• From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Topic: Oli Brown Band

We had a good time on Friday night at the Blues Bar in Harrogate. We went to see Oli perform there for the second time and the place was packed out again.
I introduced myself to Graham, Oli's dad, and we had a nice chat. I can see where Oli gets his charm from!
He thanked me for my 'kind words' on this forum and told me that he had met Greenose up in Glasgow. Hi to you Duncan from Graham.
The band are now signed to Ruf records and their first album is out now called Open Road. The material is mostly original apart form covers of 'Can't Get Next To You', All The King's Horses and Black Betty.
They put on a great show and they looked pretty sharp too. Oli was especially excited with his new black and white crocodile shoes.
Oli's playing is fantastic whether he's doing a slow blues or a more up tempo number.
Credit to Fred Hollis, who plays a wonderful 6 string bass and did a cracking solo, and to Simon 'Ding-a-ling' Dring on drums, complete with a timely placed cow bell, as they both did some backing vocals this time...which was even better when the mic was switched on, eh Fred?
Oli has a wonderful easy manner and talks to the crowd with ease making everyone feel involved and managed to get a really good bit of 'audience participation' going on the last number Let Me Love You Baby.
I took a few videos but unfortunately only got half of Missing You....card ran out of space..Doh! Sorry boys, next time.
They are also big fans of Joe and would really like to support him in the future. I'm sure you would enjoy their show ..I did.
Here is a link to a video of Played By The Devil

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZKgyaX9Gd8

Love Tripsy smile

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

Hi Tripsy and all
Yes I also had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Oli Brown a week past Saturday at the Blues on the River Festival in Glasgow.

Id been waiting a long time for this gig, Graham Brown had actually read a previous post I had written on Oli and contacted me through my myspace page (website link), when he told me Oli would be playing Glasgow. Well it was certainly worth the wait.

Oli followed the evergreen Connie Lush at about 11.30pm on a pouring wet night so the remaining attendance was not what it would have been. Thankfully that did not phase Oli and the band in the slightest and they played a fine set starting with the James Brown song Cold Sweat. Oli is a great guitar player with a fantastic tone and improving singing voice (he has just turned 19). He played a fine set of originals such as New Groove, Played By The Devil and Pyscho (which was a true story about a girl who started stalking him) and also a great cover of the Temptations' 'Can't Get Next To You'. Its clear Oli, Simon and (King) Fred have put a lot of practice in together as they were a very tight blues rock trio who played with a funky groove throughout.

The highlight was perhaps Missing You - shame your memory card ran out during that one Tripsy! His playing during this song recalled both Peter Green and Otis Rush. I got a few pictures and took a short video of New Groove, see link below:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ApfeFRMvHV0.

Naturally Tripsy's clip is better and there are some other great videos of Oli on line.

I had the pleasure of meeting Oli directly after his performance when he came down from the stage to speak to me. He is an intelligent and charming individual and I spend a few minutes speaking to him and his girlfriend Katie (who kindly took a picture of myself and Oli). I bought Open Road at the gig and have been listening to it alot since.

I feel Oli is a great talent, who has had some great exposure supporting Rodden Ford, Walter Trout, Johnny Winter, John Mayall and Aynsley Lister (sadly he was also due to support Jeff Healey before Jeff's untimely death)). I feel he would be a great support act to Joe Bonamassa on his UK/European tour in Noevember and December.
Its time Britain had a great new blues guitarist and I feel that Oli's debut album is the most promising debut album from a blues artist in mainland Britain since perhaps the Hoax in the 1990. Fans of Joe and Back Door Slam please check him out, you'll like what you hear!

Duncan

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

Hi Duncan,
It was nice of Graham to contact you about the gig in Glasgow. I too think Oli is a great new talent and should go far. Missing You was definitely one of the highlights in Harrogate too. I got about 5 minutes of it, just haven't got it uploaded yet.
I think you put the wrong link on for your video. I think it should be this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ApfeFRMvHV0

Here is Steppin' Out, Steppin' In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY5NZrkQpic

Open Road is an excellent debut album...Looking forward to the next one and the next gig.

Tripsy smile

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

Tripsy wrote:

I think you put the wrong link on for your video. I think it should be this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ApfeFRMvHV0

Here is Steppin' Out, Steppin' In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY5NZrkQpic

Thanks for that Tripsy, I cannot view youtube from this computer so that is probably why I got it wrong. I look forward to seeing Oli and the band play a full set in Cumbria later this year. Tour dates can be seen at

www.olibrownband.co.uk

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • eva
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  • Registered: 2007-03-15
  • Posts: 1,885

Re: Oli Brown Band

You guys are so quick with finding new bands - I just read about the Oli Brown Band in the German Bluesmagazine "Blues News" and thought I should listen to the album sometime .... and now you´re already here with videos and stuff lol !

They sound good from what I heard up to now, and they´re even younger than Back Door Slam ... so now we´ve got the "twentysomethings" covered by BDS and the Teens covered by the Oli Brown Band - the Blues isn´t exactly threatened with extinction obviously wink ...

Eva

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

Hi Eva, I can recommend the album it is very good. You're right the blues is alive and kicking!
See you on Monday

Tripsy smile

7 Reply by tgb (edited by tgb 2008-07-06 06:31:07)

  • tgb
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  • From: Norfolk
  • Registered: 2008-04-10
  • Posts: 1

Re: Oli Brown Band

Thank you, for all the great comments you are making about Oli Brown.

As you know, we really do appreciate your support and hope to see you at an Oli Brown Band gig soon.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get Joe to have Oli play at one of his gigs ? Even for ONE number !!

Eva, glad you have caught on to Oli, please go to www.olibrownband.co.uk, send us an e.mail and we will put you on the mailing list !! (oli@olibrownband.co.uk)

Oli WILL be touring in Europe at the beginning of 2009, hope you can make it !

BIG thanks, again, to Tripsy and Greenose.

tgb's Website

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

No need for thanks Graham, Oli, Simon and Fred deserve all the praise they are getting. You too...you're doing a great job for them.

Tripsy smile

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

BluesMan wrote:

Tripsy,

These guys really have it going. Man, all this young talent coming up makes me feel like a kid again. Actually, I never have stopped feeling like a kid or acting like one either! big_smile

Thanks so much for the post and I'll take a look at the album.

Roy

Listening to it is far more enjoyable! smile

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

Tripsy wrote:
BluesMan wrote:

Tripsy,

These guys really have it going. Man, all this young talent coming up makes me feel like a kid again. Actually, I never have stopped feeling like a kid or acting like one either! big_smile

Thanks so much for the post and I'll take a look at the album.

Roy

Listening to it is far more enjoyable! smile

You can take a look at the album on Tripsy's avator! Seriously though it is definately worth listening to, and I think this guy (and band) can only get better!

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

I believe Oli has just turned 19, although he would have still been 18 when he recorded the album. He's probably our best musical prospect in the blues field at the moment and I'm sure we'll be hearing much more from Oli Brown in the future.

Glad you enjoyed the album and that Oli's album is being heard over the Atlantic too!
Open Road is good, and having seen him last month I have to say he sounds even better live, hopefully he will do a US tour sometime in the future.

Here's an old topic on Oli, with a link to some youtube videos of him:

http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5043

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

Hi Rev Paul,
So glad you like Open Road.
According to Oli's web site he will be touring with the Blinddog Blues Festival and will appear in Utah and Wyoming in August. Don't know if that's close enough for you to catch a show.

http://www.blinddogbluesfestivals.com/

Tripsy  smile

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

Some more news on Oli Brown

FENDER are endorsing Oli Brown with an artist deal !
This is great for Oli (he uses Fender amplification) and gives him the opportunity to expand his use of Fender equipment.
I would point out that this does NOT mean that Oli is moving away from his Stonetree guitar, in fact his new Stonetree custom model should be with him within the next two months.

AMERICA
Oli has just returned from a successful tour of the States, he had a great time. Sherman Robertson, Oli tells me, is fantastic live do NOT miss him !! Here is the website for Sherman's gigs http://www.movinmusic.co.uk/cgi-bin/fre … hdbdisplay

PHOTO SHOOT
Having returned from America 2 Sept he then went to Birmingham 3 Sept to carry out a photo shoot in preparation for his forthcoming European tour in January and February 2009. I will give you all the relevant information, once the final dates are agreed.

OPEN ROAD CD
Don't forget, Oli Brown "OPEN ROAD" is available to download from iTunes AND it has charted in both the UK and Luxembourg !!

Remember he is also supporting Walter Trout on his UK tour in November!
www.oliselectricblues.co.uk

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk

14 Reply by eva

  • eva
  • eva
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  • Registered: 2007-03-15
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Re: Oli Brown Band

Hello everyone,

I just thought I´d bring this thread back to life as I just watched a great DVD that Tripsy sent me with some of her videos of the Oli Brown Band. MAN, they are good!!!

I will definitely buy the album and go to see them when they come to Germany - I heard they will be part of the Blues Caravan next year?! Does anybody know more about that?!
I agree that they would be a great support band for Joe - or how about a tour with Back Door Slam?! wink

Listen to them if you don´t know them yet!!

Eva

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Oli Brown Band

eva wrote:

Hello everyone,

I just thought I´d bring this thread back to life as I just watched a great DVD that Tripsy sent me with some of her videos of the Oli Brown Band. MAN, they are good!!!

I will definitely buy the album and go to see them when they come to Germany - I heard they will be part of the Blues Caravan next year?! Does anybody know more about that?!
I agree that they would be a great support band for Joe - or how about a tour with Back Door Slam?! wink

Listen to them if you don´t know them yet!!

Eva

Hi Eva

Oli's dates with the Blues Caravan are on Ruf's website.

Here is the link:

http://www.rufrecords.de/tourdates/60_o … dates.html

Hope there is one near you There are certainly quite a few in Germany. Make sure you speak to him after the gig too, he's a nice guy. Tripsy also sent me that DVD too, its great!

Oli is also at the Tenby Blues Festival this weekend with a few more dates this month in Dersingham, High Wycombe and Peterborough

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk

16 Reply by Ges

  • Ges
  • Ges
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  • From: NW England
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
  • Posts: 845

Re: Oli Brown Band

Oli and Joe on the same bill would be fantastic....on the same stage......my hair would be on end !!

Oli is my number two most played artist in the car (it's where I listen to most of my music by far). I have Tripsy to thank for the pointer a while ago.

WELL recomended !!


Thanks Oli.




tgb wrote:

Thank you, for all the great comments you are making about Oli Brown.

As you know, we really do appreciate your support and hope to see you at an Oli Brown Band gig soon.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get Joe to have Oli play at one of his gigs ? Even for ONE number !!

Eva, glad you have caught on to Oli, please go to www.olibrownband.co.uk, send us an e.mail and we will put you on the mailing list !! (oli@olibrownband.co.uk)

Oli WILL be touring in Europe at the beginning of 2009, hope you can make it !

BIG thanks, again, to Tripsy and Greenose.

17 Reply by eva

  • eva
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Re: Oli Brown Band

Greenose wrote:

Hope there is one near you There are certainly quite a few in Germany.

Thanks Duncan! smile

Yep, I will go to Stuttgart - he plays in the same little venue where I saw Eric Sardinas last week ... it´s small, but very "personal" and the sound was good too when Eric played.

Thank you again Tripsy - it seems like you´re the official "Oli Brown - commissary" on the JB forum!! smile

Eva

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Oli Brown Band

Hi Eva and Ges. I'm thrilled to hear that you are both 'digging' Oli. For a while I thought it was just me and Duncan!
Great music like Quality Street ....made for sharing smile

Tripsy smile