Johnny Trama hits the Stone Church stage with the B3 Kings

Boston based guitarist and general musical busy-body, Johnny Trama keeps on moving and shaking (and slaying the six-string as his primary mode of moving and shaking). Never afraid to take on new projects and keep the longevity of others always on a path forward, Trama is a limitless source of positivity and productive pleasure. His playing is the sweet music to many of our ears and a working piece of our individually collective soundtrack. He has three shows (with two bands) coming up at one of the haunts he’s never been a stranger to—the ol’ Stone Church high atop Zion Hill in Newmarket. His band the B3 Kings will take to the stage on Friday, Nov. 18, and he’ll debut a new project at the venue, the Band of Killers, for a two-night run in February on Feb. 3 and 4.

Seacoastonline caught up with the axe man to get all the deets.

Seacoastonline: Alright, Johnny, you’ve been busy. Tell us what you’ve been up to?

Trama: So, as usual, all over the place, jumping from band to band, the B3 Kings, The Silks, Dub Apocalypse, which just released an album, and my main new project a Band of Killers that’s been putting out a bunch of new music. And trying to rest somewhere in between raising a kid in this crazy rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

Seacoastonline: We haven’t spoken in a while. How’d you spend the pandemic? What did you do with your downtime?

Trama: Believe it or not the pandemic gave me a big recharge and brought an amazing amount of creativity out of me, as scary as those times were. I turned to writing to get by. I think I wrote more songs during the pandemic than I had in the last couple years. It also gave birth to my newest group, which is probably the purest form of what I am … a Band of Killers.

Seacoastonline: Now that we’re back in full swing, have you found a new appreciation for playing out live, or did you always just have that going?

Trama: Funny enough (or not…), I did play a lot during the pandemic, the B3, Kings, and Dub Apocalypse had a makeshift studio, “a loaned empty realty office” that we were doing weekly livestreams out of. Also, the B3 Kings had a residency at a place called the Porch in Medford, where we were literally enclosed in a human terrarium of plastic, and performed pretty much most of the pandemic, give or take the beginning. Most of my guys stayed in the same bubble as me and my family so we were able to see each other and create a lot of music.

Seacoastonline: In general, why music? Why do you seek it? Why do you create it?

Trama: There’s nothing like music. To me, it’s the whole world, our connection to life, how everything moves and flows, how we deal with our emotions, and learn to grow, but remember where we started through our journey! I couldn’t imagine a world without music.

Seacoastonline: When did you first pick up the guitar? What led you to do such a thing?

Trama: Two things started me on the journey of playing guitar. The first was Eddie Van Halen, and the second was Prince, my first concert I ever saw. After that I was forever changed! I think I was 15 or 16 when I first picked up the guitar.

Seacoastonline: You’ve long had a million things going on musically. What’s the importance of variety in a working musician’s diet?

Trama: I think playing a lot of different styles of music makes a musician a deeper artist; you never really stop learning with music. That’s what’s amazing about it! And there’s so many genres of music, and countless masters of their instrument to be influenced and inspired by. And going through all different kinds of music I think is how you find your own sound. Plus, it would be so boring just to keep listening to the same thing.

Seacoastonline: You’ve got some gigs coming up soon at the mighty Stone Church. One is with the B3 Kings on Nov. 18. What excites you about that one?

Trama: Well, Nov. 18 just gonna be a blast, I’ve got a lotta love for the Stone Church. I’ve been playing that room back since 1995 or so with bands like the Rocket Band, Moon Boot Lover, Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom, John Brown’s Body, and more.

Also, that night, some good friends are sharing the bill so it’s just gonna be a throwdown family vibe!

Seacoastonline: How’d the B3 Kings come together? Why’d they come together?

Trama: So, the B3 Kings came together out of my love for '60s and '70s organ soul music, like Booker T. and the MG’s, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Cannonball Adderley, the list goes on and on. A lot of members have passed through. It’s kind of an open think tank, to write and play that genre of music, originals and covers.

Seacoastonline: In February, you’re doing two nights at the Church with A Band of Killers. Tell us about that project. What can folks expect out of that project? Who all is in tow with you?

Trama: So Feb. 3 and 4 we’re doing a two-night run at the Stone Church with A Band of Killers. The first night is an evening featuring Toussaint The Liberator, the second night features Tim Gearan, and special guests and great friends, Dwight and Nicole. A Band of Killers is a perfect blend of soul and classic rock ‘n’ roll; all original. The core band consists of myself on guitar, Tom Arey on drums, Darby Wolf on keys, and Marc Hickox on bass.

I was fortunate enough to collaborate with two incredible singers; Toussaint The Liberator, and Tim Gearan and out of that came and incredible sounding vibe; something I’ve been looking for for a long time. We’ve been releasing a bunch of singles and videos. There’s no exact full album release date for both albums, but definitely in the new year. The music is definitely timeless and familiar, but I also feel it’s on the cutting edge of where soul and rock ‘n’ roll is right now.

Seacoastonline: You’ve got two records about to drop with A Band of Killers. What are the release dates? What were the goals for the two records? Was there a unique focus for each?

Trama: I only hope that the music brings joy to people and inspires them, or at least lifts them up as music sure can do!

Seacoastonline: What do you hope people get out of the music you’re creating? What do you get out of the music you’re creating?

Trama: Myself? I feel really fortunate to even be able to work with the people I do and get to create music for a living! That’s a mountain of inspiration right there.

Visit stonechurchrocks.com or find a Band of Killers on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Johnny Trama, B3 Kings to play Stone Church in Newmarket NH