Are you or your band’s guitar player:
Sick?
Out of town?
Too stoned to drive?
Car broke down/repossessed?
Just straight up don’t feel like playing tonight?
If you answered “yes” to any of these, then this may be the most exciting message you will ever read. Because:
I Can Sub For You On Electric Guitar!
Yes, you have just stumbled onto the electronic HQ of Will Ward, the Washington DC area’s most flexible, versatile and available blues guitar player!
Hi, I’m Will Ward. I’m a 30-year old musician living in the District of Columbia.
I’m not currently in a band, but I’ve been in my share over the years.
Blues, jazz, rock, classical guitar gigs, I’ve played a bunch of styles. I’ve even got my caricature painted on the wall of an old-school musical comedy club in Philadelphia.
I’m coming out of a couple years of reduced playing because I was living overseas, getting married, and various other Important Adult Stuff.
But now I’m back in action and looking to gig or jam with serious blues musicians in the DC area. So if you’re a blues musician and for whatever reason you need a substitute guitar player, I’d love to hear from you.
Need more info? Here are some answers to questions I wrote for myself:
Why should I call you instead of the 5 million other sweet guitar players in DC?
I learn new tunes fast and am willing to do homework. Any type of blues song is no problem (even the ones with fancy chord changes). I’m also comfortable playing pre-bebop jazz and blues that veers in the rock direction. I am drama free, have my own transportation (I can also get a van if needed to move stuff), and I love meeting and playing with new musicians!
Where can I hear you?
For the last couple months I’ve been playing at the Zoo Bar blues jam on Thursday nights. I’m going to record some live clips of me playing soon so stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s a quick clip I recorded this morning:
What are your musical influences?
Let’s see on guitar, Junior Watson, Hollywood Fats, Dave Rawlings, and Albert King are the big ones. I’m a huge fan of Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Erykah Badu, Ella Fitzgerald, Mingus, and a ton of others. Guilty pleasures include the Blues Brothers band.
What kind of equipment do you play?
Guitar geek, eh? My main guitar is this gorgeous Fender Stratocaster and I typically play through this Fender Pro JR amp. I’m in the process of upgrading my amp, so this will change soon.
Can you play bass too?
Bass no. Mandolin, yes.
What’s your availability to do gigs?
I’m fortunate enough to be my own boss so I have a very flexible schedule and can get to most places easily within the DC-MD-VA area.
Do you have transportation to gigs?
Yes. Car, bikeshare subscription, shoes. Check, check, check.
Okay, I’m sold. How do I contact you?
My email address is: willwardwillward@gmail.com or you can call/text me at 240 483 2205.
I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, blah blah blah you know the drill.
Thanks and look forward to playing with you!
Will