We would meet at Janek Croydon’s Photography studio.
#Youtube gitbox rebellion full
Once a month Frank and I would jam with some musos who introduced us to a full range of Americana music. We started to play music together and discovered that we had “a sound”.
Frank commissioned a Laurie Williams original for me – check Laurie’s website: Within a few years we were working for the Rockshops – he in sales and I in administration. It was after this that Frank joined Gitbox Rebellion, briefly.įrank and I met while working at Mainline Music in the mid 1990s. Frank later enrolled at the Creative School of Musicianship, where Nigel was a tutor. “While Frank was working at Lewis Eady’s in the 1980s, he met Nigel Gavin during a product presentation with Gary Verberne.
Taranaki’s foremost Americana band: The FEDZ – Frank John, Erin Manu and Dusty Burnell. Friday 14th December – society night – The FEDZ Ziggy might have done it before them, but they demonstrate that there’s still much more to see when it comes to playing guitar.(either page down or click on specific event for more detail) 14th December – The FEDZġ6th June – Hamilton County Bluegrass Bandġ5th June – Andrew Bicknell’s 50th Birthday!Ģ6th May – Jan Preston presents “The Kid Stakes”Ģ4th March – Beverley & the Clench Mountain Boysħth January – Karen Lynne Bluegrass Circle To summarise, a journey through a rich musical landscape, carried along by a troupe that is much more than the sum of its parts, and an experience warmly recommended to all.
All that’s needed, really, with a cast as skilled as this. The ringmaster, or perhaps lion-tamer, is undoubtedly Nigel, leading with the lightest of touches – a gentle hand on the tiller, as opposed to a strict martinet. Through it all, barely a word passed between the players, communication taking the shape of a gesture here, a raised eyebrow there – and the occasional gurn, these being guitar players, after all! Could’ve sworn there was some telepathy going on as well, such was the interplay. Amongst the original material was the locally-inspired “Sacred Hill”, written by Nigel for the Nairobi Trio (one of his myriad other gigs). From that point, for the next hour or so an enraptured audience was carried along through a masterclass in ensemble playing, traversing tunes ranging from Jeff Beck to Ennio Morricone to Django Reinhardt, via Guitar Boogie and the Wabash Cannonball, interwoven with a large amount of original material. Getting on to the performance itself, things kicked off with all six strummers appearing from stage right, playing as they entered, before getting up on stage and plugging in. For this incarnation, original members Nigel Gavin, Kim Halliday, Russell Hughes and Bodi Hermans were joined by Sonia Wilson, Rob Mita, Doug Robertson and Sam Loveridge – some of whom weren’t even alive when the first album was released! Apart, though, from the matter of a few less wrinkles in the skin, you wouldn’t know it – the transition is seamless, with all fitting in effortlessly (or the type of apparent effortlessness that comes of long hours of practice). Some might see this as inevitable in a country that’s made an icon of the Ten Guitars of myth and legend, but it was far more about the skilful and harmonic ensemble that is Gitbox.Īfter an extended hiatus period, Gitbox (mark two) came together in 2017, born from a desire on the part of many to experience the magic for themselves, having missed out the first time around. And were blown away by the sheer craft and skill of what they witnessed. Their intricate, but supremely accessible sound saw them playing to appreciative audiences up and down the country, many of whom were probably just intrigued by the concept of a guitar orchestra.
The brainchild of master guitarist and musical polymath Nigel Gavin, Gitbox Rebellion first formed in 1988, releasing the album “Pesky Digits” in 1991 (of which I still have a copy on cassette, of all things!), and following up with “Touch Wood” in 1994. And that took care of a night’s worth of FOMO – this crew were fucking awesome! Such is the life of a roving critic.Įnough with the self-pity! From out of this abundance of options, I chose the melodic charms of Gitbox Rebellion, performing in the salubrious confines of the Blyth Performing Arts Centre. Watch an act, throw some words on a page. A temptation to gorge, to take it all in. Review by Rob Harbers, photography by Chris Kiely.Īrts Festival day seven. The Blyth Performing Arts Centre, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Harcourts Hawkes Bay Arts Festival Show 18th October 2020
0 kommentar(er)
