Tag Archives: Gigs Ealing

Under The Influence & Keith Richards

A couple of viewings of Morgan Neville’s latest documentary ‘Under The Influence’ are well recommended to any Rolling Stones fan. It’s a beautifully crafted insight into the roots of one of Britain’s greatest Rock musicians…Keith Richards.

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The Keith Richards Documentary: ‘Under The Influence’

One of Keith’s major contributions is helping wake up America to it’s own music … the Blues.

Watch this movie and you get an idea of just how ‘underground’ Black American blues used to be in years gone by. Of course, some it had filtered into the Rock ‘n’ Roll of the 50’s and of particular influence was Chuck Berry on all of the Rolling Stones.

However, British bands of the early 1960’s, most notably the Rolling Stones, became ‘music opinion leaders’ and their love of the blues, helped awake mainstream interest in the records of Muddy Waters & Howlin Wolf back in the USA.

“Under the influence” gives a clear idea of how ‘the blues’ and ‘country music’ had merged together in the 1950’s to become Rock & Roll.

BRITISH ROCK MUSIC: British R & B bands of the early 60’s spent much time re-interpreting electric guitar with all the back catalogue of an ‘underground’ guitar music known as the Blues. Maybe, it’s this love of ‘the underground’ that always helps British bands acquire such a unique, rawer and independent sound…….

CITIES & MUSIC HERITAGE: Poingnant is Keith’s visit to The Grand Ole Opry (the birthplace of country music) and a venue that has been mentioned alongside EALING by certain American Academics. Located in Nashville, the venue where Elvis Presley and many others christened their careers remains a draw to music fans. Nashville really makes the most of what it has.

Ironically, similar visits to locations in Chicago (Chess Records and Muddy Water’s old house) seem to indicate that the windy city just like London has failed to make any use of it’s own music heritage.

LONDON MUSIC HERITAGE : LONDON addresses and locations are all but absent from UNDER THE INFLUENCE. Obviously, it was AMERICAN MUSIC that switched on Keith and all other British youth of the 50’s & 60’s and this is what this particular film highlighted.

Elsewhere, Keith has remembered his homeland and his biography ‘Life’  clearly illustrates that. As part of the the promotion for his latest album ‘Crosseyed Heart’  a temporary blue plaque to celebrate the guitarist’s first ever public performance was mounted in Ealing. It remains to be seen where a permanent marker will be placed. However, Keith is far too young for a blue plaque anyway…..

Check out KeithRichards.com for further details on recent coverage or ABC news Radio here: ABC NEWS RADIO 

It’s quite clear Ealing & West London were key in shaping his early career. These places would no doubt inspire many musicians from subsequent generations on their visits to the UK.

Finally, check out the sequence of how ‘Street Fighting Man’ was written and give a thought to other Ealing scene pioneers such as Nicky Hopkins (Born in Perivale, Ealing Borough) and the founding member of the Rolling Stones, (Ian Stewart). They were never far away from making the music.

The Ealing Music & Film “Valentine” Festival 2014

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Ealing Club gigs – British Blues where it all started: 2014 marks many significant anniversaries for British music. It’s 50 years since the beginning of the so-called “British Beat Invasion of the US” that was led by the Beatles first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

In the same year, “British Rhythm and Blues” lost a pioneer in Cyril Davies who together with Alexis Korner (1984) and Graham Bond (1974) helped push “the Blues” into the heart of British Music influencing musicians whose careers continue to inspire millions across the world to this day.

It is well documented that Ealing is where British groups playing the blues with electric guitar first found a home. Well worth celebrating!

Thurs 13th February 2014 (8.30 – 11.30)“Ealing the Blues Today” : A show featuring the ‘cream’ of Ealing’s current Blues scene with musicians from: Devil Drives, Jump 66, The Chairs, Geoff Garbow Blues Band, David Stone and more…….

Martin Bonner - The Chairs Robert Hokum shreds with Marshall amp copy An evening hosted by Robert Hokum “Artistic Director” of the annual Ealing Blues Festival that became a two-day event for the first time in 2013. The gig will feature local musicians who are continuing Ealing’s Blues/Rock musical heritage. Several of the musicians performing are still in their 20s, young players proud to be part of Ealing’s Blues/Rock Heritage.

Fri 14th February 2014 (8.30 – 10.30) “The Cyril Davies 50th Anniversary Tribute: Alan Glen & John O’Leary All Star Blues Revue” Top players from the current British Blues scene, the cv’s of these musicians reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Brit Blues. Here performing a night of music dedicated to the great harmonica player Cyril Davies thanks to his contribution on kickstarting the “British Rhythm and Blues Boom of the early 1960’s”

Alan Glen John O'Leary - Alan Glen Blues Revue copy Papa George

Sat 15th February 2014 (8.30 – 10.30) The Ali Mac Band (plus support) Vocalist Ali McKenzie achieved prominence on the Ealing Club scene with ‘The Birds’ which was the first band of guitarist Ronnie Wood who was later to find fame with the Faces and The Stones. Ali was a contemporary of another Ealing band – The Who. ali mac Ali who has featured regularly in recent Ealing Club special events brings his full band featuring Simon Bishop (guitar and Vocals) a staggeringly versatile musician who has inspired and taught some of the other guitarists appearing this week!, Richard Hudson (drums) is well-known as the percussionist with The Strawbs and on bass is Bill Phillips.

The Ealing Blues Festival 2013

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In 2012, the great John Mayall whose contribution to British Blues is without question,  stated in Classic Blues Magazine: “Ealing is obviously the foundation and starting point of everything” Good reason, for Ealing council to double the size of The Ealing Blues Festival to two days. Bundles of top quality blues, beautiful surroundings, great food with an entry of a Fiver!


Dr. Feelgood
Storming out of Canvey Island in the mid-70’s, Feelgood’s brand of minimalist Rhythm’n’Blues was entirely at odds with Prog/ Stadium Rock and Disco music which were in vogue at the time.  Needless to say, they found success, scoring a #1 album with ‘Stupidity’ and a chart hit with ‘Milk & Alcohol’. A major influence on Joe Strummer of the Clash, they paved the way for the ‘New Wave’ movement. Sadly founder member Lee Brilleaux died in 1994, but thankfully the musicians in Dr Feelgood at the time of his death decided to continue his legacy and they will comprise the line–up performing at the Ealing Blues Festival.
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For more background on Dr Feelgood you can watch OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL that tells the story of the band through the eyes of their original legendary guitarist, Wilko Johnson. Any links to West London will not be obvious….. However, why are Dr. Feelgood so important to Ealing? Because, prior to moving to Canvey Island, founder Lee Brilleaux went to school at Oaklands in Hanwell and Ealing Grammar School. He lived a stones throw from the first Marshall Amp shop in Hanwell.  There is no doubt he would have heard stories of the great Harmonica player Cyril Davies who helped inspire the first generation of British R & B that met together at the Ealing Club in 1962. The influence on both harmonica players…..Chicago Blues. 

Robert Hokum & The Devil Drives
Founder and host musician of the Ealing Blues Festival since its inception in 1987, Ealing’s Robert Hokum is an established figure on the blues circuit. A versatile musician, (Blues Matters magazine has described him as ‘very talented ….. consummate style & technique’) he performs all styles of blues from the 1920’s to the present day and has even been known to rap. This year he plays with a new band ‘The Devil Drives’ which promises to be the funkiest that he has ever gigged with. And, in common with Dr Feelgood’s founder, Lee Brilleaux, he also went to school at Oaklands in Hanwell and Ealing Grammar.
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Never The Bride
Fronted by vocalist Nikki Lambourn and multi-instrumentalist Catherine ‘Been’ Feeney, Never The Bride have been described by DJ Bob Harris as ‘one of the best live bands in Britain’. The Who’s Roger Daltrey has described Nikki as ‘the best female rock singer since Janis Joplin’ and Catherine has worked with many top musicians including The Who, ZZTop, Alice Cooper, Peter Frampton and Paul Rodgers.

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Northsyde
Classic Rock – Blues Magazine said, ’Northsyde … a tight-knit unit who display excellent musicianship individually. Jules (Fothergill) is the best lead guitarist you’ve never heard of, while Lorna (Fothergill)’s voice is a match for any blues-rock vocalist male or female. Ian Mauricio’s fluid bass and Hayden Doyle’s powerful drumming perfectly underpinned the whole’.

Northsyde Jules & Lorna

And, members of the band have lived / worked in Ealing (the birthplace of British Rhythm’n’Blues!)

The Spikedrivers
This Anglo/American/Irish trio are undisputedly one of the most accomplished roots/blues bands around. Rock solid rhythms, impeccable harmonies and virtuoso slide guitar make their blend of delta blues & gospel some of the best music of this genre that you will ever hear.

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Sam Kelly & Friends
Drummer Sam Kelly has worked with Chaka Khan, Dr John, Ben E. King, Robert Plant, The Foundations, Gordon Haskell, Billy Ocean, Desmond Dekker, Eddie Floyd, Roger Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Stan Webb, Gary Moore and Otis Taylor………… to name but a few.   In particular, with Mick Ralphs Blues Band, Paul Jones, Imelda May, Robben Ford, Andy Fairweather Low and Chris Barber. He’s also been awarded Blues in Britain’s ‘Blues Drummer of The Year’ five times. What more can we say?

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Gary Fletcher Band
Gary Fletcher is best known to Blues fans as the bassist with ‘The Blues Band’ which features Radio 2’s Paul Jones on vocals. He is also a prolific songwriter in his own right and will be performing his own music in a very ‘rootsy’ style at this gig. His band will feature the amazing ‘Blues Fiddle’ playing of Tom Leary.

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John O’Leary / Alan Glen All Star Blues Revue Harmonica aces O’Leary and Glen have been doing their bit to promote Ealing’s Blues Heritage with their tributes to Ealing Blues Club founder & harmonica player Cyril Davies. They play some of the most authentic Chicago style blues that you will hear this side of ‘the pond’. For the Ealing Festival they will play in ‘Revue’ style featuring a series of guest musicians including guitar virtuoso Papa George and female vocalist Ali Maas.

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Babajack
Babajack are the powerful roots percussion and vocals of Becky Tate and the slide style and growling ‘winebox’ guitars & rack harp of Trevor Steger. Their sound is ‘infused with blues, but not limited by it’. Their sound is influenced by the early blues ethos of playing homemade instruments:  the semi-acoustic ‘winebox’ guitars, Becky’s cajon (box drum) and the stomp were all made by Trevor. Blues Matters said, ‘One of the most exciting blues, roots, folk outfits in the UK’.

Babajack

The Proof feat. Paul Cox & Roger Cotton
Paul Cox is regarded on the Blues circuit as one of the country’s best ‘blue-eyed soul’ singers. Keyboardist / guitarist Roger Cotton is an accomplished recording studio producer and as a musician has worked with the likes of John Mayall and Carlos Santana. Together as the backbone of ‘The Proof’ they make grooves at the classier end of the blues spectrum.

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Dale Storr New Orleans Big Band Dale Storr is one of the top boogie / barrelhouse piano players around and is a walking encyclopaedia of the New Orleans keyboard styles of Dr. John, Allen Toussaint & Professor Longhair. His New Orleans Big Band features the sax of Kim Storr and trumpet of Ian Sanderson. The drummer is Dave Raeburn, formerly of The Hoax. Expect a full-on gumbo of swampy, funky, swinging grooves in the Louisiana style.

Dale Storr

The Blue Bishops A rock-blues supergroup with an impeccable pedigree, musicians in the band having worked with: Bill Wyman, Argent, The Kinks, The Zombies, Joan Armatrading amongst others. Their most recent album ‘In The Red’ was produced by John Leckie (George Harrison, Radiohead, Muse etc.) and Stuart Epps (Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Paul Rogers etc).

Blue Bishops

Rabbit Foot
Rabbit Foot are Jamie Morgan – guitar/vocals and Carla Veigas drums/vocals. Inspired by visions and experiences of wall to wall dancing, sweaty people, shamanic, ecstatic, of old bands playing Willie Dixon tunes and THAT old West Memphis sound, dirty and raw yet so exact and exciting, of raw emotions and the absolute need to sing and play, dance and shout to remain free. Music undomesticated married to music modern. Two people – two singers, guitar playing rhythm, lead and counterpoint, three African Bass Drums produce a sound they like to describe as “Primal and unique, like Tom Waits throws a party for Nina Simone at a Juke Joint transported to West Africa…” – but with more guitar!

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Jules Carter Trio Every blues Festival has to have a ‘power trio’ style band that play in the style of Cream, Hendrix & Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Jules Carter Trio is one of the best at it. They also do some fine versions of Steely Dan songs (no mean feat for a trio!).

The Chairs Local band the Chairs represent the ‘new breed’ of young musicians maintaining the legacy of sleazy but melodic blues-rock.

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Glorious Fools Doug Melbourne (keys/vocals) and Nigel Appleton (guitar/percussion/vocals) perform inventive re-interpretations of the music of John Martyn.

The Geoff Garbow Blues Band feat. Emily Lee ‘House Band’ of the recently revived ‘Ealing Blues Club’, the Geoff Garbow Band play straight no-nonsense roadhouse blues/rock. Special guest is up and coming young singer/songwriter Emily Lee.

Geoff Garbow Blues Band