J.P. McDermott and Western Bop are a rocking trio with a timeless Rockabilly sound. With their guitar slinging leader at the helm, the band has been ripping up stage and studio in Southern California for the better part of the past two decades. Their music harkens back to the early days of Rock when singers like Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley made the girls swoon and ax-men like Scotty Moore inspired kids around the world to strap on a six-string. However, this is no tepid tribute. McDermott’s sound is alive.
We love and respect the artists that came before us, but these aren’t museum pieces – if you’re going to play this music you have to find a way to make it your own.
J.P. McDermott
A parade of talented musicians have played in the band over the years, including members of the original Tennessee Rockets. The current incarnation of J.P. McDermott and Western Bop features multi-instrumentalist D.A. Valdez on drums and Keisuke Motoki on upright Bass. Keisuke is a former member of famed Japanese Rockabilly/Punk band Inazuma.
J.P. McDermott and Western Bop made their recording debut in 2005 with the album “Last Fool Here.” They followed up in 2009 with a record in honor of a J.P. McDermott hero, “It’s Not Too Late: Nearly Forgotten Buddy Holly songs.” After an extended recording hiatus the band reemerged in 2019 with a pair of singles. Now they have dropped a brand new EP.
“Lucky Stars” is the latest release from J.P. McDermott and Western Bop, released worldwide to all major streaming services on January 28. The four song collection gives a 2022 Rockabilly shot in the arm to some of the band’s favorite originals and covers.
“Long Beach Stomp” opens the record with a rocking guitar riff that sets the stage for what’s to come. The track is a high-energy rave-up based on one of Warren Smith’s great Sun records. “Lucky Stars ’22” is a fresh look at a Bob Newscaster penned love song from the band’s debut album. About the track, J.P. says, “I’ve played ‘Lucky Stars’ literally hundreds of times since the first record. It’s like a good wine, getting better and better over time. Plus, it’s a really fun song!”
The band returns once more to their 2005 debut release for a brand new version of the J.P. McDermott original title track, “Last Fool Here.” On the track J.P. McDermott and Western Bop drop a high-octane Rockabilly tear in their beer. They close the record with “Rock-a-bye Rock,” an overlooked Buddy Holly gem.
“Lucky Stars” is a beautifully recorded record, perfectly capturing the energy of early Rock & Roll with state of the art sound. We can hear every nuance of McDermott’s Telecaster acrobatics, mixed in fabulous stereo. Period-perfect slap-back reverb gives his smooth vocals just the right punch as the rhythm section rocks it, lock-step in the pocket.
Check out “Lucky Stars” below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the song “Long Beach Stomp” on the Deep Indie Dive playlist. Follow the links below to connect with J.P. McDermott and Western Bop.
