TEMPE, Ariz. – Tempe guitar phenom Joe Myers has signed on as featured headliner as the Tempe Center for the Arts continues the Songwriters’ Showcase concert at 7 p.m. on March 5, the city announced today.
Myers' versatility has led him to work in film and on festivals and production projects. He has long worked in tandem with renowned composer Brent Michael Davids (Kronos Quartet, Joffrey Ballet), creating original scores for "Last of the Mohicans," and for Sherman Alexie's film, "The Business of Fancy Dancing," and performing live at the World Premier of "Silent Enemy" at the 1996 Santa Fe Film Fest.
He has shared the stage with Daniel Lanois, David Wilcox, Adrian Legg, Todd Rundgren, Tori Amos, Adrian Belew, The Beach Boys, Warren Zevon and a list of other talented artists. Myers also is a four-time recipient of the New Times’ "Best of Phoenix" soloist award.
“I chose Joe to headline this event because of the extended use of the guitar in his approach to songwriting,” Showcase host Walt Richardson said. “The audience will be entertained with his creative approach in the use of his guitar in his performance. He takes the instrument to a new level, especially to the percussive extent.”
Myers' originality extends to this CD-packaging approach. His latest album, “Troubled Notes from the Hotel Chelsea,” is housed in a giant matchbook. His other releases come in handmade wooden boxes and round tin canisters. Myers' music can't be put in a one-size-fits-all box.
Richardson added: “The audience will appreciate the melodies and harmonics created through his talented finger working of the fret board. Songwriters will come away with a fresh new look at the instrument itself and may explore it more from ‘outside of the box.’ It may also inspire them with a new approach in their own songwriting. In the end, the audience will be moved and touched by the warm and wonderful spirit that comes through in the music of Joe Myers.”
For information on Myers, visit www.joemyers.net.
The Songwriters’ Showcase is a taped-for-television concert featuring emerging songwriters from the weekly Walk-in Wednesday Open Mic series at TCA, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. For information, visit www.tempe.gov/TCA/showcase.htm.
Walk-in Wednesdays continues at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Lounge at TCA. Walk-in Wednesdays and the Songwriters’ Showcase are sponsored by the city of Tempe, Total Wine and the Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts.
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