Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat UK and Belgium Dates (Page 3 of 3)

Sorry Cathy and George for that big mistake

Hello Cathy,
I'm sure that you're not old.When you comes from the States to Europe for a concert of Jim Suhler i'm sure that you're very young from heart and mind.
Walter from Belgium

I'm sure the primary reason is spending time with you, George . . . and maybe something that happens in exactly THREE weeks in Vienna . . .

Well Mike, I'd guess that you have many more opportunities to see Ian Siegal than you do to see Jim Suhler, especially if you haven't seen Jim live before. So, my advice is to catch Jim! Here's a few tasters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5xTCcx9LI

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

Mike, cheers to your decision. Would also risk a "silent treatment" at home to see both bands.

And George, it's not that easy!
Ian Siegal is on tour with the Mississippie Mudbloods: Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickinson and Alvin Youngblood Hart. And the Mississippi Mudbloods aren't that often here in Europe. And speaking as a great Ian Siegal fan, I'm not sure that I would decide for Jim Suhler if I had to.

Don’t know what it is, but seems these last couple of weeks has seen a flurry of top-line American guitarists playing these shores. So, jumping on the bandwagon, I had to see Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat over at the intimate Players Theatre in Penrith.

What can you say about these Dallas desperados? From the outset they kicked like a burro with a habanero stuck up its.... Opening the first set was the double-barrel of Texas stomp, Tijuana Bible & Mexicali Run and then Jim, Carlton Powell on bass, Shawn Phares on keys & Jimmy Morgan on drums were off and running for the next 50 minutes until a storming run through of Joe South’s Hush closed things down. I'm guessing a good part of the set was from Tijuana Bible as I don't know much about their back catalogue, but I do know their pedigree. Interesting start off, with Shawn Phares on accordion rather than keys, but gave things a “Cajun” twist before he got behind the keyboards and matched Jim Suhler’s playing. The tempo may have been up and down, but it was sheer quality for 60 minutes.

After a short break, things kicked off again with Jim’s spangled guitar playing off Shawn’s accordion until Jim picked up a battered looking old strat, picked up his slide, and for the next 50 minutes gave a master class not only in Texas boogie, but in some of the best slide I’ve ever heard; at times swapping the strat for an almost equally aged telecaster. At one point, he came off the front of the stage, sat on one of the monitors as if he was giving a tutorial on slide; then, picked up a audience member's pint, downed it while not missing a beat and blazed away on another song.  Again, not only was Tijuana Bible raided, but the extensive back catalogue was plundered for Prayers Of Rain and Restless Soul tribute to Rory Gallagher before hitting the man's Bullfrog Blues to end that set. For the encore, Jim donned his old military jacket for the bands “manifesto” Stoned. And that's how he left the packed house - stoned and stunned. Rounding off, Jim came back on solo with acoustic National resonator and gave a tremendous rendition of Johnny Winter’s Dallas.

The venue was what you’d call intimate, or cosy. Though it was the Player’s theatre, the gig wasn’t in the auditorium but rather the bar. If there were 30 seats filled, then there were easily double that behind, standing, and maybe boogying: possibly it could have moved into the main part but at loss to the intimacy.  The stage looked small and awkward shaped, but the guys coped with seemingly little problem: the sound was very good from my position.
Hasta la próxima vez, mis amigos.

Miguelito

If you see him ... enjoy the gig and please also ask him to do some dates in Germany ... but not before 24 September ...