Oklahoma native Joe Mack has been performing and writing music for an overwhelming majority of his life, blending all his favorite genres of music into a style that is undeniably his own. When performing solo, he’s oft compared to Leo Kottke and Keller Williams for his orchestral approach to the six-string; when paired with other singer/songwriters in the round, the tones of David Rawlings and Jerry Garcia seemingly appear both instrumentally and vocally.
To date, Joe has been fortunate enough to fill concert halls, clubs, festivals and co-bills with the likes of Tim Reynolds, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Drew Emmitt & Vince Herman (of Leftover Salmon,) Hosty Duo, Travis Linville, Randy Crouch, Split Lip Rayfield, Umphrey's McGee, Carter Sampson, Elephant Revival, My-Tea Kind, Thomas Trapp, Sky Smeed, Turnpike Troubadours, and the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.
Mack also serves the arts and entertainment community via print and online media, most recently serving as Editor-in-Chief for both Currentland Magazine (The Current) and Northwest Arkansas Entertainment Magazine (NWA Mag). “It’s the best way to stay connected to this (music) community that you could ever imagine,” Mack commented, “And it’s great to have another avenue to bring good news and great artists into other peoples’ lives.”
In addition to his busy full time journalism career, Mack is also a sought after collaborator, joining forces with fellow Okie musicians like Carter Sampson, Sky Smeed, Bill Erickson, Meandering Orange (alongside three of the four members formerly of My-Tea Kind; guitarist James Townsend, bassist Anna Paine and drummer Sarah Garde), The Macktet (a mashing of Tulsa instrumental jazz wizards The Movetet and Mack's zany catalog of creations, yielding heady results), The Skillbillies (a guitar-driven, progressive bluegrass band), and whoever else heeds the beckoned call.
Mack’s 2008 release, This Crazy World, features several songs which have received rotation on local NPR and college radio stations, including the swinging roots stomp “Thrift Store Shoes,” the mystic “Fortune Teller” (co-written with Dango Rose of Elephant Revival) and “Hillbilly Reggae Girl.”
The 2012 follow-up, Pieces, was initially tracked back in 2003-2004 and offers a stripped-down session of a young, firebrand rhythm guitarist/songwriter in the prime of his creative youth with the melody-centered grooves of “Running Back”, “Pieces”, “Ain’t Nunna Her I’m Gonna Miss”, “Planets” and more.
In 2016, Mack continues to record and write a new album, releasing the digital exclusive EDM version of “Ever Any Nothing”, which also donned a debut official music video shot, directed and edited by Corey Johnson. You can find all of Joe’s music at www.cdbaby.com and your favorite digital retailers.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/okiejoemack
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/joemackmusic?feature=BF
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mackjoe
People that got Mack have later said:
“Mack plays a variety of instruments…guitar, bass guitar, cowbell, Gatorade bottle, beer bottle…anything on stage or anything anyone hands him.” – Ally Chrz, The Daily O’Collegian, 2004.
“Joe Mack’ll make ya – jump, jump!” – Brent Skarky, “OklaTravelNews”, 2008.
“He’s amazing – nobody else like him…” – Randy Crouch, legendary Oklahoma musician, 2007.
"Watching him at work was like watching a mad scientist on steroids as he'd run around the stage and grab anything handy to create his rhythms." - Ronnie Narmour, The Island Moon, 2013.
“If you haven’t heard this guy you’re missing an Oklahoma phenomenon that blows every mind that sees him play.” – Chris Becker, The Current, 2008.
“Ya’ll give it up for the right-hand Winfield championship guitar picker.” – Mike Hosty, Oklahoma musician, 2005.
Follow Joe on Facebook and MySpace for continual show updates.
Photographer: Corey Johnson