Archive for October 2012
Roadhouse Live at Blues at the Farm – Essex – Saturday 6th October
Our first gig at this great venue. It took a few years to arrange but after the audience reaction and the great comments on their website we know that we will be back next year.
With a 14.15 start and bright sunshine outside, I wondered about the crowd, but this place has a lot of very knowledgeable music lovers and they stayed with us through two full on sets. Danny was on top form and by the end of the afternoon at least 5 people came up to me and said that he was the best guitar player that they had seen for years. He was using a different amp set up and his sound was sensational.
The vocals were not quite as good as usual as we struggled with the venues single monitor. However the girls nailed their solo numbers. the music however was really spot on.With the crowd totally behind us we really piled the rockier stuff on. The first set was a blast just like the second. The girls were well ‘looked after’ and in favour with the crowd. Mandie was out and about and dancing in and with the crowd towards the end. There was a good version of ‘Voodoo Dance’, plus ‘Rainmaker’ went down a storm. The new song “I Can’t Say No” was given a decent outing and I reckon that will be up to standard again by the next gig .The twin guitar section worked a treat!
The best gig yet since the return from our enforced break………We’ll be back to this great place! Gary
Roadhouse Live At the New Crawdaddy Club Essex – Blues In The City Charity Gig – 29/9/2012
Thanks to the incredible work of Nick Garner who pulled together a stunning line up of events in aid of the wonderful J’s Hospice, we happily played this gig without even expenses.
A double header with Tim Aves excellent Blues Band, Wolfpac; it was great to be back at playing a big gig for a great cause. With Tim being very much the local DJ and well known musician I was happy for us to go on 1st.
As a band I think we have done well in the first two gigs since our forced break, but tonight was the night that Roadhouse returned to form. In a nice big venue with a good crowd and full PA, the band really played well. The hour and 15 minutes flew by. Due the the excellent monitoring, the vocals were the best they have been in a long time. Mandie and Sarah’s voice gell together nicely and both girls were on great form despite Mandie’s sore throat.
Bill was also back on top form and along with Roger’s drums the rythmn section powered us through the first few numbers. Third up was the new number ‘Hell on Wheels’ which again was given a good outing and was very well received. ‘Dark Angel’ featured some really smooth as silk harmonies and a fabulous solo from Danny.
Nick Garner himself got up and joined us on harp for a nice, jam style verion of ‘The Roadhouse Blues’. Sarah did well with a nice version of ‘The Lying Game’ and then Mandie brought the house down with her version of ‘House of the Rising Sun’. ‘ Tellin Lies’ culminated in a big shout for an encore and a decent version of Preacher Man ended the night on a high. There was a great crowd reaction, but the people at the Crawdaddy know their music and these were those generous souls who were also supporting Charity. A big thanks to Paul for having us back at his venue for the 6th time and the rest of the guys in that great band ‘the Heaters’ who run the PA.
A massive thanks also to Steve’s amazing photographs a few of which a featured in the last two gig reviews. Thanks for all your great support Gary
Roadhouse Live at The Wrotham Arms – Broadstairs – 21/9/2012
Thanks to Geoff for promoting and looking after the Band. This was our fourth show at this friendly pub music venue which features as a key location in February’s Broadstairs Blues Bash.
The second gig after my operation, the Band showed its lack of matchfitness with a few mistakes in the first half. A good start with cracking versions of ‘Too Tired To Pray’ and ‘Rainmaker. then wobbled with mistakes in the new song, the epic ‘Skinwalker’. Though the new song ‘Hell on Wheels’ went very well
The second set was a different story with the Band delivering a typically powerful set. By the end of the show the crowd was totally engaged with the performance and ‘Tellin Lies’ lead into the usual encore of ‘Preacher Man’. The gig was notable for it being Sarah Harvey Smart’s second appearance in Roadhouse. Her voice has a fantastic bllend with Mandie’s and she continues to make a great impact. We will be back at this lovely venue for the Broadstairs Blues Bash on Friday the 22nd February.
Gary