Shawn is the son of the late, great Texas Tornado, Doug Sahm
and this is Shawn's debut album. Shawn has been performing
since his early teens either with his own band or with his father's.
In addition, Shawn has also performed with the Junior Wells Band,
Doug "Cosmo" Clifford (Creedence Clearwater Revival),
Johnny Copeland and Roy Head.
And is currently touring with his own band The Tex Mex Experience.
They have been opening for the Los Lonely Boys.
Backing Shawn on his solo album are Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez
and his father Doug Sahm, who are collectively known as
The Texas Tornados. The album is an eclectic mix of
rock/Tex-Mex/Country and features the song,
"Stoned Faces Don't Lie", a classic Doug Sahm track of the '60's.
Check Out Shawn's band The Tex Mex Experience at:
www.myspace.com/thetexmexexperience
The Tex Mex Experience
“We’re just movin’ and groovin’! Things have been bustin’ lately, ya know?
We’ve got a full plate of tacos, man!”
Does that sound familiar? If it does, you’re probably a Doug-head.
If it doesn’t, prepare to party in pure Texas style.
Shawn Sahm is here with the Tex Mex Experience and life will
never be the same. Sahm has gathered four musicians whose
experience and backgrounds complement his own for a fiesta not
soon forgotten.
From the moment he sat on the knee of his father Doug Sahm on the
cover of Rolling Stone in 1968, there was never a question as to what
Shawn’s path in life would be: it’s always been on the road. And after
his father passed away in 1999, Shawn wasn’t about to slow down.
Having spent the better part of the last six years overseeing the
estate and various projects, he returned to his first musical love:
the amalgam of rock & roll and across-the-border rhythms that
define the Tex-Mex sound.
“The idea was to take the influences, the sound, the real stuff,
what’s in your heart and in your soul,” Shawn enthuses. “That music
is a part of me. What makes the band unique is that we are doing
music for the love of it. It’s not the ‘in’ thing or the popular thing,
it’s something I’ll be doing one way or another for the rest of my life.
Even when I was young playing in rock bands, I was always playing
with Dad and writing songs.”
Shawn Sahm also learned how to put together the right musicians
for the right sound and when it came time to lay down the bottom
of the band, he drafted George Rains as drummer. Rains first recorded
with the elder Sahm on *Honky Blues* in 1967 and went on to play
with an array of musicians including Boz Scaggs, Chuck Berry,
Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Bo Diddley, Van Morrison, Big Mama Thorton,
Junior Wells, and Lowell Fulsom. “George,” declares Shawn without
hesitation “is the Jedi groovemaster of drums.”
No surprise that Neal Walker would pick up the bass slot in the
Tex Mex Experience. Walker played with Shawn in his teenage
metal band Prezence and impressed all enough to join Doug on
a variety of albums and tours. “Dad loved his harmony. Neal has
this killer high harmony Dad said was like a young Atwood Allen.”
High praise indeed!
Accordionist and vocalist Mike Guerra played in the Texamaniacs with
Max Baca from Flaco’s band. Guerra, an import from Los Angeles also
recently recorded with Los Lonely Boys and brings his bajo and keyboards
to the Tex Mex Experience. “He’s got the makings of the next Flaco,” Shawn praises his bandmate. “He’s our MVP.”
And speaking of Flaco, Nuni Rubio regularly sings with the noted accordionist. Rubio’s distinctive vocals are one of the Tex Mex Experience’s hallmarks. “I really like to use the voices in a more traditional way, with three- and
four-part harmonies,” explains Shawn. “It was interesting to find someone
in my age group that understood this kind of music. Ya got to understand the music and Nunie understands.”
The mix music of the Tex Mex Experience is fresh and refreshing.
“I wear my influences on my sleeve and make no bones about it,”
Shawn acknowledges the Texas Tornados as influence, “but that
doesn’t do justice to the musicians in this band.”
“For the music, we used Tex-Mex rock & roll, country, a little Cajun vibe.
Polkas. I called it the Tex-Mex Experience was because the food and the
lifestyle is very eclectic. It’s not one thing, it’s a little of this and a
little of that. Hippies and rednecks and Mexican food, all mixed together!
Having a good time on the dancefloor in a musical groove.”
So what’s in the near future for the Tex Mex Experience?
“We’ve been showcasing, and out on tour with Los Lonely Boys,” Shawn Sahm recounts the band’s initial forays. “I want to make a memorable Tex-Mex record, one as good for a few beers and as to dance to. And make it under the moonlight!”
Bueno plan!
- Margaret Moser
