Matt Schofield (Page 2 of 3)

Sorry Currymandavid , wuld love to be there but I already have tickets to see The Blockheads in Colchester. I will be at The Jazz Cafe on 16th December though for Oli/Joanne/Virgil gig

Yes - Matt Schofield's gig last night at Charlotte Street Blues Bar was a quality night, as expected. Matt was joined on stage by former drummer, Evan Jenkins, so we had two drummers for most of the night. Matt played mostly his regular set of late and guests included Simon Law and Sam Hare on guitar and Matt's mate Lee on harmonice. Ian Siegal was also in attendance, looking dapper in his pin-stripe suit, but didn't join the band on stage. Forum members Maggie & Lydia were also at the gig and Maggie was seen feverishly making notes, so I guess a full blown report will be forthcoming. eh Maggie??? Merry Xmas everyone............

Between them Maggie and Eldo have the gig covered and yes Matt was on top form, very chilled out and enjoying the night. It was great way to start the Christmas holidays.

Real shame you couldn't make it David... catch up with you in the new year.

Happy Christmas to you all.

Lydia

This may also interest our US cousins. Be there if you can - I wish I could. 

MATT SCHOFIELD + MOUNTAIN + WEST, BRUCE & LAING
June 29 & 30: BB King Blues Club, New York

Tickets are now on sale for this guitar extravaganza of new meets old. Mountain were one of the defining blues-rock and latterly prog-rock, groups of America. Formed in 1969 by Cream producer Felix Pappalardi (now sadly deceased), Mountain took over some of the mantle of Cream, who had disbanded in '68. Mountain later morphed into West, Bruce & Laing cementing through Jack Bruce, the Cream connection. Now Malcom Bruce, Jack's son, takes the bass duties.
It seems entirely appropriate that Matt Schofield - as the UK's new ambassador of blues guitar, 40 years on from Cream - should be sharing the bill with Mountain and W,B&L at this two-night bill in New York.

Further dates will be announced shortly for Matt's debut US tour.

Lydia and I wil be at 100 club on Thursday to see Matt again.  Really looking forward to it.
Maggie 

I second that! 

Matt really played a fantastic show last night and it was amazing to watch what kind of tone he got out of his one Strat and the rented gear at the Festival ... he definitely knows what he´s doing. His songs are just the right mixture between catchy, rocking, soulful and technically brilliant - you could hear where his influences come from, but he´s still got his own thing going. And yeah, he has the "spark". He is a Fender guy, but he has the spark ...   

Ana Popovic, not so much - too many notes, too high-pitched, to technical for me ... but I really liked the Blues jam kind of thing she did with Matt, maybe because she had to improvise then - her own show sounded a bit too "rehearsed" for my ears.

I just saw that Matt is playing B.B.King´s June 29th - Ben?? 

Eva

Superb gig by Matt in Sheffiled tonight, if you get the chance make sure you get to one of his shows soon!

Yes as BBJ says, a superb show last night - nice to meet you at last after attending several  of the same gigs in the past.

If there is anyone reading this who has never seen Matt before I'd really urge you to get out and see him. His show last night was a masterclass in guitar playing and believe me he is up there with the Joe and Derek Trucks as the best guitarists I have ever seen. In many ways he's kind of the opposite of Joe who takes his inspiration from the British blues guitarists, Matt is firmly influenced by the American blues artists like Albert Collins, Albert King, Robben Ford, SRV, in addition to bands like the Allmans and jazz artists like Larry Garner. Matt has a unique sound which seems to blend these in to make it something very distinctive and extremely impressive.

Yes the turnout at the start did have us a little concerned at Matt's first headline gig in the city (they appeared at a small festival 5 years ago). However as the gig kicked off more entered the venue, Matt and the band relaxed and made some surprise changes to the set list, from the superb guitar work in What I Wanna Hear, to the funk of People Say and Black Cat Bone, slow blues of Lay It Down, the show had it all. A real depth and quality in songs, superb band who were able to improvise and showcase their individual talents and great vocals from Matt.  Turnout was a good two or three times what Joe got on his first visit to the Ferry and they'll be more next time. The band later commented on the fact they got a great buzz from the crowd and they are certainly on the way up as I was told by Matt that at many of the shows they are playing have twice as many fans at them as they did a year ago.

Catch them on the remainder of the tour or in the US on their extensive tour in the summer.