Richard Hawley -

Okay - I know that at least good friend Curby is aware of this guy, so I'm guessing that there's a few more, despite lack of references on the forum. So, if I'm "singing to the choir" - sorry. Despite 2 Mercury nominations and a Brit Awards nomination, I'm wondering how he slipt under my radar until very recently.

Firstly, how would you sum up Richard Hawley's music - it's not blues, though blues are in there, as is rockabilly, alternate rock, brit-pop, pop, easy listening, country; I think he's invented his own genre, which for a better name, I'm going to call "Gerald". One's things for certain, he's a superb writer, producer, singer and a guitarist's guitarist and has a range of some very bonny guitars on which to prove it. (Les Pauls, Gibson 335s, Gretch G6120 and I'm sure I saw a Rickenbacker R360.)

On a stage that looked like it was provided by Sheffield Council Parks service we were treated to 100 minutes of magic. Standing At The Sky's Edge, Don't Look At The Sun, Open Up Your Door, Leave Your Body Behind You - and those are just the one's I've been able to register. Didn't catch the title, but one song, with Shez Sheridan on lapjack, was like Albatross with lyrics, then they blazed into a riff that was not unlike On Her Majesty's Secret Service: then you get a couple of songs which wouldn't have been out of place if Marty Wilde did the vocal. There was twin-guitar stuff with pop-hooks that would embarrass The Cure, such is the range of material. The night's closer was The Ocean. Have to say, Richard's band, the one I saw earlier in the year backing Duane Eddy, were fantastic; Shez Sheridan who shared guitar duties, especially.

I know I came "late to the party", but at least the fat lady hadn't been round emptying the ashtrays. If you've seen Richard in concert, then you know where I'm coming from - if you haven't, then here's some places you can go to:-

28/09/12  Barrowland Richard Hawley in Glasgow  United Kingdom
30/09/12  Engine Shed Richard Hawley in Lincoln  United Kingdom 
01/10/12  Assembly Rooms Richard Hawley in Derby  United Kingdom
02/10/12  City Hall Richard Hawley in Sheffield  United Kingdom
03/10/12  o2 Academy Richard Hawley in Brixton  United Kingdom 
09/10/12  Melkweg Richard Hawley in Amsterdam  Netherlands
10/10/12  La Cigale Richard Hawley in Paris  France 
12/10/12  Ancienne Belgique AB Richard Hawley in Brussels  Belgium
13/10/12  Gebaude 9 Richard Hawley in Cologne  Germany
15/10/12  Festsaal Kreuzberg Richard Hawley in Berlin  Germany
16/10/12  Theater Akzent Richard Hawley in Vienna  Austria
17/10/12  Hansa 39 Richard Hawley in Munich  Germany
19/10/12  Cooperative de Mai Richard Hawley in Clermont Ferrand  France
20/10/12  Krakatoa Richard Hawley in Bordeaux  France
21/10/12  Joy Eslava Richard Hawley in Madrid  Spain
22/10/12  Tmn Ao Vivo Richard Hawley in Lisbon  Portugal
24/10/12  Auditorio Richard Hawley in Malaga  Spain
25/10/12  Teatro Circo Richard Hawley in Cartagena  Spain
26/10/12  Apolo Richard Hawley in Barcelona  Spain
01/12/12  Nerve Centre Richard Hawley in Derry  United Kingdom
02/12/12  Mandela Hall Richard Hawley in Belfast  United Kingdom 
03/12/12  Vicar Street Richard Hawley in Dublin  Ireland
05/12/12  Black Box Richard Hawley in Galway  Ireland 
06/12/12  Savoy Richard Hawley in Cork  Ireland 

Mike