Singer, songwriter and guitarist Tony Gilkyson has worked with artists as diverse and impressive as Alice Cooper, Shane MacGowan and Bob Dylan. He’s also an accomplished solo artist, though he can often be found performing with Rick Shea at the Cinema Bar, such is the case on Thursday, January 25. Gilkyson told the News about what he and Shea have in store…
When did you start playing and performing?
I started playing in my early teens. Born in Hollywood and raised in an environment of musicians, I originally started recording as a boy with my father, Terry Gilkyson, a composer for Walt Disney and a prominent folk singer/songwriter in his own right. I started playing drums at 12, and switched to guitar at 18. I grew up in Northern New Mexico and played all over Arizona and Colorado, with god knows how many bands. It was invaluable because it allowed a natural growth and exposure to different styles of music.
Describe your sound…
I don’t know how to describe my sound, but I love country and western, R&B, popular music, jazz, punk rock, ‘40s big band, folk, etc. You might hear some of that, (or none of that) in my music.
What are your career highlights so far?
Artists I got to work with with include Lone Justice, John Coinman, Jake LaBotz, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Bob Neuwirth, Sam Phillips, Duke McVinnie, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Peter Rowan, Larry Hosford, Rick Shea, Dave Alvin, Kip Boardman, Alice Cooper, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, K.D. Lang, Mark Olsen, Shane MacGowan, Ramsey Midwood, Mike Stinson, The Spoolies, Randy Weeks and Kathleen Wilhoite. I have produced recordings for sister Eliza Gilkyson and Dances with Wolves author and poet Michael Blake. With Tom Waits, I co-produced Chuck E. Weiss’s albums Extremely Cool and Old Souls & Wolf Tickets. In 2003 I produced the acclaimed Country for True Lovers by Eleni Mandell. I have also played guitar on numerous film soundtracks including the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, as well as The Big Lebowski, Don’t Come Knockin’ and All the King’ s Men, with producer T Bone Burnett.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
My latest album Avenging Angel is out now. It’s available on my website: tonygilkyson.com.
Have you performed at Cinema Bar before? Any memories?
The Cinema is a club I’ve played in for years. Originally with Ramsey Midwood, Randy Weeks and Mike Stinson. It’s been a place of treasured musical memories and history.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
Thursday night is Rick Shea’s show, so we’ll be predominantly doing his original music.
What else do you have coming up?
Rick and I will be doing another show on March 23 at the Claremont Folk Center.
Tony Gilkyson performs with Rick Shea, Losin End, Jeff Tourneo and Dale Daniel at 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 25 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next show at Boulevard Music is Special Consensus at 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 20. Visit boulevardmusic.com for more info.
