Mayer Kirby Mayer Acoustic Group on Something New, Sept 16
By Folk Department
The Mayer Kirby Mayer Acoustic Group, featuring Peter Mayer, Scott Kirby, Brendan Mayer and Guest Gary Green, will stop by the WTJU studios Wednesday afternoon, September 16, at 4 for a visit. Later that evening they will be doing a special benefit concert at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville for the Robin and Mani All Buddy Camp and the Robin Aldridge Memorial at Hollymead Elementary School. (details).
Singer-songwriters Peter Mayer and Scott Kirby met in 1991 in Key West, Florida, at the original Margaritaville Cafe. Peter, fresh off his debut Warner Brother’s album “Piece of Paradise,” had come down to work with Jimmy Buffett on his “Off to See the Lizard” album. Kirby had recently arrived from New Hampshire to resume his love affair with music and explore the art of songwriting, The two began a musical friendship that included co-writing, live performing, and marketing and distribution collaboration through Mayer’s music cooperative, Little Flock Music.
In 2013, Peter son’s Brendan, an accomplished guitarist and songsmith in his own right, graduated from Boston University and set out on his own musical journey, which included joining his father and Kirby on their annual east coast acoustic tour. Although all three singer/ songwriters often record and perform in other musical configurations, this tour features the three on acoustic instruments and percussion accompanied by virtuoso harmonica player Gary Green. Also from New Hampshire, Green has been the winner of several national and international competitions and has performed often with Kirby and Peter Mayer over the past 25 years, rounding out this friends-and-family acoustic quartet.
Peter Mayer, who melds influences from jazz, rock and pop in his stunning guitar playing and songwriting, has released a dozen of his own albums over the past 27 years while holding down his other job as lead guitarist and songwriting collaborator in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He has shared the stage with everyone from Chicago to Don Henley to Joni Mitchell in his 30-year career.
Scott Kirby, a self-taught fingerstyle acoustic guitarist and songwriter who has released 7 CDs, readily admits most of his influences come from the class of singer/songwriters and folk-rock artists of the 1970s. When not touring around North America May through October, he often performs in Key West Florida at The Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, a 200-seat music club he opened in 2011 with friends.
Brendan Mayer recently released his first CD titled “Getaway Car” and spent much of 2014 touring with Jimmy Buffett as the featured guest artist each night. Brendan has inherited a wonderful voice from his father but has honed his own rootsy style performing with his band The Turf.
The Mayer, Kirby, Mayer Acoustic Group with guest Gary Green will be performing in concert venues in September on the east coast from Maine to North Carolina.