John Bartus: News

John Bartus & Storm Watch will again headline this year's Independence Day celebration at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Heart of the Florida Keys.

The annual celebration starts with a parade to the beach, followed by a day full of fun, games, live music, food, and drink, and will culminate in the SkyConcert Fireworks Extravaganza at sunset.

Bartus & Storm Watch will perform a two-hour show just before the fireworks begin. "This is a great celebration and show that you don't want to miss," says Bartus.

DATE: July 4, 2008
TIME: All Day
LOCATION: Sombrero Beach Park, at the end of Sombrero Beach Road, Marathon, Florida

[This is the first of four columns I recently wrote for the Weekly Newspapers about one of my favorite subjects -- I hope you enjoy it, too!]

Six strings, three chords, and the truth. That’s really what it’s all about, notwithstanding the claim made by the Hokey Pokey. Rolling Stone just came out with “The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time” cover story; various other music magazines have also touched on the instrument that puts the rock in rock and roll. Here’s my take on some of the most influential guitarists of the rock era… part 1.
Chuck Berry: No one came out of the gate quicker, synthesizing the various influences of R&B, country, and the blues into classic rock licks that have inspired generations of axe slingers. He more or less founded the language that is rock guitar.
Bo Diddley: Bo knows rock and roll. Bo helped invent it, and his signature rhythms propelled everyone from Buddy Holly to the Rolling Stones and the Who. Besides, no one looked cooler playing a square guitar. R.I.P., Mr. Ellas Bates.
Scotty Moore: As Elvis’ original lead guitarist, Moore provided inspiration to the likes of Keith Richards and countless others. As Elvis took country and the blues and made it into rock, Moore defined the role of the lead guitarist in the band. As such, he’s one of the few “sidemen” to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
James Burton: the original master of the paisley Telecaster first came to prominence in Ricky Nelson’s TV band. His talents, however, took him to kings and mountain highs. From lead guitar in Elvis Presley’s best bands, to more recording session work than most guitarists could dream about, to playing tasty licks behind John Denver, Burton’s finesse and taste helped rock guitar move forward in its formative years.
The Beatles: The Fab Four featured not just one, but three stellar guitar players. George Harrison turned into a master of taste and subtlety (as well as one of the best slide guitar players ever). John Lennon was as fine a rhythm player as you’d ever want, but who could also turn in some inspired lead playing (think “Revolution” and “Get Back”). Although Paul basically turned rock bass on its head with his inventive lines, his guitar work in the Beatles wasn’t at all too shabby (“Blackbird,” “Taxman,” “The End”).
Keith Richards: The heart and soul of the Rolling Stones would be the first to admit that he isn’t the flashiest lead guitarist around. Who gives a rat’s…? He’s probably the finest rhythm player to ever strap on a Fender guitar. Not a believer? Try listening to “Brown Sugar” or “Start Me Up” or “Jumping Jack Flash” and then tell me how far rock guitar could have come without Keef’s contributions.
Roger McGuinn: Although he was Jim McGuinn during the Byrds’ heyday, his signature Rickenbacker 12-string lines defined the term “jangle” as it was later to be used to great effect by bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and R.E.M. Thank guru Sri Chinmoy for the name change.
Eric Clapton: Clapton is God. So said graffiti scrawled and painted all over the world in the late ‘60s. Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes, session guitarist for the Beatles (!), and one incredible solo career may not be actually divine, but his touch on the Stratocaster is as close as we mere mortals can get.
Carlos Santana: Sprung from the Woodstock era as a full-blown talent, composer of some of the best and truly classic rock songs, Santana is another of those few guitarists who seem to channel the divine as he plays. Not many people can claim hits in every decade from the 60s to the 00s, but Carlos still shows no signs of slowing down. And as good as he is in the studio, seeing him perform live is a truly transcendental experience. (Extra credit: if you remembered that guru Sri Chinmoy’s name for Santana was Devadip, you stayed somewhat lucid during the psychedelic era. Congrats on keeping some functional brain cells!)
That’s all for Part 1; Part 2 comes next week. Until then, feel free to e-mail me your suggestions for a potential Part 3. And rock on.

L.A.-based singer/songwriter Rachel McGoye returned to her home state (Florida--were you expecting Idaho?) and was my guest on stage for two nights earlier this month. A graduate of the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston, Rachel has followed her muse to the Left Coast where she has met with some real success. Her new CD, Beautiful Disaster, was released this past January, and has met with critical acclaim.
Rachel was my special guest and she entertained the audiences with her catchy songs and her unique outlook on life. It was a pleasure getting to know her and hearing her music in person. Rachel will be performing in Florida for most of the summer before heading back to Los Angeles. Catch her if you can -- her music is definitely worth it!
For those who don't want to wait any longer, you can check out this talented musician at www.rachelmcgoye.com.

Well, the band finally has a name: John Bartus & Storm Watch! Just in time for both the Marathon Seafood Festival (we're headlining!) and welcoming two new band members: the father-son team of Marc Davis (keyboards & vocals) and Christian Davis (bass).

The Marathon Seafood Festival happens on the weekend of March 15-16, and we'll be performing both days. John Bartus & Storm Watch is the headliner on Saturday night, and the band will perform as part of the Conch Republic All-Star Jam on Sunday afternoon.

I've lost count of how many St. Patrick's Day celebrations I've hosted at the Key Colony Inn, but Monday, March 17 is just around the corner. Look for the all-day lineup to start at noon and run until the leprechauns pass out from overindulgence or sheer exhaustion. Key Colony Inn, 700 West Ocean Drive, Key Colony Beach, FL.

I'll be performing a live solo concert at Key Colony Beach's Sunset Park Sunday, March 2, 2008. I'm glad to be asked back again this year, and I'm looking forward to performing originals both new and old, and some of everyone's long-time favorites as well. The concert starts at 4:00 p.m., and I hope to see a lot of friendly faces there!

John & Band will perform once again at the 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Weekend-End of Hurricane Season-John Bartus Birthday Concert. This year's show will include tributes to Pink Floyd and the Beatles, original material from John, and (quite possibly) a special appearance by Sir Elton John. Admission is free; proceeds benefit the charitable works of the Marathon Rotary Club. Showtime is approximately 6:00 PM.

This Friday (October 19), weather permitting, my band (Dave Howell, Glenn Faast, and yours truly) and I will have our performance filmed and recorded for a possible DVD release. We'll be performing our regular gig at Dockside, and Mark Wesley (from Mark Wesley Video Productions) will oversee the video shoot. For those who can make it, Dave, Glenn, and I will be glad to see as many smiling faces as possible.

The inaugural Boot Key Bivouac will take place Sunday, October 7, 2007 at the Marathon Community Park Amphitheater. This all day (noon until 10 PM) event is a show of appreciation for our veterans, and is also a benefit for local veteran organizations. John Bartus (with Dave Howell and Glenn Faast) will headline the event. Other performers include Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, Brian Roberts, the Key Lime Pie Band, the Florida Straits Band, Mark Wesley, Johnny Maddox, and more.

Admission is free, and families are welcome. There will be a bounce house for the kids, great food and drink, and all sorts of vendors. The event is sponsored by Dockside Lounge, Smorgasboats, The Weekly Newspapers, Marathon Rotary Club, and the City of Marathon.

Friday the 13th (of July) was a lucky day for John, Dave, and Glenn, as the Big Man himself, Mr. Clarence Clemons, sat in on his saxophone for two long incredible sets at Dockside! Said John, "It was an honor to jam with the Big Man, even more so that he wanted to come back and play another set with the band!" Look for photos on the Photo page!

...sweating profusely, dodging hurricanes (hopefully, few to none). New photos and bio information on Dave and Glenn can be found, and some new music will be uploaded shortly. Be sure to follow us around the islands on the Calendar page. Work continues on the next CD, titled (at this point) End of the Road. Be sure to look us up if your summer plans bring you to the Keys!

Dave Hoekstra, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, paid a visit to the Keys to sit and chat with yours truly. (There was also something about Da Bears being in the Super Bowl.) I've posted the text as well as the link to the Sun-Times article on the Press page. Check it out! And special thanks to Dave Hoekstra for taking the time to listen to Keys Disease and coordinating the interview!

John Bartus, with Dave Howell and Glenn Faast, will perform a New Year's Eve show at the beautiful Pavilion located at the Key Colony Inn on Key Colony Beach. It'll be a real fun rockin' time, and if you're anywhere near the Keys, we'd love to see you there. We'll be playing lots of stuff, including my tunes and our tribute to Pink Floyd. For info & reervations, call (305) 743-0100.

The First Annual Thanksgiving Weekend End Of Hurricane Season Community Park Dedication & John Bartus Birthday Concert, held November 24, 2006 at Marathon's Community Park Amphitheater, raised nearly $3000 for the Marathon Rotary Club. We had a great time and raised money for all the good things our local Rotary Club does in the Keys. I'll be posting some pix real soon -- stay tuned!

John's KEYS DISEASE CD has been officially re-released, and there is a limited time sale on both the KEYS DISEASE and LIVE FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS CDs through the CDBABY.COM website. Both CDs will be on sale for just $11.95 for a limited time, and John will be doing a media tour and PR campaign to promote the re-release and the end (for now, at least) of his political career due to term limits. In the meantime, why not head on down to the islands and catch John performing live with David Howell around the Midddle Keys? Come on down, the weather and water are great, and the local seafood and refreshing beverages are certainly abundant!

Well... I finally got some photos from this year's Bash at the Bridge uploaded! These pics were taken by a very talented photographer and fellow Marathon resident Larry Benvenuti. Larry also shot the photo that was on the cover of the Velvet Elvis cassette back in '95, and I'm grateful to be able to post these photos.

Currently, we're enjoying the heat and humidity of summer in the Keys. The fishing and diving are great right now, so come on down.

My studio is almost back together, and I'll be dragging Dave out of the heat and into the studio for the recording of the next CD. I've got lots of songs, and now I think I've got some time to put them down on tape (disk now; old habits die hard). I'll keep you posted on the progress. Check out the new pics, and don't forget the free downloads on the Music page!

John Bartus with David Howell will headline this year's July 4th celebration in Marathon (Florida Keys) at Sombrero Beach (approx. 5:30 PM). The Florida Straits Band and Johnny Maddox & the Fantasy Band will round out the day's live performances, which will be capped by the evening's SkyConcert, an impressive fireworks display choreographed to patriotic music. The event is Marathon's biggest community celebration, and live perofrmances start after the opening ceremonies at noon.

Hello, all -- it's been awhile since the last update, but here's the latest:

I've recently started working with an incredibly talented keyboardist named David Howell. David just moved back to Marathon permanently after working with just about everyone under the sun. Dave and I have worked together in the past, and we've known each other forever -- we're calling it a musical partnership 20 years in the making! Dave will be helping out with keyboard and production duties on my upcoming CD. My studio will be put back together starting later this week, and I can't wait to get started!

Dave was instrumental in putting a band together for my appearance at this year's Bash at the Bridge, where I was the concert host and we performed all three nights. Kansas, Rick Derringer, Mark Farner, Edgar Winter, Cosmo, and Alto Reed were the headliners for the three day festival, and it was a real kick to be featured alongside these great musicians and bands. I'll upload photos soon.

And, finally, my political career is over for now, as my term as Mayor and City Council Member ended April 25th. The six years I served were an incredible experience, and somewhere in there a book is waiting to come out. If you get to the islands this summer, look me up! We'll share a tropical drink and hopefully a great time! Ciao for now!

Well, the City Council election is history, but there's a runoff election for the seat I hold... so I'm still Mayor until April 25. After that, I should finally have the time for...

RECORDING MY NEW CD!!!! I already have at least 12 songs to record, and I just need the time to get my studio back into shape and start laying down tracks. I can't wait!

This year's Bash at the Bridge (to be held at our city's new amphitheater) will feature some great acts, and yours truly is on the bill all three nights. Those three nights are May 18-20, 2006. More details, including Ticketmaster info, will follow soon.

Being Mayor of a town that’s hit by a hurricane is bad enough. Being Mayor of a town that’s been impacted by four in one year – that’s almost unthinkable! But it happened in 2005, with Wilma saving the worst for last. Here’s the quick rundown on this year’s storms:

Dennis: a bit of wind, downed trees and branches everywhere, some minor structural damage.

Katrina: wasn’t supposed to come to the Keys; made a drastic turn overnight and blew through before wreaking total havoc on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Tornado came way too close to my house and one of our shops, destroying fences and signs and damaging several less fortunate buildings in its path. It is not in the least bit fun to be awakened by a tornado going past your house at 4:00 a.m.

Rita: Some wind, but a surprising amount of oceanside storm surge, which was compounded by the astronomical high tides. Two feet of water under my house; some flooded buildings, little wind damage.

Wilma: worst wind event of the season with gusts well over 100 mph in the Keys. And just when we all thought the storm was over, in comes the bayside storm surge: up to 10 feet in the lower and middle Keys. Marathon was totally inundated in several areas; the airport was totally flooded; the bay overran neighborhoods and businesses, going over U.S. 1 and flowing out into the oceanside. In Marathon alone, 1200 homes sustained damage, thousands of cars were totaled, marinas and docks were devastated, many businesses were totally destroyed. Several building and vehicle fires started after power was restored to buildings previously flooded with salt water. One structure fire occurred during the height of the storm surge, and city firefighters used jet skis to stretch the hose from hydrant to fire. The beautiful waterfront dock that’s in the photo in the upper left corner of my website is no more, a victim of Wilma’s storm surge. The human need after this storm continues to be met on a daily basis, and recovery will take months, if not years. Compared with what Wilma did to Cancun and the Yucatan, we were lucky.

This is why I haven’t had the time to update this site as much as necessary. Official duties have pre-empted my musical pursuits as storm after storm rolled across our islands. Hurricane season 2005 is, mercifully, winding down, and I hope to spend a little more time with music in the coming year. Happy Thanksgiving, and best wishes for a joyous holiday season.

-JB