Alex Maryol

By Genevieve Williams, "Blues Revue", November 2003
The second album from Alex Maryol, a bluesy singer/songwriter who's made a splash in his home state of New Mexico, brims with youthful energy and vigor - as one might expect, given that it was recorded by an artist just into his 20s. Despite his youth, Maryol writes and plays with a rare maturity and confidence. Having started on guitar at age 7, Maryol's chops are well-honed; the opening track, with its big, crunchy style and wide-open sound, is enough to establish that. - Blues Revue

Alex Maryol
Make Everything Alright
By Gary Miller, blueswax.com, November 2003
Let me tell you, these cats cook! This CD is a real shocker. You may get real purist in your attitude about young players in the Blues, but when you hear Alex Maryol do "God Don't Ever Change," by Blind Willie Johnson, you will lose that uppity stuff immediately. Maryol proves he has the feeling, attitude and sensibility that it takes to sing and play the Blues. You better like your music raucous 'cause that's what you're gonna get here. I can't think of a comparison except Walter Trout and the North Mississippi All Stars fighting it out. Maryol is the winner on this one. This is a striking bunch of music.
www.blueswax.com - blueswax.com

"Despite his youth, Maryol writes and plays with a rare maturity and confidence."
-Genevieve Williams, Blues Revue

"The most impressive guitarist of the talented young crop of Santa Fe players . . . Alex Maryol is uncommonly advanced on his ax, showing both great technical ability - the guy can wail - and the equally important ability to restrain himself where appropriate . . . one to watch in the coming years."
-Thirsty Ear Magazine

" . . . his music is really gonna twist some heads off."
-Steve Terrell, Terrell's Tune-Up

"Alex's playing is graceful, honest, and powerful, and this is one performance that should be on everyone's 'must see' list."
-Albuquerque Alibi


"For those not familiar with Maryol, this young man and his four-piece band have been barnstorming the Southwest raising quite a few eyebrows with, not only Alex's uncommonly accomplished guitar playing, but with their blues rockin' tightness that all the words in the world couldn't do justice to. Show up and discover for yourself."
-G. Douglas Seitsinger, Telluride Daily Planet

" . . . a fine young talent, who never fails to electrify the crowd."
-KBAC Radio
- Various

BEYOND THE BLUES
ALEX MARYOL SHREDS HIS STEREOTYPE


By: Alex De Vore 03/11/2009

Alex Maryol is probably the nicest person I have ever met in my life—take that, grandma! That he’s so nice makes it hard to hate him, though I’ve tried. He’s one of those people who is so good at what he does that I kind of want to hate him. I mean, believe me, this guy is so good at the guitar and so good looking that I’m calling him “Shreddy Prinze Jr.” from now on.

Amid rumors of Maryol leaving Santa Fe forever, I thought it might be a good plan to head over to El Paseo and check him out. Truth be told, I can’t remember the last time I saw Maryol play, and I have to say the show at El Paseo was different than I thought. The music was decidedly less bluesy than one might think when they hear his name.

Homeboy was super busy playing his show, fixing the lights and gearing up for the music video he was shooting that night, so I only got a couple minutes to talk to him about his sound, his life and why I hate wanky blues. Give me one guy with an acoustic guitar, and I’m all over that shit. Sorry Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well, mostly sorry to SRV. Y’know…’cause he’s dead. But what I thought was going to be a boring old interview actually evolved into a pretty cool conversation about music and money and life and stuff.

Right off the bat, I was curious about Maryol’s feelings on being pigeonholed as a blues guy. I knew him only as such but, listening to him play, I noticed a lot of other influences: funk, rock and even indie. According to Maryol, he did indeed spend the first part of his musical career playing blues. It was the passion that drew him to it. For me, if you’re going to sing the blues, you should have a reason. You know, like you’re blind or poor or something. However, my eyes were opened to another aspect and reason for playing this music. It is passion. It is human emotion. And truly none of us can presume to know what kind of hardships people have had.

I brought up selling out to Maryol, not because I think he is a sellout by any means, but I was just curious. We both agreed that either one of us would sell out in a heartbeat. It was at this point that he brought up Beethoven and Mozart. He told me that while they were writing, they had to adhere to certain rules and such from their governments, but still managed to pump out some of the most killer songs of all time. So in a way, they were kind of sellouty, but it all worked out. Now Beethoven, there’s a guy who could sing the blues. A deaf musician? Damn. That’s rough.

I was bummed that our time together was limited because I am pretty sure our conversation would have been lengthy and awesome. But you know how it is being a rock star. Or, in my case, you know how it is when you really wish you were a rock star. I actually don’t know what it’s like to be busy or famous. Or cared about.

If you leave Santa Fe, Alex, you will certainly have left a legacy behind. I am pretty sure that everyone ever knows your name and has seen you play at some point. But if they haven’t, they are stupid. And there’s no room for stupid people in my life, or yours.

- Santa Fe REPORTER