San Diego Reader

Hot Rod Harris: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals

Genre: Acoustic, Blues & Soul

Sound description: Cowboy chords articulated by add ons, hammer ons, and much use of the guitar club (aka capo).

RIYL: J Turtle, Kyle Phelan. Saba, Jane Lui, Dave Sawyer, Peter Bolland, Anna Troy, Gregory Page, Dave Howard, Pete Thurston, Isaac Cheong, Sam Bybee, the Gooses, Kim DiVincenzo, Thomas Lee, Cathryn Beeks, Matt Silvia, Michael Tiernan, Sven Erik Seaholm, Simeon Flick, Tristan Prettyman, Anya Marina, Frank Williamson, Berkley Hart, D.R. Auten, Steph Johnson, Jack Tempchin, Truckee Brothers, Steve Poltz, Annie B, Citizen Band, Marcia Claire, Scott Wilson, Carlos Olmeda, Toca Rivera

Upcoming Local Shows

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Related Links

• Hot Rod Harris website

Synoposis

Inception: Poway, 2000

Current Status: Playing around town, often backed up by electric guitarist Dave Sawyer.

Influences: John Prine, Neil Young, the Beatles, the Byrds, Bruce Cockburn, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Van Morrison, CSN&Y, Eagles, Grateful Dead, BB King, Pink Floyd, Pat Metheny, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Tom Waits

Background:

Hot Rod Harris is a mostly-acoustic singer/guitarist who also hosts the Thursday open mic night at the Hot Java Cafe.

"After getting turned on to Mikey's in Poway in '99," says Harris, "and listening to the likes of D.R. Auten, KEV, Berkley Hart, Dave Howard, Lee Tyler Post, Frank Williamson, Peter Bolland, and way too many to mention, I took up the guitar again in 2000!! A friend of mine, Tim Hendrick, talked me into joining him on some stuff, we collaborated, and started nervously playing out at Hot Java Cafe. Tim was in and out of music, and during one of his outs, I decided to forge ahead and play mostly solo, doing ballads, covers, etc., on acoustic/electric guitar. Backed up these days most times by Dave Sawyer (musicjammers.com), [I] spend most of my time hosting open mics, playing open mics, and going to open mics and shows."

Hot Rod Harris plays Martin Acoustics (DC-17E and HD-28) and uses Martin SPs-13 gauge, LR Baggs i-beam pickups, and LR Baggs para DI preamp.