Blues in his Bones
‘”Music was always a weapon,” began Judah Bauer, the creative force behind 20 Miles.
Like an army at war, Judah is relentless. If he is not on tour with John Spencer Blues Explosion, he is on the road with 20 Miles. He has been playing guitar in both bands for a combined 15 years or so. Needless to say, the man has his scars and can honorably considered a veteran.rnIn between yawns, the obviously worn-down musician trudged on about touring, a never-ending work ethic, and his musical “mission.”
“I feel like I’ve been at war for the last few years. It’s chaos. While one band is resting, I’m on tour with the other. I barely have the time to make it from America to Australia to join the other band before the next show.”
After such a tour of duty, the average soldier would probably expect nothing less than a homecoming parade and an early retirement. Not Judah.
“I’m getting better at the guitar and that’s what I really want. I don’t want to think too far ahead. I just want to be where I’m at right now and always evolving.”
His work ethic has certainly paid off in unimaginable ways. Most recently, the Blues Explosion was included in the filming of an episode from an upcoming PBS documentary series “The Blues,” at Radio City Music Hall. A different director filmed each episode and Wim Wenders, known best for directing “Buena Vista Social Club” and “The End of Violence,” directed the Blues Explosion’s episode. Afterwards, a gala concert was held where the band got to play with the likes of Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, B.B. King, and John Fogerty.
In London, Judah got to play guitar for blues music legend Solomon Burke.
Originally, 20 Miles was a project fronted with his brother Donovan. Donovan has since left the band to pursue other ventures. Since then, Judah has fully taken the creative helm.
“This tour will break in the new band. If everything works out, they will be on the next record,” mentioned Judah, who was, at this point, running behind schedule.
A plethora of musicians have worked on the 20 Miles albums and they seem to come and go with each passing release.
As the song “Rhythm bound” off of the most recent album “Keep it coming…” suggests, music has always been a part of his life. Blues enraptured Bauer early on, as did jazz. Citing John Lee Hooker and Miles Davis as influences, it became apparent early on that music would be a big part of his life.rnStarting off with the saxophone, and eventually moving over to the guitar, Judah started his first band at an early age. Exceptional Children, his new-wave unstructured noise band which also featured Donovan, was just a passing phase, as he claims the genre of indie music also is.
“I can’t get out of that bag. I’ll never shake it. Punk is the scene that I grew up in but I’ve changed a lot.”
Judah describes 20 Mile as a mixture of “garagey” Tom Petty and the Rolling Stone’s “Exile on Main Street.”
“I like that sort of feminine blues/rock thing that they (the Rolling Stones) do,” said Judah.rnThe mix of these influences does show, as well as the bleeding across band lines from the Blues Explosion to 20 Miles. None of the influences are thought out in the writing process, though.rn”If we were that premeditated, we’d be accomplished poets,” cleverly quipped Judah. “Well-rehearsed music just bores me. I don’t see the point in it.”
Out of all of his musical projects, 20 Miles is the rawest endeavor. It fits into the blues scene, which promises concerts worth attending, and music written on a higher metaphysical level.
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