His well crafted songs reveal a depth of creativity not only in the storytelling, social commentary and word play, but also in the sophisticated arrangements and blurring of stylistic boundaries.
With an expressive vocal register falling somewhere between the soulful effervescence of Al Green and the blunt hammer of Johnny Taylor, a shrewd wit and admirable turn of a phrase, McAllister cements himself as a blues bard archetype".
By his early twenties, he graduated from the drums to playing the harmonica while stationed in Bedford, Massachusetts,[8] when serving in the United States Air Force.
[8] Having taken further advice and tuition from Earring George Mayweather, McAllister relocated in 1989 to Alaska and spent three years playing in various local bands.
[7] His trio of JSP releases were completed by Grease, Grit, Dirt & Spit (1998) and Double Rectified Bust Head (1999).
[14] In 2013, McAllister issued the compilation Crappy Food No Sleep a Van & Some Great Songs, which introduced his road band on disc for the first time.