The website for McKinney, Texas’ Maylee Thomas Band bears the statement “Music… a passionate expression from your soul,” and there might be no better example than a two-hour performance from this incredible blues act.
We heard all kinds of blues influence in the voice of Maylee Thomas when she brought her band to The Iron Horse Pub in April 2024 — including reflections of Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. Paired with the stage energy of Janis Joplin, Maylee Thomas is an entertainer through and through.
I had never seen Thomas live before, but the band was only one song into their set when I thought I’m gonna get some good photos tonight. Maylee Thomas made it easy, prowling the stage in time to the beat, grabbing her microphone in one fist and belting blues music from behind toothy snarls, howls, and grins.
Thomas’ band was up to the challenge of providing backing for such a dynamic entertainer, and for those of us new to the Thomas party, we learned some interesting things about them.
Guitarist George Fuller is Maylee Thomas’ spouse of 30-some years, a fact Maylee mentioned several times during their performance. And Fuller also happens to be the Mayor of McKinney, Texas. Maylee is apparently not only the first lady of Texas blues, she also happens to be the first lady of McKinney.
Blues music is a deeply emotional and expressive genre and features lyrics that reflect hardships and struggles, often focusing on love and loss, and Thomas channels the emotional tide through a floodgate of gestures and dances and silky, soaring vocals.
Take a listen to Maylee Thomas Soul Shine [Apple Music | Spotify]
The Maylee Thomas Band also includes bassist and backing vocalist Brad Thomas and drummer Allen Forsythe. You can watch Maylee Thomas perform and be transported, but enter a saxophone hook from Ner De Leon, and a brilliantly placed tinkle of the keys from Joslin DSouza, and you’re occasionally awakened from the Maylee-trance you’ve been in and reminded what a talented band she has. There are hints of Lenny Pickett and John Cafferty and Clarence Clemons in the music, and the group struck us as a musical act above the caliber of many artists we’ve seen.
The crowd must have agreed because as The Maylee Thomas Band finished their last song, every person in the Iron Horse was on their feet — a legit standing ovation.
Have you seen Maylee Thomas live? Tell us about it in the comments.
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