Award-winning blues rock star, guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa and his ace touring band will undertake a major UK arena tour in March 2012. Tickets will go on sale Friday October 7th at 10am from the 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 249 1000, or book online at: www.thegigcartel.com
Fresh off his successful European tour with Black Country Communion, and rave reviews of BCC’s “2″ album, Joe’s forthcoming UK solo tour will see him perform material from his current studio album “Dust Bowl” plus songs from his vast catalogue of albums including A New Day Yesterday, The Ballad of John Henry, Sloe Gin and Black Rock.
To receive a free download of the single ‘Dust Bowl’ from Joe’s most recent album go to the following link – http://bitly.com/joeukproct
Joe will also preview some new songs from his forthcoming studio album due for release in late May 2012.
Joe’s band includes Carmine Rojas (bass), Rick Melick (keyboards) and Tal Bergman (drums).
Following the September 26th release of Beth Hart’s “Don’t Explain” album – a soul covers collaboration with guitarist Joe Bonamassa– she’ll perform two intimate UK concerts in November. The first date will be The Flowerpot, Derby on Monday 28th November, followed by London Dingwalls on Tuesday 29th November. Tickets for both concerts are available from 0845 413 4444, www.seetickets.com, www.ticketline.com and www.alt-tickets.co.uk.
Already a platinum selling solo artist across mainland Europe, Beth’s collaboration with Bonamassa on the Gil Scott-Heron classic, “I’ll Take Care Of You”, was recently BBC Radio 2’s “Record of the Week” and has since been added to the playlist;the “Don’t Explain” album also recently reached #5 on the Amazon UK pre-order chart.
Compared vocally to the likes of Janis Joplin and Etta James, Beth Hart’s November UK concerts will showcase tracks from the new album, including a brilliant rendition of Tom Wait’s “Chocolate Jesus”, as well as songs from her back catalogue such as the emotionally moving “LA Song”.
Produced by Kevin Shirley (John Hiatt, The Black Crowes, Black Country Communion),“Don’t Explain” combines Hart’s raspy and soulful vocals against Bonamassa’s signature guitar sound. The pair collaborate on a stunning collection of hand-picked soul classics from the likes of Delaney & Bonnie, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin. Read the official “Don’t Explain” press release here.
When you have a voice a bit like Klaus Mein, you have a fair shot of climbing the old fame and fortune ladder. So, Tracer front man Michael Brown looks set to position himself as a man to whom you should listen. It doesn’t matter that he can’t play like a Schenker, although he poses with a Flying V quite nicely, because the lads write decent rock songs and perform them with enthusiasm and no little skill.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia, the trio of Michael, his brother Leigh who plays bass and drummer Andre Wise do the riff-rock genre proud with solid, uncomplicated songs that have a certain catchiness about them. Think of the driving, rhythmic feel of the Foo Fighters wrapped around the metallic thunder of the Scorpions and you’ll get close. The solos are short, to the point and derivative, as are the the songs, but despite this, Tracer manage to turn in a sound that works. They’re a rock band for a new generation of guitar heads. Lack of originality is nothing to be sneered at, dozens of bands from Guns n Roses to Pearl Jam via Muse have made massive careers out of it. So, unless you’re a genius, you make the best out of what you have and Tracer have quite a lot thank you.
Their new album: “Spaces In Between” taken as a whole is quite impressive. There’s lots of good, solid guitar rock to be had, nice hooks and bag of riffs to bang your head to. The album opens with “Too Much”. Take a listen to this:
I get the feeling I’ve heard it before somewhere, but it rocks, so who cares? Next up is “Push”, which opens with a pulsing drum beat, then we’re into the riffing. “Push” could have been lifted straight off a Free album in the seventies, Brown even manages to do a Paul Rogers intone in the chorus “It goes on and on…” The pace drops into Doctor-Doctor mode for “Walk Alone” and Brown starts singing like Percy Plant. We get served “Louder than this” after “Walk Alone”. It’s pretty much a blues standard of the kind Deep Purple used to excel when they were in the mood, circa Machine Head. “Devil Ride” takes into grungeland with shades of Nirvana daubed over Motorhead.
The best track on the album is “The Bitch”, which opens with a very promising, undistorted, metronomic riff, which is suddenly subsumed under a wailing voice and crashing guitar, only for it to disappointingly develop into a pretty standard seventies riff, although the chorus brings out a lovely dynamic contrast, which is really why this song is the stand out track on the album. It has a great hook, lots of drama and a sing along tune, with the best guitar solo on offer – it’s almost accomplished. The slide guitar at the end is very nice though and completely unexpected.
“Voice in the rain” nods to Jimi at his most mellow with Paul Rogers singing along. Good stuff if you’re in that bottle of whisky and a quiet cigarette while staring out at the rain type of mood. There’s a great crescendo that descends into a reprise of the opening bars. It’s really quite good.
The title track closes the middle section album. It’s five minutes I’ll never get back. The twee, eastern Indian influenced solo was particularly grating. It’s followed by “Dead inside”, which is a cracker, lots of dynamics, drama and contrasts. “Save my breath” is like “Too much” with a slightly different riff – enjoyable though. “All in my head” takes on a tour of Michael’s soft guitar technique, before it breaks out into a “Wheels of fire” Cream sound-alike – he even does Jack Bruce phrasing, although the chorus breaks out into Foo Fighters yelling. I was moved to think Pete Brown must have had Aussie children. The chorus is really good though.
By time we get to “Won’t let it die” with it’s vibrato guitar, I’m ready for something different, and to be fair to Tracer, they serve it up with aplomb. This is a nice plodder, with a great, sparse sound. Good production can make a song and this one is a great example of good production values making a good song, great.
Overall, this is a good, perhaps very good album, but you’ll enjoy it more if you haven’t listened to everything rock from the sixties to the naughties. Recognising complete rips is not the same as admitting influences and “Spaces in between” tends more towards the latter than the former. Better still, it’s a grower – by time I’d played it three or four times, I was beginning to sing along and by the sixth play I was sold and will probably end up buying my own copy.
Listen if you want high art, then this isn’t the album for you, but if you’re after real good time rock ‘n’ roll with a more than adequate sampling of listenable tunes and the odd sing along, then it might be worth shelling out a few quid.
Legendary Whitesnake singer David Coverdale celebrated his 60th birthday on September 22nd. His latest studio record "Forevermore", released on March 25th, shows experience, musical maturity and a personality that is far from jaded after an almost 40 year career. Also it is an evidence that Whitesnake’s career is far from finished, even if Coverdale evoked the end quite a few times in the last years: "I’ve retired more times than Frank Sinatra – but luckily I didn’t tell many people.” he laughs.” The music business can be so exhausting & destructive on a person, which makes you think sometimes, that you have to step back & take stock of your situation & circumstances", Coverdale confessed.
"I’ve retired more times than Frank Sinatra – but it never last for very long…"
Today David Coverdale is happy that he never threw totally stepped away. He recently wrote a song called "Best Years" that he says still perfectly fits describes his life with him turning 60 years old. He explains: "It’s great that I’m able to still work as a musician. And with it came consistency in my career and also in my private life. I really am experiencing the best times of my life these days, & believe me, I’ve seen a lot."
"Forevermore" is Whitesnake’s eleventh album released on Frontiers Records. The band is still known as one of the most successful acts of all times with several platinum awards. Through his eloquent, always cultivated, British-charming personality David Coverdale is not only known as a rock patron, but a highly regarded gentlemen within the rock business. There are not many other musicians that deal with love and passion in their lyrics like he does. And also there are just a few acts that are able to highlight lyrics perfectly and successfully with thrilling blues and soul anthems like he does.
Before Coverdale, who’s originally from Saltburn-by-Sea area, founded Whitesnake, he was the lead vocalist for Deep Purple. When Coverdale celebrates his 60th birthday on September 22nd he’s able to look back at a musical career that is almost 40 years long. "I’m going to celebrate my birthday with my private family & my musical family", he reveals, "I will party several times on several different continents. Even if it sounds a little un-rock & roll, I will use the day to reflect and be thankful for what I achieved in my life so far. I’m incredibly grateful to still be experiencing professional success & to be so physically active in what I do, after all these years."
Wilko Johnson, the phenomenal guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood, who has influenced everyone from Joe Strummer and Mick Jones to Steve Albini, will embark on a nationwide UK tour throughout September and October 2011. Very special guest on all UK dates will be the award-winning blues singer Ian Siegal and his band.
The tour kicks off at the Edinburgh Caves on Thursday 15th September. Tickets go on sale on Friday 15th April at 9am and can be ordered by calling the 24 Hour Box Office on: 0871 230 1101 or book online at: www.seetickets.com.
In addition to pioneering Dr. Feelgood’s distinctive mid-seventies, pre-punk British R&B sound, in 1980 Johnson went on to play guitar for Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Today, Johnson’s solo band features Blockheads’ Norman Watt-Roy (bass guitar), and Dylan Howe (drums).
In 2009 Johnson featured in Julien Temple’s "Oil City Confidential"; a fascinating feature length documentary about Dr. Feelgood. The film received many accolades including the MOJO Vision Award at the MOJO Honours List 2010.
Dr. Feelgood originally formed in 1971 as a British pub rock band who hailed from Canvey Island, Essex. Their name derived from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who was willing to overprescribe drugs. It is also a reference to a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman (also known as "Piano Red") called "Dr Feel-Good", which Perryman originally recorded under the name of Dr Feelgood & The Interns.
Dr. Feelgood’s distinctive British R&B sound was centred on Wilko Johnson’s choppy guitar style. The original band line-up also included singer Lee Brilleaux, and the rhythm section of John B. Sparks (aka "Sparko") on bass guitar and John Martin (aka "The Big Figure") on drums.
Dr. Feelgood was known primarily for their high energy live performances, although studio albums like Down by the Jetty (1974) and Malpractice (1975) were also incredibly popular. Their 1976 breakthrough live album, Stupidity reached No.1 in the Official UK Album Chart. When the band released their fourth album, Sneakin’ Suspicion (1977), Johnson left the group to pursue a solo career.
To celebrate the release of the “Don’t Explain” album – a collaboration between American singer-songwriter Beth Hart and the acclaimed blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, the duo are making their version of Delaney & Bonnie’s classic “Well, Well” available as a free MP3 download single. All you have to do is sign up to http://jbxp.net/, input your email address, and you will receive the free download.
CD, Digital Download and 12” Vinyl editions of “Don’t Explain” will be released in the UK and Europe on Monday 26th September, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon UK. Click here to pre-order. Produced by Kevin Shirley (John Hiatt, The Black Crowes, Joe Bonamassa, Black Country Communion), “Don’t Explain” combines Hart’s raspy and soulful vocals against Bonamassa’s signature guitar sound. The pair collaborate on a stunning collection of hand-picked soul classics from the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Tom Waits, Etta James, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin.
Award-winning blues rock star, guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa and his ace touring band will undertake a major UK arena tour in March 2012. Tickets will go on sale Friday October 7th at 10am from the 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 249 1000, or book online at: www.thegigcartel.com
