Photo: SavasMallotides
Stepping Into the Fire by Joanna Connor
By Joanna Connor
Modern blues/rock guitarist, singer, songwriter
The guitar and I have had a love affair for many years. And like all love affairs, there are shades and nuance of emotion, heights of unimaginable beauty, and lows that are below sea level. Most men say they picked up the guitar to impress girls. Well, I picked up the guitar and stuck with it to prove that girls can deliver on that instrument as mightily as any man.
Blood blisters, barre chords, blisters that became callouses, playing passages over and over, trying to master the spider web-like delicacy of slide guitar, joining my first band, first gigs at a Sons of Italy Lodge, with the “ guys” in the back and us in the hall banging it out every Friday. Better gigs, better bands, a move to Chicago, going to Blues University School of Hard Knocks and Precious Wisdom all led up to a scenario that took me completely by surprise.
I was born in the last years of the Baby Boomer generation so computer technology was not exactly in my life experience. I was ambivalent about that world and the universe unleashed on the internet. A few videos shot of me performing at my shows unbeknownst to me, went viral.
One in particular caught the ears and eyes of several well-known artists- Vernon Reid, Tracii Guns, Bootsy Collins, Ted Nugent and Joe Bonamassa. I reached out to all of them, thanked them, and sent my contact information. While most responded, Joe B. put words into action.
Joe Bonamassa’s sentiment was that I was deserving of wider recognition and that I was a ferocious guitarist. We spoke over the next few months. This was May of 2019. After several emails, phone calls and texts and Joe and his team stopping by at one of my weeknight gigs at Chicago’s infamous Kingston Mines ( help me! I was shaking in my shoes!), I found myself on a plane to Nashville in February 2020. Yes, THAT year, and as fate would have it–that shadow time in history.
Here I was in my seat, 30 thousand miles above Mother Earth about to play and sing in front of two of the world’s most accomplished guitarists- Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. It was a surreal experience. I knew either I would sink under the weight of my own insecurities (and yes- I have plenty) freeze up and deliver a stilted, lukewarm performance or I would rise to this opportunity and bring all the fire, sweat, dedication, inspiration and frustration, and channel all of those years bringing out the best I could give.
Photo: Jason Edwards
Upon arrival I was picked up by Joe’s studio coordinator and spent the night at the hotel. Bright and early (musicians early – 10 am) I was taken to Joe’s downtown Nashville townhouse, the Nerdville lair.
We had discussed the songs we would likely cover – a pantheon of classics and some underserved Chicago electric style blues.
Joe and Josh preceded to play some real chestnuts on the stereo and wanted my opinion. We narrowed it down to nine songs. Josh said that he has written something for me- “It’s My Time.” The title is self-explanatory. The two of them then proceeded to pull out two guitars and find the proper keys for my voice and then came up with their own spin with deft and soulful arrangements of each song. I videoed the two masters working all of this out. I was a bit timid singing there, no microphone, and I held back a bit. But in my heart I knew once I had a guitar in my hands and the amps were on, buzzing and warm, that I was going to bring it.
We went out for dinner after snacking on popcorn, chocolate and Diet Coke all day with Joe, Josh and one of the new designers at Gibson Guitars. The conversation was an orgy of guitar geek knowledge, so intricate in the scope of information and the history behind so many guitars. I stayed silent taking it all in. Nerdville indeed. Guitar and gear fanatics would have melted being privy to what I was trying to ingest.
Back to the hotel after that and a good sleep and the truth was about to be delivered in a famous treasure of a studio.
Part two of this article will bring you the reader inside of that studio with some of the greatest musicians on the planet.
For more information on Joanna Connor see her website here
Loved this article! Joanna is as eloquent in her writing as she is in her music. Can’t wait to read the next installment!
Such a beautiful article ,Joanna touches on so many of the emotional polarities that a musician experiences.
She writes as though she had just had her first candy and wants another!
A great narrative and fun to read.
Excellent piece, Joanna. I’ve loved your music since the late 70’s at Ralph’s Blue Plate. Let me know next time you pass through Kansas City (or Lawrence), hit me up so I can interview you for my radio show. I’m certain you don’t remember me but I used to work at WCUW. Last time I saw you, I was at WMNF in Tampa and you were playing Skippers. Hope you’re well.