by Sarah A. Peterson

Imagine a nightclub on a Saturday night, packed to the rafters, the click of ice against glass faintly heard beneath the sound of the blues charging the air with its currents.

This is the realm of Fresno blues man A.C. Myles.

The blues are in his blood, and they always have been. “Growing up I got into pretty much most blues and rock ‘n roll,” says Myles. “I began playing guitar in junior high and played in my high school’s music program.”

And despite winning several awards for guitar solos as an adolescent, he didn’t actually dream of being a musician when he grew up. “Being a musician, to a kid, means something WAY different than it does to an adult,” he says.

But eventually, Myles’ passion for music won out. “I continued to play after high school and just kept going from there,” says the singer and guitarist. He spent his late teens and twenties touring with a band of his own, making his way to the Bay Area after a fashion, where he played alongside the likes of Fillmore Slim and John Nemeth.

Myles has been honing his skills as a musician for 17 years, performing in 47 states and in places as far-flung as Western Europe and the Middle East. He has recorded four studio albums, starting with 2006’s Up to the Neck with the Blues, followed by Live ‘n Loose (2008) and Live Again (2010).

His fourth studio release, Reconsider Me, debuted June 20 with a release party at Fresno’s Englemann Cellars. “We recorded and produced in the Silicon Valley at Kit Andersen’s Greaseland Studio,” says Myles, “which was really a privilege.”

He describes the album as a combination of both original songs and classic covers, ranging in style from traditional blues to 70s blues-rock. “There are also several tracks by artists I’ve had the opportunity to perform with over the years,” he says, “including Elvin Bishop, Roman Carter, and Fillmore Slim.”

Myles doesn’t consider himself much of a songwriter, though Reconsider Me showcases a number of self-penned tracks. “Hooks and melodies and rhythms are what intrigue me to create songs,” he says, “but I wouldn’t call myself an artist, per se.”

A.C. Myles has a full schedule this summer and fall, and has several upcoming appearances in Fresno and Clovis, including at Fresno’s Cuvee on July 5, Clovis’ Rock the Mall event at Sierra Vista Mall July 24, and at Fresno’s Elbow Room Aug. 3. For more information about Myles and his current tour, please visit www.acmyles.com or his Facebook page.

Check out more local band & musician profiles in KRL’s music section.

Sarah A. Petersonis a library assistant with Fresno County Library, with a Bachelor’s in English and a Bachelor’s in Journalism from California State University, Fresno. In her free time, she makes soap and jewelry that she sells at Fresno-area craft fairs. She has written for The Clovis Roundup and the Central California Paranormal Investigators (CCPI) Newsletter.