After years performing with other bands and artists, Will McCranie is back to how it all started, just him and his guitar. He will play Saturday at 8 p.m. at Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut St.
McCranie is an accomplished musician and has shared the stage with Mike Gordon (Phish) and Joe Russo (Furthur); played on the same bills as Goo Goo Dolls & Colbie Caillat; and studied under Jamie McLean (Jamie McLean Band/ Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee) and Jon “Barber” Gutwillig (The Disco Biscuits).
Born and raised in Georgia, McCranie’s Southern roots of soul and jazz influence can always be heard in his music. Now a New Yorker, he is no stranger to the music scene. He has released several projects over the years including “North/South” (2009), “smile.shift.speak” (2010) and “Trio” (2011). One of his most interesting releases was what he called the “52/52 Project”: He released one song a week for 52 weeks.
For the release of the first single, McCranie worked with musician and super producer, Matty Amendola. On working with Amendola, McCranie says, “Matty and I are so different and so the same it’s not even funny. We both like to work at a fast pace to avoid too much second-guessing. I love that he encourages me to really be myself and find my own sound, while at the same time pushing me just far enough out of my comfort zone.” This mutual respect for one another is what makes this collaboration work so well.
With Amendola’s confidence boost, McCranie sent his single “Ain’t That Strange?” into Fieldhouse/BMG, but with few expectations. A few weeks later, ironically on the fifth anniversary of the day he left Georgia for the Big Apple, he got a call from them and in March, they inked a publishing deal.
On going back solo from his trio, McCranie says, “There’s something really liberating and adventurous about having no one but yourself to fall back on.” He will be showcasing those solo skills on the road this summer with an acoustic tour featuring some very special guests that will be announced soon.
If that wasn’t enough, he is also in the studio recording his upcoming full-length album, “I Know I Didn’t Know Anything” with Amendola. “I Know I Didn’t Know Anything” is a testament of how McCranie has grown as a person, as musician and most importantly as a songwriter. He really commits to each track and puts his own twist on it.
For more information, call 434-9872 or visit www.acousticcoffeehouse.net.