Richie Kotzen plays the Coach House Nov. 22 and the Canyon Club Nov. 23
Photo by Travis Shinn
Hot off another world tour with rock’s newest power trio that surfaced out of New York City, Winery Dogs’ guitarist Richie Kotzen is now on a solo tour that will stop in the OC at the Coach House on Sat, Nov. 22 and in Agoura Hills on Sun, Nov. 23 at the Canyon Club.
Kotzen comes from a small area of Pennsylvania where many talented players seemed to have emerged from in the late-80s and early-90s. Kotzen made his mark with hair bands like Poison and Mr. Big before stretching out on his own. He has produced many solo works and played with a wide variety of artists from many genres including working on a Jazz album with Stanley Clark and Lenny White from the 70s supergroup, Return to Forever.
“Jazz is not really my thing and I don’t read music or charts so I was surprised when I found out I even got the gig with Clark and White,” said Kotzen. “That was a real big learning experience working with those two musicians.”
“Billy and I have a lot of history playing together,” said Kotzen about playing with his new power group The Winery Dogs. “We played together in Mr. Big and I have had him tour with me on a few solo projects as well, but this is the first time I have played with Portnoy.”
The Winery Dogs come together when Portnoy and Sheenan were working on an idea for a power trio, when a DJ friend of Kotzen told him about the players looking for a guitarist to complete the band. Kotzen explained that when the three of them got into a room and started playing each other’s songs it just clicked.
“We all have our own distinct voicing’s and styles, but we also have a common ground of music we grew up listening to,” explains Kotzen. “What makes the band so special is that somehow, in our collaboration, none of us lost our identity. We all sound like who we are yet we make music that is fresh and exciting, and sounds like a new band. There’s a natural chemistry that came together; it’s one of those things that’s meant to be.”
Kotzen personally curated The Essential Richie Kotzen from his 18 solo albums in order to give listeners the most comprehensive, cohesive and concise introduction to his extensive body of work. With his 20th full-length solo album on the horizon for 2015 as well as countless gigs, Kotzen’s legacy is only continuing to expand.
“I’ve really changed and grown as an artist and as a person,” he says. “I hand-selected songs so newcomers can get into my music and learn who I am as a recording artist.”
With his guitar styles ranging from rock, blues, jazz and fusion to pop and soul, Richie Kotzen has built a remarkably diverse 20-year career as a guitarist, singer and songwriter. During that span, Kotzen toured with his trio extensively outside the United States, building a loyal fan base and selling out shows throughout Europe, Latin America, and Japan.
In 1996, Fender guitars honored him with not one, but two signature model guitars. His signature model Telecaster is available worldwide and continues to be a top seller for the brand. In 2006, Kotzen received one of his biggest personal honors when The Rolling Stones chose him to open up a string of Japanese shows placing him in front of some of his biggest crowds to date.
“When you perform, record or write, you go to a different place,” he concludes. “It’s another world. I love hearing people react to the music and lyrics. That’s the ultimate reward.”