The Guitar Storage staff took a road trip to a roadhouse in Central NJ to see one of the great West Coast Blues guitar masters, Jr. Watson. Roxy and Dukes in Dunellen, NJ is home to sword swallowers, burlesque, rockabilly, psychobilly and other sideshow acts, and it was the prefect venue for for the quirky Watson.
Jr showed off his great tone, using cool chords and hot licks while getting some of the greatest applause for some of the slower and “oh so soulful” quieter ones. Leaving his Stratotone home on the West Coast, he borrowed Matt Stubbs Les Paul Gold Top with P90s to use for most of the night. Matt did a great job handling bass. Though without his own guitar, having his cord unplugged and almost losing Matt’s guitar when the strap came off, Jr. didn’t miss a beat. From his stage comments and his playing you could tell that nothing seems to faze him. He’s one cool cat and a real nice guy.
Jr picked up his Stratocaster to show off his old surf chops on a tune from an European surf band. Apparently surf music was Jr’s genre of choice when he started out. The Strat still sounded right at home on ‘Whoopin and a Hollerin’.
He had Dennis Gruenling as a special guest blowing harp. and Dean Shot did a fine job in the opening set and showed his own love and mastery for the West Coast Blues genre while paying tribute to Junior.
