Review Centre: Rock 'n' Roll Bands

"Damien was absolutely fantastic, the range of different music genres and eras he performed was incredible. He absolutely made our night. I cannot recommend him highly enough"

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"Courtney is a talented, professional musican with very honest prices for what he offers. On top of that, he's a great person to deal with! Couldn't recommend him enough."

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"There’s more to Johnny Ticktin than meets the eye. Well-versed in the blues, having once served as lead guitar player for the legendary Louisiana Red, the open-minded Ticktin is a sponge, soaking up the subtle six-string nuances and intricacies of a multitude of genres—from surf to classic R&B, swing and even Mambo—on his eighth album with The Headhunters, That’s All I Need. It would feel right at home in any rough-and-tumble roadhouse. The title is borrowed from a song, covered here in all its dark, swampy glory, off Magic Sam’s 1967 iconic electric blues marvel West Side Soul. Watery, backwoods ripples of Sam’s tremolo guitar style and seductive rhythms meander through Creedence Clearwater Revival’s mysterious kudzu on Johnny & The Headhunters’ version, as Ticktin and company paddle up a lazy river of Bayou groove. Just as fluent in nasty rockabilly, they thrive in the sweltering heat of the 1957 obscurity “Chicken House,” giving it a warm buzz and making it rumble and swagger, while the lascivious, infectious funk of “Body and Fender” – a Doc Pomus/Duke Robillard joint originally built for soul crooner Johnny Adams – shakes all over and ogles the female form. A rousing, boogie-woogie version of Lowell Fulsom’s Chess Records’ hit “Rock ‘Em Dead” is wonderfully shambolic, and Ticktin rides the lightning of the Link Wray instrumental “Ace of Spaces” like a champ, gleefully wheeling through edgy garage-rock riffs with appropriate vim and vigor. What feel he and his band have for this material. There is not the slightest bit of indifference to it anywhere on this record. Not that they need it, but help arrives in the form of keyboardist Tam Sullivan, who wraps smoky, sensual organ and wraiths of piano around a soulful remake of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Lead Me On,” and singer Liz Springer, who joins her brazen vocals to Ticktin’s in the cheeky, but charming, duet “Watch and Chain.” And, with the solid machinery of a good backing band at work behind him, Ticktin can just let loose – witness the slide-guitar fury of their cover of Elmore James’ “Shake Your Money Maker.” For aficionados of tasteful guitar work and music that time shouldn’t have forgotten, this is what you need. —Peter Lindblad SPREAD THE NEWS! FacebookTwitter RELATED STORIES September 3rd, 2023 Rhythm & Roots Festival August 28th, 2023 Rhythm & Roots: Family Fave July 28th, 2023 When Rock & Roll is a Verb"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Catfish Kings were a phenomenal band that were perfect for the occasion of my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary celebrations! The quality of the music was fantastic and had everyone dancing and having a good time. I would definitely recommend Harry and the rest of the band to get your feet tapping and your mouth singing! Very professional and entertaining, thank you! "

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"The Band was fantastic, completely live, and the dance floor was full. Already booked again for our Christmas event "

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"Jackie and The Gents, a South Jersey based trio, combine three accomplished and seasoned entertainers into one incredible band. They turn any happy hour, cocktail hour, private party, corporate event, restaurant or club into a night to remember. Jackie and the Gents will tailor their music to whatever your event entails. From jazz to Motown, oldies, classic rock, country and more - they have you covered!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Really lively band; love their music, lovely harmonies.. "

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

"Another awesome night guys 🎶🎶💜💜............................."

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"I saw Joe’s Boyz perform at The Hood in Palm Desert and I was blown away! I can’t pronounce the guitarist’s name correctly but he shredded! Every aspect of the band was on point; guitar, vocals, keys, bass and drums! I know they’re only a four-piece now but I would pay $50 to see them live again!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Sally and the band are outstanding. They play a constant set of high energy crowd favourites that will rock your event. They certainly delivered for my event and left our guests with an outstanding experience. Highly recommended if you're looking for a reliable, quality performance for your event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Kirsten Kirk and the Dirty work played my bachelor part and they were awesome"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You might expect an album with edgy, teal-lit cover art and the title of The Isolation Blues, by the Mike Goudreau Band, to be either dark and brooding or a real barroom stomper, showcasing the loudest guitar you’ve heard since Jimi Hendrix’s. Instead, from the first notes, you’ll find it’s a peppy ensemble extravaganza with horns galore. More’s the better, too – the Winter Solstice is coming up, and we need an eye-opening blast of sunshine in the middle of it. Smooth, jazzy-influenced, and boasting crystal-clear vocals, it’s a must-play on New Year’s Eve. Born in 1965 in Newport, Vermont, into a musical family with an English mother and a French-Canadian father, Mike Goudreau picked up his first guitar at age 14 and hasn’t stopped playing since. His early influences included the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and later, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Powder Blues and Downchild – to name a few. Such diverse interests help to explain why Mike is comfortable in so many musical genres, especially jazz and blues. Since 2007, Mike’s songs have been heard on hundreds of network TV shows and films, such as the TV movie The Happiest Season (Hulu), Dynasty (CBS), the Universal Pictures film Dark Waters, the Hollywood film The Banker, starring Samuel Jackson (2020), The Neighborhood (CBS), NCIS Los Angeles (CBS), and Chicago PD (NBC), among several others. Joining Mr. Goudreau (vocals, guitars, bass and hand claps) are Jean-Francois Begin (think Menachem Begin, not “begin”) on drums and percussion, Dany Roy on tenor sax and trumpet, Ira Friedman on organ and piano, and Pascal Veilette on harmonica. You know all the shows and films mentioned earlier? Together, they spell diamond-level QUALITY. That’s what’s been poured into each of the fourteen original tracks on this CD. Every note, every musical phrase, glimmers like the light off one of that gem’s many facets. This is real-deal blues, whether in swing/jump form (as on the opener “Let’s Go Down to the River”), the angsty, harmonica-infused title track, the guitar and piano boogie known as “The Mooch,” or the laid-back instrumental “Sea Breeze Blues.” Any band can crank out an album in their garage or basement and deem it good enough, but not Goudreau and his posse. They care about their offerings like Michelangelo cared about David, or Da Vinci the Mona Lisa. That’s because they’re not just musicians. Not just craftsmen. They’re artists, and don’t you forget it. Got The Isolation Blues? Here’s the cure, or at least the vaccine! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Dave. I just wanted to thank you for last night. What a great band! You helped make it a very special day. Pete & Kris."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I've seen some concerts before in my time, but nothing like the Runaways who are a great bunch of guys, and one of the best tribute acts by a mile even beating the concerts that I've seen to date. I would recommend them for anybody to go and see, if they come to an area near you, to make the effort to go and see them without a 'Shadow' of a doubt!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had Diadema playing at our wedding party and it was just perfect. Great songs, amazing voice, everyone enjoyed from the beginning to the end. It was also very special to have our favourite songs performed in such original ways. Heartly recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: