Feature Story by Peggy McDonald

From The Somerville Journal, (Sunday, March 7, 2010)

John grew up in Somerville, went to Immaculate Conception and then St. Clement’s; so did his brother and sisters. His brother Walter still lives in Davis Square in the family house. Now that John is retired, he goes over every Thursday and they do the tour of Davis Square -McKinnon’s, check out who’s playing at Johnny D’s, When Pigs Fly Bakery, etc.

In 1968 John’s band, the Indescribably Delicious, with John on guitar and vocals, Jimmy “Hutch” Hutchinson on bass, Wayne Sherwood, guitar, Dom Musto, keyboards, and Steven Cody on drums, won the Battle of the Bands at Somerville High, playing “Light My Fire.”

John played in a variety of rock bands, as a teenager, and then, in the early 70’s he was influenced by the Birds, Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponies, and he began to delve into country music. At this time, he met John Lincoln Wright.

Wright”s rock band The Beacon Street Union (remember the Bosstown Sound?) had just broken up and he had returned to his down Maine roots and was interested in putting a progressive country band together. A tight rhythm section and a kick ass pedal steel guitar player from Lubbock, Texas soon were recruited and thus John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys emerged on the scene in 1973.

The band’s home base was King’s–later Jonathan Swift’s–in Harvard Square, but they played at The Rat and Bunratty’s, the Insquare Men’s Bar and at Johnny D’s, too! It is hard to imagine these days when local bands play once or twice a month and share the stage with two other bands, but in those days, the Sour Mash Boys played six nights a week and mostly in the New England area.

They traveled to Maine, and played the Lone Star in NYC, but they were kings in Harvard Square, especially when the Performance Center opened up and booked national acts. The Sour Mash Boys opened for many artists – Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, the Cars, and played The Boston Garden with The J. Giels Band and Duke and the Drivers.

John spent about six years playing with the band, writing songs, playing rhythm guitar, and singing. And then his life changed. He became a husband and father, and the life of a musician – working until 1:00 am, sleeping late, traveling with a band, just didn’t work with a family. So John got a regular job in the property management business. As the family grew–two boys and a girl–John became more involved with baseball, basketball, and soccer than with music.

He never gave up on his songwriting though, and he continued to practice and write songs. He set up a little studio in his attic. He taught his oldest son, Travis to play guitar and sing. He put a few bands and accoustic acts together that played on weekends. Travis grew up to be a singer-songwriter himself, living in Austin Texas.

Three years ago, John was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease. John’s son The disease has a deep connection to American music: the famous folk singer Woody Guthrie had HD, and his son is the singer songwriter Arlo Guthrie. It’s ironic–two families intertwined with a dreadful disease…and music.

So, when he became ill and retired, John returned to music. It has always been the great love of his life. When he went through all his songs, his family and friends were amazed at how much he had written. Everyone kept asking why he had never recorded an album. I guess it’s like John Lennon said: “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. I regret, I just never got around to it.”

And so ironically, John’s illness has brought appreciation and recognition to his music.

This is what Sunday is all about. John McDonald, with the help of his family and friends, have put out a CD of some of his best songs and are celebrating the release of the CD at Sally O’Brien’s Bar, in Union Square, from 3-6, this Sunday (March 14, 2010).

John will be there. Hutch Hutchinson from Bonnie Raitt’s band, and John’s bandmate from Indescribably Delicious, is coming into town, along with Travis McDonald, John’s son, who will be singing some of his Dad’s songs. Word has it, that John Lincoln Wright and Larry Flint, a former Sour Mash Boy, will be at Sally O’s – both may be coaxed into singing a tune or two. So come on down!