When we did the original Hardstock in April, we asked Jim Byrnes to play. Right away, he said yes, but then had to wait for Holy Hardstock due to a scheduling conflict in St. Louis.
Jim knows firsthand some of the challenges that Scott will face in the years to come as he lost both his legs when he was hit from behind by a car while helping push a stalled truck on a highway. After recuperating, he pursued work as a musician, and the career in acting which he has also prospered. How has that journey gone?
In his own words, "from callow bohemian to weary pilgrim, here’s a little of the journey so far.
The city streets of my boyhood; steam heat rising off the Mississippi; the railroad; grits and gravy; the Cardinals and the Dodgers on the radio; summers in Kentucky and the Ozarks; Jimmy Reed at The London House East, Bobby “Blue” Bland at the Cosmo Hall; Muddy at the Moonlight Lounge and Slick’s Lakeside; the High Plains of east Colorado on a winter morning; the Charlie Company Boogie; all those nights in all those rented rooms; the wind off the ocean; the winter storms; the tough break and the heartache; the dust of Mexico; twilight on the Seine; the evening breeze, the distant thunder, the sweetness of the rain; the light and the laughter in my children’s eyes; the constant struggle and infinite joy of love…"Jim Byrnes
Jim Byrnes and his first love is the blues. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. This is why the Toronto Blues Society announced in January 2007 at the 2006 Maple Blues Awards, that Jim won male vocalist of the year, as well as recording of the year.
In his own words, "from callow bohemian to weary pilgrim, here’s a little of the journey so far.
The city streets of my boyhood; steam heat rising off the Mississippi; the railroad; grits and gravy; the Cardinals and the Dodgers on the radio; summers in Kentucky and the Ozarks; Jimmy Reed at The London House East, Bobby “Blue” Bland at the Cosmo Hall; Muddy at the Moonlight Lounge and Slick’s Lakeside; the High Plains of east Colorado on a winter morning; the Charlie Company Boogie; all those nights in all those rented rooms; the wind off the ocean; the winter storms; the tough break and the heartache; the dust of Mexico; twilight on the Seine; the evening breeze, the distant thunder, the sweetness of the rain; the light and the laughter in my children’s eyes; the constant struggle and infinite joy of love…"Jim Byrnes
Jim Byrnes and his first love is the blues. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. This is why the Toronto Blues Society announced in January 2007 at the 2006 Maple Blues Awards, that Jim won male vocalist of the year, as well as recording of the year.
Growing up on the north side of St. Louis, Jim was surrounded by the likes of Chuck Berry, Johnny Johnson, and Ike and Tina Turner. Over the years Jim has appeared with a virtual who’s who of musical history including Furry Lewis, Henry Townsend, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, and Ray Charles.
That's pretty big shoes to even walk beside, but Jim Byrnes is one of the few in Vancouver who we can mention in the same breath, and can even come close to filling them. It is an honour to have him perform at Holy Hardstock!!!
That's pretty big shoes to even walk beside, but Jim Byrnes is one of the few in Vancouver who we can mention in the same breath, and can even come close to filling them. It is an honour to have him perform at Holy Hardstock!!!
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