New York, NY (Top40 Charts) There's an old Jimmie Rodgers song called "Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas)" -
Waylon Jennings did a wonderful version as well. He sings "T for Texas, T for Tennessee" and injects a heap more honky tonk than the original, in keeping with his native
Texas musical heritage. One could easily make the jump that the shared musical language of these two states has coalesced in ways that create family from folks who've just met. Memphis' Sun Studios brought together musicians like Howlin' Wolf,
Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, while Stax was one of the other original integrated musical stables with Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding.
The songs that put
Memphis on the map are now universal, and for their part, Motel Mirrors treat country, melodic folk, soul, swing and other genres as parts of a whole. Singer/bassist Amy Lavere hails from the piney woods of the Texas/Louisiana border, guitarist/singer Will Sexton hails from the hallowed musical streets of Austin, Texas, guitarist/singer John Paul Keith arrived in
Memphis years ago from his native Knoxville and drummer Shawn Zorn is a
Memphis original. The resulting songs sound like a band who grew up together, and because of their knowledge and influences, its hard to believe they didn't. Motel Mirrors' full-length debut LP, "In the Meantime", is due on Last Chance Records on March 30th 2018. The album reflects a gently swinging, intimate session, with each principal contributing songs and harmonies for their fellows. Elements of the record bring artists like the
Everly Brothers and
Roy Orbison to mind, but the incredibly sharp musical performances and their clear love for playing together takes it into a new and original sphere.
John Paul Keith will release "Heart Shaped Shadow" simultaneously, a solo album with a distinct sound of its own. JP takes a harder driving approach, with a slight wildness that suggests a player with a few tickets in his glovebox. Memphis-style horns charge up some of the tunes, but his ultra-classic songwriting style and mind-boggling guitar work stand up to any of the gun slingers out there. The songs here reflect a man who spent some time unmoored, and feels his way back from a personal brink. And make no mistake, there are some brilliant honky tonkers that take the sting out.
A 12-year veteran of the
Memphis music scene, singer, songwriter, and guitarist John Paul Keith has three critically acclaimed solo albums, including his latest, "Memphis Circa 3AM". Most recently, John Paul appears on the new tribute album "Red Hot: A
Memphis Celebration of Sun Records", with proceeds going to St. Jude. John Paul also contributed a song to the new Don Bryant album from Fat Possum Records, "Don't Give Up on Love".
In 2013, John Paul Keith & Amy LaVere formed Motel Mirrors - a duet project born out of a mutual desire for new artistic challenges and what might've just been a long overdue collaboration between two artists whose styles so clearly complemented one another. JP and Amy put out a 10" EP, Motel Mirrors. It was incredibly well received (named one of the "10 Essential Albums of 2013" by No Depression and selected as one of the best
Memphis albums of the year by The
Memphis Commercial Appeal) and they had a blast touring together to support it. They added noted Austin,
Texas guitarist Will Sexton to the mix and with three songwriters and three singers, the dynamic and the possibilities have changed - what was a duet is now a full band, as Shawn Zorn joined on drums.
JOHN PAUL KEITH LIVE
Mar 05 First Mondays @ Lafayette's Memphis, TN
Mar 15 Twangfest SXSW Party Austin, TX
Mar 17 Last Chance Records Day Party - SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 18 Uncle Doug's
Chili Dog Fest - SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 25 Huey's Poplar Memphis, TN
Mar 30 Record Release Show @ Railgarten w/ Motel Mirrors Memphis, TN
Mar 31 Club 152 Memphis, TN
Apr 01 Huey's Millington Millington, TN
Apr 02 First Mondays at Lafayette's Memphis, TN
Apr 06 Bar DKDC Memphis, TN
Apr 07
Blind Bear Memphis, TN
Apr 08 Huey's Collierville Collierville, TN
Apr 11 Huey's Germantown Germantown, TN
Apr 13 Blue Monkey Memphis, TN
Apr 14 Juke Joint Festival 2018 Clarksdale, MS
Apr 17 Huey's Cordova Memphis, TN
Apr 21 Club 152 Memphis, TN
Apr 27 Blues City Cafe Memphis, TN
Apr 28 Blues City Cafe Memphis, TN
MOTEL MIRRORS LIVE
Mar 09 The Motherlode Saloon Red River, NM
Mar 10 The Motherlode Saloon Red River, NM
Mar 11
Pecos Flavors Winery Dexter, NM
Mar 13 SXSW Official Showcase at Saxon Pub Austin, TX
Mar 15 Six Springs Tavern Richardson, TX
Mar 16 The Blue Door Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 17 Last Chance Records Day Party - SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 17 AGBG - SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 18 8th Annual Lucy's Austin Fried Chicken Revival Austin, TX
Mar 30 Record Release w/ John Paul Keith @Railgarten Memphis, TN
