John Guidroz

There are 2 kinds of albums in the world: those which have one or two hits only to skip the other “filler” tracks, and then those which a listener can put in and listen to for a few days all the way through…”Yesterday’s News”, the first release by John Guidroz, is one of the latter.

“Yesterday’s News” could have also been named “Long Time Coming” as many listeners who have enjoyed Guidroz’s live performances have been waiting for this release.
Guidroz has earned a dedicated following with a regular Friday night gig at Micci’s Piano Bar. In a town where regular gigs are few and far between, he has proven not only to be a hard worker, but a musician who’s sound has lasting power in the area. Smooth vocals, purity in guitar playing, and a gentleman’s approachability all characterize the Guidroz style.

Deciding who to work with on a project like this is always a huge decision. Matthew Moss has earned a name for himself on both sides of the instrument.

“Working with Matt was a big learning experience,”Guidroz shared humbly.

“I wasn’t aware of how much work goes into making an album that sounds professionally done. When I first showed him my songs, it was just acoustic guitar and vocals. Matt helped bring in other musicians and added a lot of his own instrumentation that added depth and character to the songs. I’d love to work with him again on my next album.”

The first track of the album kicks off with signature Guidroz vocals singing, “Falling in love ain’t easy to do when the hearts that you break start falling on you.” One might be caught off guard with an album starting off with a vocal line with no instrumentation, but it sets the tone for a lyrically based album.
Halfway through “Falling In Love” the sound of Kris Harper’s guitar fills surface through the mix and fit perfectly into the mood. Also appearing on the album is Jacob Robles on drums and Matthew Moss on bass, keys and strings.

“Something is With Us” is a steady moving driving song with hints of Mellencamp and a touch of Smashing Pumpkins “1979”.
The album moves on through the title track to one of the gems of the album “Rita”which shows some of the Guidroz diversity listeners might expect. With a slight Spanish feel and droning backing vocals, the song is a fantastic rainy day listen or a dark bar room serenade.

“The response has been largely positive. It’s always nice for someone to come up to me and say they enjoy the album or tell me what their favorite song is. It’s also nice when people ask me to play a particular song when I’m playing live shows. I never thought that would happen,” Guidroz shared.
“Yesterday’s News” is hopefully just the beginning of an anthology of many songs to come. As one of the front line musicians working to add flavorful sound to the Lake Charles rhythm and spirit, plans for continued performances and a second album are imminent.

“I still enjoy listening to it, and I think the whole product looks and sounds amazing. I think the production really brought out the feel in each song. There is no instrument that is buried in the mix,” Guidroz concluded. - Chris Shearman