John Whitehill (gtr); Mick Cantwell (vcl/ten/hca); "Crutch"? (bs); Barry Race (dms). (Photo courtesy of Amanda Morgan).Winners of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival Battle of the Blues Competition, the G-A-Ms warmed up with a storming gig prior to their appearance at the actual festival which is held in New Brunswick, Canada, in September.
Regular bass guitarist John Morgan is incapacitated - the reason some previous gigs were cancelled - but dep "Crutch" ensured that this show went on.
Barry Race stokes things up with a relentless, almost hypnotic beat as saxist, harpist, vocalist Mick Cantwell delivers the poetry to a melange of Rock 'n' Roll, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Funk 'n' Soul, "Baby done me wrong" songs interspersed with King Curtis tenor blasts. Close your eyes and you done left North Shields for the South Side of Chicago and you're listening to Muddy Waters or even Louis Jordan.
On guitar one of those local legends - John Whitehill - proves that he still has it. Blistering blues lines, chordal thrashes and a variety of original compositions that hold their own alongside the covers.
A good gig that, if you missed it or can't make it to Canada in September, can be re-created by grabbing a copy of their CD Gotta Use What You've Got.
Lance.
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