Mel Wright and I, with the sterling assistance of Tony Ellis, have finalised the artwork for the forthcoming cd: Shakey Vick & The Blueshawks “100 Club Boogie”, the live recording we did at the 100 Club, twenty years ago. I’ve said this quite a few times before, but it should be out soon. Continue reading →

Yesterday I met up again with drummer Mel Wright, (who also penned the “Les Enfants Terrible” piece on this site), to discuss the finalisation of the artwork for the forthcoming album. The one recorded live at 100 Club twenty years ago and which I’ve been rabbiting on about for some time now, and is unsurprisingly titled 100 Club Boogie. We had a pretty good meeting although it only took two pints each. It was at the Blue Post pub, just around the corner from the club. Continue reading →

A while back I came across a forum on the subject of “The Real Deal” with regard to the blues. It was the usual disagreement on whether white people could call themselves “the real deal” if they played blues. Naturally there were the usual collection of bigots, the misinformed, or people plainly not using their basic intelligence on the subject. This applied to both sides of the argument. I almost questioned myself on whether I regarded myself as the real deal, but decided that it didn’t really matter that much. Continue reading →

Our gig last month at the Inn on the Green was noticeable by the absence of our regular drummer, Dino Coccia, who as it turned out, was still in Ireland, completely unaware that the gig was on. The confusion may have lain in the unusual occurrence of five Sundays in that particular month. In fact it was quite an unusual month in other ways as there were also five Fridays, five Saturdays and five Sundays in the month, which hasn’t happened for over a hundred years, I’m informed. However, we soldiered on without a drummer. I’ll make sure Dino get’s enough warning about the November gig which is on the 21^st. Continue reading →

I have a slight problem. I think I’m missing out on something. I’ve just had my seventy-third birthday and I’m still waiting for the mid-life crisis. What’s going on? Must be something in the water. Now a little voice in my head pipes up and says it’s more likely something in the booze. Whatever! Now, where was I before I rudely interrupted myself? Oh yes, my birthday. For all of you who meant to send cards but didn’t, it was actually on the second of October. But do I care. Yes! Continue reading →

I went to the Round Midnight gig of Mike Pigott and as it was the first time I’d been there, I was a bit disappointed when Gigi and I walked in, as there weren’t many people there. However despite the Tube Strike and the heavy rain, the place began to fill up. I sat in for a few numbers too, so I enjoyed the place. It is still a proper pub but it is also a good music venue so two for the price of one. I’ll definitely be going back. Continue reading →

A week or so ago, Gigi and I went to stay with some old friends of mine in Kent. There was a gig at a local pub and another friend of mine, fiddle player Mike Piggot, was playing in a trio. I was invited to sit in for a few numbers and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mike is an amazing player and has worked with me in the past on guitar as well as fiddle. He’s due to do a gig at Round Midnight in London on September 6^th so I intend to be there. The country air meant that we slept in until 11am the next day…or was it the wine? Continue reading →