John R. Miller is equally talented as a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He grew up in West Virginia, and began playing as a teen, and found himself traveling in Ruritan Clubs and church halls in the region. Miller disliked school, but found music inspiring from an early age. He says that he was into whatever he heard on the radio, but zeroed in on punk rock in high school, then moved on to old-time fiddle music.
He spent a brief time in college, but was far more interested in music, where he discovered artists like Steve Earle and John Prine, and the 1970s Texas artists like Blaze Foley and Joe Shaver. He was also influenced by Bobby Charles and his swamp pop, but his greatest influence was the legendary J.J. Cale.
Miller was making a living backing other singers, but finally went solo in 2018 with his album “The Trouble You Follow,” which he recorded with The Engine Lights, his backing band. In 2021, he released “Depreciated,” for which a review said:
“Miller is somehow able to transport us to a shadowy honkytonk and get existential all in the same line with his tightly written compositions.”
Miller will be at the Wayfarer on West 19th Street in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19. Events like this can be advertised locally with handouts, which organizers can create using flyer printing.