Ayres Supply: Mike Beck and the Bohemian Saints play a gig to honor their longtime guitarist, who’s heading East.
Bohemian Rhapsodies
Local faves bid a fond farewell to ace guitarist Tom Ayres
Thursday, August 26, 2010
He doesn’t remember the year. He doesn’t remember the venue. But guitarist Tom Ayres remembers the magic that occurred the first time he jammed with Mike Beck in the late’80s or early ‘90s at a private party somewhere in Monterey County. “What happened in that first meeting is two different guitar styles hitting head on,” Ayres says.
This Friday, Mike Beck and The Bohemian Saints with Ayres on guitar are performing what’s being billed as a “Tom Ayres Going Away Party” at Monterey’s East Village Coffee Lounge. Though Beck hopes Ayres will continue to play in his backing band The Bohemian Saints when he is able, Ayres will be moving to Brooklyn this fall with his main group Persephone’s Bees. Pedal steel player Charlie Wallace will fill in at some gigs.
Beck and Ayres first began playing together regularly back in 2004 at the now defunct Ocean Thunder as members of The Cowboy Satellites, which Beck recalls was “just a good time party band.” Then, when Beck put together a backing band to perform his own songs – The Bohemian Saints – Ayres came aboard for performances when he was free from Persephone’s Bees.
Both guitarists seem to be constantly invigorated by performing with each other. “We just get to do our thing, and it seems complementary,” Ayres says. “I’m just sprinkling sugar on the cake.”
Beck says he loves performing with Ayres, because the guitarist puts the songs first.
“He’s one of my most favorite guitar players ever,” Beck says, “and it’s because he is all about the song.”
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