virtuosity of voice, songwriting and instrumental performance ability to be among the new school of Western Americana stars. GOLDRUNT: "Songwriting here has all the trappings of the classic bluegrass tunes, with a freshness to it that makes it one of my personal favorites....you can't shake this kind of musicianship. It really lends itself to quiet mornings of introspection.... There is a good balance of technical quality and stylistic inflection in the vocal, which provides an easy-listening experience, suitable for any situation...art in this pure vein is undeniably beautiful. Now THAT is REAL country music. I'd love to hear this kind of thing replace that afwul TNN crap that plagues us right now, but it's a blessing to have John all to ourselves." _ . . . . . _ JamBands.Com (By Chris Orman): Imagine for a moment an old dusty saloon, circa 1890?s. Inside the peeling painted, swinging doors; Crosby, Stills and Nash are drinking a fewglasses of beer. Over at the poker table, the Grateful Dead are partaking in yet another game and over leaning against the wall, Lyle Lovett andGram Parsons talk about their last trip across the desert... Recalling the halcyon days of "Workingman'sDead" and "Déjà vu", this in my opinion is the best album of the year, surpassing anything I have heard recently... While the songs are all amazing, one can forget the dumbfounding musicianship displayed. After all, McGaraghan, minus a few tracks here andthere, played all of the instruments and sang all of the harmonies... The result is an unfeigned treasure of sound. 4 Yaks from mp3Yak.c

Location San Diego, CA - USA

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