Félix Rabin.. (Page 2 of 3)

The “full” Rabin experience kicks off this coming week-end; Felix, Niccolo & Vincenzo round the country with some headline dates. Hopefully some tracks from thw upcoming debut album will be aired.
Here’s a couple of his most recent clips:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw-ipfZL-bQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeu8Pgi_e8

Sorry Mike, but the one time I checked out Felix's music I couldn't locate it.  I see we're on the second page in the forum and no one has bothered to comment on this talented young man.  I've seen this far too often and it saddens me.  I've put up and removed a number of artists I liked and just came to the conclusion why bother.  In the future I'll slot what I like in the What are you listening to lately category.
Getting back to Felix, I can now understand your persistence and really like his album Down Our Roads.  Again I'd like to remind people here how lucky they are to get exposed to bands you're on top of.

Thanks Mike!  I'm listening to his album as I type.  All the songs are good and different from each other which I like.

Felix, with Vincenzo (bass) & Niccolo (drums) rocking out mid-tour at Bannermans; Edinburgh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCeA1S6I46k  (New Blues; I Will Be Gone; Hey Joe).

I have heard that for the final show of the tour at 100 Club, Felix was joined by a horn section... if anyone knows of any footage out there...

Aberdeen has been moved to The Tunnels supporting Focus.

Inverness is an afternoon gig.

Giving it large at a Swiss festival (Castle Rock Open Air; Valangin) last week-end - with horns!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHdH5n8xPN8

Stockton Arc - 2nd Oct

Caught up with Felix, Niccolo & Vincenzo last night on their return to Stockton’s Arc,  this time opening for Chantel McGregor.
Have to say, the lads were on fire, they’ve really beefed up their sound for Britain while retaining their own style. A glitch with one of Felix’ amps (Blackpool damp, probably) threatened to derail his Voodoo Chile mid-set, but it was overcome as they romped for home.

Looking forward to Newcastle Cluny on the 22nd to for my first chance to see the guys doing a full set, ably supported by “local” find John Stainthorp.

Newcastle; Cluny2 - 22nd October

Working it out, I’ve known Félix for almost 2 years and seen him 5 times, as support or opening a Blues Festival and you know what, I reckon I’ve been conned, duped, hoodwinked, tricked and played. You see, usually Félix gives off a sort of charge, like one of those Van Der Graaff doohickies you see in schools, throwing off sparks. Last night, as part of a double treat, was my first chance to see Félix and the band unleashed as headliners; I swear he was like a Tesla coil shooting full-on lightning bolts!

As well as extending the set to double what I’ve been used to, the other new twist for me was that Francisco was brought along on 2nd guitar which beefed up and added depth to the overall sound, allowed Félix to open the taps on the ol’ Strat and even a bit of dual lead in the Crossroads encore. And while Félix was in full flight, you couldn’t take anything away from the rhythm partnership of Niccolo & Vincenzo overall making the best Franco/Italian combination since Maserati dropped one of their engines into a big Citroen.

Johnny Hallyday was dubbed “the French Elvis”, though I don’t think he ever toured the UK (maybe the odd one-off show). This is Félix’ third UK tour, second as headliner and at the very least, should be considered “the French John Mayer”, with his breathy vocals and blistering guitar work. It takes a lot these days to make my jaw drop, but last night several rivets “popped” especially during Félix’ showcase run through Voodoo Chile when Francisco temporarily left the stage. Anyone who knows me will know I’m not a Hendrix nut and of those who are I’d bet there’s a few who groan “not again” when the wah-wah starts: I’m happy and impressed enough to say that this lad’s version is one of the better (and longer) and worth experiencing; dare I say it, I’d rate it up with VATA and even KWS in my experience. And then he works some of that French magic on Gary Clark’s Bright Lights.

En fin, if they weren’t treats enough, we get a couple of numbers from the new release due in the Spring and if it were available for pre-order he’d have sold at least 50 last night. From the sounds of it, this new release is going to range from the "crunchy" to the almost "soft jazz", so quite promising. And he’s not shy about getting off the stage and getting among the crowd; usually the shows start with a disembodied guitar howling off stage, and I’m surprised the empty “balconies” weren’t used last night, unless it made it tricky getting down on cue; however last night as part of the show’s closing, this grinning figure hopped off the stage, “air” jammed with some of the audience before sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor like the elfin string-wizard he is.

D’accord, the numbers in the room weren’t huge, but nothing to be ashamed of for a newbie, mid-week in Newcastle, and once word gets out from some familiar faces I spotted in the room, they should double for next time round.  ( I know someone who’ll blab down at Beaverwood, one of the few place still shy of our lad.) And, as well as JT and myself who’ve previously seen Félix in action, there was at least one Félix t-shirt in the crowd, back for more. Word is getting about, and it’s as much a tribute to the guys’work ethic as it is their great sound,  this is possibly the best French invasion for almost 1,000 years!! Fingers crossed, the next phase will be April/May next year, so get ready and better yet, tell your local venue to get ready.

PS - if you've got 90minutes, this is the full show from Kinross, a couple of nights previous:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeprSrF-FEs