JW is a veteran of the ’60s coffee houses and an opener for nationally known performers before taking a 30 year sabbatical in the working world. In 2009 J.W. teamed with multi-instrumentalist and lifelong busker Thaddeus after a chance encounter at an open mike. Since then they’ve recorded two albums of JW’s songs and an acclaimed Jimmie Rogers retrospective, won numerous accolades in national songwriting contests. McClure’s compositions combine the humorous and poetic, with nimble fingerpicking and a clear supple tenor voice, and world-class shaggy dog stories between songs. Spae provides able backup on harmony vocals, bass, harmonica and guitar and occasionally contributes his own songs steeped in folk, blues, old jazz and a similarly humorous and poetic perspective.
Together, JW McClure and Thaddeus Spae demonstrate that while it’s easier to rock the stage when you’re young and cute, old and devious has its place as well. And as everyone knows, there’s no substitute for experience.