Doc MacLean

Artist Information

Biography

Doc MacLean released the critically acclaimed CD, Narrow House, in September 2006. Produced by Colin Linden, the recording featured bassist Larry Taylor and drummer percussionist Stephen Hodges, former section of the Tom Waits band. Driven by MacLean's distinctive vocals and bare fingers National guitar, Narrow House plotted an emotional remapping of contemporary, Delta rooted music. (see Reviews for more info).

Post- release, MacLean has toured constantly, performing 200 plus road dates each year. His legendary road trips in Canada are documented on a series of blogs—

http://badboybluestour.blogspot.com (2011)
http://darkerwaysbluestour.blogspot.com (2010)
http://centurybluestour.blogspot.com (2009)
http://nationalsteelblues.blogspot.com (2008) http://bigroadbluestour.blogspot.com (2007) http://www.transcanadabluestour.blogspot.com (2006)

MacLean's recent schedule has included club and concert dates with Guy Davis, Big Bill Morganfield, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, BB King, Duke Robillard, Lucky Peterson, Magic Slim, Tony Furtado, Downchild, Slick Ballinger, Colin Linden, Los Lobos, Johnny Winter and others. In Canada his relentless touring has reached nearly every area, and has seen him paired up with both Big Dave McLean and Michael Pickett for headline theatre, concert, and festival appearances. (to hear a live track, play "Jimmie Lee Jackson's Blues" and "Feel Like Goin' Home.")

For the last four years Doc's National Steel Tours have been sponsored by Long & McQuade, Canada's largest music retailer, and have featured blues masterclasses and workshops in it's many locations from coast to coast. His intimate knowledge of the blues has also seen him featured in numerous documentaries, and in an increasing number of educational, in-the-schools presentations.

Son of a civil rights lawyer and a fiddle player, MacLean was by his early teens playing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and festivals, and was appearing on radio and television variety shows. In 1972 he formed a duo with another young musician, Colin Linden, and became a frequent and popular opener for Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, and John Hammond.

In his travels Doc met and became friends with many older musicians including Son House, Tampa Red, 'Sippi Wallace, Yank Rachel, Robert Pete Williams, Rev Robert Wilkins and Bukka White. His work as an accompanist included tours and performances with Peg Leg Sam the Medicine Show Man, Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Rev Pearly Brown, the Carter Family and Sam Chatmon.

MacLean, who now resides in Toronto, has appeared at many of the larger North American folk and blues festivals. Radio and television appearances have included national programming such as CNN Today, PBS Morning Pro Musica, CBC 90 Minutes Live, Touch the Earth, Morningside, Canada Live, and Saturday Night Blues. Now appearing most often as a solo performer, he is equally comfortable at a folk festival workshop, priming a rowdy blues festival crowd, or telling a story in a hushed theatre. In his father's footsteps, Doc's concerns for social justice have lead him to perform in the prisons, soup kitchens, picket lines, and hospices of the many communities he passes through.

Doc MacLean remains a bit of a blues hobo, performing on the street when the opportunity or need presents itself. A constant traveler, he will come to your town if he is invited. Call now, life can be short.

Sorry, Doc's Sonicbids calendar will no longer be updated due to the computer based harvesting of venue listings.

Instrumentation

Doc MacLean, National guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, washboard, bones, vocals.
sideman 1- stringbass
sideman 2- fiddle/mandolin/harmonica
sideman 3- small kit drums/percussion

Discography

Live with Big Dave McLean, CD, 2009
Narrow House, CD, 2006
Memphis Town, 45, 1989
Be What You Are, 45, 1987
Sam Chatmon & His BBQ Boys, LP, 1979

Links

• Bad Boy Blues Tour 2011
• Darker Ways Blues Tour 2010
• Century Blues Tour 2009
• National Steel Blues Tour 2008
• Big Road Blues Tour 2007

Audio

• Angola Prison Rodeo
  Listen  
• Jimmie Lee Jackson's Blues
  Listen  
• By Degree
  Listen  
• Dead Men Walking
  Listen  
• Big Dave & Doc, Feel Like Goin' Home
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Art of Darkness [+ Show ]
  

  Art of Darkness: Edgy songwriting and rural rhythms from a Delta blues veteran. MacLean revels in...Art of Darkness: Edgy songwriting and rural rhythms from a Delta blues veteran.
  
  MacLean revels in his shadowy National Steel guitar on a set of 10 originals that stroll down the sinister side of the bayou, combining blues, country, and a voodoo vibe into a murky, pungent stew... It's like an audio version of the movie Sin City, a flick that could of used any of these tunes on its soundtrack... MacLean is comparable vocally and musically to John Hammond Jr., But his strongest suit is an evocative, visual style of storytelling that captures your imagination in the same way Tom Waits' older material does. The elements congeal to create an emotive, blues-based album fans of Delta music's darker edge will love.

• Get on Board [+ Show ]
  

  Part of longtime friend and producer Colin Linden's genius is accompanying MacLean's National Steel ...Part of longtime friend and producer Colin Linden's genius is accompanying MacLean's National Steel with mandolin, fiddle, bass and percussion to enhance these uncompromising performances. When MacLean sings about living the blues he knows what he's singing about... Larry Taylor, Stephen Hodges, Fats Kaplin and Michael Pickett are all on board, you should be too. (10/02/2006)
  http://www.torontobluessociety.com/0610johnspicks.htm

• A Fine Delta Style Blues Album [+ Show ]
  

  A 10 track, all original album that from beginning to end is absolutely wonderful! (10/2006) www.mbb...A 10 track, all original album that from beginning to end is absolutely wonderful! (10/2006) www.mbblues.mb.ca

• Blues Man Captures the Cool [+ Show ]
  

  Obviously, he resonates with the weird lonesome sound of the old country- that old country being the...Obviously, he resonates with the weird lonesome sound of the old country- that old country being the Mississippi Delta. As it should be, he presents a skipping and shuffling beat and his guitar seems bent on shaky, cool rhythm hooks while his voice projects like a distorted record player...
  MacLean deftly captures the cool and realizes how to mysteriously grasp the spooky vibe that eludes many- a quality like channeling... Bring the dark night, rain, whiskey and some friends to enjoy Doc MacLean. (29/10/2006)

• Blues Artist Touches Old Roots [+ Show ]
  

  Doc MacLean will be at the Gallagher Centre as the Trans Canada Blues Tour makes a stop. This is the...Doc MacLean will be at the Gallagher Centre as the Trans Canada Blues Tour makes a stop. This is the blues of smokey backrooms, and mourning, and is the base of what the genre is all about... He is a contemporary artist who has remained true to the music he cut his blues teeth on. Narrow House is a CD well worth a listen. (09/2006)

• Love Letter to the Dirty Blues [+ Show ]
  

  Narrow House is a love letter to the dirty blues of the southern USA. Together, producer Colin Li...Narrow House is a love letter to the dirty blues of the southern USA.
  
  Together, producer Colin Linden and Doc MacLean have a long history of playing the blues. Listening to their latest collaborative work (note: MacLean is the primary composer) conjures up images of Mississippi and blues joints built on foundations of toil and hardship...
  
  A fine testament to the blues, a genre that needs to be recognized and revered. Four stars for a blues fan; a cautious three for a blues virgin. 10/18/2006
  

• Exciting Acoustic Countryblues [+ Show ]
  

  An exciting acoustic countryblues which will not quickly become tiresome... a balanced cd of top cal...An exciting acoustic countryblues which will not quickly become tiresome... a balanced cd of top calibre blues work- there are not many which can rival it this year. MacLean has given the blues a new impetus which will stand the test of time. Someone to watch closely!
  (Rootstime, January 2007)

• Blues With a Modern Twist [+ Show ]
  

  This great-titled release has been a long time coming for one of the hardest-working men in Canadian...This great-titled release has been a long time coming for one of the hardest-working men in Canadian blues... MacLean forges a moody, minimalist, Delta fog of traditional blues spliced with a modern twist... gutbucket rhythms, simple yet seemless instrumentation... MacLean is obviously a road-seasoned student of the acoustic masters and his thick-thatched arrangements and homegrown lyrics are proof of his authenticity. (Eric Thom, Penguin Eggs, January, 2007)

• A Masterpiece of Delta Blues [+ Show ]
  

  Doc MacLean's Narrow House is a masterpiece of delta-style blues. The lyrics sound as if they were w...Doc MacLean's Narrow House is a masterpiece of delta-style blues. The lyrics sound as if they were written 100 years ago and are gut-real. The music is truly moving and inspires you to dance, or just lie down and think about life. Doc is the real deal and this cd is a real keeper! I have played it every show since it arrived.
  (Ron Dickenson, Buff Blues, CFRC, January 2007)

• Road Warrior tells Great Stories [+ Show ]
  

  “Appealing arrangements of harmonica, mandolin and steel guitar. MacLean tells great stories... Raw ...“Appealing arrangements of harmonica, mandolin and steel guitar. MacLean tells great stories... Raw vocals... A road warrior with a weather-beaten larynx. He might not have the likeable voice contemporary blues artists exhibit, but MacLean is the real deal.”
  – Erin Harde, The Leader-Post, 13 January, 2007.
  

Setlist

Original blues roots material with a small number of non-standard covers by artists such as Son House, Charlie Patton, Willie Brown, Blind Willie Johnson... Extensive songlist- many hours of songs. Often punctuated by stories.

Basic Requirements

Calendar