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You might have seen him at the Monday night blues jam at Tommy’s. He closes his eyes and his mouth starts mawking as he pulls slow leads off his Fender Stratocaster – is he really talking to his guitar? Joe Nadeau is described by fellow musicians as a very real, very spiritual player. “A song he’s done -- say he’s played it a million times -- he still feels it. He means it,” bass player John Compton said. Nadeau moved from his hometown of Boston to Dallas in 1990, because, he said, “I loved Texas blues and I wanted to find out what this place was all about.” There he met a very young Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who hired Nadeau to put together a band, which brought him to Shreveport. Nadeau was Kenny Wayne’s first vocalist and rhythm guitarist and shared lead for many years. With Shepherd, he co-wrote three songs on the gold-certified “Ledbetter Heights” album, including “Shame, Shame” and “Let Me Up.” He continued to work with Shepherd on the follow up, “Trouble Is…” The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band took Nadeau on several tours, cross country and around the world. He has appeared on Austin City Limits and has performed with some of the great musicians of our time, including the Eagles, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Jimmy Vaughan, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and James Brown. In the spring Nadeau will vault to the next level of his musical career by releasing his debut album. According to a spokesperson of Nadeau’s label, Sukey Jump Records, “Joe is finally stepping up to the plate. He’ll rightly secure his place at the top of the heap of blues guitarists.” The album already comes with a high pedigree and features special guests, including Shepherd. It was recorded at 152 Beale Street Studios, mixed at the House of Blues Studios in Memphis and engineered by Greg Archilla, highly regarded for his work with Buckcherry, Matchbox 20 and Neil Young. “It’s not all blues,” Nadeau said of the as-yet-untitled album. “There’s everything from a straight slow blues called ‘I’ll Help You Pack’ to a funk rock song, ‘Raise Your Right Hand.’ It’s 12 tracks of all original material. I’ve lived here for seven or eight years and nobody has seen me do my thing. Nobody. I am stoked.” What he wants is “to be on the road behind a successful record.” But what about fame? “Superstardom? What the hell is that?” he said while making a contemptuous face. Then, with a grin, Nadeau said, “Let’s put it this way. I’ll take as much as I can get.” He’s also looking forward to touring with some of his heroes -- B.B King, Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl. As Nadeau enters this new chapter of his life, he feels good. “I am playing, singing, performing better than I ever have,’’ he said. “And my songwriting is stronger than ever. After struggling with alcohol and drugs for over 15 years, I’m clean and sober; December 1 was a year. If it wasn’t for God getting me through that, then all this stuff – getting a record deal, finding peace of mind -- none of this would be happening, if not for God.” Nadeau is putting together a band in preparation for the tour. “But I’ll always play Tommy’s,’’ he said, “and I’ll host the blues jam as long as I can.” Catch him at your local blues jam while you can. Visit www.joenadeau.com. - |
