Is this really you Joe? Glad to meet you , even if it's only through this forum. I hope one day to be able to see you in concert, meeting you in person would be more than I could hope for. You've been an important musician and inspiration to me young man. First off, I'm a 60 yr old high school teacher from Fremont, Ca. Started playing in 1963. Blues has always been my main thing. Used to love to tune into the underground radio station in the San Fran Bay Area back in the 60's, and listen to the greats thzat they were the only ones brave enough to play. They would play 1 hour of nothing but songs about cherry pie, or odd ones like Stagolee, or even Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya by Dr. John. Then I got away from guitar for a long while and sold my stuff. My wife got me back into it by buying me an LP for my 50th B-day (that was 17 guitars ago). That did it, I was back! One day a friend of mine told me about this dude, Stevie Ray Vaughn, blew my mind. Just as I was hoping to get to one of his shows, he died. Very sad time, I thought he was going to revive big interest in the blues. So... years pass and the blues goes back into hiding more or less. Along comes this young guy that's faster than hell, has great original riffs, fantastic tone, and can play the blues just about any way you like it. He even plays that dark, heavy electric blues I love so much. Not Stevie Ray... different, and just as interesting to me.... and I see blues coming back to the general public attention through his great playing, singing and song writing. He's the one who will keep blues alive now..... You know who I mean, I'm sure .... you, young man. As you mature you're just getting better and better. The Ballad of John Henry was a blues shock and awe campaign as far as I'm concerned. What a fantastic CD... every single song! I turned a whole bunch of teens at the high school onto it, and it's the first non-death metal or screemo they have said they liked. Some have even started to try and learn your stuff.... big kudos from die hard metal addicts. I owe you a special thanks because listening to your work makes me want to play more and open up my mind to more creative riffs of my own. You are an inspiration Mr. JB and one of the greatest guitarists alive today, as many have found out and many more will soon discover. Keep the good tunes coming and help keep the blues alive.
Take care,
Alan McGaughey
Fremont, Ca