old news

17th March 2009

The Mutter Slater Band made its debut at the King’s Head in Hursley, near Salisbury on Saturday 17th January. Once again, the challenge was to win over an audience with the band’s all-original material, and it was a case of ‘job done’.

On Sunday 18th Robbie McIntosh’s Steamer Ducks returned to No.6 in Weymouth. Robbie and I were joined by Ady Milward on tubs, Clive Ashley (sax), Nick Gomer (harmonica) and Steve Smith (keyboards). Needless to say, it was a blinding session, with the McIntosh on coruscating form.

The following Friday, the 24th, I played with Broadband at the Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland, followed by another bluesfest with Custer’s Last Blues Band on Sunday 25th at the Hope & Anchor, St Martin’s Lane, Bridport.

On Friday 30th January the Mutter Slater Band returned to the Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland, where we débuted and on Saturday 7th February Custer’s, Gothic Chicken, the Mutter Slater Band and Numo Fuse got together to raise funds for the newly-combined John Spencer and Rex Trevett charities, raising around £1000 for the promotion of the musical ambitions of Dorset students, colleges etc. Doors open at around 6.30pm, with music commencing at 7.30pm.

On Sunday, 8th February I played with the wonderful jazz singer Sue Hawker, guitarist Rob Koral and drummer Malcolm Lee at Finns in Weymouth, and on Sunday 15th I joined Sue at Finns again, this time with keyboard ace Guy Gardner and drummer Phil Moore. They were both cracking sessions, and I really enjoy the challenge of playing some fairly complex jazz songs that I’ve never played before, just following a chord chart and winging it. It’s good to be stretched musically, and even better when you get away with it!

Sue and I returned to Finns on Sunday, 22nd  with Malcolm back in the traps and Guy on keys and again the following Sunday, the 27th. Finn’s guv’nor Steve gave us four gigs to see how a regular jazz gig would work in what is essentially a metal pub, but he’s happy for it to become a regular gig for as long as it works.

On Saturday 7th March C Sharp Blues played at the Anchor in Swanage as part of the Swanage Blues Festival. Mike Biggs and Smudge (guitars), Paul Fancy (drums) and I started off playing straight ahead blues, but then started veering from the script as we realised that we had the audience in the palm of our hands. Another blinding night. Then it was the Sue Hawker band on Sunday 8th. These gigs are getting better and better as we all get more familiar with the material, and there’s talk of getting into the studio soon.

On Saturday 14th the Mutter Slater Band played at the Quicksilver Mail in Yeovil, with Dan Wheeler on drums in Ady’s absence. The set is now 100% Mutter’s material, and it worked wonderfully well. Yeovil is close to home territory for Mutter, and lots of his musical mates and some Stackridge fans turned up. Sue Hawker, Guy Gardner, Phil Moore and myself played Finns on Sunday 15th, another cracking set.

At around 2pm today (16th March) I was looking at a one gig weekend. Two phone calls later, and I discover that I’m playing with erstwhile Chevalier Brothers vibes player Roger Beaujolais on Friday 20th at the Cove House Inn, Chiswell, Portland, and with Broadband at the Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland on Saturday on Saturday 21st, as well as the now-regular gig with Sue on Sunday.

On Sunday, 29th March Custer’s Last Blues Band return to the Hope & Anchor, St Martin’s Lane, Bridport, starting at 2.30pm, and on Sunday 5th April the Steamer Ducks return to No.6, King Street, Weymouth, starting at 4pm.

Life is good!

Chris Lonergan

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