Review: Flying High at the Flying Horse

FOLLOW THE BAND



The Boneshakers, on the lookout for a new drummer, were auditioning Gordon Smiles tonight, live, during their second set. 

Gordon, a great bloke, ex The Ugly Brothers fame that had lasted 25 years before they split - looking to add to his repertoire as a member of a North East pipe band - had his sights set on playing drums with a blues/rock band - so who better a band  than the brilliant Boneshakers to help him break through onto the blues scene. That's Gordon, pictured below right with his wife Roz and Ronnie Semple's daughter, Gemma.

During the first set, he watched and listened to the Boneshakers do their amazing stuff.  "They're a great band," he said to me, fiddling nervously with the drum sticks he'd brought along with him, "Hope I can do them justice."

Tonight, Russ Hird (lead guitar and vocals) was trying out something new for himself. 
With his newly-acquired Fender Stratocaster with gorgeous mother-of-pearl scratch plate and a brand spanking new strap with his name in huge black lettering, he thundered through numbers like Dust my Broom and You Don't Love Me - with real 'Pride and Joy' in the fantastic sound he reproduced through that great g-e-e-t-a-r.  He sure made that instrument sing.



Ronnie Semple on blues harp did his usual amazing stunts and tricks.  Nobody in the North of England can play harp like Ronnie - and tonight he played that mouth-piece of his with sensational aplomb.  His 'friend', a little green skeleton man he calls 'The Boneshaker', clung to the mike stand in awe of his master!  Ronnie insists that his mascot talks to him!!  Well tonight, I think he'll have whispered, "Go, Ronnie, go - you're a star, bonny lad."



Dave Hildreth on bass guitar chewed gum, tapped his feet, raised his eyes to the heavens and hit the bassiest sounds ever.  He'd said before the gig he was looking forward to playing alongside the prospective new drummer.  "A bass man and a drummer have to hit it off right from the word go - one has to be in tune with the other - or it's no go," he told me. Dave is a 'no-frills' bass expert who tells it like it is!



Barry Ellis of Shanghai fame, still continuing to fill in with the Boneshakers until the lads find their new drummer, kept his head firmly under his baseball cap as always. The guys have been grateful for his workmanlike approach to their gigs.



Time for the second set and Gordon said, "Whoa, I'm bottling it!"  But he got up there like a hero and shook his tail feathers, bringing out his brushes to start Walkin' Blues off to a soft and tender start.  The Boneshakers built up to an unbelievably great crescendo of blues notes and riffs.  Russ's voice was in fine fettle tonight and he sang this one as well as I've heard it sung anywhere.  Ronnie's harp solo interludes were stunning and Dave was sure gettin' in the groove with the new man at the drum kit.

The crowd loved it.  They wanted more from this prospective new member of the band - and they got it.  You Upset Me Baby, a Joe Bonamassa number, went down a storm.  Gordon Smiles drummed his way through this emotional song with such heart, the blues-lovin' audience were almost in tears.
As the crowd roared their appreciation, Gordon said,

"It's the best time I've had wi' me claes on for a lang time." 

The job is now Gordon's (of course it is) from the end of April, but Ronnie was keen to point out,

"Bloody hell, I'm glad Gordon kept his claes on tonight!"

Russ said,

"Yep. Gordon did a great job. How d'you like the new Strat?"

Talking about the Boneshakers great night, he said "Hmm...4-1 - a great night for the toon." - Pardon?

And Dave, a man of few words, said,

"Champion. Gordon'll do nicely"



However, he did also say, "Kebabs, the food of Kings...well Greek and Turkish Kings anyhow."  I reckon he was thinking about stopping off at the takeaway on the way home!

Barry will play his last stand-in gig with the Boneshakers on 17th April.

And so, to Gordon Smiles (and he does - SMILE a lot, that is!) -

'BIG SMILES BACK ATCHYA'

WELCOME TO THE BONESHAKERS

GORDON SMILES - 

DRUMMER EXTRAORDINAIRE

You can see footage of Gordon doing his thing with the Blues-Mad Boneshakers to 'You Upset Me Baby' on You-Tube.

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLjlJUh55mM



All Electric at Annie McCarthy's - What a Gas!

                                                       

The Boneshaker's drummer couldn't make it - and at the eleventh hour, Barry Ellis (of 'Shanghai' fame) filled in, armed with his electric drum kit.

"Electric?" said the punters, "With a blues band?  Nah!"

But after a strict sound check and many twiddlings of knobs and buttons - the electric sound of the drums was - well - ELECTRIC!

And, yeah, the kit looked a little strange on the stage, but it all fitted like a warm glove with the Boneshakers bluesy, rock-solid sound.  Barry (below) kept his head down underneath a gleaming-white baseball cap (I think the whole audience have yet to see his face!) and made that drum-kit shake, rattle and roll through two amazing blues/rock sets.    



Barry - Where did you get that hat?

     

 The Boneshakers were explosive.  They sizzled all night long.  The atmosphere was absolutely electric!

 

Gimme soma dem blues notes, man

 And with the friendly staff and brand new 'go-get-it' manager of Annie McCarthy's bar, South Shields, (who deserve accolades for their fizzling banter and efficient service) the night went off with a big bang!    

                                                              

                                                                         *                                                                     

Russ played his Fender Telecaster guitar with a lightning storm of mean blues riffs and licks, roaring and growling vocals that could make Gary Moore eat his heart out, through numbers like 'Walking' and B. B. King's 'How Blue Can You Get'.

 Russ - Walkin'

                                                                                                   Dave - Going Down

Dave, (above right) unassuming and fixed to the spot, thundered through numbers the likes of 'Going Down' and 'Messing with the Kid' with Rosco Beck-like aplomb.  You could almost see the sparks fly as his fingers flew over his bass frets in a heart-stopping frenzy.   

Ronnie - Long Gone

Ronnie (above left) made the crowd cheer, whoop and holler with a brilliant harp solo in the middle of a superb rendition of  Kenny Wayne Shepherd's 'Long Gone'.  The place went up in a blue light!

*

  

The second set saw two guest appearances on stage with the Boneshakers.  Freddie and Stevie had both come along to see their good friends, the Boneshakers, play but they couldn't resist putting in an appearance with the lads on stage.  They sparkled and dazzled, jamming with the band in unrehearsed splendour!

Freddie, who did vocals with the band, 'T T Blue' and now fronts 'Badger' (which, by the way, happens to be his second name) did his own fabulous version of 'Stormy Monday Blues'.  The crowd gave him a fiery standing ovation.

And Stevie on the blues harp was scintillating as he dueted with Ronnie and played some solo stuff in the most sensational version of 'Hip Shaker' I've ever heard.  The sound of two blues harps going at it like guns blazing at the Alamo, set the atmosphere alight.

CATCH VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE DUELLING HARPS ON  THE BONESHAKERS' PAGE

ON FACEBOOK

The crowd danced anywhere they could find a space, radiating heat and perspiration that could compare with the band's rivers of sweat quite favourably! At the end of the evening, the punters wanted more, more, more.

"I'm impressed," said one of the crowd.

"Loved 'em.  I'll definitely catch their next gig," said another.



Boogie on down









It was a great night - a memorable night - a night that was so full of talent and flare, all it lacked was the firework display.

Barry said of his experience, playing drums for the first time with the Boneshakers, "By the time I got into the second set, it felt great."  Well, it sounded great, Barry!

Philosophical Ronnie was heard to say, "A blues man never dies - he just doesn't wake up one morning!"

Russ said, "I agree with everything he says." (also philosophical?  Or just couldn't be arsed!)

And Dave said, "Not a bad night, eh?"  Well that was an understatement, Dave!

*

DON'T MISS THE NEXT BONESHAKERS GIG AT

THE FLYING HORSE

2nd April

*

SEE ALL FORTHCOMING GIGS ON THE BONESHAKERS' GIGS BLOG PAGE

*

DON'T FORGET TO 'FOLLOW' THE BAND ON THIS BLOG

(JUST CLICK 'FOLLOW' AND GOOGLE WILL DO THE REST FOR YOU)

*

YOU CAN FOLLOW 'THE BONESHAKERS' ON FACEBOOK

*

READ BAND REVIEWS ON THIS BLOG

TO YOU-TUBE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF

THE BONESHAKERS

AT

ANNIE McCARTHY'S BAR

STORMY MONDAY BLUES with Freddie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWzk9bJrXIg

SHAKE YOUR HIPS with Stevie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q_EfDilPbo