British Blues Hall of Famers, The Hoax, have returned to the international stage with the release of their first album in 15 years, 'Big City Blues.' The promotional tour takes in Stockton's The Arc on April 24th and Newcastle's The Cluny on April 25th. Ahead of the dates we spoke to founding member, guitarist and vocalist Robin Davey.
Robin: It's always fun to get out and play with The Hoax. Even though we have all had success in our individual projects there is definitely something special that happens when the five of us get on stage.
NE:MM: What are you looking forward to the most being "back out there"?
Robin: It's just really great to see the outpouring of support our fans continue to give us. We took a long break away but it was the people who have supported the band and continued to spread the word that kept it alive, and enabled us to get back in the studio and record another record.
NE:MM: Have you played in Newcastle before, what are your memories? Do you know the Cluny? Great venue..
Robin: We have played the Cluny once before and it was a great night. We have always had a great time playing the North East and the the warmth of the people and their respect for music, especially the type of music we do, means we always look forward to coming back.
NE:MM: Do you have any new material coming through? what's it been like working together after such a long break?
Robin: To be honest it was like we had never been away. The moment we got in the studio together things just clicked again. We went in with nothing and 10 days later we had a brand new album, which sounds better than we ever have before.
NE:MM: In the past, you worked with legendary blues producer Mike Vernon (who worked with Eric Clapton, John Mayall and Peter Green amongst others), what was that like, did he tell you any scandalous stories about the people he'd worked with in those halcyon 60's days?
Robin: Mike was very supportive of us in our early days. Though sometimes his clean producing style didn't fully gel with what we were aiming for, he was a great inspiration to have around. He was right there when the original blues boom started and was instrumental in not only creating defining records but also shaping the whole scene. As for scandalous stories if I told those he would probably tells ones about us!
Robin: We have played the Cluny once before and it was a great night. We have always had a great time playing the North East and the the warmth of the people and their respect for music, especially the type of music we do, means we always look forward to coming back.
NE:MM: Do you have any new material coming through? what's it been like working together after such a long break?
Robin: To be honest it was like we had never been away. The moment we got in the studio together things just clicked again. We went in with nothing and 10 days later we had a brand new album, which sounds better than we ever have before.
NE:MM: In the past, you worked with legendary blues producer Mike Vernon (who worked with Eric Clapton, John Mayall and Peter Green amongst others), what was that like, did he tell you any scandalous stories about the people he'd worked with in those halcyon 60's days?
Robin: Mike was very supportive of us in our early days. Though sometimes his clean producing style didn't fully gel with what we were aiming for, he was a great inspiration to have around. He was right there when the original blues boom started and was instrumental in not only creating defining records but also shaping the whole scene. As for scandalous stories if I told those he would probably tells ones about us!
NE:MM: Why do you think "The Blues" has endured?
Robin: Because it is about raw emotion, just the same reason why comedy had endured, or art. Humans have a need for it, a need to feel something real amongst all the fast food music that saturates our ear drums.
Robin: Because it is about raw emotion, just the same reason why comedy had endured, or art. Humans have a need for it, a need to feel something real amongst all the fast food music that saturates our ear drums.
NE:MM: Who would you say are the greatest of the blues greats? Give me your Top 5.
Robin: I can't speak for the whole band, but in my opinion, BB King, Albert King, Lightning Hopkins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Leadbelly, Son House. I know that's more than 5 but you just can't narrow it down.
Robin: I can't speak for the whole band, but in my opinion, BB King, Albert King, Lightning Hopkins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Leadbelly, Son House. I know that's more than 5 but you just can't narrow it down.
NE:MM: Is there any contemporary blues players/bands that caught your eye?
Robin: Hmm this is a tough one because we started young and now I understand what we were missing back then, but also what made us unique and gave us the edge.
The best thing we ever did from a musician and song writer perspective, I believe, was going away for 10 years and experiencing life. We had success but then we all went away and started at square one again with our own projects and that is tough. But it makes you realize what you are lacking in both experience and musical ability.
So many young played are thrust into the limelight and though they show potential, they never become what they could be, because all they know is being told how good they are, and the inside of a tour van and venues. Here's your record deal, heres your circuit, here's your backing band, it's like the blues equivalent of Pop Idol.The blues greats came out of true hardships, working crappy jobs, getting in fistfights, going to prison. The blues scene nowadays is too accessible for young performers, there is a circuit that they jump right into before they have even experienced the realities of life, and before long they have a career handed to them on a plate, I personally don't feel this is healthy for the music.
Robin: Hmm this is a tough one because we started young and now I understand what we were missing back then, but also what made us unique and gave us the edge.
The best thing we ever did from a musician and song writer perspective, I believe, was going away for 10 years and experiencing life. We had success but then we all went away and started at square one again with our own projects and that is tough. But it makes you realize what you are lacking in both experience and musical ability.
So many young played are thrust into the limelight and though they show potential, they never become what they could be, because all they know is being told how good they are, and the inside of a tour van and venues. Here's your record deal, heres your circuit, here's your backing band, it's like the blues equivalent of Pop Idol.The blues greats came out of true hardships, working crappy jobs, getting in fistfights, going to prison. The blues scene nowadays is too accessible for young performers, there is a circuit that they jump right into before they have even experienced the realities of life, and before long they have a career handed to them on a plate, I personally don't feel this is healthy for the music.
Questions: Greg Johnson
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