dennis locorriere

Perhaps best known for his role as lead singer with Dr Hook & The Medicine Show, Dennis Locorriere is a formidable artist in his own right and having already played to over 900,000 people in the UK through his live performances up until now, is set to take to the road again with a UK tour that will span almost six months.

On top of that the singer/songwriter also has three releases planned for this year including a book, DVD and CD.

June 6th sees the release of the live DVD and CD of his 2010 outing Post Cool. This was filmed at a packed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall while on tour with his band promoting his third solo album of the same name.

Later that month Locorriere will release the first publication of his book Whatever’s Burning Now, a collection of poetry and cartoons written and drawn by himself.

Also in Spring comes the release of a special double CD box set. This features Dennis’ two previous solo albums along with rare and previously unreleased demo recordings and live tracks. This will be the first release on Dennis’ own Post Cool label.

Despite being remembered for his days fronting Dr Hook, Locorriere has also appeared in a major movie with Dustin Hoffman, starred at New York City’s Lincoln Centre in a universally acclaimed one man play “The Devil And Billy Markham” written by Shel Silverstein especially for him, and written songs that have been recorded by a wide variety of other artists. These include Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Southside Johnny, Crystal Gayle, BJ Thomas, Olivia Newton-John and Helen Reddy.

In 2007 Dennis starred as part of the all star line up for the Dear Mr Fantasy Concert at The Roundhouse alongside Steve Winwood, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Yusuf Islam, Joe Walsh and a host of other stars celebrating the life and career of Traffic founding member Jim Capaldi. The following year he joined old friend Joe Brown  for Joe Brown’s 50^th Anniversary Concert at The Royal Albert Hall.

Dennis Locorriere’s Alone Again Tour will feature guest Emily Maguire and tickets are priced at £20.

Dennis Locorriere UK Tour Dates:

FEB
23        Horsham, Capitol Theatre                                          0140 375 0220
28        Chatham, Central Theatre                                          0163 433 8338

MARCH
4        Birmingham, Town Hall                                              0121 780 3333
11        Haywards Heath, Clair Hall                                        0144 445 5440
12        Clacton, West Cliff Theatre                                        0125 547 4000
25        Doncaster, The Civic                                                  0130 234 2349
31        Liverpool, The Philharmonic Hall                                0151 709 3789

APRIL
2        Edmonton, The Millfield Theatre                                0208 807 6680
3        Dorking, Dorking Halls                                                0130 688 1717
8        Cromer, The Pier Pavilion Theatre                             0126 351 2495
23        Cheltenham Town Hall                                               0844 576 2210
28        Yeovil, The Octagon Theatre                                     0193 542 2884
29        Weston Super Mare, The Playhouse Theatre            0193 464 5544
30        Newport, The Riverfront                                             0163 365 6679

MAY
1        Dartford, The Orchard Theatre                                  0132 222 0000
6        Epsom, The Playhouse Theatre                                 0137 274 2555
7        Lichfield, The Garrick Theatre                                    0154 341 2121
13        Swansea, The Grand Theatre                                    0179 247 5715
14        Pontypridd, Muni Arts Centre                                     0800 014 7111
18        London, Bloomsbury Theatre                                     0207 388 8822
26        Buxton, Opera House                                                 0845 127 2190
27        Solihull, Arts Centre                                                    0121 704 6962
28        Redhill, The Harlequin Theatre                                   0173 727 6500

JUNE
8        Darwen, Library Theatre                                             01254 706 006
9        Halifax, The Victoria Theatre                                      0142 235 1158
10        Skegness, The Embassy Centre                                0845 674 0505
11        Tunbridge Wells, The Assembly Halls                        0189 253 0613
16        Haverhill, The Arts Centre                                          0144 071 4140
17        Worthing, The Pavilion Theatre                                  0190 320 6206
18        Wimborne, The Tivoli Theatre                                    0120 288 5566
20        Darlington, Civic                                                         0132 548 6555
21        Shrewsbury, The Severn Theatre                              0174 328 1281
22        Truro, Hall For Cornwall                                             0187 226 2466
23        Basingstoke, The Anvil Theatre                                  0125 684 4244
25        Morecambe, The Platform Theatre                            0152 458 2803
28        Abergavenny, The Borough Theatre                          01873 850 805
30        Pocklington Arts Centre          `                                   0175 930 1547

JULY
1        Glasgow, The Royal Concert Hall                              0141 353 8000
2        Newcastle, The Journal Tyne Theatre                       0844 493 9999
3        Stafford Castle                                                            0178 525 4653
9        Ilfracombe, The Landmark Theatre                           0127 132 4242
10        Americana Festival, Newark Showground                 0870 863 2100

phantom limb

Christmas has come early for Phantom Limb fans with the fantastic news that the band will be given their new single away for free, through Amazon. The previously unavailable track Last Chance Saloon is yet another example of the band’s excellent songwriting and of course Yolanda Quartey’s phenomenal voice.

The Free mp3 track can be downloaded from Amazon here.

Currently on tour supporting Will Young, Phantom Limb recently announced their own headline tour in December to coincide with the release of the special edition version of band’s self titled album on December 7th. Band members Yolanda Quartey and Stew Jackson have written Will Young’s new single ‘Hopes And Fears’ with production by Stew and bassist Dan Brown under their ‘Robot Club’ guise.

A seamless amalgam of classic, southern soul, country blues and gospel, theirs is intelligent music-making with impeccably high standards. Few bands can boast a vocalist of the quality of Yolanda Quartey – a mix of Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples best describe the unique sound of Yolanda’s burnished mahogany voice. Phantom Limb will restore your faith in contemporary music with their enigmatic song writing and raw elegance.

It seems almost mind-blowing that a band can drop jaws at SXSW, Glastonbury and Great Escape, be personally invited to support Will Young, Massive Attack, Beth Rowley and Candi Staton and either write or produce with Damon Albarn, Daddy G (Massive Attack), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Skin (Skunk Anansie) and Will Young…and not be a household name yet.

Bristol’s best-kept secret, Phantom Limb will round off a successful 2009 with a UK tour that will show audiences just why they are held in such high regard. The band will appear at the following venues in December;

Tuesday 8th           The Ruby Lounge, Manchester           £6.50

Wednesday 9th         Nice and Sleazy, Glasgow              £7 adv.

Thursday 10th         The Cluny 2, Newcastle                £6 adv.

Sunday 13th           The Yardbird, Birmingham              £6 adv. (seated show)

Monday 14th           The Latest Music Bar, Brighton        £7 adv.

Tuesday 15th          Bush Hall, London                     £10

Wednesday 16th        Oakford Social Club, Reading          £6 adv.

Thursday 17th         Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury        £6 adv. (seated show)

Tickets from www.seetickets.com 0870 2643333

phantom limb

Phantom Limb are a six piece country/soul band based in Bristol who formed in 2004 following an impromptu Christmas jamming session. They were however forced to put the band on hold for six months  in 2006 when singer Yolanda suffered a devastating illness that forced her to stop singing.

When the band did start rehearsing again they deliberately chose to keep things acoustic while Yolanda’s voice was recovering. This proved revelatory as a more intimate yet powerful sound emerged, electric guitars were swapped for acoustics, double bass was brought in and, with Yolanda’s voice allowed to soar, beautiful country-gospel songs emerged. It was a whole new start – the recording process began all over again and Phantom Limb was reborn.

The single Draw The Line is out now, a bluesy, waltzy, country tune with a strong melody and wonderful gospel harmonies that underpin Yolanda’s soulful voice.

Phantom Limb will also be releasing a special edition album on November 9th, the self titled album is described as a seamless amalgam of classic, southern soul, country blues and gospel, this is intelligent music-making with impeccably high standards.

Having played at a series of festivals this summer Phantom Limb were Beth Rowley’s special guest at Bristol’s Colston Hall on September 24th and will support Will Young  on his UK tour in November and December.

It seems almost mind-blowing that a band can drop jaws at SXSW, Glastonbury and Great Escape, be personally invited to support Will Young, Massive Attack, Beth Rowley and Candi Staton and either write or produce with Damon Albarn, Daddy G (Massive Attack), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Skin (Skunk Anansie) and Will Young…and not be a household name….yet.

For more information check Phantom Limb’s mySpace page.

Nell Bryden

Last October Nell Bryden once walked out to thousands of troops in Iraq where she recorded her forthcoming album Live in Iraq. Last night, she walked out to five people, excluding the bar staff, sound men and security (I’m not sure what sort of a riot they were predicting).

The cold side-room of the newly named O2 Academy on a sleety Sunday night was perhaps not the ideal place for her to start her UK tour, but Nell Bryden remained chirpy throughout: “Let’s forget about the snow and that it’s Sunday and just have fun.”

And she certainly looked to be enjoying herself, despite the weather conditions and empty room. Throwing her head back and dancing to the tracks with her 1946 country guitar on the tiny stage, the set flew by as she and a very professional suit-and-tie backing band, who she later explained had only been put together days before the Iraq concerts, blasted through some very fine rock ‘n roll/country/dixie tunes.

She didn’t miss a note the whole night – Nell Bryden’s voice is astounding. Her band are just as good – the guitar solo in the penultimate song – possibly the most rock ‘n roll song of the night in a cover of House Of The Rising Sun – is technically and melodically incredible, as is the drum solo in the closer, the single Second Time Around.

Her style certainly was certainly fitting for a troops entertainer – though she assures us she had no support of the war itself. Her performance is bouncy and chirpy and her songs are uplifting in a very American manner. Late Night Call could come straight from a Disney soundtrack whilst Tonight is a jazzy number that could easily come from the 50s and which oozes nostalgia for old American country romance.

Her set is nicely varied and well-structured too – there’s powerful soul (Tuesday’s Gone), twee dixie and bluesgrass tinged country story-telling (Helen’s Requiem) and even some folk in her set (Where The Pavement Ends). Admittedly the faster songs are her forte – the power-soul can be a bit draining despite her vocal proficiency, particularly considering that this is neither a large crowd nor a smoky nightclub, but an empty unatmospheric side bar of the institutional Academy.

Yet her professionalism and Radio 2 playlisted toe-tapping songs are her saviour, and it is a shame they go largely unheard, for they really do deserve a larger audience.

Support came from Tom McKean and the Emperors, who I highly recommend checking out – they play classy French-tinged, bluesy rock songs with some lovely Fleet Foxes style harmonies, Eric Clapton guitars and late-Leonard Cohen vocals.

Nell Bryden’s live album will be released on the 6th of April, though she has one out already called Second Time Around. Here is her MySpace.

These are the upcoming live dates:

Monday 9th – Monto Water Rats, London

Tuesday 10th – O2 Academy, Newcastle

Wednesday 11th – O2 Academy, Birmingham

Thursday 12th – The Glasgow ABC, Glasgow

M. Ward of She & Him

When She & Him first appeared onto the musical radar back in July, they seemed a bit like every publicist’s dream. The boy girl duo consists of actress Zooey Deschanel (She), who appeared in every music fan’s favourite film ‘Almost Famous’ and M. Ward (& Him), every music  critic’s favourite all-rounder.

M. Ward’s blend of country tinged soft indie mixed with Deschanel’s sweet, creamy American drawl is a throwback to an imagined era where lovers sang to each other openly about their love in simple pop songs. Current single ‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ now also recalls the sweet harmonies of 60s girl-group pop.

‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’, is She & Him’s second single from their first album Volume One (does this mean they are obliged to bring out a Volume Two?) and it is exactly this type of pop/country record.  Simplistic, outmoded lyrics such as “Why don’t you sit right down and stay awhile?”, backed by shifting piano and faint acoustic guitar describe the sense of longing and self-doubt that permeates the whole song.

Creating these little gems is She & Him’s speciality, and they do it again here on the new single. However, largely due to my bias towards the Him half of She & Him, I do find the single rather She heavy.

The limited 7” on which ‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ is released via Double Six records also contains a show-stealing cover of Neil Young’s Lotta Love.

Listen to their music here.