John Lisi & Delta Funk!
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John Lisi & Delta Funk!

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | INDIE

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | INDIE
Band Blues Funk

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"John Lisi"

"He can play guitar, harp, dobro, he can sing, he can do it all fast or slow, rauncy raw or silky smooth, then turn around and do it again...The real deal."
- Nightflying, Memphis


"John Lisi"

"Snorts and stomps like an unholy cross between the Chili Peppers' 'BloodSugarSexMagic' and Led Zeppelin's more wonderfully obnoxious moments on 'Physical Graffiti'"

- Offbeat Magazine, New Orleans


"John Lisi"

"Lisi mixed blues, funk and rock so well i don't wanna put a label on what he did...go see this band before they get to big for your britches."

- Live New Orleans


"John Lisi"

"Like going to church with a good beer buzz."

- Rhythm City, Baton Rouge


"John Lisi"

"Reminiscent of John Hammond, Jr."

- Living Blues Magazine


"John Lisi"

Obviously learned the value of good tone."

- Gambit Weekly, New Orleans


"Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Inductee of 2009"

2009 Slim Harpo Award winner for Blues Pioneer of the Year - Louisiana Music Hall of Fame


Discography

Blues for Chloe - 1999
Preachin to the Choir - 2002
Can Ya Dig It?! - 2004
Dead Cat Bounce - 2006
Super~Most~Fantastic~ - 2010
Radio airplay from all CDs in US, Europe, Australia, Canada

Photos

Bio

Stephen Stills once said that the “one thing blues ain’t, is funny.” Obviously Mr. Stills has never sat in on an evening with John Lisi who, along with his band Delta Funk!, has made a career of turning the pitfalls of everyday life into funky-bluesy-body-shakin’ music that just makes a person feel better. Hailed as one of the best guitarists in Louisiana by Offbeat magazine—quite a compliment in a state known for its musicians—John marries his sometimes humorous, sometimes serious lyrics with a guitar that can cry the blues one minute and break out the funk the next.
  Originally from New Jersey, John began writing songs before he could play his first chord on a guitar. But it was when he first saw a replay of Woodstock that the direction of his life became charted. He watched in awe as Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townsend and Alvin Lee wailed on their guitars. Already proficient on the trumpet, the young musician knew then that he wanted to plug in and jam.
  By the age of 15, John was playing in bands in Tampa Fl. with much older musicians, honing the skill that would later become his trademark. Then it was on to Los Angeles, where stints with blues, funk, rockabilly, swing, reggae, and even metal bands would lead to the montage of genres that defines his music today. He also did studio guitar work for popular shows such as L.A. Law and Quantum Leap.
  After a few years performing on stages across the United States, Europe,Canada and Mexico, John made New Orleans home and soon found himself playing with the likes of Dr.John, Cyril Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Raful and Kenny Neal, Rockin’ Tabby Thomas, Byran Lee, Galactic, Tab Benoit, and Jason Ricci, to name a few. Amidst a plethora of talent, the young man made a name for himself through his offbeat portrayals of life, the honesty ringing from his sultry voice and his ability to make his fingers fly over a Dobro, mandolin, steel guitar or Stratocaster as the mood took him.
Along the way, John has kept a busy recording schedule. In 1998, he played, sang, and co-wrote on Rockin’ Tabby Thomas’ “Long Live The King Of The Swamp Blues.” In 1999, John released his debut album, “Blues For Chloe,” which features guest blues legends Big Jay McNeeley, Henry Gray, Larry Garner, and J. Monque’D. In 2000, he released his first album with Delta Funk!, “Preachin’ To The Choir,” followed by a sophomore album in 2004, “Can Ya’ Dig It?!” In 2006, John co-wrote and played on Big Chief Monk Boudreaux’s album, “Rising Sun.” John teamed up with Cody Dickenson (The North Mississippi Allstars) and Jimbo Mathus (Elvis Costello, The Squirrel Nut Zippers) in 2007 to create the band’s third album, “Dead Cat Bounce.” In 2008, he was prominently featured on the West coast rockabilly band, Devil Doll’s, “Return Of Eve” album. During the same year, John also co-fronted the band, Six Strings Down. In 2009, John Lisi was received the Slim Harpo Award for Blues Pioneer, along side Dr. John (Slim Harpo Award-Blues Legend) and Alvin Batiste (Slim Harpo Award-Blues Ambassador).
  Super~Most~Fantastic!, John’s latest release, is a slammin’ compilation of eclectic blues. This record has something for everyone, with special guests, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Mike Zito, Doug Belote (Sunny Landrath, Jerry Douglas), Jimmy Messa (Subdudes), Ken Fradley (U2, Buster Poindexter), Richard Crooks (Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page). John continues to entertain and amaze you with his bottomless bag of musical talents, performing keys, drums, and bass on tracks throughout the record. Currently, John plays more than 300 dates per year and is working on his next CD, which promises further exploration of ways through which to mingle stunning guitar riffs with blues and funk to create music that is just downright fun.