Published in the Nov. 12-25, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark ‘Fenny’Fenichel
Mark Fenichel
One of the hardest working musicians on the local music scene has to be James Avena. Many of you reading this will say “Who?” James has never had a recording contract, never played the Fillmore, and never toured outside of California. But he has played just about every local night club and music hall from Morgan Hill to Salinas. He has performed at most major local festivals, volunteered at numerous benefits, and played countless community events.
When he is not playing four to five gigs a week, he is working behind the counter whipping up some kind of musical deal as sales manager for The Music Tree in downtown Morgan Hill.
He says he has been a local musician all his life and started playing music to his father’s country western records when he was 6. His parents were not happy that he would stay up late at night and practice while paying close attention to the likes of Merle Haggard and Freddie Fender. In school at the age of 10 he took a group lesson with about 15 other kids, but he says that is really the only formal training he had. For the most part, his musical education has come from listening to music and playing along and figuring out what sounds good and what doesn’t.
James Avena
In his early high school years James was introduced to rock guitarists like Pat Travers, Ronnie Montrose, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). But his biggest influence of all was Stevie Ray Vaughn which lead him into the direction of blues music. Stevie Ray’s influence opened the doors to an entire world of seasoned blues artists like Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, BB King, and John Lee Hooker.
The first time he heard the Rolling Stones he didn’t like them but found out that they had a long history as a blues band and that changed his view of them. That also got him more interested in the unique sounds of British blues. James realized that he couldn’t exactly emulate the sounds he heard but was able to take the music and make it his own.
He had many bands over the years and his current band JJ Hawg has been together for more than 14 years. With all that playing time and experience James says he still gets a little nervous before a gig but as soon as he hits his first note, it all goes away.
You can reach JJ Hawg through their website at www.jjhawgband.com or stop by The Music Tree as James is always happy to share his musical experiences.
On another note,
