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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

MORE ALL MIXED UP - Interviews and Playlists

Howdy Rockers!

It's Terrie Carr and I'm so happy to kick off the month of March-  "Women's History Month" - with a WDHA exclusive photo gallery of Women who have and are making rock history - Loud Ladies from our past, present and future.

Women's History month began in 1982 as "Women's History Week" and was petitioned in 1987 to become "Women's History Month" - and it did- celebrating the contributions, struggles, and achievements of women in history.  Musical history checks a box as well.

I am thrilled to bring back the WDHA Queens Of Noise show on Fridays throughout the month of March to celebrate! Funny, this feature was born ON the kickoff to Women's History Month probably 4 years ago or so and it's popularity soared on the very first hour we did on the air- people wanted a weekly show! Your listener response brings the show back seasonally to WDHA  as our listeners always tell me how much they LOVE that Friday hour to end their week.

As I mentioned in this story- The Queens Of Noise Returns- the show was created NOT to box women rockers into an hour, but rather to prove that radio CAN play an hour of Loud Ladies and rock listeners will respond and you have! So thank you for the amazing feedback.

Check out some of my stories about Women In Rock!

The Warning Is Back!

20 Women Who Changed The Game In Rock Music

The Warning and Plush Live in NYC

The Ladies Who Keep The Beat- TC's Fave Female Drummers

Documentaries On Women Who Rock! (TC's faves)

And of course please call the show and make a request- 973-292-1055, hit me up via email- TC@WDHAFM.COM

Enjoy the photo gallery- Most taken by our killer rockarazzi - Joe Frazz Photography and get ready to rock with the women who invented and are reinventing their musical journey's in rock music!

Gina Schock of the legendary Go-Go's stopped by with her pup to hang!

The beautiful Zou Zou from Soraia on the air with TC