James Mastro – New CD, Working With Ian Hunter, Singing With Ozzy Osbourne
James Mastro has a new CD out, and a very diverse career from playing with Ian Hunter, to singing on an Ozzy Osbourne album.
Highly-regarded songwriter and guitarist since his teen years playing in the Richard Lloyd Group, Mastro was a key part of the Hoboken-based band The Bongos, later moving to center stage as frontman for Americana-flavored The Health & Happiness Show.
Mastro’s career has seen him share the stage with Wilco, Johnny Cash, Golden Smog, Barenaked Ladies, Beat Farmers, The Blasters, Kirsty MacColl, and in 2001 he joined Mott the Hoople’s legendary singer Ian Hunter and has served as his left-hand man ever since, touring and working on Hunter’s last six albums.
Additionally, he has toured as a guitarist with a variety of artists from Patti Smith to Southside Johnny, and his studio session work includes playing on songs by Phoebe Snow, Marti Jones, and Rachael Sage.
Oh yeah…and on an Ozzy Osbourne album as well.
Mastro’s first-ever solo album, Dawn of a New Error, features guest vocals by Ian Hunter and production by Tony Shanahan.
James Mastro will perform in Denville at Sweet Vinyl Cafe & Record Store on Friday, March 8th playing songs from his new full-length debut solo album, Dawn of a New Error where he will be joined by his band – Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith) on bass, Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) on drums, Chris Robertson on guitar, and Megan Reilly will handle back-up vocals/guitar.
He will also play in Red Bank at Jack’s Music Shoppe on Sunday, March 10th. Showtime is at 3:00 pm. James will be accompanied by Tony Shanahan on bass, and Megan Reilly will handle back-up vocals/guitar.
INTERVIEW EXCERPTS
Solo artist vs front man of a band
Even though I was the songwriter, (The Health and Happiness Show) was still a band. You know, it was a gentle dictatorship, I’ll say.
You know, but I encourage everyone for their input, you know, and they were great. Now, something like this where it’s total solo album, I’m kind of, there’s no one else to blame but me. So that’s kind of a big difference, having, and I like being in bands, you know, and now kind of created a band around this record. But when we were making it, it was just kind of me and (producer) Tony Shanahan bouncing off each other.
Working with Ian Hunter
For me, it’s a thrill because Moth the Hoople is the reason why I started playing guitar in the first place. And so to have him on one of my records finally is, you know, I’m done. I’m finished. I’m great.
I think every musician has that moment where something clicks, you know, and for me, it was really hearing “All the Way From Memphis” on the radio when I was 12, 13 years old. And I was like, you know, I was listening to records, but that was like, yeah, you know, that got me going.
Spirituality of the new album
It boils down basically to right and wrong, you know, what is good, what is bad, you know, and I feel everyone should be entitled to their own belief, spiritual, whatever, as long as they’re not hurting someone or, you know, and just try and do the right thing, you know, be treated, treat people the way you want to be treated.
I was brought up very in a very religious family. So that rubbed off. But I try having traveled so much too, you see a lot more and you just try and keep an open mind for what other people believe, you know.
Singing on an Ozzy Osbourne album
It was not something I woke up planning to do that day. Ozzy was covering a version of “All the Young Dudes,” and so they had asked Ian (Hunter) to come in and do some vocals. And Ian was like, you know, I’m not going to go unless you go. So I went with him and he’s like, I’m not going to say unless you sing. They dragged me in and, you know, it looks good on the resume.
Touring with Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro is a dear friend. And if people don’t know his music, I highly recommend seeking him out. Talk about someone who’s, you know, can touch on the spiritual and, you know, just does it all great Texas troubadour and songwriter. So I went out with him for a little bit last year in his band.
And then when the record came out, he’s like, hey, why don’t you come out? I’ve got a new record coming out. You can open the shows and then play him, play in his band afterwards. So it’s kind of a win-win for me, you know, just put on a different hat.
You can get all the information on James Mastro on his website at JamesMastro.net.
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