The SoundLounge

Pete Cornelius And The Devilles

Ok, hope your sitting down and strapped in because this high octane power trio aint hanging around for no-one. Please let me to introduce Pete Cornelius and the DeVilles.

Pete Cornelius and the DeVilles est. 1999, have set the pace for many Aussie touring rhythm & blues bands. Its hard to Label exactly what these boys are layin' down. Some say its Vintage R&B, West Coast Jump Blues, Tough Texan Shuffles, Hearty Soul Drivin' Sparse Ballads & Up Tempo Rockabilly. Some just say its damm good. What ever you wanna call it, The DeVilles sure have they're roots deep in that early American sound, when Hollow-Body Guitars and fat gas guzzlin 'Cadillac's roamed the streets.

James T and The Tomahawks

Thirty years later, James Thornbury says hearing Fred McDowell over the airways in Los Angeles was a defining moment in kicking off his career as a blues artist. The open tunings and glass finger inspired the young singer/guitarist with a new direction, and cross country drives provided long hours where he would explore the blues harp.

“I started working with Texas blues rocker Lanny Ray’s band. He  had already been backing Big Joe Turner and a number of top blues artists at a joint north of LA called Corral.” Five years later one of my Oregon bands was working a college town in that state when Henry Vestine,a founding member of Canned Heat, arrived black Les Paul in hand.

Henry brought James back to LA for some Canned Heat rehearsals and a southwest tour. This run, for James, would be the beginning of 10 years performing guitar, vocals, harmonica, bass and flute with that blues institution. There were so many great nights, times and people. Of course, sharing the stage with John Lee Hooker, a tour bus with Albert King and hotel breakfasts with so many musicians on the road rank high in the memory bank.

And the wheels roll on.