Chantel McGregor - British Blues Awards Winner 2013

So, Friday night (31/1) was at Sedgefield R'n'B Club for my first Chantel gig since she landed the previously mentioned Blues Awards and she came out and proved that she deserved all the above and more. Absolutely blistering performance with shredded picks flying left, right and centre as Chantel delivered top class solo after solo, whether on Hendrix covers, tapping into Joe's Yes territory with a bit Starship Trooper or her own Like No Other & Fabulous. Bouncing off the great backline of Keith & Ritchie, Chantel was in total command of yet another sold out audience at Sedgefield and was feeling "right giddy". Thing almost slowed down for the acoustic Cat Song and then a sublime Bonnie Raitt cover before things got bouncy again. Chantel also included a few new songs in the set, so hopefully she'll be taking time out for some studio work before too long; a very catchy Disco (by name, not genre....) and a Jace Everett/True Blood inspired number. (And any girl who likes vampires is cool in my book....)

This was the icing, cherry and silver ball-bearings on the cake of a very "girlie" night at Sedgefield. Opener was a Darlington youngster of 17, Jodie, who'd only been playing a year and her 30 minute solo acoustic set got a warm reception. Nena & The Red Sky are another local band, two guitar and girl fronted with a new wave / indie style; not quite blues, not quite rock though they dipped their toes in both ponds with a daring cover of Purple's Mistreated. Both acts certainly raw round the edges, but good on Sedgefield for giving local bands a showcase and some invaluable experience.

Check Chantel's website ( http://www.chantelmcgregor.com/tour.html ) for more dates, your wouldn't want to miss out while she's on this sort of form.

Darlington Forum 13/6/14

Caught up with Chantel at the start of the week-end, once again a sold-out Darlington Forum; 2nd time in a row at this venue and 3rd sold-out gig in County Durham this year. Most definitely got the “glamour” set right for here, though the way Chantel sings, plays and connects with her audience, that’s glamour enough.

Once on stage, Chantel just sets the guitar on “stunning” and blazes away with Keith & Ritchie setting a powerful rockin’ funky groove that no-other backline can come near reproducing (except maybe the original Blondie) and we’re off for a great evening. This time round, Chantel is throwing a few more new numbers into the set, taking Blues into Indigo territory, and if you don’t know what that is then get along to one of the shows and check it out. Always love her “free-spirit” attitude on stage, and how Chantel is very much influenced in her performance by who she’s “in to” at the moment and so we were treated to an epic cover of Prince’s Purple Rain that only really shared the lyrics and core melody with the more familiar Aynsley Lister treatment. Keeping on covers, as ever Daydream soared and swooped round the room, Chantel looking as if she was enjoying it every bit as much as the Darlington crowd.

Just as ever, a fantastic evening with someone who deserves the label - phenomenal.

Yes, Chantel is very much a "free spirit" on stage, just one of the many endearing qualities of her personality. She's a fearless guitar player, always ready and willing to take risks and take a leap of faith into unknown territory. And the impulsive side of her character will often have the last word as when she gets an idea in her head, she just has to go for it. And it always seems to work.

Chantel doesn't often play this one, possibly because she gets bombarded by requests in her solo acoustic slot. I've only seen her play this on one occasion about three years ago. But I found this on You Tube from a recent gig, there's only one other vid of Chantel doing this song, a more mellow full band version in 2008, but this solo acoustic version is a bit special. Excellent sound and vision as well.

A harrowing song, a rasping vocal from Chantel and dramatic acoustic guitar.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfR7GxlBH0   Gold Dust Woman

13th December,

Hmm, a gig on the 13th? Well, at least it wasn’t a Friday, especially for Chantel’s first visit to Newcastle’s Cluny. Yeah, that’s something to get the head around, knowing how relentlessly Chantel & the band have toured over the years. Still, on a cold, wet winter’s night, they received a rousing Geordie welcome and got down to serious business with a roaring Freefalling, one of several choice picks from Like No Other, I’m No Good For You and Scream Everlasting mixing in with the more brooding selections from Lose Control, giving a darker edge to Chantel’s oeuvre. Even the usually bubblegum Fabulous takes on a new menace.

As previously, just because Chantel now take the stage swathed in black taffeta don’t expect a Sister of Mercy revisited with loads of overbombing from Colin or Keith hammering out funeral dirges - both are far too good to be so constrained. This was proved by a new number, partially improvised, which takes the place of Daydream in the set; last night it got the working name “Prod Me In The Back” but ended up PROG Me In The Back, a tongue-in-cheek testament to a back problem Chantel is bravely coping with on stage.; the instrumental swings between Satriani and Trower giving scope for dextrous work from Colin and Keith. Another highlight in the set, as ever is Chantel’s acoustic section, Anaesthesia and Home, both from Lose Control just emphasise how far Chantel has come on as a writer, both very atmospheric, especially Home with its soft backing from Keith & Colin, giving breathing space from the Creed-like intensity and scuzzy riffs of tracks like Your Fever.  That takes us to the powerful closer, Walk On Land, and a final chance for Chantel and the guys to rock out with the encore Take The Power.

A really strong and memorable night at The Cluny, and a good turn-out to see it; that should ensure a return visit in the near future

13th April

What is it about Chantel, the 13th of the month and me? And has it really been over a year since I last saw the barefoot guitar-slinger-ess? Well, it's not been through any lack of roadwork on Chantel's part, nor any dissatisfaction with her music on mine; however, the "lay-off" has meant that catching up again with Chantel has brought a freshness back to her music.

Thursday night at Durham Gala saw Chantel breaking her audience in gently with an acoustic start, Anaesthesia, the only cover on the evening, All Along The Watchtower, a sublime Home and Cat Song before the band came on stage to join for Inconsolable which built from a acoustic start to a kick-butty climax. From there on, Chantel really got down to business, mixing her oldies with her newies and something so new it ain't got a title yet - an instrumental work-in-progress for this evening named Lakes & Land; getting back in touch with her Robin Trower. Southern Belle & Fabulous tore through the sound system and once again, Walk On Land was epic.

Great seeing her again - who's for The Cluny in September?

23rd Feb - Darlington Forum

There’s something about the combination of Chantel and Darlo Forum that’s just meant to be: her 5th (?) appearance at Borough Rd, and another pack-out house; they were even standing in the bar. And there’s no doubt, this is THE time to catch Chantel as album #3 is in the making so there are new songs as well as another shift in direction.

Opening the show are the acoustic double-whammy of Home and Anaesthesia and then the guys sidle on stage as Inconsolable builds from an acoustic start, through a slick guitar change, to a full-on prog-rock monster. The Lose Control album is richly plundered through the set; we already know Chantel has fangs, but as these songs have matured, there’s a little venom in their too. The Like No Other album is largely by-passed in favour of a couple of developing new tracks, the most complete of which, the epic April seems to reference more Steven Wilson than Robin Trower these days. I think that’s the way Chantel is going, dark, away from the “gothic” of Lose Control, and maybe not quite nihilistic but certainly thought provoking.

Stockton Arc - 2nd Oct…

A calm spot in the weather managed to tice out a 3-figure audience for this mid-week, Teesside gig from Chantel. Just as well as promoting the new Bury’d Alive album along with Colin & Thom, she’s clearly in the zone. Her playing is crisp & sharp, vocals strong & tender in equal measure. No set changes to the previous post but Inconsolable is an absolute show-stopper.

With a tasty support slot from Felix Rabin, this was a mighty guitar-fest and a great place to be of a Wednesday evening.

Inconsolable; (Kinross 12/09/19) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLSeR6aitAY