Whippin' Up the Best - the Wildest - Boneshakin' Tornado of Talent at Stormin' the Castle

 THE GREAT - THE GLORIOUS - THE GIGANTIC - THE BONESHAKERS - AT THE BEST BIKER FESTIVAL IN THE NORTH - STORMIN' THE CASTLE

BUT FIRST ...

They started their Boneshakin' RIPPER of a gigging day at the Twisted Sprocketts Bike Rally at Boldon, taking first band spot to start off this brand new venue for the bike club.

The Boneshakers were up to their usual creative and unique standards, getting the ball rolling with a great big bang and building up the momentum for whipping up a "STORMIN'" tornado, looking forward to headlining at the Iris Tent at arguably the biggest, most prestigious rock and blues biker festival in the whole of the North East of England - STORMIN' THE CASTLE.

After an hour and a half of superb Boneshakers tracks (with material from their 1st and 2nd albums), the band packed up and set off for Witton Castle, Bishop Auckland, for STORMIN' THE CASTLE.

 





















Even the ducks wended their way to Witton Castle!

AND THEN ... 

THEY CAME ...

Ronnie - Warmin' to Stormin' !!

The boys arrived at a mud-packed, sludge-mounded Stormin', all set and ready to go, plodging in their wellies to catch up and say hello to Boneshakers fans, friends and fellow musicians.






THEY SAW ...

The Boneshakers took in the bright lights of the Big Tent as it swayed to the fantastic sounds of the Sleaze Sisters - and the buzz of the Iris Tent rocking to the sound of the amazing Brown Bottle Band, waiting ... waiting ... to take the stage as the headlining Iris Tent band.  What an accolade!


THEY CONQUERED ...

...and then they were ON - setting the STORMIN' scene with 'Party Right Here' and 'Dust My Broom', building up by crescendo after crescendo into an unbelieveable blues/rock fest like no other I've ever seen.

The crowd were in great form, shouting, whistling and hollering their appreciation for the fabulous Boneshakers.

Ronnie (blues harp and backing vocals) played a harp blinder tonight.  I've never heard so many whistles of love and awe from the audience at a gig.

Russ (lead guitar and vocals) was on fire with licks and riffs that were clear and crisp ... down and dirty.

Dave's (bass guitar) fingers were a blur as they whizzed up and down the bass neck, throwing in crazy jazz harmonics just for fun. WOW!

Gordon (drums) hit that kit like his life depended on it.  He was a marvel tonight and the crowd screamed their throats raw.

Nick (Right) Waiting in the Wings

Later on in the Boneshakers superlative performance, they invited Nick Jennison on stage to take the vocals on 'Red House'.  And he aced it.  Nick, of Saints of Arcadia, Against the Grain and the Gatecrashers (Boneshaker, Dave Hildreth plays bass with the fantastic Gatecrashers too) - showed his prowess in connecting with an audience like no other performer I've ever seen.

The Gatecrashers had been live in the Big Tent the night before - and Nick couldn't wait to join Dave and the others, performing in the Iris Tent.



Here's the link to the video.

Red House -  http://youtu.be/AC5i19PcMP0

 

The Boneshakers last number, old favourite, 'Hip Shake' caused a tumultuous roar from the crowd, packed like sardines in the tent - and the lads were asked, after an amazing ovation, to come back and entertain their audience some more.  They STORMED THE CASTLE  with 'Shake Your Money Maker' - and then they invited a whole host of musicians to join in the fun with 'Johnny B Good'.
What a remarkable ending to a truly sensational festival.


Keep on ROCKIN', Boneshakers.  Take a bow!

 Just so's you know, the Boneshakers' 2nd album, 'This is how we ROLL!' was launched at STORMIN' THE CASTLE and is available to buy at their next gig - and the one after that!  Check out their forthcoming gigs on this 'ROCKIN' WITH THE BONESHAKERS blog.

Or you could get in touch with Ronnie Semple, the band's leader, on Facebook.  Go to THE BONESHAKERS Facebook page, press 'like' and leave a message for Ronnie.  There's a package deal on offer too, for both the 1st and 2nd albums.  Enjoy!  They're both brilliant and exciting albums.



Check out the links below for more superb video footage of the Boneshakers LIVE at  
STORMIN' THE CASTLE

Messin' with the Kid   http://youtu.be/V5oI5L96m3A

Party's Right Here/Dust My Broom  http://youtu.be/fgsc56R_AVQ

Shake your Money Maker  http://youtu.be/Mln4glgFypM

Wooden Doll's House was a' Rockin'

What a great night the Boneshakers treated their audience to last Sunday at the Wooden Doll in North Shields.  And what a great music venue this riverside pub is fast becoming.

Russ Hird (guitar and vocals) dressed in an amazing leopardskin shirt was certainly ready to Rock 'n Roll.

Ronnie Semple (blues harp, backing vocals and band leader) in a black vest that showed off lots of his Boneshakin' brilliant tattoos was sure up for it.

Gordon Smiles (drums) ducked out of wearing a T-Shirt sporting silver luminous Boneshaker figures!  "Too Gay for Gordon" it would seem!

And Dave Hildreth (bass guitar) showed us 'the love' with a 'Caricatures of the Band Members' Boneshakers T-Shirt.





This was a night when oh so many local musicians came out to see the Boneshakers.  And in their own inimitable way, the band thanked them for coming along by inviting a host of guitarists and harpists up onto the stage.

Alan Byrne of This Machine fame played guitar on 'Call Me the Breeze', busking with the fabulous Boneshakers and taking on some sensational solos.

Stephen Brown, super blues harpist and huge follower of the Boneshakers, played on the band's very own version of 'Help Me'.

Davey Hunt of Keenan and Tommy and the Oddballs fame, played a fantastic guitar duet with Russ on 'How Blue Can You Get'.  The Boneshakers version of this massive BB King hit is amazing.  Link to the You Tube video below for the live footage of this number.  You'll sure never forget the gravel in Russ's voice or Ronnie's blues harp solo spots on 'How Blue...'

You'll never forget, either, Dave's bass solo and Gordon's drum solo on 'Messin' With the Kid'.

One of the 'hot spots' of the night was when Phil Martin of sensational Sticky Fingers fame went head to head on guitar with Russ on 'Tush',  'Walkin' Blues' and 'Crossroads'.




The other big 'hot spot' for me was the Boneshakers' version of The House is a'Rockin', that included a medley of sixties and seventies rock numbers.  You just gotta see this to believe it!

It was an evening filled with excitement.  The audience of blues and rock lovers, Boneshakers' avid followers and appreciative musicians was a fun-lovin' crowd who danced and rocked the night away.

All hail the Boneshakers.  What a superlative gig.


 I've heard, on the grapevine, that the Boneshakers are soon to pop along to Notes Recording Studio to cut another album.  I hope the rumours are true.  Their first album, 'Shaken and Stirred' was a resounding success and their next one is just bound to be a big winner.

See amazing footage of the Boneshakers in action on the following You-Tube links:

http://youtu.be/h-xk4IglygY - Walkin’ Blues with guest guitarist, Phil Martin

http://youtu.be/-Vl2gGv_GTQ – Call me the Breeze (with guest guitarist Alan Byrne)

http://youtu.be/fAVBHzx1eIY - How Blue Can You Get (with guest guitarist Davey Hunt)

http://youtu.be/DulMl9uIemA - The House is a’Rocking

http://youtu.be/2bHXmFgrxRA - Tush (with guest guitarist Phil Martin)

 

Catch pix of the Wooden Doll gig on the Boneshakers' FACEBOOK PAGE.  Just type in 'The Boneshakers', 'like' the page - and you're IN!

 

You can view the Boneshakers' Forthcoming Gigs for the whole of 2012 right here on the blog - or view it on the Boneshakers' Facebook Page.

Album Ready to Hit Sell-Out Figures

The Extraordinarily Talented Boneshakers - Ronnie, Russ, Dave and Gordon

Album Review

Album Cover designed by Neil 'Blackbird' Sims

 With the Boneshakers' album almost at sell-out figures, it's time for all you Boneshakers blues fans to get your copy before there ain't a one left!

You can read the review of their magnificent album, featuring local greats, Mitch Laddie, Lyndon Anderson, Phil Martin and Micky Crystal if you go to the link below:

Shaken and Stirred – Boneshakers’ Album Review

http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/detail/shaken-and-stirred--boneshakers-album-review/id/6301/  

 A Boneshakin' Boxing Day

Boneshakers Played their First Tyne Bar Gig Last Boxing Day

 Catch up with fabulous Boneshakers at Christmas when they return to the Tyne Bar for their Xmas Shindig on Boxing Day afternoon.


The Tyne Bar December Gigs are out on their monthly poster.  This is what they had to say about the Boneshakers:

MONDAY 26^TH DECEMBER

BONESHAKERS XMAS SHINDIG

“Come and join in the Xmas festivities and shake that Xmas turkey off your hips. We absolutely love playing The Tyne Bar and after last year's Boxing Day gig there we know we're in for a brilliant afternoon again this year. Time still tbc but it will be around this time. The Boneshakers played our first gig at The Tyne on Boxing Day last year so come and celebrate our 1st birthday with us in this brilliant venue :-)”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAB9xHK6Rhg

Don't miss it!  This is going to be a corker!

Lighting the Fuse at Blyth Blues

The Boneshakers in Action with Guest Star Micky Crystal

Shake them Bones

Blyth Blues Club was the venue.  They'd been sought after by the manager of this fine establishment to play here for the very first time. It's always an exciting time for the Boneshakers to be playing a real blues venue at a Blues Club or Festival.  And they stepped up to the plate in real style.  The audience were discerning blues fans - and, like I said, the Boneshakers appreciate a knowledgeable crowd.
Some musician friends of the Boneshakers turned up to enjoy the show - most of them from the Saints of Arcadia - Nick 'Saints of Arcadia' Jennison, whose vocals and guitar astound in Dave Hildreth's Gatecrashers, among them.

Micky and Sarah

Sarah, guest star Micky Crystal's girlfriend, was in the audience too.  Lovely to meet you, Sarah.

Micky's dad was there too.

It wasn't a packed house - only because England were playing one of their World Cup qualifyers (they won, by the way, despite our Scottish friend and leader, Ronnie Semple's evil eye!)

Boneshakers Pose for a Pic

And so, with their new PA system all plugged in and ready, lights ablaze and flashing with professional aplomb - and the smoke machine set on timer - the fabulous Boneshakers were GO!

They had the crowd in the palm of their hands from the off, playing the most sensational version of 'How Blue Can You Get' I've ever heard.

And in 'Messing with the Kid', every one of the bands solo performances was outstanding.

Their finale pieces, 'Hip Shake' and 'Shake Your Money-Maker', were out of this world, with amazing head-to-heads among Russ, Ronnie and Micky.

I know I keep saying it, but this band just gets better and better.  And their CD, Shaken and Stirred, is selling like hot cakes.  Get your copy, fans, before they all go!

Ronnie Semple - sans SHIRT

At the end of the night, Ronnie Semple (leader, blues harp and backing vocals) said "I forgot to bring my shirt."

Russ Hird (vocals and guitar) said, "Must go now - it's past my bed time!"

Russ - Way Past his Bedtime.  Dave - enjoying the Crowd

 Dave Hildreth (bass guitar) said, "It was good to see Nick and the lads make the effort to come support us."

Micky in Catalogue Pose with Nick

Micky was keen to do a catalogue pose with Nick 'Saints of Arcadia' Jennison!

Gordon's  daughter will be at the Sand Dancer  gig

And Gordon Smiles (drums) said, "My daughter's home from York Uni and she'll be there tomorrow night at the Sand Dancer."


It should be a full house, raising the rafters, at the Sand Dancer, South Shields, tomorrow night.  Hope you have a ball guys.

Those fantastic Boneshakers sure lit the fuse tonight at Blyth Blues Club. 
They were EXPLOSIVE!

There's excellent video footage of this brilliant gig.  There'll be links posted just as soon as they're on You-Tube.  SO WATCH THIS SPACE, folks.

BONESHAKIN' BRILLIANT!