Joe and Vicki Price

Genre: Blues
Secondary Genre: Alternative Decorah, Iowa USA Contact

Independent Music Award winners Joe & Vicki Price a righteous, joyful, foot-stomping jubilee. This music is flavored more to the juke joint end of the blues: a bit rough and tons of fun. Grammy nominated folk singer Greg Brown calls Joe Price, "the Buddha".

Artist Information

Biography

VIDEO AVAILABLE: http://www.joepriceblues.com/joepriceblues/VIDEO.html

INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARD WINNERS BEST BLUES CD, JOE & VICKI PRICE

In 1951, this current incarnation of Joe Price arrived in Waterloo, Iowa. Unlike most kids of his generation, Price was never seduced by pop or rock ‘n’ roll music. Although his love for music was virtually immediate, it was country blues that grabbed him early; a bond that has never been broken.

When he was nine, his brother Butch joined the service and left Joe his guitar. “I’ve been playing since 1960,” he recalls, “and I’ve always played the way I do. I had a mailman teach me some stuff when I was a kid. He would come by when I was playing on the porch and tune my guitar. He showed my how to play ‘Red River Valley’ and ‘You Are My Sunshine’ finger-style, tunes I still play to this day.”

It was a chance encounter with the late, great Chicago bluesman Earl Hooker, who the young Price caught in performance at a home town record store, that really sealed the deal. “He was unbelievable, that guy—he really flipped me out,” Price remembers. “He told me to cut the end of a bicycle handlebar off to make a good slide.”

In 1971 Joe had made the move to Iowa City. It was a fertile time and place for the blues. Located on I-80, Iowa City was a natural stop for national touring artists connecting Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. Beginning with the Rocket 88’s (through 1974) and continuing with the legendary Mother Blues (an edgy, three-headed beast featuring Patrick Hazell, Bo Ramsey and Price) from ‘75 till ’81, Joe played virtually non-stop. During that stretch, the bands worked almost nightly, crisscrossing Midwestern bars and serving as the openers of choice at high-profile shows by Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Clifton Chenier, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, James Cotton and more.

IN 1982 Joe escaped to Lansing in northeast Iowa. The picturesque burg happens to be near Waukon, the hometown of a pretty young blues belter, Vicki Ewing, who had captured his attention during a 1981 solo gig. Vicki was working as the bartender and got up during the break to perform some of her own tunes, the beginning of a new musical adventure for both of them.

Growing up in a remote rural setting easily could turn out to be a severe disadvantage to a fledgling musician. But for Vicki (Ewing) Price, the quiet of rural life afforded lots of opportunity for practice and performance. Local country, blues and R&B-influenced gospel available during her formative years in Waukon, Iowa forged a distinctive, blues-belting guitarist.

It was a television performance by the legendary folk singer Odetta that positively galvanized the 12-year-old Vicki Ewing. “I saw Odetta and I just went nuts I told my mom, this is what I want to be.” Mama Ewing, to her credit, took her daughter’s dream seriously, and as soon as she could fill sufficient Green Stamps books to swing the deal, Vicki was the proud and eager recipient of a brand new acoustic guitar. 

Joe and Vicki married in 1987, after having toured together for five years. Over their 27 years together they have opened for such notables as John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Pine Top Perkins, Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Louisiana Red, Al Green, Greg Brown and Iris DeMent. The creative, musical impact of this pairing was and remains a bustling two-way street in nearly every way imaginable, and the artistic achievements of both partners are irrevocably intertwined.  The on-stage interplay between Joe and Vicki makes that connection clear.

The couple released five CD’s on Iowa’s Trailer Records. Joe’s 25 Below in 1996, Request in 1999 and Designated Drive in 2000; Vicki’s Mississippi Summer in 1998 and Looking for Love in 2005. Sadly, in 2007 Trailer Records shut its’ doors. Taking the initiative the couple released two CD’s on their label Blues Acres Productions; in October of 2008 A Brand New Place which features 10 new tunes penned by Vicki and in March of 2009 Joe’s collection of original songs Rain or Shine. Both releases made the top 100 CD’s of 2009 in Real Blues Magazine. A Brand New Place was nominated for Best independent release at the International Blues Challenge in 2008, Rain or Shine was nominated for 2009. Rain or Shine wins Best Blues CD 2009 by the Independent Music Awards and has received rave reviews in major publications including Vintage Guitar Magazine, The American Music Guide, Blues Revue and the Chicago Sun Times. Joe is a member of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he was a finalist in the 2008 International Blues Challenge. He and Vicki were given an Official Showcase at the Far-West Folk Alliance conference in 2011.

From coast to coast, and from concerts, to clubs, to outdoor festivals, the Price's singular vision and dazzling, irresistible live performances continue to etch a steady, upward arc.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Buddy Guys - Chicago, IL
Taste of Minnesota - St. Paul, MN
Big Top Chautauqua - Bay Field, WI
Telluride Blues & Brew Festival - Telluride, CO
Iowa Governor, Chet Culver’s inaugural Hancher Auditorium - Iowa City, IA
Michael Feldman's What do you Know? - National Public Radio
Arkansas Blues & Heritage Fest (aka Biscuit & Blues) - Helena AR
Orangeville Jazz & Blues Festival - Orangeville, Canada
Swallow Hill's Old Pearl Street Blues & Brews Festival - Denver, CO
Deep Blues Innovators Festival - Monmouth, IL
Living History Blues Festival - Des Moines, IA
Bayfront Blues Festival - Duluth, MN
At the Plaza Blues Fest - Albany, New York
Silver City Blues Festival - Silver City, NM
Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Fest - Minneapolis, MN
Mill Valley Arts Festival - Mill Valley, CA
The Simply Blues Fest - Fort Madison, IA
International Blues Challenge  2006 - Memphis, Tennessee
Resophonic Guitar Festival - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival - Davenport, Iowa
Winter Blues Festival - Des Moines, Iowa
Court Avenue Blues Festival - Des Moines, Iowa
Hambone Blues Festival - Austin, MN
Bowlful 'O Blues Festival - Newton, Iowa
Iowa Arts Festival - Iowa City, Iowa
Women's Festival - Iowa City, Iowa
Big River Folk Festival - LaCrosse, Wisconsin


Joe & Vicki Price
Blues Acres Productions
PO Box 32
Decorah, IA 52101
563-419-8793 Cell
joepriceblues@aol.com
www.joepriceblues.com

Instrumentation

Video available:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxRyyohDYCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv136KU3vMo&feature=related&pos=3
Joe Price is endorsed by 2 guitar companies, The National Resophonic Guitar Company and the Greg Bennet Samick Guitars. Joe is a finger style guitarist in the Muddy Waters/Elmore James tradition of electric guitar. He is a songwriter and vocalist.

Vicki Price a finger style guitarist also endorsed by The National Resophonic Guitar Company. She is a songwriter and vocalist.

Discography

VIDEO AVAILABLE: http://www.joepriceblues.com/joepriceblues/VIDEO.html


RAIN OR SHINE (Feb. 2009)
WINNER Independent Music Awards best Blues CD 2009.

One man… one guitar… one voice… shaped by a lifetime of bad luck, blues and trouble, yet joyful and resolute. This is Joe Price at his finest, playing the music he loves on his own terms with the kind of authenticity and unique style I’ve admired over the years — rain or shine. The ghosts of slide guitar masters like Elmore James, Hound Dog Taylor and Mississippi Fred McDowell live in these 10 heartfelt electric and acoustic originals marked by Price’s indelible stamp. From gritty blues (“Joe’s Guitar Stomp,” “Too Little Too Late”), to house rockin’ numbers (“Beer Tent Boogie Woogie”) and honey-sweet ballads (“Nellie Bell”), Price delivers on all accounts. Wife Vicki lends a deft hand on “Steel Guitar,” while drummer Keni Ewing and trumpeter Al Naylor help create the danceable “Rock Slide.”
By Michael Swanger City View Des Moines, IA 2/2009




...Joe Price holds a long-established position as one of this planet's most distinctive and incendiary blues mavens. Famously cited as "The Buddha" by Greg Brown for his unerring ability to conjure unforgettable original material that fairly reeks of the mysteriously sensual, voodoo funk of vintage, long-departed masters, Price dishes out ten more roadhouse roof-raisers on his brand-new "Rain or Shine."

....Front-and-center on each track are Price's sizzling, sliding, careening guitar and infectious boot-stomping, with Joe's haunted, driven vocals adorning half the cuts, interleaved among five riveting instrumentals. ....Fresh-brewed but steeped in the ages, it's an all-weather house party... By Jim Musser Iowa City, IA PRESS CITIZEN February 19,2009


A BRAND NEW PLACE (Oct. 2008)

"A righteous, joyful, foot-stomping jubilee" .... Jim Musser Press Citizen, Iowa City, IA

Husband and wife duo Joe and Vicki Price don't just play the blues, they live the blues, and you can feel it in Vicki's aching vocals and Joe's soulful slide guitar throughout their new album, "A Brand New Place." The Iowa couple delivers 10 original country blues songs written by Vicki that sound like they would have been a hit for the Vocalion record label during the 1920s or 1930s, but as a testament to their timeless lyrical and musical qualities, are just as meaningful in the 21st century. "My Man," the album's stellar lead track, is a good example of the interplay between Joe and Vicki, as Joe's stinging guitar buzzes like a bee around Vicki's honey-like vocals and rhythm guitar. They go together like sugar and spice.
---Michael Swanger CITY VIEW DesMoines, IA


DESIGNATED DRIVER:
Climb in the back seat, shut up and listen. Eastern Iowa country bluesman Joe Price is gonna take you on a joyride with his new CD “Designated Driver.”

The 33-minute trip tears through nine original Price tunes plus the public domain gem “Red River Valley.” The album’s brevity and jaunty pace works in its favor; studio blues sets these days rarely come charged with this much raw energy, which propels the listener clean through and immediately demands a repeat listen. He’s shared stages with Southern-born blues legends such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, but these songs are firmly rooted in Price’s own Midwest territory.”
--Kyle Munson, Des Moines Register Music Critic

25 BELOW:
Price’s first digital effort is also his most adventurous musically. The use of several different guitars produce a variety of interesting tones (the distortion sound on “Tornado Blues” sounds like it was actually picked up in a Kansas twister) and a variety of backup musicians, including a brass band called the Unified Jazz Ensemble, make for a diverse listening experience. Wife Vicki Price sits in on a nice guitar duet called “Supro Serenade,” and Dave Moore plays harmonica and accordion on a few tunes, including the excellent slow blues of the title track.

--Mike Starling, La Crosse Tribune

REQUEST:
…he plays the guitar as if guided by hands from the Next World, the term “guitarist” seems woefully inadequate, too. An inspired Primitive who oozes the essence of the blues in a manner so untouched by modern developments as to suggest he tumbled through a crack in Time…. His first CD, 1996’s amazing 25 Below, was a revelation to those who missed his heyday in Iowa City and a reaffirmation to those who didn’t. Requests collects all 20 tracks from 1992’s Iowa Crawl and 1994’s Mountain of Blues (previously available only on self-released cassettes) on a glorious, split-rail CD. And if you thought I’d say it was anything less than astounding, then you just haven’t been paying attention.

--Jim Musser, Icon Music Editor-Iowa City, Iowa

Joe & Vicki Price
Blues Acres Productions
PO Box 32
Decorah, IA 52101
563-419-8793 Cell
joepriceblues@aol.com
www.joepriceblues.com

Official Website

http://www.joepriceblues.com

Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

  • WINNERS IMA AWARD [+ Show ]

    The winners of the 9th annual Independent Music Awards, which American Songwriter helped judge, have...

  • Vintage Guitar Review Rain or Shine [+ Show ]

    Iowa may not be known as a blues mecca, but from the opening “Hornet’s Nest,” it’s clear that Waterl...

  • Real Blues Magazine [+ Show ]

    Joe and Vicki Price have 2 cd's in the top 100. "Rain or Shine" and "Brand New Place" make the top...

  • AMG Review "Rain or Shine" [+ Show ]

    By Greg Prato Singer/guitarist Joe Price certainly learned from the blues greats, as he had the ...

  • Joe Price, "Rain or Shine" (Blue Acres) ¼¼¼ [+ Show ]

    Iowa bluesman Joe Price has picked up a full bag of tricks in nearly 50 years as a guitar picker, mu...

  • A Brand New Place/Joe and Vicki Price [+ Show ]

    “This is Vicki's most blues influenced offering yet..... At times I can hear Sippie Wallace, with a ...

  • Rain or Shine Review [+ Show ]

    .... So foot stomping, goodtime swing is present in bucket loads to rattle the walls and floorboards...

  • Joe Price/Rain or Shine [+ Show ]

    “… Price does not beat around the bush. He comes at your ears hard, right from the opening track. Fr...

  • Whad' ya Know?? [+ Show ]

    Joe Price had the house on its feet during our national broadcast of "Whad'ya Know?" in La Crosse. ...

Setlist

We play almost all original material. The adverage set is 1 1/2 hours and we do 2 to 3 sets a night.

VIDEO AVAILABLE: http://www.joepriceblues.com/joepriceblues/VIDEO.html




Basic Requirements


Calendar

DateTimeVenueCity
May 24, 2013 Friday 7:00 PM The Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House Pinos Altos, NM, US
May 25, 2013 Saturday 7:00 PM The Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House Pinos Altos, NM, US
May 26, 2013 Sunday 7:00 PM La Cocina Tucson, AZ, US
May 28, 2013 Tuesday 8:00 PM Spirit Room Jerome, AZ, US
May 30, 2013 Thursday 6:00 PM Vieni Via San Luis Obispo, CA, US
May 31, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM D'Anbino Paso Robles, CA, US
Jun 1, 2013 Saturday 6:00 PM Asuncion Ridge Tasting Room Paso Robles, CA, US
Jun 2, 2013 Sunday 2:00 PM Paradise Shop Santa Barbara, CA, US
Jun 5, 2013 Wednesday 4:20 PM Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma, CA, US
Jun 6, 2013 Thursday 7:00 PM Make-Out Room San Francisco, CA, US
Jun 7, 2013 Friday 9:00 PM Rasellas Jazz San Francisco, CA, US
Jun 8, 2013 Saturday 9:00 PM Sheba Lounge San Francisco, CA, US
Jun 9, 2013 Sunday 9:00 PM The Rite Spot San Francisco, CA, US
Jun 11, 2013 Tuesday 8:00 PM The Bistro Hayward, CA, US
Jun 12, 2013 Wednesday 9:00 PM Tradewinds Cotati, CA, US
Jun 13, 2013 Thursday TBA Brixx Petaluma, CA, US
Jun 14, 2013 Friday 9:00 PM Smiley's Schooner Saloon-Hotel Bolinas, CA, US
Jun 26, 2013 Wednesday 4:00 PM Library Weds. Concert Series @ The Farmers Market Clinton, IA, US
Jun 27, 2013 Thursday 12:00 PM The Blue Fuge Columbia, MO, US
Jun 28, 2013 Friday 7:00 PM BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups St Louis, MO, US
Jun 29, 2013 Saturday 6:00 PM Shops at North Village Summer Concerts Cook Rd and North Belt Hwy St. Joseph, MO, US
Jun 30, 2013 Sunday 8:00 PM El Bait Shop Des Moines, IA, US
Jul 5, 2013 Friday 8:30 PM Riverside on the Root Lanesboro, MN, US
Jul 6, 2013 Saturday 5:00 PM Teri and John Maxwell Party Coon Valley, WI, US
Jul 7, 2013 Sunday 2:00 PM LeClaire Wine Garden LeClaire, IA, US
Jul 12, 2013 Friday 7:00 PM Falconer Vineyards Red Wing, MN, US
Jul 13, 2013 Saturday TBA Mark and Rose Voigt 15366 Elk River, MN, US
Jul 14, 2013 Sunday 1:00 PM Weber's Deck 3177 CR 3 NW Annandale, MN, US
Jul 19, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM Tom's Burned Down Madeline Island, WI, US
Jul 20, 2013 Saturday 8:00 PM Tom's Burned Down Madeline Island, WI, US
Jul 24, 2013 Wednesday TBA Ragbria Main Street Knoxville, IA, US
Jul 25, 2013 Thursday 7:00 PM Confluence Brewing Des Moines, IA, US
Jul 26, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM Mullet's Des Moines, IA, US
Jul 27, 2013 Saturday TBA Blues Under the Trees Festival Fort Dodge, IA, US
Jul 28, 2013 Sunday 3:00 PM Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery Baldwin, IA, US
Aug 2, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM The Patio Decorah, IA, US
Aug 3, 2013 Saturday 8:00 PM Bob's Bar Prairie Du Chien, WI, US
Aug 9, 2013 Friday 5:30 PM Buddy Guy's Legends Chicago, IL, US
Aug 10, 2013 Saturday 7:45 PM People Fest 2013 Hillsboro, WI, US
Aug 16, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM Riverside on the Root Lanesboro, MN, US
Aug 17, 2013 Saturday 8:00 PM Norski's Saloon Spring Grove, MN, US
Aug 22, 2013 Thursday 10:00 PM Southgate House Revival Newport, KY, US
Aug 23, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM Taffy's of Eaton Eaton, OH, US
Aug 24, 2013 Saturday 8:00 PM Weasel Boy Brewery Zanesville, OH, US
Sep 12, 2013 Thursday 6:00 PM Hell's Kitchen Minneapolis, MN, US
Sep 13, 2013 Friday 9:00 PM Harriet Brewing Co Minneapolis, MN, US
Sep 14, 2013 Saturday TBA John and Jennifer Anniversary Rice, MN, US
Sep 20, 2013 Friday 6:00 PM Suncrest Garden Farms Cochrane, WI, US
Sep 21, 2013 Saturday TBA Widen the Circle/ Echo Valley Farms Ontario, WI, US
Sep 28, 2013 Saturday 12:00 PM Boats and Blue Grass Winona, MN, US
Sep 29, 2013 Sunday TBA Falconer Vineyards Red Wing, MN, US
Oct 26, 2013 Saturday 6:00 PM Steamboat Gardens Waterloo, IA, US
Nov 23, 2013 Saturday TBA Muse Theater La Crosse, WI, US
Feb 8, 2014 Saturday 8:00 PM Byron's Pomeroy, IA, US
Jun 22, 2014 Sunday 4:00 PM Music Up Close Tumwater House Concerts 1024 Surrey Trace SE Tumwater,WA Tumwater, WA, US
Aug 1, 2014 Friday 6:00 PM Wedding party of Michelle and Larry Plotzke Dubuque, IA, US