Local reviews of Joe’s guitar skills have
been outstanding!
* - Brian McElhiney’s Daily Gazette
article of September 28th, 2009 reviewed the Second Mile Blues Band after opening for Guitar legend, Robin Trower:
“As the crowds poured in, Joe Lowry and the Second Mile Blues Band entertained
with a down-and-dirty set of raunchy, guitar-driven blues favorites. Two original numbers played first amply showed off
Lowry's guitar chops, but when the band moved into old favorites the audience really got going.
"Lowry and his power trio were channeling Jimi Hendrix unashamedly here, as evidenced by Lowry's smooth crooning
on not one but two stellar Hendrix covers - "Foxy Lady" and "Fire". On the latter, the guitar pushed to monumental levels,
prompting some of the loudest cheering so far. If any band was up to the task of opening for Trower, it was certainly these
guys."
* - Other local reviews of Joe’s guitar skills MUST include Mike Hochanadel’s
rave reviews in his Schenectady Gazette article of 7/13/2008 descring Joe Lowry as, “playing with more skill and
soul” and that his band would soon eclipse the other acts at the 2008
Electric City Blues Festival!;
“Lowry’s trio generated greater
gravity, velocity and magnetism, drawing to the front fans who had huddled
in islands of shade under trees atop the hill or wilted in the chairs. His
hyper-strum solo in “Too Many Dirty Dishes” earned the fest’s first
ovation, lifting Lowry into a devastating “Born Under a Bad Sign,” his
Hendrix-like phrasing beautifully setting up the even better “Fire.” Lowry
made everything look easy but never played down to the audience or the
songs.”
Joe's Lightbulb Moment:
"It was sometime in the 70's when I was a
kid I saw Ace Frehley on TV and he had smoke coming from his axe. I made
up my mind right then and there - I was gonna be a guitar player."
Out Take:
“I really believe it's a God given gift. I
don't read, sometimes I don't even think about what key I'm in. The music
starts to stream and it's just a blessing.”
Joe’s
Equipment List:
Guitars:
FENDER
STRATOCASTER; Maple Fingerboard (The original neck was replaced for me by
Alan Payette -It feels great now!)
JACKSON; This
is my second oldest guitar. My Sister bought it for me in 1989 (I think
she paid too much) I love the guitar. It has a Maple neck, (w/almost no
finish on it.), an ebony fingerboard, 24 HUGE frets, 1 Single coil, 1
Humbucker both with active EMG's, a locking Schaller with fine tuning and
custom paint, a very classy guitar!
I've never
seen another guitar like it. It is also very heavy, I like that...
EPIPHONE-P-BASS;
I am a Bass junkie! I love Bass! I try not to play it too much because
then I won't play my guitar. I got my P-bass from a good friend... and I
paid way too little for it!
YAMAHA
TELECASTER; Rosewood fingerboard, string through body bridge. This one
has two Humbuckers in it. A very fat and clean sound.
Amps:
FENDER HOTROD
DEVILLE; A few years ago I gave this amp to Alan Payette at Hermies (in
Schenectady, N.Y.) and when I got it back, it was a better amp! It's got
4x10” speakers, 60 watts, 6L6 Groove Tubes - very powerful. I can't tell
you what they did to it, but I've never had it past 2. . .
Effects:
RADIAL TUBE
DRIVE TONEBONE; After a very long search I was happy to find this one.
It's the Classic Distortion model. It cleans up nice when you back off
the volume.
DUNLOP
CRYBABY; You already know!
Joe
