news

5th May 2008

C Sharp Blues took part in the Swanage Blues Festival on Saturday 8th March, playing at The Anchor in the town’s High Street. Micky Biggs and Smudge Smith were trading ferocious blues guitar licks, and I had the chance to play with my old mate and drummer extraordinaire Paul Fancy. It went down an absolute storm, and I suspect we’ll be returning there soon.

Back Street Blues returned to the Vintage Inn, Wellington, Somerset on Thursday 14th March. It was another fun night, playing to a really ‘up for it’ audience. On the following Sunday, 16th March, I was again asked to put  together a blues band to play at the Rock Hotel in Weymouth, and I rounded up Mike Biggs, Ady Milward and Clive Ashley. We had to wait until half-time of the Burton Albion vs Weymouth match that was being shown live on Sky TV before we could start (rock’n’roll, eh?), but luckily the Weymouth FC faithful turned out to be a discerning bunch. We may have even converted some more folk to the blues cause (the number of times I’ve heard, “I don’t normally like this kind of music, but...”).

On Friday, 21st March Back Street Blues made its début at the Quicksilver Mail in Yeovil, Somerset, another chance to play to a brand new audience, and we were treated to another great reception. Dave Staddon, another musician of this parish, has insisted that I try out his 1963 Gibson EB3 bass on our next visit to Yeovil. Well, if I must...

Custer’s Last Blues Band returned to the Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland, Dorset on Friday 28th March (Hamish Maxwell was on particularly fine form), and on Saturday, 29th it was another début for Back Street Blues, this time at the Dolphin in Ilchester, Somerset, a lovely little gig with a small but perfectly appreciative audience.

The next day, Sunday 30th, Custer’s returned to the Hope & Anchor in Bridport. It was kind of a scratch version of the band, as neither Clive Ashley nor Nick Gomer were available, but we recruited Dave Rickard on piano, and gained a trumpet/alto sax horn section from the audience completely unexpectedly. I keep running out of superlatives for recent gigs, but this one was, well, superlative.

Début territory again – Back Street Blues ventured into the Pen & Quill in Taunton, Somerset on Friday 4th April, receiving an enthusiastic reception.

Sunday 6th I played with Stompin’ Dave’s Electric Blues Band at the Orange Box in Yeovil, Somerset after just one rehearsal with the band earlier in the week. Once we found the place, we discovered a great little venue that was like a Somerset version of the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London. Very similar layout, very similar vibe. The management and the sound guys were great to work with, and the gig went really well – Dave’s approach to the blues is right up my street, and I hope to do more work with him in the future.

So many debuts – Back Street Blues appeared at the Rock Hotel, Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth on Saturday 12th April, with Smudge Smith joining us on guitar. I think we have recruited some more blues fans on the night.

On Friday 18th, the Mutter Slater Band appeared at the Ropemakers, West Street, Bridport, Dorset, another chance to try out songs from the forthcoming CD ‘Riding A Hurricane’ and new material destined for the next recording. It’s always difficult for a band that’s material is virtually entirely original to cut it in a pub environment, but it certainly worked on this occasion. Very encouraging.

Now the bad news – while loading in my gear back home after the gig I managed to fall onto the edge of my amp’s flight case, breaking my arm quite badly in the process. It looks like I’m going to out of action for at least six weeks. It’s only been about a week since the event as I write, and it’s driving me around the bend already. Still, worst things happen at sea, I’m told. Sometimes clichés just don’t really help.

I’m going to have to use this enforced lay-off as positively as possible. One real piss-off is that I’d just bought myself a lovely double bass from Harmony Music in Dorchester for a great price. It’s going to work great for the Mutter Slater band’s acoustically orientated sound, but it’s going to be a while before I get a chance to give it an airing.

On the positive side…um…any suggestions would be helpful.

Chris Lonergan

Valid CSS! Valid HTML 4.01!