A Christmas Cracker of a Boneshakin' Gig

The Tyne Bar was chock-a-block with festive Boneshakin' Boxing Day revellers dressed in Christmas glitz and glitter.

Full of turkey dinners and Christmas pud, the audience was filled to bursting with high spirits (mostly whiskey and brandy!) and ready for an afternoon of Boneshakin' Rock and Blues. And they got it. Oh yes they did!

What this audience got exactly, was a barrel full of glorious Christmas fun and brilliant entertainment from the Fab Four Boneshakers - Ronnie, Russ, Dave and Gordon.

Making a truly festive start to the first set, Russ Hird (lead guitar and vocals) set the stage alight with an Elvis Christmas rock number, 'Santa Claus is Back in Town', dressed in a Santa hat, black-as-silent-night sunglasses, a glittering gold tinsel garland and a scarlet shirt. Swaying in typical Elvis fashion, he roared and riffed his way through a medley of Christmas songs.

Russ

Gordon

Ronnie

 

Dave

After that, it was back to the blues for the Boneshakers - with the crowd yelling, hooting and whistling their appreciation of arguably the best blues band in the whole of the North East of England.  The Boneshakers devotees are growing into a sizeable bunch of fans who attend every Boneshaker gig.

And the Boneshakers gig a lot, being so very much in demand at the North East's pubs, clubs and festivals.


There were many, many musicians in the audience too.  And in typical Boneshakers' style of camerarderie, they invited Ron Seymour (guitarist and vocalist) of Lounge Lizards fame and Terry Armstrong (blues harp) up onto the stage.  Ronnie and Russ left the stage, leaving Dave Hildreth (bass guitar) and Gordon Smiles (Drums) to command the rhythm section during a great blues number, 'Need Your Love So Bad'.  It just shows you that Dave and Gordon have the outstanding versatility to play and jam with just about any musician out there.  Great stuff, you two!!  And great stuff Ron and Terry. What a treat.

Steve Brown (blues harp and avid Boneshakers' fan) was also in the audience on this Christmastime occasion.   He joined the band to go head to head with the amazing Ronnie Semple (Boneshakers' founder, leader and blues harp player) in a brilliant rendition of 'Help Me.'  He also took the stage with the Boneshakers to join in with the inimitable style of the Boneshakers in their take on 'Hip Shake' - now a Boneshaker fans' firm favourite.

In an encore that included 'Shake Your Money Maker', the crowd just couldn't get enough.  The Boneshakers would still be playing now if the fans had had their way!

The Boneshakers First Ever Gig at the Tyne Bar, Boxing Day 2010

During the superb gig at the Tyne Bar at Ouseburn, just beside the famous Ouseburn Lock, Fred Plater's staff were their usual helpful, friendly selves.  Gigs are always special at the Tyne bar for the Boneshakers.

It brings to mind the band's first ever gig, last Boxing Day at the Tyne Bar, when the Boneshakers were a newborn blues and rock band.  Nowadays, Fred Plater, the owner of the Tyne Bar, advertises the Boneshakers' as a showband.  And they deserve that accolade.

Happy New 2012, Boneshakers.  You've come a long way in 2011.  I wonder what this author/blogger will have to say about this superb band this time NEXT year!  It's a mind-blowing thought!

Boneshakers' Boxing Day Shindig You-Tube Links:

Jump Jive an' Wail – http://youtu.be/aeTL7aYCqOY

Rock around the Clock - http://youtu.be/4ZiXzlQgpd4

Santa Claus is Back in 'Toon'-  http://youtu.be/ttaoPLCcsf4

How Blue Can You Get? - http://youtu.be/m15IQ4QQqto

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!

You-Tube Views of Blyth Blues

Blues Views of the Boneshakers

 

Here's the links to You-Tube footage of the Boneshakers at Blyth Blues Club.

Oh, man, they're brilliant!

 

http://youtu.be/E-wchivLW8g  Crossroads

http://youtu.be/gxoB56vf6EM  Hipshake

http://youtu.be/XJO-NONJ_eU  Need your love so bad

http://youtu.be/jwgVLm--zJ8  Dust My Broom

http://youtu.be/nunbjJaSTC4  Shake Your Moneymaker

 http://youtu.be/IXoW-U56BxM Rock me Baby

http://youtu.be/S9gxkRcy5cY  How Blue Can You Get?

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!

Boneshakers Shaken and Stirred at Bishop FM

The Boneshakers, Russ, Ronnie, Dave and Gordon at their CD Launch at the Tyne Bar




Click on the link below and listen to Ronnie Semple (Band Leader and Blues Harpist) and Russ Hird (Vocals and Lead Guitar) interviewed on Bishop FM's Thunbrella - Words To a Void: Blues Show, featuring no less than SEVEN of the ten tracks from their brilliant brand new CD,

Shaken and Stirred

HERE'S THE LINK:

Thumbrella - Words To A Void: Blues Show 126 playlist & stream

 HERE'S A TOAST TO YOU GUYS - YOU'RE BRILLIANT!