Jupiter Coyote has done just about everything a touring band can do.
In the course of their 32 year history, Jupiter Coyote has played over five thousand shows, traveled everywhere and done just about everything a touring band can do.
The innovative group has independently sold close to a million CDs, tens of thousands of downloads, and who knows how many bootlegs they cut loose to fans for free.
JC is brand name, and a pioneering cornerstone in the jam band scene. They have been called the new twist in southern rock and they deliver it with a relaxed, worldly view. Their sound has been labeled “Mountain Rock” — a mixture of Southern Appalachian boogie, bluegrass-infused, funk-rock. JC plays it the way they feel it — with little regard as to where they fall between the cracks of what is considered trendy and fashionable.
A band prolific in its writing, skilled in its musicianship and congenial in its nature, they remain the prototype of the truly independent band. They handle all business in-house and own their own record label, which is distributed internationally through Red Eye Worldwide.
Coyote has shared the stage with The Allman Brothers Band, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic, String Cheese, The Radiators and Skynyrd just to name a few. They have played large festivals from coast to coast, including: High Sierra Music Fest in California, Charlotte’s Center City Fest, Atlanta’s Mid-Town, Birmingham’s City Stages, Asheville’s Bele Chere and The Magnolia Fest in Live Oak, Fla.
The group traces its roots to Brevard, N.C., where childhood friends Matthew Mayes (guitar, guijo, vocals) and John Felty (vocals, guitars) decided in 1988 to pursue a career in music. The duo headed to Macon, Ga., where they joined forces with drummer Gene Bass and bassist Sanders Brightwell. Steve Trismen (vocals, fiddle) joined the fold in 1999.
A native of Boulder, Colo., Trismen’s playing melded neatly into the band’s sound and gave Coyote a new on-stage dynamic. Noel Felty took over for Bass on drums in 2001. Most recently, long-time JC sidekick John Meyer was added on lead guitar. Meyer is also the person who came up with the name Jupiter Coyote back when the band was first starting in Macon, Ga.
There is no band that really sounds like Jupiter Coyote. They have a guijo (banjo neck, Stratocaster body) an incredible fiddle player, and two fantastic slide guitar players. On top of that the band is currently touring with two drummers; Noel Felty and Gene Bass. Lot’s of vocal harmony and clever songwriting set these guys apart from the rest of the banal, jam band pack.
For more information about the band and touring schedule check out: www.jupitercoyote.com.
Q: How long have you been creating music?
32 years
Q: Do you have a preferred genre?
Rock but we were one of the first in the jamband scene
Q: Do you write your own music, or do you collaborate?
We write all of our own music.
Q: Tell us about your latest song, EP, or album.
Joker 1.5 is the most recent single that has gotten the most attention., We release new singles every five weeks on all digital platforms and we are distributed internationally by RedEye Worldwide.
Q: What is the best song you ever released and why?
That would be impossible to answer as I have written over 300 songs and made 18 albums.
Q: Do you, or would you like to, perform live?
We have played over 5000 shows in our 32 year career and still going.
Q: Which of your songs is, or do you think would be, fun to perform live?
All of them.
Q: What is your favorite/best outlet to connect with your followers Instagram, Spotify, FB, Twitter, iTunes? How would you want them to follow?
Right now it’s Facebook and Instagram. I would like them to follow on all platforms and Spotify.
Q: Are you currently working on any projects we should look out for?
Yes, there are 12 new singles in line for release this year. One about every 5 weeks.
