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An Unexpected Treasure
by Sheila Cain
Southeast Texas is known for a lot of good things and not just refineries. We have great food from many ethnic origins, long summers with hot beaches, and a pretty impressive history of excellent music. Larry Tillery is carrying on the musical tradition of excellence in Texas talent.
The first time I saw the Larry Tillery band, I was hoping to hear some good music. After all, people were telling me good things about the band. Knowing that people's taste in music varies, I wasn't expecting anything great, but did hope to have an enjoyable evening.
Great Blues was the word on the street. "Remember, he's the guys that blew everybody away at the Blues Fest?
When a young man standing 6' 5" with a mop of shaggy blonde hair, dressed impressively in black took the stage, I thought to myself, "too young to sing the blues". Larry Tillery lumbered across the stage and welcomed everyone with a big boyish grin. Once again I pre-judged and wondered how this kid could do justice to this genre of music?
If the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover" was ever true, it was fact on that night. Larry picked up his guitar and began to play his heart out. We were just at a small bar, but he played as if it was his last performance and he was giving thousands of devoted fans just what they came for. The place came alive! No, it wasn't thousands of devoted fans, but a small bar packed with people who had heard him play before and they had come back for more.
With each blues riff, each bending of the strings that made a blessed mournful blues sound, I grew more and more impressed.
While some performers do some of their best stuff up front, and then just glide through the rest of the set, the Larry Tillery Band broke all the rules by playing ALL of their best stuff ALL night. Each tune seemed to get better. And they did excellent justice to many Big Blues Greats such as Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Albert Collins as they covered some of their songs.
The Larry Tillery Band consists of Larry himself on lead guitar and vocals, James "Wham" Davis on bass/vocals and Larry Gregory on drums. Larry has a soulful raspy voice that draws you in, but it's his guitar playing that steals the show.
I have since caught two more performances and each time it just gets better. The band is suited well for each other. Sometimes a song takes them places beyond where they were originally headed , but the group remains tight. Depending on the size of the stage, Larry moves, struts, postures and displays talent way beyond his years.
The band's next performance is Saturday night, 8 o'clock, February 3 at "The Place" in Port Acres. It's worth the little drive to see these guys. But do yourself a big favor and get there early because they packed the place last time and you'll want to get a seat.
You can also catch the Larry Tillery Band headlining the UBN/Beaumont Live! Spring Music Festival March 31, 2007 at Rocky's Roadhouse.
You can visit Larry's web site at: http://www.larrytillery.com - Beaumont Live!
Opening for Doug Stone, was up-and-coming
area guitarist/singer/songwriter Larry Tillery.
At Judy's Rocks that Saturday night, the multi-talented
Tillery released his debut CD, "They Call Me Lil' Larry."
The ten track compilation truly captures Tillery's
amazing playing, writing and singing abilities;
and the CD was very professionally produced and
packaged. It's already getting great notice –
In fact, Larry recently learned that his single
"Bury Me With My Guitar" is number one on Internet
radio's bluescityradio.com. Larry's specialty is
rockin' blues but he also does country.
Tillery is joined by bassist James "Wham" Davis
and drummer Larry Gregory. For more information
about the Larry Tillery band,
visit www.larrytillery.com or www.myspace.com/larrytilleryband
Afternoons - Kicker 95.1 KYKR
Clear Channel Radio - Beaumont, TX
Columnist/Photographer for The Examiner
Host of the "King of the Road Show" on FOX 64 TV - Jim King
Dec. 20, 2007
Tillery stays on the rise…
Local guitar wiz
Larry Tillery and friends teamed up at The Place
in Port Acres for a fun-filled jam session and CD
release party on Dec. 15. Tillery was celebrating
the release of his debut album, "They Call Me Lil' Larry."
As I mentioned in last week's Cruisin', the CD makes for
great listening. This guy really has something and the
rest of the Larry Tillery Band also does a great job!
Watch the "King of the Road Show" this Sunday night at 10:30
on Fox64 Beaumont TV for coverage of that memorable concert
at The Place, a very friendly and cozy little pub. - Jim King
Discography
Live @ The Logon Cafe EPK
They Call Me Little Larry CD
3 tracks currently playing on Beaumont Live! Internet Radio
As of 12/15/07 The #1, #2 & #9 song on Blues City Radio (http://bluescityradio.com) in over 50 countries!
12/22/07 Still have top 2 songs on Blues City Radio
And number 9 song.
Photos
Bio
Larry was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He began playing guitar at the age of 9. He wanted to be a country singer when he first started but that all changed when his older brother introduced him to the music of Jimi Hendrix and Beatles. He wanted to make those funny sounds and learn how to bend the strings like he heard on those mystical records. So he started to study the likes of Hendrix, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Lightning Hopkins, Freddie King and John Lee Hooker. During his school years, when people would ask him what he wanted to do, he said "I wanna be a traveling musician and live on the highway, playing my guitar all over the world." After high school, he bounced from band to band until settling for a while with Mike Buller's band. During this stint with Mike, Larry really had the opportunity to constantly work on his technique and tone.
Since then, he has put together a band of his own with James "Wham" Davis on bass and Larry Gregory on drums. The trio is really making a name for themselves around the Southeast Texas area playing at events like biker rallies, many area venues and two memorable performances at The Beaumont Blues Festival.
Larry has had the opportunity to play with and learn from local greats like Scott McGill and Kenny Wiebusch and many more. He recently opened for The Kentucky Headhunters.
When Larry plays, he puts his heart and soul on the line. As he says, "When I'm on stage, I give it 200%, I play like there's no tomorrow and play like it's my last time, every time." His stage persona is influnced by the great performances of Buddy Guy, Kiss, Garth Brooks, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and others.
Larry is well on his way to a promising career, don't miss a chance to see him live, you will not regret it. In addition to Southeast Texas venues, you can catch his show around Houston at The Big Easy, Cosmo's, The Hideaway, Shakespeare's Pub and Einstein's Pub.
Larry Tillery will also headlined the UBN/Beaumont Live Spring Music Festival March 31, 2007 @ Rocky's Roadhouse in Beaumont, TX as well as other scheduled events at The Vortex, Changing Times and The Logon Cafe.
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