Topic: RavenEye

WHO???

That’s what I thought when I first got the email, but panic ye not, it’s the return of an old friend Oli Brown.

Re-imagined, rebranded or just plain recharged, Oli’s coming back with a thumping trio by the sounds of it; Kev Hickman on drums & Sam Weston on bass.
Don’t panic though, Oli says he’ll still be doing some old favourites.

First UK date - Oct 3rd @ MKII, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes.  Ask nicely and you may get a pre-release EP ahead of official release in Feb. And they’re video recording a song at the gig, so you may gat your face on tape.

Good to see ya back, Oli.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

I hope that he will come to Belgium and The Netherlands.  Great guy and guitarplayer.
Walter from Belgium

Re: RavenEye

Oli & the boys are hitting the road in the UK for a short tour in December:-

Tour Dates

Dec 07        The Musician        Leicester              TICKETS
Dec 08        The Bullingdon      Oxford                 TICKETS
* Dec 09        Fiddler’s Elbow     Camden               TICKETS
Dec 11        Talking Heads       Southampton       TICKETS
Dec 15        The Waterfront      Norwich               TICKETS
Dec 16        The Louisiana       Bristol                  TICKETS

*This gig is exclusive on the door event so join the Facebook event to let the band know you're coming

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Couple of Spring UK dates for Oli & RavenEye:-

Feb 28th - Greystones, Shefield
Mar 13th - Fruit, Hull
Mar 20th - Kiln farm Club, Milton Keynes

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

While updating the London Gig Guide I've noticed that Oli also has a London date on the 24th June at The Half Moon Pub, Putney with Well Hung Heart. If you've seen The Hoax in the last couple of years there's a good chance you've seen WHH too.

The listing has Raven Eye below WHH, but I know which I'd rather see headlining.

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56

6 (edited by BansheeUK 2015-09-01 08:55:49)

Re: RavenEye

Oli and his hooligans have been chosen to support none other than Slash on upcoming North American tour and Oli has gone to Kickstarter with a bundle of offers to help raise funds for visas & travel expenses (they’re looking to hire & self-drive 8,500miles).

If you want to check out the goodies, or you’ve got holiday money left over, go to - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/12 … nav_search

Each pledge goes into a draw for an exclusive Olive green Hofner.

The shows are as follows, if you'd like to follow along:
•01-Oct The High Watt (With The Glorious Sons) Nashville, TN
•03-Oct Louder Than Life (Festival) Louisville, KY
•07-Oct Mill City Nights ** Minneapolis, MN
•09-Oct Grey Eagle Event Center ** Calgary, Canada
•10-Oct Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium ** Edmonton, Canada
•12-Oct Queen Elizabeth Theatre ** Vancouver, Canada
•13-Oct Moore Theatre ** Seattle, WA
•15-Oct The Depot ** Salt Lake City, UT
•16-Oct Fillmore Auditorium ** Denver, CO
•18-Oct The Warfield ** San Francisco, CA
•20-Oct Wild Horse Pass Hotel And Casino ** Chandler, AZ
•21-Oct House Of Blues ** Anaheim, CA
•23-Oct Hollywood Palladium ** Hollywood, CA 24-Oct Aftershock (Festival) Sacramento, CA
•24-Oct Aftershock (Festival) Sacramento, CA

**With With Slash, Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

BansheeUK wrote:

Oli and his hooligans have been chosen to support none other than Slash on upcoming North American tour and Oli has gone to Kickstarter with a bundle of offers to help raise funds for visas & travel expenses (they’re looking to hire & self-drive 8,500miles).

If you want to check out the goodies, or you’ve got holiday money left over, go to - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/12 … nav_search

Each pledge goes into a draw for an exclusive Olive green Hofner.

The shows are as follows, if you'd like to follow along:
•01-Oct The High Watt (With The Glorious Sons) Nashville, TN
•03-Oct Louder Than Life (Festival) Louisville, KY
•07-Oct Mill City Nights ** Minneapolis, MN
•09-Oct Grey Eagle Event Center ** Calgary, Canada
•10-Oct Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium ** Edmonton, Canada
•12-Oct Queen Elizabeth Theatre ** Vancouver, Canada
•13-Oct Moore Theatre ** Seattle, WA
•15-Oct The Depot ** Salt Lake City, UT
•16-Oct Fillmore Auditorium ** Denver, CO
•18-Oct The Warfield ** San Francisco, CA
•20-Oct Wild Horse Pass Hotel And Casino ** Chandler, AZ
•21-Oct House Of Blues ** Anaheim, CA
•23-Oct Hollywood Palladium ** Hollywood, CA 24-Oct Aftershock (Festival) Sacramento, CA
•24-Oct Aftershock (Festival) Sacramento, CA

**With With Slash, Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators

Less than 5 hours to go if you still want to pledge...  Within 3 days Oli and the guys reached their total; the total currently is just shy of £7,500 - looks like they'll be able to have air-con in the RV.....

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Looks like they’ve managed to book return flights - just seen dates announced for Ebbw Vale in December….

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

When I first read about Raveneye I was encouraged by Oli's decision, same as I was when Ian Parker took his left turn and did his singer-songwriting phase.

There seems to be an endless stream of 'new' blues rock guitarists, the market is swamped and you discard one for the new 'next best thing' virutally every 3rd week. Oli has already been treading the boards for what 7/8 years? He has a solid base of fans that like what he does but the years must stretch ahead of him sometimes.

Joe has kept his interest levels high by regularly doing other stuff. Sure his profile gives him a ready platform to indulge his passions and a fanbase that is interested to see what he is doing. I wish Oli well, I think this is a necessary diversion. If you just keep doing the 'same old, same old', that is what it ends up sounding like.

So here's mud in your Raveneye Oli........!

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012

10 (edited by BansheeUK 2015-11-10 09:00:58)

Re: RavenEye

Got my pledge reward, signed copy of RavenEye's debut EP - Breaking Out last night. Oli and the gang are certainly rockin'out. Its a bit hard to take in the reversal of trend; that this once immaculately turned out, be suited young man has turned into a jeans'n't rocker, like a refugee from Sons of Anarchy....

However, clothes only maketh the man, not the music, and Oli is certainly turning it up a few notches; there's not fault with his guitar playing, and his essential song structure is very sound; my biggest concern was whether his voice would be powerful enough to ride over, and it is; he seems to be using a lower register than previously.

I don't think it's much of a shock; when you go back to his debut, Open Road, his take on Black Betty owed as much to American Ram Jam as it did to Leadbelly.

Looking forward to some tour dates in my neighbourhood; but to be going on with:-

Dec 05 Sat
Brain Freeze
Ebbw Vale     The EVI (NP23 6BE)

Jan 29 2016
Cardiff    Fuel Rock Club (CF10 1BR)

Jan 31 2016
Leicester    The Musician (LE1 2DE)

Feb 12 2016
Sheffield    The Greystones (S11 7BS)

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Off in a couple of hours to catch Oli & gang up and Newcastle Cluny; here’s other dates on this tour leg:_

Feb 08 Mon Newcastle upon Tyne The Cluny (NE1 2PQ) From: £8.80
Feb 11 Thu St. Albans The Horn (AL1 3TE) From: £8.80
Feb 12 Fri Sheffield       The Greystones (S11 7BS) From: £14.30
Feb 13 Sat Ballymena Diamond Rock Club (BT42 1JZ) From: £7.70
Feb 16 Tue London The Garage (N5 1RD) From: £8.00

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

12 (edited by BansheeUK 2016-02-10 07:53:20)

Re: RavenEye

HOLY COW!!! Or words to that effect..... If it looks like Oli Brown; if it walks like Oli Brown; but it makes a glorious, brain-crushing roar, then it must be RavenEye. The metamorphosis is complete; from be-suited Blues munchkin to hyper-active dark elfling. Oli isn't so much pushing the Blues envelope as dragging it by the [guitar] neck, kickin' and screamin' into new territory; not so much the 1970's "heavy" power-trio Blues, but more a Seattle "grunge" feel, not unlike Soundgarden....

This though isn't some "side-project" for Oli; Oli is one third of this monster. Up front, matching Oli's guitar riff for riff is powerhouse bassist Aaron Spiers, and though he's at the back, there's no way you can ignore Kev Hickman pummelling the drum like a demented octopus; one of the best young drummers I've seen in a while and really pleased that's he's found a band that "fits" him. Put these three elements together and the energy released is amazing; Oli flies round the stage (and the floor) like a mad-thing, bouncing off the walls, the drums and Aaron who's prowling and chasing him round; Kev is hammering out powerful beats while looking like he's swatting the other 2 off his kit. And there's the air of spontaneity; Oli's known for having a wonder through the crowd, playing guitar; sitting on Aaron's shoulders doing it, while Aaron's playing bass is a bit of a twist; but to decide to climb the balcony railings while singing is a bit new - I'm sure that had the crowd been a bit thicker there'd have been some old-school stage-diving.... No doubt about it, Oli's been unchained, and he's got a couple of mates of the same mind with him.

As for the music, well, if you're expecting No Diggityand the like, then no chance; this was a 75 minute set of the Breaking Out E.P. and a load of new stuff which, the guys want to get into a studio and record, really soon. It's powerful, driving stuff, but Oli still knows how to hook his audience in, Roxanne style; there are, quieter moments that skilfully allow the crowd (and band) to catch their breath, but then it's back to headbanging glory.

Would I want to go see them again? Quoth the RavenEye - All The More.....

Edit:- from Worcester, a couple of nights earlier...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtoQqfn_xF8

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Just been announced, RavenEye are to hit the USA again, this time as guest support for The Darkness:-

Apr 08 The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA   
Apr 09 Fremont Theatre San Luis Obispo, CA   
Apr 10 House of Blues San Diego San Diego, CA   
Apr 12 The Belasco Theater Los Angeles, CA   
Apr 13 Riverside Municipal Auditorium Riverside, CA   
Apr 15 House of Blues Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV   
Apr 16 LiveWire Scottsdale, AZ   
Apr 17 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ   
Apr 19 House of Blues Houston Houston, TX   
Apr 20 House of Blues Dallas Dallas, TX   
Apr 21 House of Blues New Orleans New Orleans, LA   
Apr 24 House of Blues Cleveland Cleveland, OH   
Apr 26 Bogart's Cincinnati, OH   
Apr 27 House of Blues Chicago Chicago, IL   
Apr 29 Deluxe at Old National Centre Indianapolis, IN   
Apr 30 Baltimore Soundstage Baltimore, MD   
May 02 Irving Plaza New York, NY   
May 03 Waiting Room Buffalo, NY   
May 04 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Just heard that Oli's gang have been added to the bill at this year's Download.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Currently in the studio, hopefully have the debut album ready for mid-September, and on a new label deal with Frontiers.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

BansheeUK wrote:

Currently in the studio, hopefully have the debut album ready for mid-September, and on a new label deal with Frontiers.

Debut album Nova to be released on Sept 23rd.  Pre-order now from Oli's or RavenEye sites.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

17 (edited by BansheeUK 2016-07-20 03:10:46)

Re: RavenEye

Jane H. wrote:

I'm digging it!! smile  thanks for the reviews etc.
http://www.raveneyeofficial.com/

looks like its just digital download?

Pretty sure there'll be physical CDs available, and Oli is even talking about Vinyl on his most recent newsletter. Looking forward to this, and any subsequent tour; they're still the most energetic, loud and charismatic band I've seen this year.

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...

Re: RavenEye

Try this for size from Oli & band's upcoming CD (pre-order available)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPiUabOcKrA

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...