FRANK MACIAS & LOS AMIGOS

Frank Macias (August 14, 1966) is an Electric Blues Guitarist and Singer (and occasional plays Drums, Bass, Keys and Harp) whose Musical career began in the 1970s in San Antonio and has seen him perform on many stages across the U.S.A and Australia. Frank has many nicknames which include "The Real Deal", "Little Franky Blues" and "The Texas Tornado”.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Macias grew up learning about music and playing guitar from his father, Frank Macias, an established Texas Blues Legend who has shared the stage with many of San Antonio’s Music Legends. From the day Frank was born he absorbed the blues sounds and styles from Texas, Mississippi and Chicago and all points in between and his style has developed into these sounds.
Frank regularly names his father as his most influential educator in the blues, however Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters and the Man - Howling Wolf, along with anyone who ever sang, picked up a guitar and played the blues, are also major influences on Frank’s playing.
Little Frank, as he was called when growing up, got his first real taste for playing live when a friend of his mother’s heard him play. He was 18 and just enjoying playing at home. That friend looked at his mother and said “You know that boy can play!”, he then took Frank to see his father play and said “You got to put that boy on the stage!”. From that day on Frank was hooked on the blues, writing songs and enjoying living a life of the blues going from jam night to jam night all of which gave Frank a solid foundation in what the blues is all about.
Three years later Frank, knowing he had to go out and find himself, was in the Navy. After serving boot camp in San Diego, California he was then dispatched to the USS Missouri BB63, where he continued to play his guitar and formed a band on the ship. After hearing them perform the Executive Officer gave them a rehearsal space on the ship and bought them a PA system. He also had them performing at refuel ling’s in the middle of the ocean and for troops coming and going to the first Gulf War, “It was really great” Frank says about those times.
While playing outside of the Navy Frank recorded his first song, Freedom, with some guys he met through a friend. “That song Freedom I had written” says Frank “really set it in me that this is what I want to do”. After Leaving the Navy Frank stayed playing around California for a year eventually making his way back to Texas and putting together his first “real band” as he calls it. Turning an old room out the back of his mother’s house into a jam room Gypsy was some old friends just playing music together with that “us against the world attitude”. Gypsy recorded a three song demo but like so many bands fell apart just when they got the ball really rolling.
Re-inventing himself again when Gypsy split up, Frank moved to Australia the place he now calls home. For the past 18 years Frank has played with some of the best musicians in Australia including Hamish Rosser of the Vines, Chris Masauk of Radio Birdman, Henry Correy one of Australia best bluesmen - Frank played guitar on, recorded and engineered Henry’s Self Made Man CD.
Frank has performed at many renowned blues festivals and venues including the Goulburn Blues Festival (various years) , The Great Aussie Music Extravaganza, The Newcastle Blues Festival, The Cat and Fiddle Hotel Balmain, The Pot Belly Bar Belconnen and The Heritage Hotel Bulli. These performances have seen him share the stage with Mal Eastick, Angry Anderson, Afro Moses, Gail Page and Andy Thompson as well as many other Australian blues musicians.
Frank is moving from strength to strength currently running The Underground City Blues Jam in Sydney, a fortnightly Blues Jam where he gets everyone to improvise a song before escaping and says "nobody leaves this place without singin' the blues".
In 2009 Frank recorded a 6 track demo, “Ain’t It A Shame”, containing all original songs and is currently working towards his, as yet untitled, debut full length album which is set to hit the streets in Summer 2010/11.
Taking from the Legends Buddy Guy, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Otis Rush, Mingles Anarchy, Virtuosity, Deep Blue’s Hoodoo and Voodoo in ways that keep all eyes on him... Frank loves extremes: sudden drops from loud to soft, or a sweet, sustained guitar solo followed by a jolt of speed, or a high, imploring vocal cut off with a Son House moan. Whether he's singing with gentle menace or bending new curves into a blue note, he is a master of tension and release, and his every wayward impulse is riveting.
“Hotter than a jalapeño pepper and passion from the heart of Texas, audiences have described Frank Macias as defining Texan blues in the true sense of the word.”
A great live act worth catching any chance you get, be it a solo, duo or a full band performance, Frank Macias “The Real Deal” delivers the goods!
Frank Macias is flexible with his line up and is available to play as a duo through to a six piece band, depending on the requirements of your event or venue.
For bookings and further information please email: [email protected]