Nick Dow is this week’s featured band at BJ’s Blues Club at the Hop Pocket, Chorley.
Monthly Archive for September, 2009
NOTE ORIGINAL INCORRECT DATE
CORRECT DATE IS FRIDAY 02 OCT
Trafficker will be appearing at The Red Lion Hotel, Malpas on Friday this week as a result of the great success of last month’s jam night.
This a cracking little venue with a nice stage, lighting and sound along with some award winning real ales. On stage at 9pm.
LOZ NETTO
“Replay”
(LN Productions: LNPCD07)
Here’s the latest album from the Brighton-based singer/guitarist Loz Netto, very much a ‘do-it-yourself’ release – with him playing all instruments, bar drums, as well as the production, engineering, mix and sleeve design! After a string of pop and soul-flavoured releases, “Replay” has a more bluesy feel to it.
Loz Netto held the guitar post in British bands such as Sniff ‘n’ The Tears, who dented the singles chart with “Driver’s Seat”, which was once in my vinyl collection, and the soulful Moon, who were fronted by the excellent vocals of Noel McCalla. He actually turned pro at just 17 and toured with soul great, Ben E King.
The 12 tracks here are all in a similar vein – a laid-back stew of blues, funk and soul – if you think a mix of Chris Rea, JJ Cale, Little Feat, Hall & Oates – you are in the territory Loz Netto covers – with his smooth at times, gritty on others, vocals and slide guitar probably recalling classic Chris Rea most.
The opening “Crossroads” is a benchmark for what follows – a smooth bluesy groove with his slide guitar work shadowing his vocal, with him also on keyboards and drums by Luke Netto – keeping it in the family! “Keep Running” has more of a funk edge to it, with “What’s Going On” being deep in soul territory.
“Waiting For You” has some nice slow blues guitar and a Southern soul feel, with some acoustic guitar picking on “I’m Serious”, an almost folky tune. He returns to his trademark slide work on “Big Ole Moon” – with him also on harmonica. “Fire” is a ballad with a laid-back groove and a gritty vocal, with more slide on “From A to B” – this time acoustic.
“Cruel Streak” is a swampy blues song, with the album closer “Slide Of Hand” being a lovely guitar instrumental – with both fingerpicked and slide work, and very nice indeed, with touches of influences such as Ry Cooder and Lowell George.
GRAHAME RHODES
There are some great blues over on the continent as we know from the one or two who pop over to this side of the Channel/North Sea.
These have got to be the best young band that I have ever seen. None of the blues rock tendencies of the Brit kids.
The Rhythm Chiefs – eldest member 17.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRekiFuoYmU
So you are probably wondering what the chuff Essexboy TV chef Jamie Oliver has to do with the blues. The answer is simple. Pigs! There is a stong relationship between blues and American BBQ – whether that be the Texas variety beef or the more traditional pork BBQ of the rest of the country.
This week on Channel 4 Jamie Oliver will be looking at slow cooked pork BBQ. A subject very close to my heart (well my arteries anyway).
Jamie’s American Road Trip | Food | Channel4.com http://bit.ly/hDsRy
The 21st International Guitar Festival of Great Britain is coming this November which will be featuring a range of concerts of international quality from some of the most talented guitarists ‘on the circuit’. As part of the festival, the Floral Pavilion is hosting two of the concerts – James Burton (22 November) and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings (12 November).
For more information on the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain , visit the website at www.bestguitarfest.com or alternatively get in touch with our box office.
BILL WYMAN’S RHYTHM KINGS
Friday 12 Nov November, 7:30pm
All Tickets: £26.50
Rock and roll icon, author, restaurateur, – legendary former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has seen it all and continues to live life to the full. His latest musical rebirth as the driving force behind the fabulous Rhythm Kings sees him return to his musical roots. This set of virtuoso musicians superbly bring back to life the kind of classic rhythm and blues that first inspired Wyman to pick up the guitar as a teenager. A show imbued with absolute quality. There will be no support act – just two sets by Bill Wyman and the Rythmn Kings.
Check this out. It’s a cool 20 mins of Duke Robillard demonstrating the guitar styles of some of the legends of the blues.
Better to click the link rather than the embedded version as the link will show you the right hand pane that identifies the guitarist being copied and provides some navigation.
03 Oct – Grappenhall CC, Nr Warrington
07 Oct – Liverpool Marina
09 Oct – Barrow R&B Club
10 Oct – Club 35, Carlisle
Australian Blues musician Geoff Achison will be playing Club 35 in Carlisle as part of his world tour on Saturday October 10th. He will be appearing with his band ‘the Souldiggers’ who feature the cream of the British Blues scene.
Growing up in a small town in south eastern Australia Geoff Achison discovered an early love for playing the Blues and R&B and was forced by the isolation to teach himself guitar. Because of this he has developed a unique blues / funk playing style to back up his gritty soulful voice.
He has toured regularly around the globe and won honours on 3 continents.
Years of touring, recording and performing has seen him share stages and open shows with such high calibre artists as Jorma Kaukonen & Hot Tuna, John Mayall, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm and Delbert McClinton as well as top Aussies ‘Dutch’ Tilders, Phil Manning and Tommy Emmanuel.
Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of gutsy original tunes, improvised jams and dynamic new arrangements of blues & soul classics. He is equally adept on both acoustic and electric guitar and mixes the delivery of both instruments through the night. This eclectic mix is driven by ‘the Souldiggers’; Sam Kelly (considered by many to be the best Blues drummer in the UK), Paul Jopson on keyboard and Spy on bass.
Geoff started his worldwide explorations in 1995 with his first trip to the USA.
He won the coveted Albert King Award for his guitar skills and went on to accept an endorsement deal with the Gibson guitar company’s acoustic division.
In 2007 Geoff & The Souldiggers picked up the Chain Blues Music Award in Australia for ‘Group Of The Year’ and a Guitar Player Magazine readers poll voted Geoff one of their ‘Top Ten Hot New Guitarists’ in June 2008.
Closer to home Geoff was featured on the cover of Blues In Britain magazine in July 2009 and his recently released album ‘One ticket One ride’ has been featured on BBC Radio 2.
This is a rare treat for anyone who enjoys being in the presence of a truly individual musician. Two of the gigs on his short tour have already sold out!
Tickets are priced at £10 in advance or £12 on the door.
They can be obtained from Club 35 Lowther Street Carlisle or from promoter Chris Denton on 077930 19958 or cjdentoncumbrian@aol.com
Shertila has uploaded a few pictures from last night’s Bex Marshall gig at the Warrington Blues Club.
ANA POPOVIC
“Blind For Love”
(Eclecto Groove Records: EGRCD507)
The Belgrade-born, Dutch-based guitarist Ana Popovic has enjoyed considerable success on the European blues scene, and seems destined to move into a higher league on the back of “Blind For Love” – her second release on the West Coast label, Eclecto Groove Music – Randy Chortkoff’s Delta Groove Music offshoot, that has already released fine albums this year by the likes of The Soul Of John Black and Jason Ricci.
In keeping with the label’s quality output, this is another marvellous sounding release, that crosses many genres – from the blues Ana Popovic is known for, to touches of funk, rock and jazz. All the players are top calibre, from her regular rhythm section of Ronald Jonker (bass) and Andrew Thomas (drums), to special guests such as the in-demand drummer Tony Braunagel and keyboard player Mike Finnigan, capped by her own fluid guitar work, which includes impressive string-bending, jazzy lines and some excellent slide work.
The lady has also a very smooth vocal style, and contributed to writing all but one of the 12 tracks here, kicking off with the soulful “Nothing Personal”, driven by her guitar and Finnigan’s keyboards and pushed along by the horns of Darrell Leonard and Joe Sublett – veterans of scores of albums. “Wrong Woman” rides on a funky guitar groove, with the acoustic stomp of “Steal Me Away” sees Popovic on acoustic slide, with lovely backing vocals from Julie Delgado, Kenna Ramsey and Billy Valentine.
The title cut, “Blind For Love”, is a gorgeous jazzy ballad, underpinned by some tasty piano from Mike Finnigan and smooth vocal from the lady herself. The rousing “Putting Out The APB” is an album highlight and rocks along with an almost gospel-flavoured chorus from the backing singers – a killer live I would suggest, with rip-roaring electric slide solo. “Get Back Home To You” gets back to a funk groove, with Mike Finnigan’s clavinet outstanding and great horns again.
“The Only Reason” has a nice jazzy swing to it, not a million miles from something like Van Morrison’s classic “Moondance” – and that can’t be bad. Elsewhere she performs a couple of songs for ‘my two favourite boys in the whole world’ . . . the sweet “Part Of Me (Lullaby For Luuk)” for her son, and the closing “Blues For M”, a blues for partner and co-writer Mark van Meurs.
Blues guitar playing ladies have never been as high profile as now, and together with the likes of our own Joanne Shaw Taylor and Dani Wilde, as well as more established performers such as Debbie Davies and Sue Foley, the female profile in the blues is certainly on the rise . . . and this fine album is a welcome addition to the flourishing recorded output . . . highly recommended!
GRAHAME RHODES
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