Electronic press kit · 2026
John Elijah
Blues and Soul, straight off the Texas coast.
Sound
Blues & soul originals with rock, reggae and funk edges
Lineups
Solo · Duo · Trio · Four-piece · Full band
Set length
Up to 3 hours; 45–90 min festival sets
Booking
All of Texas · quote within a day
Bio
John Elijah
Guitar, vocals · Port Aransas, TX
- Gary Graves, Organ, piano
- Joseph Soto, Bass
- Kris Redus, Drums
- Jose Felix, Guitar
- Cody Strong, Drums
- Josh Lee, Guitar
Port Aransas raised, the family moved to the island to open Lisabella's, and there was always an instrument within reach. University of North Texas in Denton, then four years as a working guitarist around Dallas–Fort Worth and a year on the road, then back to the coast, where the small-town pace and the island crowd shaped how the songs get written and how the shows get played.
Blues and soul at the root of everything, even when a song wanders into reggae or funk, that's where it comes home. Loud and fast, quiet and slow, mostly originals these days. The full band cut Take and Give live in a room in 2025; the solo acoustic set is the same songs with the volume down and the stories up.
“No joke, this is easily one of the best bands I've ever gotten to play with. Blues, soul, R&B, rock, reggae, deep grooves and tons of original music, with an improvisational depth that's really exciting.”, Kris Redus, producer / studio drummer
Watch
Approved photos · full-size downloads · credit Jacob Vachon · Jacob Vachon Media
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Tap a photo for the 2400px file. Print-resolution originals on request. Photo credit: Jacob Vachon · Jacob Vachon Media.
Stage plots & input lists
- · 1 vocal (SM58 or better)
- · 1 guitar amp mic or DI
- · 1 monitor wedge
- · 2 vocals
- · 1 guitar amp mic
- · 1 bass DI
- · drum mics: kick, snare, 2 OH (+ toms if available)
- · 3 monitor wedges
- · 3 vocals
- · 2 guitar amp mics
- · 1 bass DI
- · keys stereo DI (Leslie mic if organ)
- · drum mics: kick, snare, hat, 2 toms, 2 OH
- · 5 monitor wedges (or IEM mix)
Hospitality & logistics
- · Load-in 90 minutes before downbeat for band shows; 45 for solo.
- · Band travels self-contained (backline, monitors on request for rooms without PA).
- · Parking for one van + trailer close to load-in.
- · Water on stage; a meal for the lineup on 3-hour nights.
- · Deposit holds the date; balance at the show.
Sound & power
- · Any FOH system that covers the room; we bring an engineer for full-band festival sets when needed.
- · Two 20A circuits on stage for the full band.
- · Sound-check 30 minutes; doors can open during it.
- · Full band can run a house mix on 5 wedges or an IEM split.
On the calendar
- Dates posting, calendar.
Press
- John Elijah Band to release studio album, 'Take and Give'Port Aransas South Jetty
- John Elijah: Recording Session, fundedKickstarter
- John Elijah, artist listingPort Aransas Chamber, Port A Live
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