Joe Macheret

Joe Macheret

 

 

By: Moose Gronholm

 

 

            Joe Macheret has played with just about everyone in this town currently he plays with The Tillers, Maria Carelli, Scott Risner, and his own band Joe’s Truck Stop. This is what he loves. The pace and rhythm of it is great, and for him being a full time musician is something that he loves. I met Joe about a year or two ago and was blown away by the talent. It seemed effortless. The effortlessness comes from the fact that he has basically been playing since he was five or six years old, and playing the piano, but to really get to know Joe it goes way back.

           

            In the most recent conversation I had with him he said the earliest musical memory that he remembers was when he was about three or four years old and he walked into the dining/piano room where his mother was playing the little yellow upright piano they had. She began pulling books of classical pieces out of the piano bench reading and turning the pages of the books as if they were English. Despite Joe’s age though he was able to decipher that she wasn’t reading English, this was some sort of other language that translated into what he was hearing as his mother’s fingers touched the keys. She was in fact reading sheet music which for some can be like reading a book. It progressed from there with his parents wanting their children to be involved with music in some form or fashion.

           

            His siblings and himself all started out on piano at five or six and as they progressed they all wanted to try other instruments. His brother played violin for a year, his sister played flute, and Joe had been thinking about playing banjo or guitar around third grade. His father told him, after asking, that he would get Joe a guitar or banjo if he played violin for a year. Well, Joe didn’t get a guitar for years, and then got his first banjo years after that. Through all that waiting though Joe can pretty much play anything with strings on it from violin or fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and bass. With all this knowledge it seemed only fair to lend his skills to teaching, and what better place than The Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky. Guess we can surmise that through all the learning he received having the ability to teach others can bring this whole thing full circle.      

 

            Joe keeps himself pretty busy doing this full time. He will be the artist in residence at The Crow’s Nest this month of February. Every Thursday evening he will be performing along with a who’s who of folks you should not miss, as well as a full slate of shows happening throughout the month. The last question I asked Joe was why music? Why this of all things to do? And he said “I find purpose in it. I started 20 years ago and haven’t been able to get away from it. There were a few months years ago where I thought I might like to be a lawyer, and that was pretty damn weird. But honestly, I love being a musician full time” Joe plays everything from country, blues, swing, old time Appalachian fiddle and banjo, Bluegrass, rock and roll, western swing, jump blues, and so many more and basically the guy loves old American music. We wanted to add his influences and supporters as well and here they are: Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, his family, bacon, the people that go to shows, the people who have been to one of my shows, Red Simpson (Rip), Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Gram Parsons, the Alligator Man, MF Doom, Jerry Reed, Sleep (the band), Robert Gordon, Chip Taylor, Charlie Daniels Band’s Saddle Tramp, my friends, Bourbon, all Surf Rock and fiddle tunes, Wanda Jackson, Town Hall Party, Edan, Shel Silverstein, Doc Watson, Darlin’ Corey, 50’s Punk, Blaze Foley, Townes Van Zandt, Ween, Homeliss Derilix, Wayne Hancock, and Rag Mop by the Ames Brothers.  All of the influences and styles throughout the evening, and most importantly, sharing that love of music for the people, folk music.  Make it a point to come see him at any one of the following shows below. Ultimately, just enjoy the music.

 

 

 

 

February local show schedule:

February 2nd - Sis’ on Monmouth in Newport, KY w/Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band

February 4th - Crow’s Nest AIR “Old Times, New Times" w/Uncle Mike Carr and the Urban Pioneers

February 5th - Cyclone’s Bourbon Tasting at the Cyclone’s game w/The Tillers

February 9th - Sis’ on Monmouth in Newport, KY w/Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band

February 11th - Crow’s Nest AIR “Heartachers and Heartbreakers Songwriter’s Round” w/Maria Carrelli, Pat Hu, and Jared Schaedle

February 16th - Sis’ on Monmouth in Newport, KY w/Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band

February 18th - Crow’s Nest AIR w/Joe’s Truck Stop and Dawg Yawp

February 20th - the Batesville Library w/The Tillers

February 23rd - Sis’ on Monmouth in Newport, KY w/Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band

February 24th - The Tillers (electric set) for Sean Geil’s AIR at the Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY

February 25th - Crow’s Nest AIR w/Mike Oberst and Fleener Woozie.

February 26th - Drunken Cuddle, Joe’s Truck Stop, Josh Sparks, and 40ty at the Peacock Truck Stop. Message joestruckstop@gmail.com for more info.

February 28th - Northside Tavern w/The Tillers