The STAX Influence:
McLemore Avenue takes its name from the street in Memphis, Tennessee where STAX Records - a name synonymous with southern soul music - once stood. During the 1960's and continuing into the early 1970's, STAX was home to a host of legendary recording artists including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Isaac Hayes - as well as Booker T & the MGs, who performed the dual role of house band and solo act.
Currently at the original 926 E. McLemore Avenue location, stands ”Soulsville, USA” the STAX Museum of American Soul Music.
Austin’s McLemore Avenue began as the musical act for the Continental Club’s “Blue Comedy Night”. Featuring a rotating line-up of renowned Austin musicians - including, "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb, Larry Lange, Michael Christian, Andrew Gerfers, and Eric C. Hughes. The band ultimately got down to business and established its permanent arrangement of Patrick Barker-Benfield on the Hammond B-3, Landis Armstrong on guitar, Chris Johnson on bass, Kevin Remme on drums, and John Bush on percussion.
Since their start at the Continental Club, McLemore Avenue has honed it's soul sound at a variety of venues--from Austin's best dance parties like Sue Davis' "Fuzz Club" and Waxploitation!'s "Soul Happening"--to punk clubs like Emo's and the Room 710 - the vererable Hole in the Wall, Stubb's BBQ, Club de Ville, and even the world-famous blues venue Antone's.
Patrick Benfield - Hammond Organ
Patrick has been playing the organ since the tender age of fourteen, when his mentor and friend, Ian "Mac" McLagan showed him how to play Booker T. and the MG's classic "Green Onions". He's been playing it ever since. His first band, Los Angeles' Our Band Sucks, played with cult favorites TSOL, The Mummies, and The Fingers. After moving back to Austin, Texas in the early nineties, Pat joined local ska group, The Fabulous Bowler Boys; after they disbanded, he played surf with the Sir Finks and southern soul/R & B with King Soul Revue, before putting McLemore Avenue together in 1997. He has contributed organ tracks to recordings by The Normans, Jack o' Fire, the Lord High Fixers, The Dead End Cruisers,The Kodiacs, the Japanese act Howling Guitar and Mojo Nixon. In addition to McLemore, Pat performs with Estrus Records act the Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee with Tim Kerr. Patrick used to be endorsed by the Hammond Organ Company, until he found the Nord C2. See Music & Video for examples of this great product from Nord .
Landis Armstrong - Guitar
Landis picked up on playing the guitar at an early age around family campfires in the Texas Hill Country. After exploratory outings in psychedelic music as an angst ridden teenager and a brief but monastic devotion to blues (with a little help from a fellow named Jim Mesi who taught him the importance of Surf among other things), it was southern soul music that made him into a musician. Since then he has played all manner of musical styles from country to Vegas-style lounge music. Occasionally he is accused of being a jazz player, but he usually laughs that off. Landis was one of the first members of McLemore Avenue and previously played with Patrick in Austin's legendary King Soul Revue. Landis has worked with R & B cult hero Swamp Dogg on several occasions. Besides McLemore, his current bands include the Allen Oldies Band , Fluoxetine, and the Paula Nelson Band.
Chris Johnson - Bass
"Guitar players are a dime a dozen in this town, you oughta learn how to play bass..." With that brotherly advice Chris gave up the guitar and ventured into the world of the rhythm section. Chris has played in and around Austin for the past 15 years in bands ranging from classic R'n'B to lounge to hard-core country to psychedelic rock.
Chris landed his first working band gig with the Motown cover band Hot Wax. This was followed by a stint with alt-country act Mary Cutrufello. Over the years Chris has worked in bands with such diverse styles as the El Orbits (swing/bingo), Ted Roddy (classic country), the legendary Roky Erikson & the Explosives, and the Paula Nelson Band. Chris has worked with McLemore Avenue since 1998.
Kevin Remme - Drums
Drummer Kevin Remme came into this world banging out rhythms before he could talk. Raised in the “good ol’ days” of Austin, He saw Willie Nelson’s family band performing their now legendary street parties in various downtown locales, and saw some of ZZ Top’s first Austin performances, accompanied by very supportive parents. These early influences, as well as listening to everything from the Beatles to Mozart would have a lasting impression. Over the past decade Kevin has worked with the likes of Alejandro Escovedo, LA Guns, The Holidays, Darin and Trish Murphy, and Patricia Vonne. In addition to these he helped assemble the instrumental group Gnappy. Kevin played percussion (electronic and traditional) on the debut release of McLemore Ave. in 2003 and decided he would become the fifth member of the band whether they liked it or not. Kevin became McLemore's full-time drummer in 2007. Besides McLemore Avenue, Kevin currently plays in the Paula Nelson Band.
John Bush - Percussion
Born into a musical family John grew up listening to many kinds of music starting with classical records of his father's. Gravitating to rock and popular music, he got his first record player at the age of two or three and collected 45's from Johnny Cash to Janis Joplin. "These Boots Were Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra was possibly his first 45 - besides a Disney record. John wanted to play drums more than any other instrument but his parents had a family rule to take piano first. Once his parents bought him his first snare drum he saved his money and bought a 1967 Ludwig kit and taught himself to play. Some older kids that lived next door to his grandmother gave him and his brother David their first LP - "Something New" by The Beatles. John attended The Arts Magnet High School in Dallas where he decided to pursue and study music. Briefly attending North Texas State University and then Cedar Valley Jr. College, John took music and recording engineering classes before dropping out to play full time with his friends from high school in a band called the New Bohemians.
Besides being a founding member of what became Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, John has also been in bands - played with and/or recorded with - Critters Buggin, Ruthie Foster, Patrice Pike, The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, Ron Flynt, Ian McLagan, David Garza, as well as being a founding member of the Austin band The Small Stars. He also has a project featuring songs of his called Foamy. He currently plays with Greezy Wheels, Penny Jo Pullis, Aimme Bobruk,The Miracle Waters, PJ & The Bear and Korkus. John opened a home studio this year and is presently recording and producing many bands including the new McLemore Avenue CD.