Trent Turner & the Moontowers
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2002 | SELF
Music
Press
10 Question with Trent Turner from the Austin Post - Austin Post
10 Question with Trent Turner from the Austin Post - Austin Post
Austin Post names Trent Turner #5 in Top Ten Performers of 2011. - Austin Post
Austin Post names Trent Turner #5 in Top Ten Performers of 2011. - Austin Post
By Jim Fusilli
I’m in the hit-and-run phase of my musical afternoon. After suffering through the derivative hip-hop of Mala Rodríquez—even though the group is from Spain, there wasn’t a hint of the country’s music in the mix—I headed to an outdoor performance by the United Steel Workers of Montreal, a folk group with a twangy guitar in the mix. They drove to Austin from Quebec, their burly singer announced from the stage. Apparently so did fans of the many Canadian bands that are performing here; as I was leaving, I overheard one fan say “We stopped in Fargo . . . ”
A set by Irish folk singers at the British Music Embassy club was drowned out by a chatty crowd, so I moved on, turned the corner and was drawn into Darwin’s Pub by a biting blues guitar solo. “That’s Trent Turner,” the bartender told me as the guitar continued to wail. “He usually plays here Friday nights. He’s a doctor—he’s got a general practice nearby—but he just comes in and plays. A real good guy.” And a real good guitar player; fans of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn will be pleased. He’s just about to leave the building to do a 12-hour shift at Johns Community Hospital in Taylor, Texas. My hit-and-run tour is over until I can talk to Dr. Turner, who you can check out on YouTube. - Wall Street Journal
By Jim Fusilli
I’m in the hit-and-run phase of my musical afternoon. After suffering through the derivative hip-hop of Mala Rodríquez—even though the group is from Spain, there wasn’t a hint of the country’s music in the mix—I headed to an outdoor performance by the United Steel Workers of Montreal, a folk group with a twangy guitar in the mix. They drove to Austin from Quebec, their burly singer announced from the stage. Apparently so did fans of the many Canadian bands that are performing here; as I was leaving, I overheard one fan say “We stopped in Fargo . . . ”
A set by Irish folk singers at the British Music Embassy club was drowned out by a chatty crowd, so I moved on, turned the corner and was drawn into Darwin’s Pub by a biting blues guitar solo. “That’s Trent Turner,” the bartender told me as the guitar continued to wail. “He usually plays here Friday nights. He’s a doctor—he’s got a general practice nearby—but he just comes in and plays. A real good guy.” And a real good guitar player; fans of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn will be pleased. He’s just about to leave the building to do a 12-hour shift at Johns Community Hospital in Taylor, Texas. My hit-and-run tour is over until I can talk to Dr. Turner, who you can check out on YouTube. - Wall Street Journal
Discography
CD releases:
Billy Badass (2009)
Bad Soul Brother (2006)
Children of Divorce (2003)
Photos
Bio
While our music is mostly blues based, most of the songs written do not follow a standard 12-bar blues progression. The music mostly centers itself around matters that are important to me: my son, love, life observations and the like.
Instrumentally, it is very much an intent expression of myself flowing through the guitar. When I play guitar, I lose myself -- in the energy I am able to give to the audience, and tthe energy they give right back to me. Sometimes when I get caught up in the moment, I will play the guitar in unique ways; I play with my tongue, or with the guitar behind my back.
What sets my band and myself apart from other bands is that I play every song like my life depends on it, like I would die if I didn't do so.
My primary influences are some of the blues greats, such as B.B. King, Howling Wolf, Buddy Guy, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Austin's own Stevie Ray Vaughan.
I don't do this for the money. I have a good career in medicine (emergency room physician), and actually taught myself to play while going through medical school. I even used to carry my guitar to the rooms of my patients and play for them. I do this because music is my passion and my obession. I have it in me, and I want to share it.
Band Members
Links
