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| San Gabriel Valley Tribune Article
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Posted: Aug 16, 2010
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Joe Walla finds fervent fans in High Desert
By Michelle J. Mills, Staff Writer
Joe Walla
The Joe Walla Band may just be one of best unsigned secrets around. The Canyon Country-based blues rockers, vocalist and guitarist Joe Walla, bassist Rich Calande and drummer George Nowicki, have long tired of the overstressed and overtaxing Los Angeles/Hollywood scene and have been spending the past few years in the High Desert area, where the fans are fervent and the pay is fair. But they make exceptions for special opportunities, such as stopping in at Arcadia Blues Club for a set tonight to benefit Operation Homefront. "I'm excited about playing with Michael Burks because he's an upcoming B.B. King/Stevie Ray (Vaughan) guy," Walla said. "He's a good player, I heard him last year and he's got some cool stuff."
The band is also happy to support Operation Homefront, which assists military families with needs ranging from food and furnishings to auto repair, health care and moving expenses.
Walla's music has appeared in several television shows and in the film, "Sam Hell" and he was in the documentary, "Naked Ambition." His name and images are also featured on a 1996 Mustang NHRA nostalgic nitro funny car owned and driven by Dan Haran, which was can be seen in the July 2010 issue of Hot Rod magazine.
With all the buzz and a steady lineup since 2006 (Walla's been performing since 1979), you'd think the Joe Walla Band would have been snapped up by a record label, but unfortunately, though the interest is there, the deals have not been that enticing. Still, Walla remains optimistic about his chosen path.
"As you get older, you start thinking about `I want a deal,' but all I want to do is play. I want to wake up every day and play music and make money from there," Walla said.
Walla is noted for his massive collection of guitars, which is currently down to 52. He usually brings five to eight guitars to his shows and plays all of them. This keeps his guitar tech, Rick Quist, busy. The band likes to figure out a way for Walla to play a different guitar for every song. The idea is almost redundant when compared to Walla's already over-the-top showmanship; instead of using a slide, Walla plays a solo or two during his performances using whatever the audience hands him.
"I grab just about anything when I go out into the crowd to play - beer bottles, beer pitchers, and now people expect me to do something crazy," Walla said.
In a bar in Ridgecrest recently, Walla was using a pool cue as a slide when he noticed a man staring at him and tapping his shin. The man pulled up his pants leg to reveal a titanium leg. Walla acknowledged the challenge and the man promptly took off his prosthetic and handed it to the guitarist, who held it up for the crowd to see and then used it to continue his solo.
The Joe Walla Band's next effort, "Built for Speed," is set for a fall release and the group is booked through Thanksgiving.
"We need exposure," Walla said. "We need to get out of Los Angeles because Los Angeles is a dying music town."
He notes that it's hard to ask your band members to go on tour without the assurance of a steady - and decent - paycheck, although for Walla, his passion is almost enough.
"If I could get my bills and expenses paid, I could just go around the country living a rock and roll lifestyle," Walla said.
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| Operation Homefront Benefit Show
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Posted: Jul 13, 2010
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| Joe guests on Speed Scene Live
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Posted: May 12, 2010
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Joe was a special guest on the May 4th episode of Speed Scene Live. Click HERE to watch the show and explode SpeedSceneRacing.com
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