Murray, Kentucky, is a melting pot of a variety of styles of music. Many musicians traveling through the area bring with them either the soulful blues from Memphis, the country-rock jams from Nashville, or the bluegrass-folk stylings from the hills of Missouri. Ivas John, a country blues artist originally from Chicago, Illinois, displays a perfect blend of all these musical styles throughout his music and is certainly worth checking out. Before we talk about Ivas John's music, let's first learn a little bit about the singer-songwriter.
Ivas John was born in Chicago as a first-generation Lithuanian American. He credits his self-made career to his musical family, particularly his father, who appeared in many productions for a local opera company. John says his father is his biggest musical influence. At age 16, Ivas picked up a guitar and has refused to take a break from it ever since. Ivas adopted his simple “three verse and one chorus” style songwriting from his father, as well. Due to the combined guitar playing capabilities, as well as the signature style of songwriting, Ivas John’s style has been compared to a variety of musicians from Keb Mo to Van Morrison. Even though Ivas John is focusing on reviving the old traditional blues style, he continues to add his own twist to the genre, which has been a huge hit among his listeners.
Ivas recently released his third album title, “Good Days a Comin,” which was recorded in Sparta, Illinois. The album takes the listeners back to the old folk blues days by keeping the tracks simple and focusing on old blues guitar playing and lyric stylings. The genres the tracks portray vary from acoustic “chicken pickin” to singer-songwriter ballad-like tunes.
However, when Ivas isn’t playing his solo set of acoustic country-folk blues, he rocks with his band, the Ivas John Band, swinging to jazzy blues hits that make audiences all across the Midwest want to get up and dance. After all, to be the ultimate bluesman, you have to be versatile in every style that is blues; and Ivas John is just that. Not only does the simple, blues songwriting style show off Ivas John’s musicianship, but his rockin’ electric guitar solos do the artist justice just as well. You can check out the Ivas John band jamming to “Lucille Lucille” at BB’s Jazz Blues and Soups in St. Louis, Missouri, here:
Needless to say, Ivas John proves to be an extremely versatile musician who displays all genres included in the melting pot of music in the Midwest. Be sure to check out his music and catch him live throughout the Southern Missouri, Illinois, and Western Kentucky areas. Don’t miss out on the next big bluesman before he rises to the top of the country blues charts!
