Arena Theater Blues on the Coast: John Nemeth

“One of the best vocalists working today, John Németh has received a multitude of nominations for Blues Blast and Blues Music Awards, with four consecutive BMA nominations for the B.B King Entertainer Of The Year Award. His live shows highlight his dynamic stage presence, super-tight band, and a wealth of original songs that range from down-home blues to fervent ballads.” — Blues Blast Magazine

John Németh is a blues singer steeped in the tradition and reminiscent of B.B. King, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, and a harmonica player of riveting intensity and virtuosity. His career has found him opening for Robert Cray, Keb Mo’, and Earl Thomas. Performing major music festivals around the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia has brought him critical acclaim.

Born in 1975 in Idaho, Németh grew up in Boise, where his first exposure to music was singing in the Catholic Church. He branched out from there, though, and was playing in local bands as a teenager. He was 17 when a friend, Tom Moore, exposed him to the blues, and together they formed Fat John & the 3 Slims, which is still regarded as a legendary band in the Boise region. Németh began playing with the Junior Watson Band in 2002 as well as gigging with his own band, the Jacks. A vocalist with great range, ability, and soulfulness, Németh had also developed into a top-notch blues harmonica player, which led to a spot with Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, where he filled in for the great Sam Myers. A self-released album with the Jacks, “The Jack of Harps,” appeared in 2002, followed by a second self-release, “Come and Get It” (which featured the Junior Watson Band) in 2004. That same year, Németh left Boise and relocated to San Francisco.

In 2006, he signed with Blind Pig Records, which released “Magic Touch” (produced by Anson Funderburgh and featuring Junior Watson on guitar) in 2007. “Name the Day!,” also on Blind Pig, followed in 2010. The Scott Bomar-produced “Memphis Grease,” recorded in Bomar’s Electraphonic Studio in Memphis with the Bo-Keys, arrived early in 2014. In 2017, Nemeth returned with his ninth album, the Luther Dickinson-produced “Feelin’ Freaky,” recorded with his backing band, the Blue Dreamers.

Németh returned to Electraphonic in 2019 with his seasoned road band of young gun players, The Blue Dreamers, featuring 19-year-old guitar phenom from Philadelphia, Jon Hay, drummer Danny Banks and Matt Wilson on bass for a rowdy southern swamp roots session resulting in his 10th album, “Stronger Than Strong” demonstrating yet again his uncanny ability to skillfully blend retro and modern blues and soul into compelling music that is simultaneously old and new.

The Arena Theater bar and snack stand will be open

Tickets are on sale now.

Blues on the Coast is back, kicking off with John Nemeth. His live shows highlight his dynamic stage presence, super-tight band, and a wealth of original songs that range from down-home blues to fervent ballads.

TICKETS
$25 general admission
Click here to order online tickets

$125 for the series
Series subscribers will receive preferred seating and a T-shirt
Contact Tracy DuPont at 882-3400 for series tickets.

SHOWTIMES
Shows will begin at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted
Doors opening at 7pm