James Pace, through his red thread sound that is root blues with what the band calls a Hendrix inspired groove from the 1970 Band of Gypsies era, tries to bring as much hope and emotion as possible to the audience with every song.

Vizions of Rock: Who plays what instruments?

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JAMES PACE: On the new LP, we have Michael Leasure on drums, percussion and backup vocals (Walter Trout, Edgar Winter), Johnny Griparic on bass (former Slash’s Snakepit, current Walter Trout), Mark Brown on B3 (Hambone Relay) and Peggi Blu on all backup vocals (former Bob Dylan vocalist). Billy Burke at Loveless Motel Studios in Sierra Madre (CA) was our Engineer/Producer. Blessed is an understatement. One of the most incredible experiences of my life. I hope that comes through in the music because it was a transcendent experience.

Vizions of Rock: How did the band come together and how long have you been together?

JAMES PACE: For the LP, we came together through Michael Leasure who was instrumental in pulling in all of this talent. Michael plays with Johnny in Walter Trout’s Band, so he thought Johnny would be a good fit and Michael also introduced me to Billy Burke and Peggi Blu. This grouping made up a beautiful chemistry which is lucky and rare. Mark Brown, from Philly, joined me on the trip out West to cut the core tracks. It was nice to cut tracks with a real full band including the B3 organ. It was a special day in many ways. This also kicked off a friendship with Johnny that spawned an idea for a business and a retail company we will be launching soon.

Vizions of Rock: Your sound has been described as a “A red thread sound that is root blues with what the band calls a Hendrix inspired groove from the 1970 Band of Gypsies era". Could you talk more about that?

JAMES PACE: I love to talk about the Band of Gypsies. This is my absolute favorite era of Hendrix’s work. It was so brief, however. The Hendrix family recently released all the vault material from the New Year’s Eve Show, and it is earth shattering how good they were. It completely inspired me for this album. I don’t know if it comes through, but the gospel like vocal quality and supporting vocals that Buddy Miles brought to that show I wanted to bring into the sound on my album. That type of performance has a very soul focused feel and it can only be pulled off by someone with talent and depth. We handed that duty to Peggi Blu on this record and she performed flawlessly on multiple tracks. 98% were first takes. Incredible magic she possesses. As it pertains to the Band of Gypsies era, I also wanted to try and bring forward the mixture of blues, funk, soul and rock. I feel we accomplished that and I can’t wait for you to hear the full finished product.

Vizions of Rock: 2020 will bring a new LP "The Sierra Madre Sessions". What can you tell us about this LP?

JAMES PACE: We tracked about 7 songs which will be released. I am excited to get this out, however, with COVID 19, it slowed down the completion quite a bit. I am now looking to release this in the Fall. Each song has its own personality and feel. Some have a funk and soul foundation while others have a rock feel and even an acoustic number. I think this album has almost every influence baked into it that I have ever had. James Brown, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Vaughan Brothers etc., just to name a few.

We tracked the full LP in Sierra Madre, CA and it was quite a magical place for me to escape and just focus on the songs. I did this over 3 trips out West and the first 2 sessions were with the full band (mentioned earlier). The last session I was just touching up most guitar parts and doing vocals. Michael Leasure sang a lot of the backups and was a big help in getting those to blend well with my voice. Peggi’s vocals were at times used as a lead in some sections to maximize the sound I was aiming for. Some of the vocal ideas I had weren’t designed to be my voice, but rather a female vocal part (for example; “Good Times, Hard Times”) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KWhmyHDoB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

When you have time to think and write, the music flows well and allows for a lot more creative moments for me. While most of the songs for this album were written in the spring of 2019, I refined them over the next 2 months and in the studio. “Touch the Sky” is a good example of that. I came in with the song fully written, but as we were cutting the vocals in the verse, it wasn’t quite flowing with the music as I had intended. Billy Burke (engineer) picked up an acoustic guitar and strummed a pattern with open chords in the same rhythm and it seemed to flow better. It really changed the dynamic of the tune and allowed me to cut back the vocal and really sink into the melody. One of the best tracks I have ever cut. https://open.spotify.com/album/16EKfjI1CIbFRjqqGdcoYS

Billy and I had a lot of those moments in real time as we did this LP and you will hear all of this soon.

Vizions of Rock: How is the Philadelphia music scene?

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JAMES PACE: Although I started on the Asbury Park NJ circuit in the 90’s, I have been playing the Philadelphia music circuit since 1996. It has changed a lot since then in terms of the venues and where the crowds tend to flow. Currently, we have found a lot of success in the clubs and theaters in the suburbs such as The Sellersville Theater and 118 North in Wayne, PA. Both rooms get wonderful touring national acts that we have been fortunate to support/open for. In center city directly, we have been playing a few key spots, but have had a strong build in the outskirts.

The community is quite impressive in regard to the people who stand behind the artists. Local radio often buries local artist programs, but not here - It’s important when large radio shows support the local scene and 104.5 FM w/ Jammin’ Jessie runs with a Sunday night New Music Discovery Program. This is something that many Philly locals have found tremendous value in. Jessie is sincere and truly loves to support the local scene in this city. I think it is rare that someone stays consistent in the support of the local artists as Jessie does - A true gem. That’s what it’s all about.

Vizions of Rock: You have worked with some established people in the music industry. What person has meant the most to you and why?

JAMES PACE: I have a 4 way tie - Chris Duarte (Austin, Texas Blues Guitarist), Michael Leasure (Drummer), Johnny Griparic (Bass) and Ted Greenberg (Engineer/Drummer in LA, 2x Grammy winner). Each have a special place in my heart. Chris helped me get off the ground in the 90’s and had me support his tour when he played in the northeast. Michael Leasure introduced me to the folks in LA that made my album come alive. Johnny Griparic and I have been close ever since we met and now have a business we are about to launch. Ted Greenberg and I go back to 97 and he was also the first person to invest money and time into my career put the salt behind my first EP(King’s of Groove). We remain friends to this day and when I visit LA we always hit Ca Del Sol, our fav spot.

Vizions of Rock: Who are your influences?

JAMES PACE: David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, Doyle Bramhall 2, the Vaughan Brothers, Peggi Blu, Son House, Stevie Wonder, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Freddie King, Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, Chris Duarte, Aretha Franklin, Wes Montgomery, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jeff Healey, Randy Rhoads and oh…I love Ozzy.

Vizions of Rock: What is the creative process like when writing your songs?

JAMES PACE: My rule of thumb is “think less”. I often write the best pieces and parts of my songs within 3 seconds of when I pick up the guitar. I usually pick it up several times a day just walking past it, subconsciously (usually to relieve a moment of stress). As soon as I do, it usually is an odd 3-5 seconds before I mentally stop to think what am I playing here? Boom, if it happens, I stop and grab the iPhone and just save it. From there it usually is a song section I then try to marry with another idea from another day. Often it’s something I hear in my head and work through onto the fretboard of the guitar. Lately, it’s been more of this fluid process that is done all at once. However, the album was written using both approaches I mention above. Lyrically, it is often about other peoples struggles I observe and internalize. I do NOT find “my struggle” interesting enough to write about and tell the world. So, I like to project the story by learning about what others went through and reframing it. That took me 40 years to figure out.

Vizions of Rock: Do you have any advice for up and coming musicians who want to follow in your footstep, aside from “Stay in school” and “Don’t quit your day job”?

JAMES PACE: I often say that even the most successful musicians have 3 or sometimes 4 jobs. Take Slash for instance - He is a producer, a designer, a spokesperson, and also the legend in Guns right? He doesn’t rely on just one “job”. On the flip side of the buck is creativity. If you have to play constantly to pay the bills, how does that help you remain and sustain creativity? The name of the game is to write good songs. So, having different aspects of your life that bring you the buck to cover rent can free up the space in your head to create the best album of your life. There is no right answer - The answer is “what’s right for you?”

Please keep in mind that in the last 20+ years, the music business hasn’t had a strong business model for the artist - maybe even longer? It had deteriorated long ago, and many musicians didn’t keep up with the pace of innovation. It’s time for a new model - One that makes financial sense. I thought COVID 19 would force this change - we shall see.

Vizions of Rock: Is there a message that you are trying to communicate with your original music?

JAMES PACE: I once heard Robert Plant introduce the song “Stairway to Heaven” by saying “I think this is song of HOPE”. This sticks with me everyday. I think it’s in the job description of the artist to bring as much hope and emotion as possible to the audience. The key word is emotion. Think about the song “Yesterday” by the Beatles - That song didn’t need a word and it could make you cry. That’s our job, in my opinion, and that’s what I am trying to convey - a sense of hope driven by emotion (happy or sad, it’s your moment).

Vizions of Rock: What do you like best about being a musician and what is the worst part about being a musician?

JAMES PACE: What I like best about being is musician is being able to channel the depths of who I am into the instrument. This is where we all connect. I enjoy the creative process and frankly just noodling on my instrument through several beautiful sounding amps. I also enjoy the peripheral stuff such as the moment after a show when you meet new people. I love the nights we have opened for legends in the business and the network of people I have worked with. I have been fortunate to have hung with or traded gear with and even played with some of my biggest influences. That’s all a blessing and I am grateful for that. There is no worst part of being a musician. It’s all good, although I wish we (musicians)would support each other a bit more than I see we do. We can all do better there, myself included.

Vizions of Rock: Is there a tag line that describes JAMES PACE?

JAMES PACE: No, there isn’t a tag line, but the saying “It’s not what you say to people or what you do to people that they remember, but it is how you make them feel is what they remember” . This saying is something that sticks with me. I think that’s our duty as musicians. It is to make people “feel” something through what we do. Music is very personal so, the interpretation is one thing, but the “feeling” is something that you see some artists excel at while others may not. David Gilmour is a master at this. Google his most recent tour where he plays South America. The audience’s reaction to that 20 minute clip is priceless and a perfect example of making people “feel” something.

Vizions of Rock: What is on the horizon for the future?

JAMES PACE: The new LP will be titled “The Sierra Madre Sessions” and is due out this Fall. I am 100% focused on getting this done.

Vizions of Rock: How can we find your music?

JAMES PACE:

Touch the Sky (Single) https://open.spotify.com/album/16EKfjI1CIbFRjqqGdcoYS

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaceband/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_pace_band/

WEBSITE: www.jamespaceband.com