Pete McMahon: The Best Bluesman You’ve (Probably) Never Heard

His Story & Albums.

Aug 08, 2024

Photo: Kingsnakes Facebook

As the title states, pictured above is blues singer and harpist Pete McMahon, who to many, name won’t register with anything. But during his 20+ year career brought a fledgling blues scene into the light, recorded a handful of some of the best blues albums of the era and provided the blues-rock royalty Savoy Brown with their best record in two decades, all while being arguably one of the greatest harp blowers of his time. And is perhaps one of the greatest white blues singers ever.

The Beginning 1979-1984

Pete McMahon spent the years following his high school graduation cutting his teeth with some of the best blues acts Central New York had to offer, for those first few years he hopped around various blues groups in the area before, in early 1983 McMahon and local blues great, Kelly “Dr. Blue” James formed what would become The Kingsnakes. The group would finally settle with the lineup of McMahon on Vocals and Harmonica, bassist Paul LaRonde, Terry Mulhauser on Guitar, and Lou Miceli behind the drum kit, with Dr. Blue no longer an official member. The finalized lineup played the small bars and clubs for those first two years, honing their act, before in late 1984 at a show in Syracuse they were approached by local blues enthusiast Greg Spencer about recording an album.

The Early Years 1985-1986

In early February 1985, The Kingsnakes entered the studio with producer and musician Mark Doyle who had previously been a member of Jukin’ Bone & The Doyle-Whiting Band. The album to come from these sessions Take A Chance was distributed in 1985 as the first release by the newly created Blue Wave Productions. The album sold well locally with the albums opener She’s Tough (J. McCain) reviving play on nearby radio stations.

Despite the success of their debut McMahon and co. were still playing the same local clubs as before, and working regular jobs alongside their music ventures. Heading into the new year the band once again headed back to the studio, this time at UCA to record their second album Hard Life Boogie, with Mark Doyle returning to produce and provide extra instrumentals. The album released later in 1986 with similar fanfare, and was followed by the departure of Louis Miceli from the group, who was quickly replaced by experienced drummer Mark Tiffault.

Photo: Kingsnakes Facebook

(L-R) Mulhauser, LaRonde & McMahon

The Big League 1987-1991

In early 1987 McMahon received a call from John Lee Hooker’s agency inquiring about hiring the band as part time touring musicians. This would result in the band backing Hooker for his East coast tours in ‘87, ‘88, ‘89, & ‘90 and established a good working relationship with Hooker’s full time band The Coast To Coast Blues Band members Kenny “The Doctor” Baker, & Deacon Jones. Both of whom would appear on The Kingsnakes later releases. As the band became a hotter ticket, they entered the studio a third time in 1988 and recorded 3 tracks for Blue Waves 1988 compilation album Salt City Blues Vol. 1 which also featured former Kingsnakes founder Dr. Blue, along with bands Cold Shot & Backbone Slip.

In 1989 a seasoned Kingsnakes act returned to the studio along with Baker, Jones & Blue Wave founder Greg Spencer as Ptoducer to record their 3rd and final studio album. Recorded over a number of months, Trouble On The Run is perhaps their best (although up for discussion) and tightest to date. Released the following year it would mark the finale in their recording career as the Kingsnakes. 1990 saw them back John Lee Hooker for the last time, led to an appearance with Hooker & Bonnie Raitt at the Chicago Blues Festival. In 1991 Terry Mulhauser would leave the group due to unnamed issues and would put the Kingsnakes on borrowed time. Guitarist T.A James would replace Mulhauser and would keep the spot until late 1991 where The Snakes would disband for good over internal conflicts.

Photo: Kingsnakes Facebook

(L-R) McMahon, Raitt & Hooker at Chicago Blues Festival 1990

The Savoy Brown Years 1991-1995

Following the end of the Kingsnakes, Pete McMahon was left a free agent. British blues guitarist Kim Simmonds (Who would permanently move to Syracuse N.Y. the following year) & the leader of Savoy Brown offered McMahon to come aboard. McMahon joined the band at a time of change, longtime vocalist Dave Walker was out and the album currently in the works already had two different signers on it. The finished product 1992s Let It Ride ultimately included 6 instrumental tracks and 3 different singers including McMahon who only sung on two of the 11 tracks. McMahon would take over full vocal duties for the next album Bring It Home except for a guest appearances by guitarist Dave Peverett. This album proved to be a turning point in Savoy Brown’s history with McMahon’s blues background and Simmonds move to the Syracuse blues scene. Morphing Savoy Brown’s sound from the rock outfit it had been of late back into its bluesy roots. Which the band would operate as up until Simmonds death in 2022. During his half-decade with Savoy Brown, McMahon toured extensively in the USA and Canada. Along with shows in Germany, Scandinavia and other European countries.

Photo: Acidica Blogspot

Poster for a 1994 show

Later Career 1995-2008

McMahon split with Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown in 1995 due to unknown reasons, and there isn’t much information on the next few years. In 1998 he provided session work for two Syracuse musicians, singing on two songs off Ronnie D.’s solo debut Blues Demon, and playing harmonica on three tracks for Kim Lembo’s Ready To Ride. Sometime between 1998 and 2000 he formed Pete McMahon & The Supernaturals his first attempt as a solo artist with his own backing band. It featured Todd Fitzsimmons, formerly of Cold-Shot on guitar, Bassist Jerry Parton, and Mike Donohue on drums. This lineup would record McMahon’s sole solo effort in 2002, the electric Boomerang Baby on Parvenu Records. This would mark the his last album for over a decade. In 2002 McMahon started his two decade long career as a teacher of special education, for which he attended LeMoyne College from 2007-2011 and got his masters at Empire State College from 2014-2017.

Twilight Years 2009-2022

In 2009 McMahon joined a new band The Super Delinquents a blues 5-piece with whom he played with from ‘09 to ‘12. In 2013 he reunited with old producer Mark Doyle from the early Kingsnake days and signed on with Mark Doyle & The Maniacs where he would record his latest album (if you call 11 years ago latest) Live And Burnin’ a collection of blues-rock covers recorded live, it received almost no attention and is only available on CD-r from Mark Doyle’s website. There is no information on when exactly McMahon left the Maniacs, but he wasn’t around for Doyle’s 2017 album Raw. McMahon has since had reunions with the Kingsnakes for the 2015, and 2022 central New York Bluesfest’s but has otherwise retired from the music industry.

Albums

Take A Chance (1985) The Kingsnakes

The Kingsnakes debut features 4 originals by McMahon, easily the Kingsnakes strongest effort with classics like She’s Tough (Jerry McCain cover) & the heart of the album For You My Love (Larry Darnell cover). As a whole is very Fabulous Thunderbirds’ey but offers a harder bluesier edge to the Thunderbirds’s Texas blues.

Hard Life Boogie (1986) The Kingsnakes

The second album by the Kingsnakes May be a slight step down from their debut but McMahon takes a huge step forward on this record. Alongside his blistering vocals he contributes writing credits on seven of the eleven tracks.

19 Lucky Strikes (1989) The Kingsnakes

This 1989 compilation includes all of their first album most of their second and two bonus tracks off Salt City Blues Vol. 1 (1988) and offers no new material. It was The Kingsnakes first commercial CD released.

Trouble On The Run (1990) The Kingsnakes

After backing John Lee Hooker for 3 east coast tour the Kingsnakes come back to the studio for their third album a seasoned and tight blues quartet. McMahon once again offers seven new compositions to the album with a new low of only two covers. The album is McMahon’s best on harmonica.

Snakes Alive (1992) The Kingsnakes

This 1992 compilation album features a collection of unreleased live & studio tracks, worth a listen but not a necessary addition.

Let It Ride (1992) Savoy Brown

Although recorded during McMahon’s tenure as a part of Savoy Brown his first album with the band only features him on two tracks. Besides that this album is quite forgettable with a dated rock sound and unimpressive instrumentals.

Bring It Home (1994) Savoy Brown

Bring It Home serves as his true Savoy Brown debut and only full album with the band as he would depart one year later to form his own group. McMahon shares writing credits with Simmonds on 5 tracks alongside his vocals on a majority of the song except for 2 with guest vocalists. Arguably Savoy Browns best album since their early seventies hayday, it offers a return to the classic blues sound for Simmonds and co.

Roadmaster (1997) Johnny Charles

Although not technically McMahon’s project as he appears as a session musician, he is the sole vocalist and sings on five of the twelve tracks. This is by no means an essential pickup, it’s an album of guitar music with McMahon only to blend with the instrumentals.

Boomerang Baby (2002) Pete McMahon & The Super Naturals

This marks a new direction in his career, now a veteran of the blues scene with twenty years experience and backed by a hot band which includes bassist Todd Fitzsimmons & former Kingsnakes drummer Mark Tiffault. Despite a seven year gap from his last full album with Savoy Brown he hasn’t lost a step on this record. Released on the now defunct Parvenu Records this is a hard one to find but a must have for sure.

Hot Snakes (Live At Copperfield’s 1989) (2004) The Kingsnakes

Released alongside their 2004 reunion concert this archival release from 1989 is true to its name. It’s a hot, fiery show from the second iteration of the Kingsnakes who recorded their 1990 album Trouble On The Run and it’s just a good if not better.

Live And Burnin’ (2013) Mark Doyle & The Maniacs

This 2013 live show with new member Pete McMahon on vocals and harmonica consists of covers of blues-rock standards and while not bad doesn’t contain the performances you would look for from hearing the former albums. A rather slow effort it is worth the listen but forgettable.