The Journey Of James Pitts

Soon after, James joined forces with drummer Chris Lovett to form People Living and Endlessly Dreaming On, better known as P.L.A.E.D.O. The band built a loyal regional following through clubs across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, laying the foundation for James's gritty, groove-based playing style. When that group dissolved, he joined ShakeDown, a powerhouse blues band that would become his first truly professional act.

In 1998, ShakeDown reached a defining milestone — opening for B.B. King at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. It was not only James's first major-stage experience, but his first meeting with one of his lifelong heroes.

During this time, James also began sitting in with Big Boy Guitar and the Drive By Bloozin', fronted by sax and guitar great Pat Herlehy, whose résumé included tours with Mighty Sam McClain and Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson. Those nights sharpened James's improvisation chops and deepened his feel for the blues.

After ShakeDown, James stepped out as a frontman for the first time, forming Rood Mood, a dedicated Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band. Singing and playing SRV's catalog night after night was a baptism by fire — and it taught him what it really meant to command a stage. Within a year, Rood Mood was performing all over New England, earning the title of "Best Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute Band in the U.S." in 1999.

But success brought self-reflection. James felt uneasy about building a name solely on someone else's legacy. In mid-2000, at the height of their popularity, he made the bold choice to fold the band and start over.

That same year, James and his soon-to-be wife relocated to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he connected with singer and DJ Dutch Weinhoffer to form D-Funkt — a rock & blues rock cover band that performed medleys and mashups. The band quickly became the house band for Hutchinson's largest venue, McGraw's.

In 2000, D-Funkt entered the HutchFest Battle of the Bands, judged by former Bad Company frontman Brian Howe and his bandmates. Their set drew hundreds to the stage, captivating the crowd with energy and musicianship. Despite clear audience and judge support, the win went elsewhere due to local politics — but Brian Howe himself declared them the true champions, joined them on stage at McGraw's that very night, and the next day invited them to open HutchFest for Pat Travers and the Brian Howe Band.

That weekend solidified James's growing reputation as a fiery guitarist and capable bandleader. Shortly after, he and his wife welcomed their son, Steven Lee, and married in December of 2000.

Over the next few years, James split time between Kansas and Massachusetts, performing, recording session work, and filling in with regional acts before returning permanently to Hutchinson in late 2003. This time, he formed a new group: BrickRiver — a high-octane blues-rock band that would define the next decade of his career.

Fronting BrickRiver as lead guitarist and vocalist, James was joined by Jim Slater (rhythm guitar), Rob Newton (bass), and Bennie Agoitia (drums). Their musicianship, professionalism, and energy made them one of the top blues bands in Kansas. They became the house band at Whispers, performed countless shows across the Midwest, and even landed an opening slot for Pat Travers in Wichita, thanks to booking agent Arlee Anderson.

BrickRiver's reputation spread fast — from small clubs to celebrity hangouts like The Blue Duck, where one night Bill Murray and his brother Joel came to eat while the band happened to be playing. Bill loved what they were playing so much that he jumped on stage, singing "Mustang Sally" and blowing harmonica alongside the group for nearly two sets.

During these Kansas years, James also worked closely with Ray Drew, former guitarist for Bobby "Blue" Bland, and performed with Odell Reed, further cementing his blues credentials.

By late 2014, James and his family returned to New England, where he launched a new project: Vagrants Heart. The band's debut was slated for Laconia's famed Bike Week 2015 — but tragedy struck. A severe, undetected ear infection left James with permanent vestibular nerve damage, triggering chronic vertigo and "heavy head syndrome." Bedridden for nearly a year, it seemed like his career might be over.

But the blues never let go. In October 2016, James emerged from recovery to form what would become the James Pitts Band. The name "MoGuitar" or "MoGuitar Blues" was very, very short-lived—only used for a couple of weeks, if that—before the band became known as the James Pitts Band. Just one week after forming, on October 30, 2016, the band opened for Eric Gales at The Jewel in Manchester, NH — a triumphant comeback. The James Pitts Band went on to share stages with Tinsley Ellis, Popa Chubby, and even saw James performing guitar alongside Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson.

Between 2016 and 2019, James's talent was recognized across New England:

• 2016 Blues Tone Magazine Award – Instrumentalist (Guitar)
• 2016 Blues Tone Magazine Award – Best Emerging Artist
• 2017 Blues Tone Award – Best Song ("Misery")
• 2018 Granite State Blues Challenge Champion (with the James Pitts Band)
• 2019 Blues Tone Award – Blues Rock Artist of the Year

The James Pitts Band name quickly became the permanent identity, reflecting both artistic maturity and personal identity. His debut album, "Come to Play the Blues," was recorded live at Oak Hill Music in Brookline, NH, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Jay Frigoletto, who also contributed backing vocals and keys. The album captured the raw, live essence of his shows — powerful, soulful, and deeply human.

The James Pitts Band quickly earned spots at major venues and festivals including Barnful of Blues and 9 Wallis, before relocating back to Kansas in 2019. With over 60 confirmed shows and 70 pending for 2020, the band was poised for national expansion — until the COVID-19 shutdown brought everything to a halt. Only five shows took place that year, all heavily restricted.

By 2021, live music began to return. The James Pitts Band opened for Chris Duarte at The Elbow Room in Wichita, played a standing-room-only show at Charlie's Wine & Beer Garden during the Kansas State Fair, and headlined both nights of HutchFest's Downtown Rod Run, drawing crowds away from nearby performances by Tommy Castro and Marcia Ball.

After a period of recovery from injury and worsening vertigo, James took the stage again in 2022, once more opening for Chris Duarte — earning glowing local reviews that declared the James Pitts Band the highlight of the night. In 2023, they were slated to co-headline with Duarte again, performing both their own material and Duarte's catalog after Chris fell ill with COVID.

By 2024, James tested the waters with a few smaller performances, feeling the fire return. And now, in 2025, he's fully back — reunited with bassist Troy Tolbert and drummer Ruben Garza, the rhythm section he formed when he returned to Kansas in 2019 — preparing the official return of the James Pitts Band on November 29, 2025, just days after his 49th birthday.

This next chapter marks a new era: The James Pitts Band reborn as a true "Blues Party Band" — merging decades of experience, soul, and storytelling into a live show that's impossible to stand still through.

From the kid known as Gordy Pettipas who first learned B.B. King riffs in a Massachusetts bedroom, to the seasoned artist now fronting one of the most dynamic blues-party bands in the country, James Pitts's journey has been one of resilience, reinvention, and rhythm. Every note carries a piece of that story — and every show celebrates the power of the blues to bring people together.