Sweet as a Nut at Sour Grapes

 The fabulous Boneshakers played a blinder at the Sour Grapes pub - a tiny bar in Morpeth where the bands play under the stairs.  Yes, you heard it right - under the stairs.
I started to believe that little people called the 'Borrowers' would start to appear from under those stairs, or Harry Potter would crawl out waving his famous wand - and we'd all suddenly be transported into a movie set!

But there were no little people - there was just the glorious big sound of the brilliant Boneshakers, rockin' and bluesin' the night away to a crowd that sang along, cheered and danced along to the music.

And because the audience were such an interactive lot, the band even treated them to a sing-a-long in the form of Mustang Sally!  Far from the usual mixture on their song list - but such great fun.  The crowd loved it. Doug Hayes, drummer with the Gatecrashers, in the audience on this auspicious night, found enough voice to sing over the microphone! The Boneshakers sure know how to make a party rock.

Gordon Smiles was amazing on the drums, his head bouncing off the staircase as he went nuts with the cymbals.

Dave Hildreth's solo spot on Bass Guitar during 'Messin' with the Kid' was a superbly fruity mixture of Blues and Jazz riffs to blow away the most discerning blues fan.

Ronnie Semple on Blues Harp gave us a fantastically succulent display of versatility and musicality, the like you'll rarely have the pleasure to hear.

Russ Hird treated us to guitar solos that were soulfully awesome.  His gravel-spiked vocals during ballad numbers like 'Need Your Love so Bad' could reduce the toughest individuals in the audience to a flood of salty tears.

The crowd didn't want to say goodbye at the end of the gig - shouting more, more, more: a sound that seems to be the norm for the Boneshakers.  And the bar staff joined in with a cardboard sign that also screamed for 'MORE'.

The brilliant Boneshakers is definitely the North East band to watch.  Musically adept and such a joy to watch and listen to, I can't wait for their debut appearance, topping the bill in the Iris tent on the final night of the North East's acclaimed venue, 'Stormin' the Castle' in Bishop Auckland on 1st September.


But there's lots more to come from the stupendous Boneshakers' gigs before that venerable occasion - and after of course.  They are booked for some of the best venues on Tyneside well into 2013.

And that little Boneshaker bird that whispers in my ear, tells me that the Fab Foursome are getting together as we speak - in Notes Studio, North Shields, cutting their second album in time for release at the prestigious Stormin' the Castle.  Get your tickets before they sell out, folks.


Check out some of the numbers the Boneshakers played at Sour Grapes, at the You-Tube links below:

Messin' with the Kid

http://youtu.be/MUwOjkkj7JQ

Crossroads

http://youtu.be/XN9e77ro4Tg

How Blue Can You Get

http://youtu.be/at5SfoKCwU8

 Jump Jive and Wail

http://youtu.be/ymdFFeJZa5g

Join them on Facebook on 'The Boneshakers Musician/Band' page, 'like' them, join in on their forums and get all the information you need about their forthcoming gigs.

You can also get a Forthcoming Gigs lists right to the end of 2012, right here on the 'Rockin' with the Boneshakers' Blog.

The image above is the cover of the first Boneshaker's CD, 'Shaken and Stirred'

I wonder what the next cover will look like?

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

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.

Boneshakers Trail-Blaze on Chariots of Fire at Ben Hur Biker Rally

 It was blowing a windstorm and pouring with rain when I set off to catch the BONESHAKERS at the Ben Hur Biker Rally.

And arriving at the field where the top of the marquee wafted in the gusts and rain collected in the hood of my windblown kagool, I was plodging in a mud bath in no time at all!

You'd think the brave admirers of the BONESHAKERS would be a miserable bunch this evening - but they were up for it alright!  The storm didn't stop them from partying - not one little bit.  Dressed in bikers' leathers, combats and kilts: wearing Ben Hur helmets, cowboy hats, tam o'shanters and silly hats topped off with pink fluffy hair or goldie-locks plaits, the crowd were having the time of their lives.

They even danced during the sound check, armed with bottles of beer or cans of lager in that fabulous marquee set up with a huge PA, lights and lasers.

Couragous Glaswegian, Ronnie Semple (blues harp and backing vocals) and his girlfriend, Denice, had their tent up among the biker entourage of camping merry-makers. Good luck to them!

They were going to be camping in the mud and sludge all weekend to do a bit of partying, catch up with the rest of the bands playing non-stop throughout Friday and Saturday nights and eat burgers and chips from the stalls around the site.

Gordon (drums) and Dave (Bass Guitar) heaved their gear into the band tent next to the marquee, laughing at the mud-stains on their jeans that splashed right up to their knees.

Russ (lead guitar and vocals) wasn't impressed with the weather at all!  But once he got into that marquee with the rest of the lads, setting up their gear and getting the sound check done - he was raring to go.  And GO he did.  The green light was on for a fabulous hour and a quarter of the amazing BONESHAKERS.

The first band on for the Ben Hur Biker Rally, the BONESHAKERS weren't expecting their audience to be particularly receptive.  They hoped that just to 'warm up' the crowd would be the 'job done'.

But the crowd went crazy., rockin' and rollin', jivin', jitterbuggin' and headbangin' their hearts out. 


 From the very first strains of Russ's intro to Dust my Broom, through an amazing rock and blues gig, to their famous 'Hip Shake' finale, drums pounding, harp blazing, guitar and bass riffin' and a'lickin', the atmosphere was electric.


What a great start to the Ben Hur Biker Rally.  The boys will be back here next year, I've heard - performing on the final night of the Rally.

Don't forget to look up the BONESHAKERS page on Facebook and 'like' it.  Get all the up-to-date news on what the lads are up to.  Join in their forums.

Take a look at the BONESHAKERS FORTHCOMING GIGS, right here on the BONESHAKERS blog

 

See amazing You-Tube video footage of the BONESHAKERS at the Ben Hur Biker Rally at the following links:

Dust my Broom http://youtu.be/2dmbAyRMdJo

Hip Shake  http://youtu.be/E01f34phGOI

Walkin' By Myself  http://youtu.be/UgGfRy9Rtrw

 

 

 And catch the BONESHAKERS sensational promo video at the link below:

http://youtu.be/517n9jtMnLg

And there's a few copies of the BONESHAKERS CD - SHAKEN AND STIRRED left.  
Only a few - so HURRY! Get your copy NOW!

Boneshakin' Showstealin' Promo Video

 The Boneshakers have surpassed themselves again with a brand new, amazing promo video set in two of their favourite venues, the Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle and the Riverside, South Shields.

 News travelled fast as Face Book teemed with links and shares when the promo was first posted. 






And the manager of Houghton Comrades Club wrote a splendid review of their recent gig there on the Boneshakers' Face Book page.  Here it is:

"The Boneshakers with guest guitarist Mickey Crystal played before a disappointing thin crowd at Houghton Comrades on 30th March. It was the first time the band had played for us, although Mickey is an old friend; playing a solid bluesy set the band were excellent, and all the comments from the folk there were along the lines of how much talent was on stage and what folk were missing. Running through blues standards and more modern stuff, we heard tracks from B.B. King through to ZZ Top with little detours calling in to visit Rory Gallagher, Cream, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Free. We were treated to the best lick swapping I've heard since the Buffalos started up on B.B. King's 'The Thrill is Gone', a truly sublime performance between 2 guitarists with nothing to prove, but who had a genuine feel for the music they played. The whole band came across as a fully integrated unit doing what they loved and giving all they had, a contender for best gig of the year come Christmas."

How's that for an accolade?

If you've not seen the promo video yet, here's the link to fantastic footage that'll show you just how far the fabulous Boneshakers have come since the birth of this superb band just under eighteen months ago.  Astounding!

BONESHAKERS' PROMO VIDEO

http://youtu.be/517n9jtMnLg

...at the Riverside 2011

...at the Tyne Bar CD Launch 2011