Rockin' with the Boneshakers: Fender

Showing posts with label Fender. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Rip-Roarin' Rockin' Blues at the Red Lion

The gig was on a Thurday night - in Norton, Teesside. The rain drizzled down on the Red Lion as we approached the car park. Oh, dear, this is going to be a dreary night, I thought. And then, at 9 o'clock, the lights dimmed and the Boneshakers roared onto the stage with 'Rock Me Baby', a traditional blues number - and they weren't pussyfooting around, let me tell you!

You can see video footage of 'Rock Me Baby' if you join 'The Boneshakers' on their Facebook page. And there are links to You-Tube footage of some of their other numbers AND links to gig photographs on their page too. The Boneshakers would love to have you visit them.

Roarin' at the Red Lion

They are amazing, this Roadhouse Blues 4-man outfit, who have only been together since last December. That's only seven months to become the accomplished band they are - and to become arguably the best blues band in the whole of the North East of England.

Grrrr - Russ!

Russ had his claws out tonight, growling through 'How Blue Can you Get', playing some of the most memorable blues interludes on his Stratocaster and his Les Paul guitars - with his name emblazoned on the strap.

Dave, glaring and staring...

Dave glared with a menacing wild-cat stare, at the appreciative audience, as he played an amazing, unforgettable bass solo on his bass guitar in 'Messing With The Kid' - that Fender just purred and purred.

Ronnie pounced like a leopard on the crowd with the most versatile blues interludes I can ever remember. If you weren't there, you missed out, because - WOW - and on 'Long Gone' he was outstanding - the cat's whiskers!

Ronnie pounces with that blues harp

Gordon's no pussycat, either. He leaped into 'Dust My Broom' with the verve of a panther after its prey, with rolls and accents to make your mind blow!

Gordon - the verve of a panther!

They rocked, those fabulous Boneshakers! The crowd howled for more after the boys had finished their second stupendous set - and they screamed till they got one more!

Roarin' at the Red Lion

The Boneshakers have a huge following in the North East these days, and so, by popular demand, they have cut their first CD. It'll be out soon, so WATCH THIS SPACE: it's a ten-track extravaganza - with guest artists, Mitch Laddie, Lyndon Anderson, Micky Crystal and Phil Martin, making an appearance on several of the tracks.

The Grr-eat Red Lion

The GRRRRRrreat staff of the Red Lion deserve a vote of thanks, for being such grand hosts to the BONESHAKERS.

As the boys packed up, sweating and panting still after such a successful gig, Ronnie, their fearless leader, said: "This was really enjoyable. We'll play here again, for sure."

Gordon said: "Me bloody feet are killin' me after this!"

Dave said, "Brilliant gig: hope it's stopped pissing down out there!"

And Russ said, "Great night! Ta-ra - I'm off to Benidorm for me hols now."

Catch The Boneshakers next gig - by going to 'FORTHCOMING GIGS' on this 'rockinwiththeboneshakers' blog. CHECK IT OUT!

Join the band here too, by clicking on 'Join this Site' - and Google will connect you.

Thursday, 21 April 2011

'Blues' Skies over the Tyne

The fans were out in force, drinking their pints and pina colada's (!!) outside the Tyne pub on a sunny blue-skied evening.

The Boneshakers arrived in time to show their support for Archie and the Young Bucks, who played just before the boys were due on stage.

To a backdrop of the flowing river Tyne at local beauty-spot, Ousburn, underneath a red brick arch, the Boneshakers took to the open air stage and WOWED their audience.
The crowd went crazy, dancing in the aisles, while Russ Hird (vocals and lead guitar), Ronnie Semple (blues harp and vocals), Dave Hildreth (bass guitar) and Barry Ellis (drums) played their hearts out and sang the blues in a sensational performance.

This was Barry Ellis's 'swan song' - and what better send-off than a gig he's always dreamed of: THE TYNE BAR. And he played the best bluesy skins I've ever heard him play. He grinned like the proverbial Cheshire Cat from the beginning of the evening to the end of the night.

The band payed homage to Barry on stage during his final performance and thanked him for being such a great stand-in drummer.

At the end of a sunny, 'blues'-skied evening, when the guys were packing up, getting ready for the off, Russ said, "It's been an absolute pleasure to work with Barry. It's been a great day. Now I'm off home for a vodka!"
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!

Ronnie said: "I agree: Barry's been a great stand-in drummer. And what a great gig the Tyne Bar is. It's good that Barry got to play here. I've had a great day. Now where's Denice? I need to get packed up and get away."

Yeah, the Boneshakers could almost call this venue 'home', with a gig last Boxing Day, one this evening - and the next one coming up in September.

With a merry flush in his cheeks as he stripped down his kit at the end of a glorious gig, Barry grinned and said:
"That was great. I finally got to do the Tyne at the end of my stint with the Boneshakers."

Dave winked after shaking Barry's hand, saying:
"Today, I think we've made a little boy very happy! Now I'm off for me curry supper and a glass o' red."

ALL ABOARD, FOLKS, FOR THE GIG REVIEW
The Boneshakers set sail on a blues barge of classic blues numbers like Pride and Joy, Dust my Broom and How Blue Can you Get, anchoring after a hour of tight and light, down and dirty, in a superb finale of Shake your Hips. Oh, man, these boys were on fire this evening as the sun went down, creating a river haze that added to the atmosphere of great music and a charismatic performance from the fantastic Boneshakers.

And to add an extra dimension to the stage, Stevie, an up-and-coming young local blues harp player - often in the crowd at a Boneshakers gig - pushed the boat out with the lads in a rip roaring rendition of 'Shotgun Blues' to tumultuous applause. Great stuff, Stevie.

There was a sense of excitement in the audience, a bit of magic in the air, as the crowd went bonkers for the blues band that are by far the best in the North East.

There were even some members of the illustrious Scoundrels here in support of the guys. And they were lovin' it too!

The Boneshakers are back at the Tyne Bar in September. You just gotta catch them next time their boat comes in on the Tyne in awesome Ouseburn.

And then there were three...

But next time you see the Boneshakers, they'll be four again - with their new drummer, Gordon Smiles, who's already dipped his toes in the water with them at The Flat Tops, Boldon Colliery.

But in the meantime, farewell Barry Ellis, WE LOVE YOU!

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Boneshakers Blues it at Bloozeburn

***

They bluesed it. They rocked it. The Boneshakers were amazing.

The gig took place at the Hyem pub on Chillingham Road, Heaton. It was Tuesday night, 'Bloozeburn' night.
It rained all night outside, but inside, the Boneshakers took the place by storm with the best blues numbers around, from Joe Bonnamassa to Rory Gallagher to Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

The place shook, rattled and rolled.

It was enough to shake your bones!

But it was match night too - and the audience was in low numbers until the football finished.

And then the crowds appeared - ten minutes before the end. And they wanted more - and more - but alas, it was late and the room was F-F-F-FREEZING...

OK, so the room was chilly - but the music was HOT!

BLISTERING HOT!

***

Band members Dave (bass) and Mark (drums) were loath to take their coats off when they arrived for the gig - and only succumbed when told they looked like a couple of nifty, fifties bin men!

Nifty fifties bin men Dave and Mark

'Braveheart' Ronnie (blues harp and vocals) said, after donating his coat to a shivering member of the audience, "Ye wimps! This is like a summer's night in Glasgow."