Davy Knowles’ European Tours February, March & April 2010 (Page 1 of 3)

Also Davy recorded an interview & session with Kerrang Radio in Birmingham today

Hey Phil, this looks familiar. Please say hello to the guys for me too. Do me a favor, OK? Ask Davy if he's listened to any John Lee Hooker recently.

By the way, I had to pull that little comical video from here, I guess it did have some background music from a new song. Oops!

Roy

Great Gig at 100 Club, good show for my first time seeing them, cracking little venue as well, spent loads of time checking out all the pcitures on the walls of people that played there before.

Been nursing a really sore knee today and just cottoned on to it being from my standing still dancing and tapping my leg with the music

tewker

Hi Phil

I am bummed I didnt get in order better, but I literally arrived at Gatwick at around 17:30, and was very rushed and missed my window to come in and arrange something. I was telling my mate, I know there are a few guys here from the Forum, but I am trying to marry nicknames with faces

I think we were the last people to leave the club hehehe, after much pestering of the Band, had a good chat with PK about the IOM and his impressions there, and some other assorted drunken madness

Cant make tonights gig as I am jetting off to thailand for a month in the morning, although I would love to go, the other night was that good left me begging for more.

tewker

The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London – 9th February 2010

If you are not familiar with this historic music venue, I’ll set the scene. The 100 Club is a small basement theatre with a standing capacity of 350. It is rectangular in shape and has a shallow but wide stage along the long wall with a bar along one of the short walls. Around the walls are pictures and posters of some of the famous names that have played there over its almost 70 year history.

With the 100 Club almost full to capacity, I managed to find a position immediately in front of PK and was able to sit on the edge of the stage for some of the gig and read the setlist.   Unfortunately, the sound was too bass and drum heavy where I was and I could hardly hear Davy’s guitar at times. Simon (eldo) subsequently told me that it was a bit better elsewhere, but Davy’s guitar was a bit heavy on the reverb with lots of fuzz.

Davy, PK and Steven (Ty had other commitments back home) bounced onto the stage at exactly 9pm as scheduled and launched into a storming Riverbed that knocked out the first timers, while the few who had seen Davy before smiled knowingly. Davy’s dextrous digits flashed across his guitar as his fingers performed gymnastics up and down the fretboard. 

Without stopping for breath the guys went straight into Tear Down The Walls – another favourite of mine. Talking of favourites, I’ve been a huge fan of ABB since The Fillmore East album and it was great to hear Davy play You Don’t Love Me next.

Davy said this was only his third time of playing in London. The first time he had to play £15 (around $25) – this was an open mic night when he was in his teens. 

After two of his compositions from the first album and the title track, Coming Up For Air, Davy played Rory G’s Messing With The Kid. I’d seen Davy perform this number at the Borderline last year when he gave an electrifying rendition of this fast paced blues number and knew what to expect. He didn’t disappoint. 

Almost Cut My Hair came next. Not as long a version as on the DVD, but great nonetheless. Some fantastic playing from Davy with rock solid support from PK and Steven. Steven definitely has a touch of Keith Moon in his playing style.

In deference to the many great bands that graced the stage at the 100 Club, Davy paid homage by playing Fleetwood Mac’s Oh Well. It was very brief and I think it lasted all of about 90 seconds, but terrific all the same. I think it was the only song that almost everyone sang along to.

After Keep on Searching Davy said thank you and goodnight and the guys moved to the corner of the stage for a few seconds while the audience clamoured for more, before returning for Roll Away and Little While. The latter being a particularly rocky number to close on a high. The set lasted around 85 minutes, but it seemed more like 5.

The full set list was:

Riverbed
Tear Down the Walls
You Don’t Love Me
Gotta Leave
Come Home
Coming Up For Air
Messin’ With The Kid
Almost Cut My Hair
Heavy on My Mind
Country Girl
Oh Well
Keep on Searching
Roll Away
Little While

I managed to requisition the setlist which the guys signed for me later. Would you believe it was written on the inside of a Starbucks’ brown paper carrier bag!

I’ve no doubt that when Davy and BDS return to the UK they will be far better known and tickets much harder to come by.

Phil

Also, here is Davy being interviewed on BBC1 on February 9th:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4POOcRIOkI

Nice keepsake Phil.  Glad the amplifiers held up this time.

By the way -does that green Mule shirt have a moon and a lady on it - if so I have the very same one.

Are you guys going to show number 2? If so, please give us another one of your excellent reviews.

Sandy

Upstairs at The Garage, Islington, North London – 11th February 2010

As I said to Davy after this set: “That was short and sweet”. 

The Garage is a smallish venue and the upstairs room holds around 150. This event was part of HMV’s Next Big Thing designed to promote new artists with three acts each night at various London venues. I’d estimate there were around 100-120 in the room leaving enough breathing space to move around and not crowd the stage. A few professional photographers were in attendance.

While I stood near the stage watching the first act I noticed a familiar face peeking through the fire exit door. Yes, it was Davy waiting for the set to finish before he could get into the dressing room. As Davy, PK and Steven passed by Davy recognised me and we said “Hi”. 

The stage at this venue is very small and due to the rapid turn round of acts, they all shared the same drum kit. I don’t know what Steven thought of that but he coped very well with the different set up. I noticed that he did bring his own cymbals, however.

After a brief tune up the guys disappeared for five minutes before returning to the stage at exactly 9.00pm. As at The 100 Club on Tuesday, they began with Riverbed. It wasn’t long before heads were nodding and jaws were dropping as Davy put his beautiful stripey PRS through its paces.

Davy then announced this was his third gig of the day! Considering this revelation, Davy and the guys looked remarkably fresh. (I later asked him where they had been performing earlier in the day and after saying he couldn’t remember, he said they’d been playing to music business people.)

Again, the second number was the barnstormer Tear Down The Walls and Davy introduced it by mentioning the influence of Peter Frampton on his recent output. If you haven’t seen Davy perform this number live, check it out on youtube. While you are there also check out Roy’s superb videos of Davy and BDS.

Next up was Coming Up For Air on which Davy’s voice sounded strong and probably the best I’ve heard. He really held the notes for much longer than on the studio version. Referring to CSNY’s Déjà Vu as being a favourite album, Davy launched into Dave Crosby’s Almost Cut My Hair. Davy really lets rip on this number, using his pedal and one handed playing on the fretboard to great effect. He was really enjoying it.

Despite the rapturous applause, the set ended at 9.30pm with only four songs played.  However, Davy undoubtedly picked up a few more fans with a short but stunning set.

Davy had little time to chat after his set as he had to remove from the stage what little equipment he’d brought. Within 10 minutes Davy (with his guitar strapped onto his back), PK and Steven were on their way. As Davy went by me I pleaded: “See ya, Davy. Come back soon”. He smiled and said “Yes, I will”.

This week must have been a complete whirl for Davy and the guys. As we say in the UK, they probably didn’t know if they were on their **** or their elbow. I’d love to hear their take on it sometime.

Phil