McKinley James at the 443

McKinley James is equal parts old soul and modern man. Armed with an electric guitar and sharp songwriting chops, he breathes new life into classic sounds with Working Class Blues, a debut album that introduces his mix of American rock & roll, amplified soul, and raw rhythm & blues.

It's a sound powered by groove and guitar. A sound that's been sharpened by countless shows — from dive bar residences in Nashville to headlining gigs across Europe — and rooted in the shared bloodline of McKinley and his longtime bandmate: father Jason Smay. Together, they rewrite the rulebook for blues-inspired rock duos, creating a lean, honest version of American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie.

"We're not trying to sound old-school," says McKinley, who grew up watching his father play drums for acts like Los Straitjackets and JD McPherson. "We love traditional blues and soul, but this isn't a retro act. The topics, themes, and songs are always fresh."

DOORS: 5:30PM - SHOWTIME: 7:00PM

TICKET INFO:

• The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.

• The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables, and the orange squares are regular-height tables.

• Most of our seats are sold as "Tables for Two" - meaning the ticket admits TWO people.

• We have a limited number of single seats available, and single attendees may be sharing a table with other single attendees.

• Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).

• If you have 2, 4, or 6 people in your group, please purchase a Table(s) for Two. If you have 1, 3, or 5 people in your group, please purchase Single Seats - Shared Table.

• Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for our VIP Patron members. If you're interested in supporting our mission and getting some fun perks in the process, you can find membership information HERE.

• If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements - walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party - please email us after you place your order, and we'll make it happen.

• All tickets are "WILL CALL" - no need to print anything out, just give your name at the door.