Original Jim Zielinski article from Huntsville's Valley Planet www.valleyplanet.com
Huntsville’s Blake Nix is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who, for over twenty years, has performed across the country and internationally in bands such as the New York-based Sticky Fingers band, a Rolling Stones tribute band, and Hells Bells, an AC/DC tribute group from Nashville. He’s played clubs, coffee shops, frat houses, choirs, and has appeared in local theater productions and on festival stages nation wide.
Recently, Blake completed an album entitled Mr. Adams’ Blues, recorded at Riverland Recording Studio in nearby Valhermoso Springs. It is a full-band nod to some of his favorite artists, “the product of years of life, love, longing and heartbreak…as recorded on cassette tapes, reams of notebook paper, and a veritable grocery aisle of restaurant napkins,” per the songsmith.
Adds he, “…I try to soak up the lyrical approaches of the great songwriters whom I admire, but use the arranging techniques of the rock bands that I recognize as primary influences.” As a result, his album recalls The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, a touch of AC/DC, and the acoustic side of Led Zeppelin. The songs, guitar, bass playing, and singing are all Blake, while the drums are the work of local pal and multi-instrumentalist James Irvin and Nashville’s Tom Drennan.
“The songs,” he continues, “are products of love, longing, and regret, as well as a need to share stories—but with a good beat. I find Jack Kerouac another influence in the desire to experience life and to share the experience with as much honesty as possible. I’ve been around the world (and hope to travel and experience more) and believe a song should be created from real life, not vice-versa. I often rearrange and reinvent my own songs and the works of those that inspire me, much like the unplugged artists of the 90’s and 00’s…and sometimes on the fly. This keeps the shows fresh and fun.”
Mr. Adams’ is a diverse debut—folksy and “poppish” at times and, at others, edgy and rocking. The lyrics are delivered in a tenor that’s drawn favorable comparisons to the Violent Femmes, among others. Blake’s music résumé encompasses a variety of genres: church choir, acoustic folk, classical guitar, heavy metal, and rock and roll, topped with orchestral and onstage forays in musical theatre. Check out www.blakenix.com for more info!
Blake has taught music privately for years, currently teaching students out of his home and at the Fret Shop, a renowned local music store. As instructor, he emphasizes variety and an open-minded approach to the learning process; sound music fundamentals are taught (and the importance of music in enriching each student’s life is addressed), but in a context that reflects the student’s background, interests, and goals.
In addition to juggling several ongoing projects, Blake keeps busy promoting both album and band. You can catch him hosting Wednesday’s “Open Mike Night” at Sam and Greg’s Gelateria/Pizzeria on the Square. Don’t be timid…he won’t hurt you. Just fuel yourself with some java and step on up!
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