Topic: Vince Converse
Taken from my myspace blog, August 2006.
In early 2001, blues guitarist/vocalist, Vince Converse, moved to Denver, Colorado. The Mile High City is not known for having a particularly thriving blues scene, or a real music scene at all for that matter (well except for those MTV starlets The Fray). It was a mystery as to why the guitarist moved from Houston and chose to make Denver his home base. How random. Regardless, I was glad to hear it.
I purchased Vince's debut record One Step Ahead in 2000. The album was unlike anything I had heard from other young blues guitarists of the day like Jonny Lang or Kenny Wayne Shepherd. This album was eclectic and was driven by a sophisticated powerhouse horn section. One Step Ahead included everything from heavy funk to Chicago blues and swampy bayou rock. Vince's unique, heavily effected, guitar tone soared above the music like a voracious hawk screaming and soaring over its prey. Perhaps the killer guitar tones were achieved with the assistance of the album's producer, Eddie Kramer, the man responsible for the production of Jimi Hendrix's records. This album was influential to my musical development and I listened to it religiously in those early years. Bottom line...it was hip!
In late 2000, I saw Vince play a show at the Bluebird Theatre. The only word that comes to mind is "badass". Vince appeared in a white wife-beater shirt, jeans, tattooed arms, slinging a red Stratocaster with cigarette burning in the headstock, downing at least a half dozen Coronas in a single set. The music was heavy, loud and filled with soul. I was hooked.
Eight months later, I saw Vince, then 27, at the now deceased Denver Blues and Bones Festival, in a band co-fronted by local guitarist Michael Hornbuckle. The two played a burning set of blues-rock laden with double guitar attacks. The future looked bright for Converse. He planned on starting a record label in town and there was talk of an acoustic blues record with Hornbuckle on the way. I patiently awaited a follow up to One Step Ahead, but that follow up never came.
Now its 2006. Seven years since Converse released his one album and five years since he ever played in Denver. Though he joined a band called LLC shortly after I saw him in 2001, he has not been heard from since. This mystery has been bothering be for many years. How can such an incredible, passionate musician vanish from the scene? No follow up album, no website...where was Vince?
Two nights ago, I found the answer to my questions. I decided to participate in an open blues jam session at a local dive called Bushwackers Saloon. The blues jam happened to be hosted by Michael Hornbuckle. I was fortunate enough to be able to share the stage with Hornbuckle through a set of some great blues, even playing some of those two-guitar harmonies like the kind I saw him play with Vince five years earlier. After the show I asked Hornbuckle what ever happened to his old band mate? He told me Vince had joined the army and had not been heard from in at least a year.
Though my question was answered, the confusion only increased. Why did Vince walk away from his music career in order to join the Armed Forces? Is he that patriotic? Was he desperate for money? Did he need the army to kick some sort of abusive addiction? Is he stationed in Iraq? What could tear a man apart from his guitar and his music he so passionately created? Who knows...All I can say is that the album One Step Ahead will always exist no matter what Vince is doing.
I encourage you to listen to this album on amazon.com, maybe even buy it if you dig the sounds you hear. Perhaps that will bring this wonderful artist back into the creative medium. And Vince, if you are out there...the music world, bogged down by insincere corporate pop, needs soul revolutionaries to bring feeling back into music. Whatever the out come, Vince Converse and his one album will always be on my musical map and a part of me.
UPDATE: People have responded to this blog from my myspace page, and I have been informed Vince is back in Houston playing clubs was recently recording a new record in NYC.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR HIS RECORD: http://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Ahead-Vi … amp;sr=8-1
peace.
Jamey
