Peter Karp — Always a Treat to Share the Stage

Every once in a while, when my friend Peter Karp makes his way back to the States—especially around our old stomping grounds in New Jersey—I get the chance to sit in with him and play a little mandolin. And believe me, I never take that for granted.

If you ever get the opportunity to catch Peter and his band live, don't miss it. It's one of those shows where you quickly realize you're watching the real deal.

Accolades aside, Peter is first and foremost a storyteller. He's a soulful and commanding singer, an insightful songwriter, a terrific performer, and one hell of a slide guitarist. He's also one of those musicians who seems to have an instrument for every occasion—electric resonator and slide guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano—you name it. Somehow, he makes it all look easy.

But what really separates Peter from the pack is the songwriting. His music has dirt under its fingernails. It's blues, Americana, roots, rock and soul all rolled together, shaped by a life that stretches from the swamps of New Jersey to the trailer parks of southern Alabama.

Over the years, Peter and his band have built an increasingly devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic, playing clubs, theaters and festivals throughout the U.S. and Europe. Yet no matter how big the stage gets, there's still something wonderfully personal about his performances. Peter doesn't just play songs—he tells you where they've been.

And every now and then, I get lucky enough to stand off to the side with a mandolin and become a small part of the story.

As former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor once put it:

“Guys like Peter Karp, James Taylor and Bob Dylan embody Americana Blues, and us English guys are inspired by it.”

Pretty good company.

So if you see Peter Karp coming to a town near you, go. And if you happen to see some Jersey guy wandering onto the stage with a mandolin…well, that might be me.