 Effortless vocals & a mix for all Brian St.Paul at New Found Pool Club, Leicester on Thu 18th Jun 09 | |
  I was recommended to go see this guy perform and I had put it off and off for all the wrong reasons. The friend who said go see was so full of this guy's talents I was sure that she'd either had one too many or she had been on the happy pills. How sad am I that I hadn't made the effort earlier.
Clearly with the confidence of an old pro the guy started to sing and I can only describe the guys ability as effortless. He opened with the Mavericks, Dance The Night Away and went through Sinatra, Elvis, The Drifters to name but a few. He gave each song his interpretation and each stood up to the original.
During his second set he did a short tribute to Neil Diamond. My goodness, this guy's vocal range matched note for note that of the Master he was mimicking. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - well this guy made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when he sang Love On The Rocks.
He finished his set with a Michael Bublé number that was so like the original if you shut your eyes you would have said it was Michael Bublé. For an encore he brought the house down. He sang the slow and heart rending version of Neil Sedaka's number, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. I have to tell you there wasn't a dry eye in the room. He left the stage with such cheers and applause and a promise to be back soon.
I managed to chat with him after the show and he told me that in his opinion, what he aims for is a sound that convinces your hearing that you're listening to the original even though your mind knows you're not.
Using professional backing tracks this guy is a must to see. He will provide you with a musical experience that you'll have to be bloody minded to say anything that's less than complimentary. He also told me that this year will see him 40 years in the business. Well I can tell you that it shows. Not detrimentally but totally complimentary.
Make the effort and go see this very talented singer for your self. I know he has some tracks here on Lemonrock but they don't do justice enough. | |
| A music fan, Sat 27th Jun 09 | |
| This guy was great! James Henton at Private Party, Binfield on Sat 13th Jun 09 | |
 James went out of his way to accommodate us and our requirements. He well exceeded our expectations and the pub was heaving with 'fans' and great emotion by the end of the night. Everyone was dancing and singing. We wouldn't let him go home! He is a great guy to deal with and his music is absolutely awesome - a true professional with a great sense of what the audience want to hear! Would have no hesitation to book him again and again!
His music was so varied and he put his own spin on many covers - with great professionalism too. The sound was excellent - he has great back up gear. A lot of his backing tracks he had personally prerecorded so it was like having a live band in the room. So great for smaller spaces with the need for a big noise! I would love my local pub to book him regularly - he already has quite a following now.
500 miles by The Proclaimers got everyone stomping as usual and his medley of songs at the end of the evening was outstanding - and of course the ubiquitous American Pie - the full version - sung with great verve! Some of the more recent stuff was equally excellent - Sex on Fire (Kings of Leon), Valerie (The Zutons) for example.
Would like to see him more in our neck of the woods - around Berkshire area, so book him - I highly recommend him for pubs and private parties alike.
Thanks James - you made our night extra fantastic!
Sarah, one of the party hostesses! | |
| Sarah, Mon 29th Jun 09 | |
 Reply from James Henton: Thanks Sarah,
I'm so glad you had a good night!
I really enjoyed it and your guests were a great bunch!
I'll let you know of any gigs I'm doing in the area and hopefully see you again soon!!
Thanks so much for having me....
James.
On a technical note for the people who have been asking about "tracks", any backing you hear me using during a gig is recorded there and then, live on a boss loop station. I'll be writing a kit summary soon in my blog section so check back for more info. | |
| Straight in at Number 1 BarraCoodas at The Famous Old Barrel, Exmouth on Fri 12th Jun 09 | |
 "You're so lucky with your live bands down here" says a friend of mine from London when he comes to stay, and of course he's right. You can go and watch any one of 20 plus really good bands around here and trying to list say your top five is really difficult. But before anyone thinks about their own list... you need to see the BarraCoodas because they may well go straight in at Number 1, as they used to say about the charts. This band is absolutely excellent and whether you're a foot-tapper, jigger or full on head-basher, this lot will get you doing your thing.
I don't think the 'Coodas have played much in Exmouth before and you could see the regulars in the Barrel on Friday thinking "Wow" as the band belted out classics by Bowie, Green Day, Muse, Neil Young, Pink Floyd and others, and got the whole place rocking with a few AC/DC anthems. As well as great musicianship and energy, the banter between the band and with the audience is hilarious and gets everyone feeling part of the gig. Thanks for a great evening guys, see you again sometime soon!
A word about the Barrel too - great bands on a Friday night, with good, reasonably priced beer. If you live in Exmouth or nearby, get yourself down there! | |
| Exmouth Rocker, Sun 14th Jun 09 | |
| Reply from BarraCoodas: Thanks for the positive comments, we hope to be back at The Barrel this year, but haven't got many available dates, so may not be till next year, sorry! | |
| White Horse Stampeded Paul Green at White Horse, Chorleywood on Sat 6th Jun 09 | |
 The warm and tranquil atmosphere of The White Horse, Chorleywood was rudely awoken by renditions of the last century perfectly executed by the virtuosic tones of Paul Green.
A one man show that promised to keep everyone on their toes began with melancholy blues that rapidly gathered pace enthralling an eagerly anticipated audience. Paul Green is not your ordinary run of the mill musician; he is a player's player, proven in his ability to deliver killer guitar solos through a finely selected choice of covers that no one else would attempt to perform to an audience that knew not what to expect.
We have classic numbers from Lonnie Mac (Satisfy Suzy) through to Eugine McDaniel (Before You Accuse Me), hardly the usual 'classics' you would expect to hear but Paul Green delivers them with such tenacity the listener is immediately hooked, pulled in by his bluesy vocal tones and by his laid back guitar playing which can take you from one extreme to the next. Paul Green pulls you in and makes you feel part of the show, adding a very personal touch that makes you feel as if you're the only member of the audience.
This venue was new to Paul; with immediate effect he stamped his authority on the place and owned it by the time he had finished the first number. Paul is on another level; he can cut it with the very best and does so regularly. He is about to embark on a UK tour with the father of the blues, the legendary John Mayall and is a member of The Honeycombs.
Check out his gig list and go and see him, you will not be disappointed.
| |
| A music fan, Wed 10th Jun 09 | |
| Reply from Paul Green: Thank you for your kind and eloquent description of the White Horse gig.
It was a pleasure to do it and I look forward to seeing you there next time it comes round.
I have to talk to Karen about booking another gig there. I hope it won't be too long.
Best best,
Greenie. | |
| Strong voice and great guitar! Echo at The Roebuck, Leighton Buzzard on Fri 5th Jun 09 | |
 Thank you, Echo! For a wonderful evening, filled with melodic sound which saturated the atmosphere of that medium-sized bar with its appreciative gaggle of listeners. Jo's voice was accurate and tuneful, and full of energy and fun. Mark's guitar was the perfect backdrop, setting the rhythm and the harmony perfectly for Jo to play with. Highlights for me were the emotional 'Valerie' which called to mind my admiration and sympathy for Amy Winehouse, and the country classics 'Ring of Fire' (Johnny Cash) and 'Sweet Home Alabama' (Lynyrd Skynyrd). Jo reminded me very much of a favourite country singer, Miranda Lambert of 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' fame. Could you add one or two of her songs to your repertoire, Jo and Mark? http://www.mirandalambert. com/music
Anyway, loved it, and thanks again! | |
| Guy Higby, Mon 8th Jun 09 | |
| Reply from Echo: Thanks Guy. We're pleased you enjoyed us. Keep a look out for us and come and see us again soon. Cheers. Jo | |
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Lemonrock's Top Gig Reviews are chosen by the Editors. We look for intelligent and detailed descriptions that will give a complete outsider a good idea of what to expect, in terms of the material presented, the atmosphere of the gig, the quality of the music and the showmanship demonstrated.
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