Here's a copy of the new article found in the Weekender on Siouxland.net. If you wanna check out the site, please do so at www.siouxland.net Hope you enjoy!
THE LATINO EDDIE VAN HALEN?
The Latino Eddie Van Halen?
Ken Valdez brings blazin' guitar and rock trio to music club gig
By JESSE CLAEYS | 11.20.08
Two years ago the life of a musician was starting to look rather bleak to Ken Valdez.
After releasing two records, the first of which was critically acclaimed, the rock and blues guitarist felt like his once promising career had plateaued. His management company failed to deliver on promises, his band was undergoing lineup changes, his inspiration was becoming hard and harder to find.
"It's like I've got some new juice," Valdez said during a telephone interview. "I'm feeling challenged and pushed again. It's nice."
Yes, the man whose band was called "the Latino reincarnation of Van Halen" by a New Mexico newspaper feels like he's back.
"Maybe I'm Eddie [Van Halen]," he said. "But I have the same birthday as David Lee Roth, so maybe I'm more him."
Valdez may be both. His concerts where he's backed by drummer Josh English and bass player Reuben "Sandwich" Rodriguez feature his fiery Eddie-like guitar chops and his front man duties that capture a bit of Roth's energy.
"High energy, rhythm, rock, just letting everyone have a good time and get butts moving. That's what it's all about."
Born to a working class Latino family in Santa Fe, N.M., it wasn't until Valdez was 19 when he first picked up a guitar. A self-taught player, Valdez struggled along as an acoustic singer/songwriter before finding his groove by plugging in and letting loose. Two records later and Valdez the blusey electric guitar player has both a signature guitar and amp, and has worked with everyone in the world of blues and rock from The Black Crowes to Jonny Lang.
"Wayne Perkins by far has been the biggest influence on me. He's my mentor and friend."
Perkins and Valdez have worked with each other over the years. Perkins is one of those musicians you've heard but never known. He played guitar on Bob Marley's first Wailers album, and he toured with Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd before joining the Rolling Stones on their "Black and Blue" record.
Valdez said his influences, and being surrounded by strong musicians while performing on stage, have reinvigorated his passion and pushed his playing to new heights. The results can be heard early next year when Valdez releases not one, not two, but possibly three new CDs.
"Three full CDs is unusual, but I have these acoustic songs, these rock songs and some straight blues tunes I want to get out," Valdez said.
This won't be the first time the guitar slinger has shown his diversity to fans. Following the heralded 2004 disc "Every Little Lie," Valdez slowed things down and surprised his fans by releasing a mellow acoustic record. The all acoustic album, "Thoughts & Time," came about after Valdez played lead guitar in Mick Fleetwood's solo project.
"I really don't know how to explain it, but we keep improving," Valdez said of the current trio. "We just stumbled onto something different. With the way we're sounding now and the way things are going on the road with landing new fans and growing our base, things feel like they are on the up and up and I'm excited about the future."