Who is this Joe Pete?
Joe Pete came into the world in Ohio, went to college in Maine (art major, junior year abroad in Paris), and came to the Boston area as a result of the effects of gravity. “I want to be a musician.” That was his business plan.
First bands
His first gig was in a country band on the John Penny circuit (the Blue Star, the Hillbilly Ranch, others) in and around Boston. But his first gig of note was with the great Sleepy La Beef. His tenure was too short, but he kept in touch over the years and was a frequent guest at Sleepy’s shows in the Boston area. On January 30, 2016 Joe Pete was honored to be part of the band backing up Sleepy at his last Boston area show at Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Kenny Krumbholz (at left, bass and outstanding vocals) and Joe Pete Wetherbee
(middle, guitar and well, he sang). Photo taken 1/30/2016
at Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts, Sleepy’s last Boston-area gig.
After Sleepy la Beef there was a brief period, a year or so of playing with Bob Case. Bob played bass with the awesome Chicago blues slide player JB Hutto until he had a serious car accident. After recovering he was getting restarted and putting a band together to play blues and New Orleans music. Joe Pete (not yet named Joe Pete, by the way) signed on. This became the Leisure Dollars, Joe Pete’s idea for a name, not one of his better ideas.
The two were playing as a duo at In a Pig’s Eye (now called Mercy Tavern) in Salem, Massachusetts. A somewhat forward guy said, “You guys are good but you need a drummer, here’s my card.” This is how Joe Pete met Mickey Bones. We did need a drummer and soon Mickey was on board. We also had keyboards and did a few gigs, but not much more.
Joe Pete next tried to lead his own band, the Electrolas with drummer Mickey Bones. In a lot of ways it was what 6is9 is now. We played a few places including the Inn Square Men’s Bar, Ladies Invited. We were playing roots-rock while trying to appeal to harder Boston rock band crowds. It didn’t quite work. Being who I am would have to wait awhile…
Swamis and Hubcaps
Soon after, when Mickey Bones started the Boogaloo Swamis to play Cajun, zydeco, and Louisiana music, Joe Pete signed on as a founding member. A year later the Hubcaps were born featuring Mickey, Joe Pete, and Brian Rost. We played Sundays for 5 or 6 years at the Plough & Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Whereas the Swamis were a bit contrived—we truly loved the music and had a good feel for it, but none of us were Cajuns—the Hubcaps were more natural, who we really were. We played a wide-ranging, eclectic mix of music we loved. For several years the two bands ran concurrently, the Swamis playing one kind of music in lots of places, and the Hubcaps playing lots of kinds of music in one place only. Both were real favorites in their day.
Changes
But with the birth of his son, it was time for a change. Burnt out from a demanding day job and a full gigging schedule, Joe Pete tried his hand at leading an original rock band, the Weeds. The idea was to be branches rather than roots. Some of the best songs from that band are in the 6is9 repertoire now. This band had it’s fun but didn’t catch on. Meanwhile, Joe Pete continued Hubcap (post-Plough) and Cajun work (post-Swamis) with Mickey Bones until both tapered off.
That’s when Joe Pete bought a Roland Street Cube EX—not an old Fender or Marshall, but a really good piece of gear for the work—and began busking, playing in the streets for tips. “I can get a gig, damnit.” That sounds funny, but it’s when the gears started turning, that “I am the band.” Playing solo was a new challenge and took a little bit to get on top of, but soon enough it came together pretty well.
Joe Pete Jams
Then Joe Pete lost his day job. He’d been working as a graphic designer for a financial institution. He’d seen people and departments suddenly axed. “If anything happens, this is it, no more day jobs, I’ll look for gigs, not another job.” And that’s what happened.
And so Joe Pete Jams, previously only an idea Joe Pete had for running his business, became a real thing began presenting his music. JOE PETE + SIX is NINE is the band, JOE PETE is 3’N1 is solo work, including music for seniors, and various side jams keep Joe Pete busy.
The thing with numbers came out of first coming up with the name Six is Nine, which came out of goofing around and imagining talking to Jimi Hendrix and mouthing off and telling him that, in fact, 6 is 9. (See Axis: Bold as Love and the song If Six Was Nine.) As if that would really blow his mind. Later 3’N1 came to mind as a related name also using numbers for Joe Pete to use when performing solo. (There is a certain basis for all the numerology, the story of which you may be able to coax out of Joe Pete.)
Senior music
Joe Pete also began working for senior audiences. In effect this became his new “day job.” His wife Ruth Rappaport was already doing such work and was invaluable in helping Joe Pete get off the ground. He started with songs he already knew that seemed likely to suit senior audiences, and began adding new repertoire intended for the seniors. This work of learning new material has been a real plus.
Joe Pete didn’t really change too much other than to dress nicely, play a bit more slowly, and to keep the volume appropriate for the room and audience. It’s not really surprising, but it is striking how meaningful this work is. Yes, it’s done for money, but the personal satisfaction of it is very rewarding.
Onward
Enough about the past. Onward and upward with Joe Pete Jams presenting JOE PETE + SIX is NINE and JOE PETE is 3’N1, and any of the various side jams going on now and in the future.
Come on down!