There have been many blues and roots music duos throughout the years, but none quite like the one made up of Nathan James and Ben Hernandez. Together they are taking music from the country to places it’s never been before while still paying homage to the musicians who laid the foundation for the American music we know today. For James and Hernandez this is music that even a modern and mainstream audience can’t ignore. It’s music of the people.
Both born and raised in country towns themselves, their understanding and interpretation of this music is uncanny; as if the secret came through the pipes with the water they drank growing up. From the first note to the last their audiences find out very quickly who’s in charge. “The music takes the reigns…the stories and songs speak for themselves. Sometimes we don’t know what the heck they’re gonna do†says Hernandez.
You wouldn’t think that just two people could generate this much sound, but they do. The two share vocal duties, switching off from song to song or harmonizing. They also play a host of instruments, some of them even homemade. Nathan James plays guitars, harmonica, banjo, and a suitcase foot percussion board made out of an old, light blue Skyway suitcase. With a lever system that he made himself from parts purchased at the local hardware store and an old coffee can attached to the suitcase, James creates a snare-like back beat that sends even the most accomplished drummers to the front of the stage hunting for a hidden drum machine.
Ben Hernandez plays the harmonica, spoons, jug, kazoo, washboard, and their finale piece, a big ol’ 17-gallon gutbucket bass. On the top of the “neck†of the bass he’s mounted a chrome skull shifter knob he took from his old car. “It talks to me,†he jokes. “It tells me what to play.â€
Often times Nathan James and Ben Hernandez get labeled as a blues act, but after hearing or, for that matter, seeing their show one realizes that this duo is much more—an all encompassing American roots music review. “Blues players back in the old days covered everything…jazz, ragtime, gospel, blues, and even popular tunes of the day. They had to, to make a living. In a way, we’re not much different. We’ve just put our own mark on things,†says James.
Having played mostly smaller venues they’re resume' is not without it’s highlights. Nathan and Ben have performed several times with Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Blowout and in 2003 they performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival. For the last several years they have been favorites on the Back Porch Stage at the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point.
Earlier this year they took first place in the solo/duo category of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, competing with acts worldwide. Europe came calling soon after. In April they performed a three-week tour throughout Denmark and in June they made a trip across the Atlantic again for a tour in Italy, playing the country’s most popular festivals.
July found James and Hernandez up in the Pacific Northwest performing in Portland, Oregon’s Waterfront Blues Festival and most recently they returned to shore after making several appearances on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. Coming up in November the duo will be flying to Taiwan for the Blues Society of Taipei’s Blues Bash 4.
They have been seen performing as sidemen, along with percussionist Michael Tempo, for legendary singer and harmonica player, James Harman as part of his Bamboo Porch Review. The band blends several roots genres using the gutbucket bass, guitar, footboard, harmonica and African and South American percussion instruments.
In between all these shows Nathan and Ben managed to record a brand new album that was just released under the prestigious Sacred Cat Recordings label. “Hollerin’!†is the pair’s third album and, as James says, “best represents our sound live." The album’s thirteen tracks pack quite a punch, showcasing the duo’s powerful vocals while covering the genres of blues, folk, gospel, and ragtime.
There's a lot going on for "just a duo," and as roots music venues come and go and interest in early American music rises and falls it’s good to know that the future of this music is being left in the capable hands of Nathan James & Ben Hernandez.
--Isaiah Sellers
Myspace Editor
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