The Musician - December 2006

	DECEMBER 2006	LISTINGS HOME

Fri 1		KeepitCASH Johnny Cash Tribute plus The Soar Valley Way £6adv £7door www.keepitcash.co.uk KeepitCASH are a four piece in the spirit of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three, playing music from every decade of The Man In Blacks’ incredible 60-year career. One of the most faithful tribute bands you could hope to hear, KeepitCASH perform over 40 songs from the canon of Cash work - many have been hits on both sides of the Atlantic. The show is a musical journey through the heart of America. Johnny Cash is an American icon. The last great rebel kicking against the pricks until the final curtain fell. KeepitCASH are keeping the legend alive in a stunningly authentic way, gaining an enviable reputation on the national circuit as the number 1 Cash tribute. Don’t miss KeepitCASH

Sat 2		Aynsley Lister Band plus Sam Wilkinson Band £8 www.aynsleylister.co.uk In a world full of manufactured over-hyped pop music, Aynsley Lister is proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel. His powerful, infectious songs are unashamedly blues influenced and performed with the kind of conviction of someone twice his age. Say the word blues to a commercial record company and see how far they run! But Lister carries on regardless, writing and recording albums that continue to sell and prove that blues rock music can be commercial and have you singing along to yourself days after you hear it, just like half the committee written stuff you hear every day on the radio. Exceptionally mature and exciting. – Mojo. Superb - The Times.

Sun 3		Flashdown 2 The Nightingales ist The Soar Valley Wayfarers The Displacements £5 www.istianity.co.uk "Literate, Thoughtful Music" - Iain Banks "8/10 - ist should be right at the top of your shopping list" - Atomicduster "There are diamonds here, go and get them" - Unpeeled "**** - An incredible album" - Left off the Dial "Strident, and dare we say, sexy" - Record Collector "Utterly Brilliant" - The Mag

Mon 4

Tue 5		Jackie Leven plus Jon Redfern and Sir Vincent Loan £6adv £8door www.jackieleven.com A firm Musician favourite, Jackie is a truly unique artist, whose vocal prowess and ability to tackle huge subjects, whilst crafting songs of exquisite, soulful Celtic mysticism, is comparable to only Van Morrison. However unlike Van, Jackie has a wicked sense of humour and his anecdotes are legendary. Not only that, he is an amazing percussive guitar player to boot.

Wed 6		State of Undress £5 www.stateofundress.com State of Undress: This colourful rocky rootsy six piece from Dorset is delighted to be bringing their distinctive brand of original music to The Musician. Their guitar-based songs, interlaced with violin, mandolin and banjo, in addition to drums and bass, move from the evocative and thought-provoking to the shamelessly foot-tapping! “State of Undress remind me of on one hand Pogues, on the other the Beautiful South. They have good spirit, feel good songs with a touch of humour to some of the lyrical content.” - BBC Southern Counties Radio. “Song for a Boy is one of the most stunning, most poignant songs I've heard in a long time.” - Dave Lee Travis, BBC Three Counties Radio. “Songwriters who really know their craft.” - Country Music Round Up. "This is real music, played by real people... the whole album flows really well, with the perfect balance between upbeat and more down tempo songs" - AND magazine. “I was literally blown away after the first listen of this album.” - The Orpheus.

Thu 7		Andy Griffiths Band plus Jane Taylor £5 www.andygriffiths.net www.janetaylor.co.uk A must for fans of passionate, literate songwriting, Andy Griffiths returns to the Musician tonight with a new album and band. His first cd Strawberry Girl was described by Americana-UK as "uplifting...all finely crafted vignettes of love and it’s many vicissitudes" and the new album shows Andy reaching for new heights, with musical themes referencing everyone from Radiohead to Nick Drake, and lyrics touching upon subjects as diverse as the changing seasons, space travel, mountaineering and World War Two. 'Sultry, smoky melodies and a razor sharp lyrical bite. Her bittersweet songs take on a sparkling new dimension that demands to be universally adored.' - Venue Magazine. 'Jane Taylor is no ordinary singer songwriter. She has this intangible magic in her voice...the kind that draws you in and holds you right there until the moment you notice that you've forgotten to breathe and then you hear her words that bizarrely seem to have been written for you and stand there transfixed like it's a bit of fate that brought you here and I'll defy anyone not to leave without a cd or at least humming one of her songs' - Get Rhythm

Fri 8		Howard Smith & The Razors £6 www.howardsmith.co.uk It’s always a pleasure to have red-hot, local guitar ace Howard Smith and his hard drivin’ Razors down at The Musician. Combing the no-frill’s, blue collar r’n’b of killer British combo’s such as The Inmates and Doctor Feelgood with the greasy slide work of Ry Cooder, Sonny Landreth and Lowell George, Howard and the boys are one of the rockin’-ist little blues bands in the country. Tight as hell, yet as loose as the proverbial goose The Razors are always an exciting proposition live and shouldn’t be missed.

Sat 9		Damian Jurado Band plus J. Tillman and Liam Dunlaghan £10 www.damienjurado.com An urban folk singer coming out of the hardcore/punk scene, Damien Jurado runs the gamut of styles and emotions with a subtle flair that is unmistakably original. His recordings are dark, almost fuzzy and filled with magnetic tape glitches and dropouts, and Damien sounds as alone in his room as Robert Johnson, Nick Drake or Chris Whitley, strumming his guitar in spare, lonely strokes and singing with all the tragic romance he can muster. Jurado is quietly earning respect for his fine songwriting skills, and his flair for the dramatic, painted with realistic strokes, is one that is not easily approached and he is indeed in a league of his own. His Raymond Carver-esque vignettes of terror and bliss in Middle America are well worth seeking out.

Sun 10		Closed

Mon 11

Tue 12		Persausive Electric Blanket Lounge presents Will Carruthers (Ex Spacemen 3) plus support

Wed 13		Steve Pinnock plus Porter & Kaszak £5 www.stevepinnock.com Originally from Hull, Steve Pinnock is a mesmerising and truly innovative guitarist to watch. Influenced by the likes of Antonio Forcione, Al De Meola and Tuck Andress he has stretched the potential of the acoustic guitar beyond normal boundaries to turn it into an instrument exploding with jaw-dropping harmonic and percussion sound. In recent years he has led the lounge music combo Mood Indigo based in Nottingham where he has astonished listeners with his ability to play the bass parts to jazz classics while soloing the guitar over the top. Having played Montreux Jazz Festival and provided the original score for some of playwright John Godber's productions.

Thu 14		Magic Car £5 www.tinydog.co.uk "Nottingham may seem an unlikely spot for the plaintive echoes of the Cowboy Junkies, but Magic Car's Family Matters is often strikingly similar. The Margo Timmins like vocals of Hazel Atkinson glimmer on "White Knuckle Ride", offset by chief songwriter Phil Smeeton coming on like a mellow Jon Langford." - www.uncut.co.uk. “This is an album that will delight, captivate and entrance anyone with a heart and soul, plus an ear for good music well played in a laidback manner abetted by haunting vocals.” - Rambles.net. "... delightful ... sturdily memorable melodies, but what brings them closer to greatness than most is their imagination as arrangers." - Across the Tracks. "This really is a lovely album." - Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2.

Fri 15		Dawson & The Dissenters £5 www.dawsonsmith.com Rockin' blues and roots from this eclectic and electrifying band. Featuring consummate frontman Dawson Smith and the guitar wizardry of Simon Faulks both of whom deliver superb original songs and powerhouse vocals. Expect material from Dawson's two excellent solo albums, Valley Boy and the newly released, blues based album The River Road plus a selection of well chosen blues and roots classics from the likes of Lucinda Williams, C.C. Adcock and John Hiatt.

Sat 16		7storysoul £5 www.7storeysoul.co.uk 7Storeysoul are a celebration of quality 1970’s soul and funk. Covering some rarely performed soul gems plus some well-loved classics of the era, their set ranges from the socially conscious soul of the early 70s, including Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder, to the later feelgood funk of bands such as Stretch, The Crusaders and The Average White Band. They also perform some original material in the same soul/funk vain. 7Storeysoul’s combination of laid-back grooves with strings and harmonies results in a sweet summery sound guaranteed to get you moving!

Sun 17		THE ACOUSTIC MUSIC OF RORY GALLAGHER Played by Barry Barnes (Sinnerboy) £6 www.sinnerboy.co.uk When Barry Barnes heard of the death of his lifelong hero Rory Gallagher in June 1995 his world fell apart. Barry first saw Rory play with ‘Taste’ in 1969 and Rory has been his biggest influence and inspiration from that day to this.Barry promoted the first and longest running annual tribute concert to Rory in his native Manchester, and formed the top Rory Gallagher Tribute band ‘Sinnerboy’ in 2000.The acoustic set that Rory always played in the middle of a performance was always enthusiastically received by his faithful fans and Barry’s acoustic interludes in Sinnerboy concerts reproduce the passion and excitement, and Barry’s latest project is to play a full solo set of Rory’s famous acoustic songs.The audience at The Musician will hear ‘Out on the Western Plain’ ‘Pistol Slapper Blues’ ‘As the Crow Flies’ and many more including the steaming mandolin workout ‘Going to my hometown’

Mon 18

Tue 19		echolocation plus Dumbfound, Twenty Below Zero and Former Utopia £3 www.myspace.com/echolocationmusic www.myspace.com/hauntedbyfamemusic www.myspace.com/formerutopia www.myspace.com/tbzero www.myspace.com/dumbfoundinfo echolocation are a new incarnation of leicester favourites Bocca with Harvey Sharman-Dunn taking over the vocal duties. Launch party for echolocation's debut ep, Under The Radar. Under The Radar is the first release for leicester record label haunted by fame music. This gig will also coincide with the completion of recording their first LP. The night will include support slots from Dumbfound, Twenty Below Zero and Former Utopia aka London's genius songwriter George Gargin. So expect the unexpected and enjoy a night of noise, sonic invention and trippy projections - what more could you ask for?

Wed 20		Acoustic Collective presents... Bryter Later Nick Drake tribute £5 www.nickdrake.com

Thu 21		Mick Ridgeways Mojo Hand £5 www.micksmojo.com “Mojo Hand oozed an ease and confidence with which they rapidly captured their audience. Their playlist had plenty of loved standards as well as original songs. Outstanding for me was the terrific Junior Wells “Come on in this House” a slowdown number beautifully played, perfect ‘open your heart’ blues. I can’t complain when a band gets it this right. A masterly performance indeed. This was my kind of blues evening as the audience was with the band all the way. A special mention for this has to go to Mick himself – he’s the front man par-excellence, stylish, easy going and friendly he entertained us to the end – super vocals, super harp – but never overpowering the bands sound.” – Hilary Drysome, Blues In Britain.

Fri 22		Diesel Park West plus The Dandelions £10 www.dieselparkwest.com Some bands belong to their own time, others trespass on decades where they don't really belong. Diesel Park West must have seemed to some people back in '89, with the release of the far-reaching Shakespeare Alabama, the most welcome and liberating guitar band anyone had heard for years. A lot of artists who have enjoyed massive acclaim and success since, may well tip hats towards the Diesels for being pioneers in the re-emergence of the guitar as the primary sound of contemporary music. Add to that song writing that both provokes and reassures... sometimes within the same lyric...then maybe its appropriate to start spreading the word.

Sat 23		Simon 'Honey Boy' Hicklin' £6 www.movinmusic.co.uk A world-class musician Simon ‘Honey Boy’ Hicklin’ is a blues harmonica ace with a hard earned and well-deserved international reputation. His subtle and fabulously expressive playing is grounded firmly in the ‘50s and ‘60s heyday of the Chicago and Gulf Coast styles of playing. With a tremendously experienced band backing him, Simon never fails to deliver anything less than a first-rate evenings entertainment and never lets good taste and soulfulness stifle a rockin’ night out.

Sun 24		Closed

Mon 25		Merry Christmas

Tue 26		Closed

Wed 27		Closed

Thu 28		The Kosmicks plus Sam Carter and Andy Stirton £3

Fri 29		Kingsize plus El Pussycat Ska £5 www.kingsizeska.com www.elpussycat.co.uk It’s time to get horny with Leicester’s top ranking ska band Kingsize who play foot-stompin’, house rocking Kingsized arrangements of the finest original Jamaican ska sounds. Their style draws heavily on the classic Studio One song catalogue and traditional big band sounds of ‘60s ska. Support comes from the equally dynamic El Pussycat Ska, whose big boss sound goes back even further back drawing on the 50’s roots of bluebeat, ska and rocksteady. It’s a killer bill that’s guaranteed to have you groovin’ ana skankin’ til the rooster crows!

Sat 30		Tony Alles Bluesville featuring P.J. Baker £5 With his deep, rich voice and skilful electric and acoustic guitar talent, local blues man Tony Alles shows his deep love and appreciation for the blues, bringing a fresh and innovative sound to the genre As well as original material, he reworks classic blues standards into funky, high octane shuffles. He is joined by renowned Nottingham harmonica player and vocalist P.J. Baker, Big Wayne Hogan on upright and electric bass and Jewellers Eye mainman Graham Summers on drums.

Sun 31		Glam, Bang, Thank You Mam! The Musician New Years Eve Spectacular feat. The Platforms plus 70's disco, fancy dress and more... £12adv www.theplatforms.co.uk Glam rock: An English phenomenon between 1971 and 1973. Glam was distinguished by the glittery, sparkly costumes of the performers and its' bouncy rock ‘n’ roll songs which would often be oozing sexual energy. Lyrical emphasis was often on teenage revolution (T. Rex’s - Children of the Revolution, Sweet’s - Teenage Rampage) as well as a strong leaning towards sexuality, decadence and fame. Glam performers often dressed androgynously in make up and glittery, outrageous costumes. Perceived sexual ambiguity was briefly in vogue. – Wikipedia.com, the on-line encyclopedia . The Platforms: The U.K.’s ultimate glam rock party band!