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Family celebrations never lacked for entertainment. His grandfather played keyboard, his uncles and aunts sang and played various instruments. His dad plays and sings in "The McAventBelt" (A local acoustic band which also features Juno). Joey's father's wife, Donna, sings, and his mother's husband, Sam Ellis, is Gabby Johnson's manager. Gail, Joey's mother, writes the monthly newsletter and keeps everyone well-grounded. It's just a family affair
Another Joey McBride family tradition or legacy is the aviation industry. Joey has his pilot's license and has been in airplanes since he was big enough to see out the windows of them because his Uncle Cliff flew for Northwest Airlines where Sam Ellis also works. Joey's college major was aviation, but he does not regret opting out for the music industry
"It's a very small world and a planet of coincidences," says Joey because the club where the band once played in Memphis, Mississippi is an old airplane hangar where his grandfather once stored his airplanes. It was called Twinkletown Airport
Joey seems to be the quiet one of the band, when not on stage, but from what we hear, that's an act, and many refer to him as the tall, dark and handsome one with that charming smile. He occasionally surprises us singing a solo and does it well, but he had rather sing harmonies
His bass playing is solid and compliments Donnie's drums to form one of the tightest rhythm sections you'll ever hear
Being able to play music for a profession gives Joey the same freedom he feels when he flies that plane through the silent aura of the blue skies and cotton clouds. "I love being able to be creative," he said. Instead of being a number in a 500-member corporation, he's part of a four-piece young man's dream. He says it's, "like being with your family and caring enough about each other to contribute your best to that end result. We all want the same thing. . .the same goal."
Every type of music is Joey's favorite whether it's rap, punk rock, R & B, anything that's played, as long as it's played well. But the real role models for him in music are the local talent where the band hails from, Desoto County Mississippi
What he likes least about his job is loading in and out and playing a four-hour gig when your throat hurts, it's hot and you know loading the trailer still has to be done. "Then you have people in clubs that drink a little too much and don't act like their real selves. That's no fun. With our job, we have four people, and we depend on each other. We cannot call in sick so we just stay well. And Juno's dad is in the medical profession so he can pretty much look at us and tell if we feel bad. . .no playing sick around him." said Joey
Joey would like to learn to play drums more than he already can and would also like to learn how to play the big machines like turntables the DJ's use. He said that he feels that the beat is the most important aspect of music. "Every instrument is percussion like a drum," he said. "Even a guitar has a beat." Joey enjoys what's mentally challenging like recording in the studio
When Gabby Johnson's performing, it's like charismatic enchantment on stage, a chemistry between the players. Joey said they got lucky because they were paired up with people that have a connection in some precise moment and nothing can replace that. "We have the same musical mind-set. We have four people that fit. And that’s what makes the magic."
 Joey McBride Bassist |
