Moore:Music ®

Christie • BC Sweet • Gonads • Solo

Taking the Biscuit – On the air with a living legend

Monday morning, Memphis in our mirror, we headed south on the legendary Highway 61.  I suggested to Miki that we take a detour across the mighty Mississippi and into Arkansas to visit Helena.  A stop on the outskirts at the visitor centre and a very welcome free coffee, provided me with an opportunity to confirm this town as the location of “King Biscuit Time”, the legendary radio show started in 1941 by Sonny Boy Williamson and a massive influence on the likes of BB King and Ike Turner.  The lady in the visitor centre pointed out the studio’s location. She told us the blues exhibition where the station broadcast from was closed to the public on Mondays, but she called ahead and told them we were coming. And so it was that I met the legendary  DJ “Sunshine” Sonny  Payne  who has been broadcasting the show for 60 years.  A sprightly 85, this man really is a living legend and has brushed shoulders with the giants.  On first name terms with the likes of Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, etc, he is an affable, cordial host, and I was honoured to be invited to take part in the latest broadcast of the show. It is always broadcast at 12.15, the time originally chosen to match that of the lunch break of the African-American workers in the Delta. Miki even got a mention, introduced as the French artist who doesn’t speak!!

Chewin' the fat with Sunshine Sonny Payne

I talked a little about Christie, and how the B-Side of our multi-million seller was called “Down the Mississippi Line”, and how I was thrilled to be going down the Mississippi for real, and I was invited to sign a guitar for the display and also the large flight case display, where I put my name next to Robert Plant’s.

Sonny very kindly signed one of his posters for me, which will be on permanent display at “Kev and Miki towers” when we get home!

King Biscuit time occupies a unique place in Blues history and culture. If it wasn’t for Sonny Boy Williamson’s success in getting the local grocery distributor to  finance the show in exchange for endorsements and naming rights, a whole generation of musicians may not have had access to what was to become their inspiration. Situated in Helena, it also was perfectly placed as a stopping off point for blues musicians on their way from the Delta region to the Chicago blues nightclubs and was also convenient to Memphis, Tennessee and its lively blues culture. Several blues musicians came to Helena and made it their home, such as Little Walter Jacobs and Jimmy Rogers.  The King Biscuit Flour Hour, the one hour syndicated rock and roll radio program, was derived from King Biscuit Time. Levon Helm drummer for The Band, has credited King Biscuit Time,  for inspiring his musical career.

To have been a small part of this wonderful, historic show was a huge honour for me. As Sonny says, every day at 12.15 without fail for the last 60 years,  “Pass the biscuits, ‘cos it’s King Biscuit Time!”

Kev Moore

January 27, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Touring, Writing | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Here comes the Sun

For Miki and I, Sunday was just exactly that – SUN day. The day we would make our way to that unassuming building on Union Avenue, where Sam Phillips distilled what the world came to know as Rock’n'Roll.  For all the history, I wasn’t sure how this would work as a ‘tour’.  Studios from the 40’s and 50’s by their very nature were simple affairs,  so I didn’t think I’d be walking away with any more than a “bin there, done that”. How wrong I was.

From the moment we walked into the reception, which was a memorabilia-ridden 50’s style coffee shop, with an impressive 50’s style record shop in the back, we knew this tour was a good idea. The vibe in the place was just right, and we paid our money and waited our turn.

We were led up a narrow staircase into a room lined with glass display cases, containing amazing ancient recording devices, including an RCA lathe with a shiny uncut piece of vinyl on it. We saw Sam Phillips’ tape machine on which he recorded anyone and everyone.  Our guide for the tour was Cody, and I have to say right here, he was a star. He sounded genuinely enthusiastic, he was clear, concise, funny, and most importantly, brought the story of Sun Studios to life. Without him, it would have been the poorer.

I was incredibly moved by the tale of The Prisoners, who were actually prisoners, brought under armed guard and chained together around a single microphone to record “Just walking in the Rain”.   As the track played, haunting and beautiful, I could picture the scene.

We heard how Ike Turner’s band struggled up to Memphis, six in a car, with all their gear on top, and how the guitar amp fell off!  The speaker had two big holes in it, and when they arrived, they stuffed some newspaper in it, and used it for the session. The distorted sound it gave made “Rocket 88″ the first genuine rock record with fuzz guitar. the track pumped out around us as I stared through the glass at the actual amp with the newspaper still stuffed into the speaker cone. History in my face.

Of course, inevitably, we came to the story of Elvis. What I learned was that perhaps the most influential person in the history of Rock was Marion Keisker,  Sam Phillips’ secretary. It was she that was on the front desk when a shy 18 year old Elvis walked in, pretending he wanted to record a song for his mum.  In those days, tape was expensive, so people who wanted to make a record for themselves paid their couple of dollars and had to record it in one take, directly onto the disc. Any mistakes were recorded for all time. If you didn’t like it, you poaid for another go!  And then, there it was, crystal clear, the young Elvis, singing “My Happiness” – his very first recording. Sam Phillips wasn’t in that day, nor was he impressed when Marion kept pressing him to take another look at this shy kid.  He hated the kind of ballady pop that My Happiness represented. A year would go by before events would conspire to bring Scotty Moore and Bill Black, guitarist and baassist respectively, into Sun to have a go at recording something. They didn’t have a singer on hand, and once again it was Marion who pushed Sam to get Elvis in.  Would you believe it, when Scotty and Bill asked this kid what songs he knew he suggested My Happiness once again! After a long day, Sam poked his head around the door and told them to call it quits. Elvis, panicking tried to play every style he knew – remember, he was influenced by country, blues, everything that was happening on the Memphis scene, and gyrating wildly, he launched into an Arthur Crudup blues song, “That’s alright Mama”. Scotty and Bill joined in, fooling around, playing wildly. Sam was stopped in his tracks. He asked them to get organized around the mikes so he could record it properly. This moment, this exact moment, was the birth of rock’n'roll, the creation of an entirely new genre, the  perfect amalgam of disparate styles. It is perhaps the single most important event in recording history. It cannot be overstated.

Me with Elvis's microphone

As we walked through Marion’s office, and into the studio, we were played a recording of the very first time this song was played on the air. The DJ played it 19 times , one after the other, and the world would never be the same again.  As I stood in this completely authentic, unchanged studio, with this song playing around me, shivers coursed up and down my spine. I touched the microphone Elvis used here, I heard about the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ – when Sam Phillips had the tape running for an hour and a half as Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johhny Cash and Elvis recorded together.  It wasn’t until after Elvis’s death that Phillips revealed its existence, as Elvis was contracted to RCA when he ‘accidentally’ recorded him!

This studio launched the careers of all of these people not to mention a guy called Roy Orbison. It is truly the birthplace of rock’n'roll.  It had lain unused, abandoned for 25 years, and was lucky to have survived being demolished and turned into a McDonalds – but it  wasn’t – and I’m lovin’ it!

Kev Moore

January 26, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Writing | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gibson Guitar Factory

 

Memphis boasts an impressive ‘to do’ list, and one item on that list that we ticked off yesterday was a visit to the Gibson guitar factory.  This is the newest of three Gibson factory, and has been in Memhis for around 9 years. It is dedicated primarily to the production of semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars. The one exception being the arctic white Les Paul. This is manufactured here because of their state of the art air filtration and exhaust system. It helps keep the pristine Les Pauls dust-free during manufacture, as the slightest blemish would show up on its pristine finish. 

We entered a giant lobby, where the reception desk had as a giant backdrop a40 foot replica of BB King’s “Lucille” guitar. The area also boasted an impressive display of three grand pianos in red, white and blue around an American flag. There was also of course the obligatory shop, filled with expensive delights. Yours truly bought a modest glass slide!

We started the tour by filing past around 25 beautiful examples of the craft, ranging from the ES-120, through various versions of the 335, the Les Paul etc.  Then it was on to the factory floor, where we learned about the wood selection process, some from around the world, some home grown, such as the poplar. We saw the humidity tent, where the air was kept moist to prevent the wood from drying out.  We saw how they “sandwiched” the wood with three layers, then put the arc on the tops with a special press. The whole manufacturing process was extremely interesting. Although there is a great deal of automation, it struck me that the key points in assembly required the human touch, and the precision (no Fender pun intended!) of this work was astounding. Special tools to check the neck relief as it is carefully planed by hand for just the right fit. A room where women (chosen becausew they are more accurate with this kind of work) razor off the lacquer from the binding of every guitar by hand, keeping it exactly a quarter inch all round.

The guy who applies the stain to the body is amazing. Apparently, his skill is such that he can airbrush one in 5 minutes. Staring with a light coat, then a slightly darker one, then a very dark one, to capture that signature ’sunbnurst’ look we all know. They are then ready fopr the lacquering process.

The lacquer process was amazing. A total of 8 coats per guitar, but 6 hours has to be allowed between each coat. After 4 coats, the lacquer is too smooth to accept the remaining coats, so the guitaris taken back a stage and roughed up with a sander again. Then the next 4 coats are applied, with the same 6 hour intervals. The resultant final coat has an orange peel like quality, so it is taken and sanded smooth. This gives it a very dull finish, so then the polishing begins. It is a painstaking process which results in the beautiful finishes we musicians ofetn take for granted.

We really enjoyed this peek into the world of guitar manufacture, and I’ll certainly look at my own collection with new eyes when we get home.

Kev Moore

January 24, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Writing | , , , , | No Comments Yet

A Gathering of the Blues – The International Blues Challenge in Memphis

We have been extraordinarily lucky with our timing on this trip, being in Nashville for the Colgate Country showdown final, and now, being in Memphis for the International Blues Challenge – an amazing gathering of hundreds of blues bands and musicians from all over the world, playing over several nights in all of the venues of Beale Street. Simply buying a $10 dollar wristband gained you entry at will to any and all of the venues to watch the competition unfold. Each band has the task over two nights, of  ’winning their venue’ and then progressing to the grand final at the Orpheum theatre. 

Words can hardly describe how I felt as I stepped onto Beale last night, it was alive with blues afficianados, wandering from club to club, or simply hanging in the streets soaking it all up.  I opted to start the night in BB King’s – the legendary bluesman’s original club, where I chugged down a beer and a Beale street sub sandwich while I watched Ali Penney and the Moneymakers and The R & K  Brew Co.   The standard was high, and I looked forward to the rest of the night, opting to head out of BB’s and into the Superior, two doors down.  There I saw a few numbers by Art Harris and the Z – tones, who were more of a swing outfit, boasting a huge double bass, theatrically manipulated by its owner, and sax, and certainly had the house rocking.

Next up was a return to the Rum Boogie Cafe, where Miki and I had eaten the other night.  The place was absolutely bouncing, courtesy of the Nico Wayne Toussaint Band, who were absolutely  ripping the place up, the best band I saw all night, great blues harp from front man Nico, a man possessed, dressed in a red suit and bizzarely reminiscent of the late British actor Leonard Rossiter, dancing like a dervish, ably assisted by his band, and a sh*t-hot guitarist to boot. They had the audience in the palm of their hand, and I will be surprised if they don’t win their venue this week.  They take the stage again tomorrow night, and I hope to be there.

Nico Wayne Toussaint at the Rum Boogie Cafe

They were followed by the Crossroads blues band, with a frontman also dressed in red , topped by a red fedora, making him look a little like Junior Wells in Blues Brothers 2000.  Their guitarist wasn’t up to the standard of Nico’s and their set was a little slow to get going, but their ‘me and baby brother’-style funk-tinged closer was excellent. For my taste, a full set of that stuff would’ve been great.

I headed further down Beale into the Hard Rock Cafe where I grabbed a coffee to offset the beers, unsure of the driving regs over here, and caught a few songs by Cee Cee James. Her band was pretty good and her voice, every now and then strayed into Janis territory. I felt that when she pushed it she sounded pretty good, but it’s not easy singing like that! The band that followed, Jen and Tonic,  really didn’t do it for me, so I drained the coffee and headed to Alfred’s.

I was just in time to see a band who I thought was the  Thornetta Davis band take the stage, but as Thornetta herself has pointed out to me, I was completely wrong, it was someone else!   As they spoke before starting it sounded like a couple of them were English, but they were introduced as from somewhere in the States. In any event, the girl vocal just didn’t work in a blues format for me at all, and I was out before the second chorus. I missed the Thornetta Davis band because the evening was running late at Alfreds, but you should check out her album on the link she provides in the comments on my follow up article over on Cafe Crem.

As I walked up the street, I poked my head in Rum Boogie, Club 152, Superior, as artists continued to give their best. Blues filled the night air, and I felt the ghosts of Memphis walking Beale proudly, surveying the keepers of their legacy.

A final stop at BB’s before driving home and I managed to catch a band called  Blackburn – who were indeed three brothers from Toronto and a black bassist – amusingly introduced as their ‘brother from another mother’!! I only stayed for one song, but I certainly want to check them out next time.  The guitarist attacked his Strat with a Townsend-style  frenzy chopping out great blues-funk chords that cut through you like razor-wire. Great stuff.

As I walked off into the night, I felt like I’d been dipped in a great vat of Blues Gumbo, filled with every variety of the genre, every influence from far and wide, all brought together here on this street which taught the world that black and white could not only live together, but make sweet music.

Why not read about the Second night of the challenge over on Cafe Crem?

Kev Moore

January 22, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Writing | , , , , , | 3 Comments

Return to Beale St.

What a blessing, to be able to jump in the car, head 15 minutes up the highway, and be on Beale St, ready to soak up the evening’s music?!! That’s what Miki and I did the other night, heading into the Rum Boogie Cafe to watch the house band, which was actually a duo. One guy, who looked like Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter, handled acoustic guitar and bass and vocals, and the other guy, called Eric, sporting a pork pie hat handled, well, pretty much everything else, vocals, blues harp, dobro, guitar, washboard, kazoo, you name it.

Lettin' the blues wash over me....

The walls (and ceiling) were festooned with guitars of all shapes and sizes, all signed by musical luminaries. The Rum Boogie was a favourite haunt of Stevie Ray Vaughn, and his guitar hung on the wall as a reminder. I was reminded of my late friend Keith Webb, who spent a month in Texas jamming and rehearsing with a 17 year-old SRV. ” He was incredible even then” he told me. There was also an old guitar signed by Billy Joel up there, next to Santana’s.  I guess there was no room for a piano…..

Well-known guitarist Billy Joel........?

They were great, Eric’s blues harp a thing of beauty, and numbers from Dylan to Nine Inch nails interspersed with great humour really made our evening.  We also ordered the “every goddam appetizer on the menu platter” – at least that’s what it looked like. The chicken wings were to die for, and I asked the waitress if they cross-bred the chickens with pterodactyls, they were so huge!

Either side of our evening at the Boogie, we wandered up and down Beale street once again, watching the fairly tale horse drawn coaches come and go and the kids performing acrobatics in the streetswhile also  trying to avoid the shysters trying to sell us the free guide to Memphis and pretending the money was going to orphans. Do I really look that dumb? Guess so.

Kev Moore

January 21, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Writing | , , , , | 1 Comment

Beale St.Boogie

Just so much music oozing out of every pore in this great city. If Memphis is the blues, then Beale street is its heart, pumping away nightly with its infectious rhythms, served up with catfish and chicken wings. Walking down Beale is like a living history lesson.

A band ply their trade in the outdoor pavilion, overlooked by a statue of W C Handy

 Strolling down this boulevard of memories, you notice the golden notes embedded in the sidewalk commemorating all the famous names that have graced the stages, and large signposts that tell you their history.

 As we approached the New Daisy theatre, we noticed a band set up on the sidewalk playing some real down home original blues. Big Jerry and his band were in town, purveyors of the genuine article, right there in the street. It was exactly as I’d hoped. I went over and bought their CD, and they asked where I was from.” UK, via Spain, I replied, and this is the fulfillment of a dream.”

Big Jerry jus' doin' his thang......

 At the top end of Beale sits Elvis Presley plaza, where a statue of the King of Rock’n'Roll strums his guitar a respectful distance from the legends who pre-dated and inspired him.

………..but more on Elvis later, as we pay our respects just a couple of weeks after what would have been his 75th birthday.

Kev Moore

January 20, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Rock, Writing | , , , , | 1 Comment

Truly a Music city

 

Kev and Miki enjoy the music at The Basement. Pic by Patricio

Already blown away by the house band at the Second Fiddle on Broadway on their afternoon session, Miki and I decided to head out to The Basement in Southern Nashville, where Tuesday night is new faces night. We thought it would be a great opportunity to listen to the up and coming acts that are emerging on the Nashville scene. What I didn’t expect was the high standard maintained throughout the show. I’m going to go through them one by one, because they each deserve a mention in their own right.  First up was:

 Jordan Hull , who had re-located to Nashville in order to further his career. An unassuming guy, his guitar and harmonica were a perfect foil to an unusual voice that delivered some very well crafted original material.  A great choice for an opening act, it boded well for the rest of the evening.

 Lisa Auge, a female singer-songwriter, was possessed of a remarkable voice, and a really original songwriting craft, her lyrics really drawing you into the narrative. She, too, if I remember well, relocated to Nashville from Ohio to pursue her dream. Surely one to watch in the future.

A great outfit fronted by Mark Bates sat at the keyboard, and yet more great original material with thought=provoking and original lyrics, reminiscent of Ben Folds, with a sprinkling of Tom Waits, delivered in inimitable style. The guitarist had a great, haunting echo-soaked wash of a sound played on a gorgeous old Gretsch that must have been worth a fortune.

Another great cherry red Gretsch took to the stage next , ably played by Bob Lanphier (I think)  who, backed by a solid band gave a great vocal  performance to boot.

Following  Bob was a duo, Dear Companion, featuring Loren Francis & Maja Alderin, a Bostonian guy and a Swedish girl from Stockholm respectively. A late addition to the bill apparently, but certainly a welcome one. Beautifully crafted songs with unusual arrangements performed on acoustic guitar and piano, with Maja’s haunting vocal a perfect counterfoil to Loren’s lead. Truly original music.

Things cranked up then with the arrival of The Octagon, a New York band fronted by Zachary Mexico who I discovered  is also a writer, with a book published just last year.   A punk band for the new decade with a healthy dose of humour, they exploded into life, and certainly put a smile on Miki’s face!   This three piece power outfit but a little new york groove into Nashville’s Basement.

Another three piece followed – World Bazaar – possessed of an outstanding drummer who gave every single beat 100%.  In fact, the whole three piece were amazing, particularly thewir last track which had so many different shades you could be forgiven for thinking it was a 6 piece on stage. The only weak point for Miki and I was the vocals from the lead guitarist, which, while adequate, didn’t match the quality of everything else they were doing. I feel this band would improve 100% with a big-voiced frontman .

The final act of the night was Kings of Disco, who had the unenviable graveyard slot, which Miki and I admittedly left halfway through, but more due to our continuing time-zone confusion and exhaustion as opposed to any fault on their part. Some nice syncopated strat rhythms accompanied our exit.  We were amazed at the variety, and above all, sheer quality of this free admission Tuesday night down here at the Basement. It happens every Tuesday night, and if you’re ever in Nashville, I urge you to check it out.

 Also, a mention to Patricio, a local resident from L.A. who now lived here in music city and searched for new talent, recording and promoting them, who befriended us and gave us a little insight into the scene at the Basement and Nashville as a whole.

Taking my seat in the Ryman Auditorium

A couple of nights later, we attended the Nationwide final of the Colgate Country Showdown, hosted by Leann Rimes, which had distilled 500,000 hopefuls down to 5 finalists all chasing a $100,000 prize, operforming at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. The venue was a cross between  a concert hall and a museum, with glass display cases along the back wall containing posters and stage costumes of the country stars of yesteryear.  We chatted briefly to the Pedal steel player in the band as we made our way into the gig. 

The backing band run through Ms.Rimes play on piece for the Cameras

The finalists were Casey Lee Smith , a 17 yearold singer/guitarist, Kendall Phillips, a female singer songwriter, Whisky row,  a male guitar vocal duo, Terry Lee Spencer, a guitar vocalist, and Karla Davis, a female guitar/vocalist –  and the winner was Karla Davis, who turned out to have the best voice of the bunch, and reasonably good songs, but for me really leaned much more towards R&B than country. Now, I,m not a country fan, but if I was, I’d be a little concerned at the continued watering down of this cultural artform. The fourth contestant Terry Lee Spencer, whilst not always on the money vocally, certainly embodied more of what I would consider the country spirit, particularly in his two original songs, and the second song by duo Whisky Row  “Leather Glove” was a beautiful piece.  The winner’s second original song “Whiskey’s gotta job to do” was clever, the”narrator” being a bottle of Jack Daniels” – born in Lynchburg Tennessee, and I could see the song achieving more success for the writer, than she will herself as a performer. All in all, though I was surprised that the standard of artists at The Basement two nights before was far superior to this heavily-sponsored national final.  We left thinking we’d really just been witness to “American Country Idol”.

But what a treat to dip into the musical delights of this wonderful city! So much to see, so little time!

Kev Moore

January 17, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Touring, Writing | , , , | 1 Comment

Nashville Skyline – extended version with more pics!

 

                                                                                           Yes, but where can I buy a case for it?

 

(a version of this article has also appeared in Cafe Crem)

Well, we’re here! Finally putting our Jet lag behind us as best we can, we ventured out into the icy wastes of Nashville today, taking in the Hard Rock, ( and a nice T-shirt prezzie from Miki!) and indeed the rest of Broadway, where most of the music ‘on the ground’ happens.  We spent all of Monday afternoon in a bar called Second Fiddle, where an amazing house band proceeded to blow me away with some incredible guitar and vocal work. For my first band seen in this music city, they were a perfect choice. Great versions of Rockin’ in the Free World and Call me the Breeze really stood out, and there wasn’t even a cover charge!

The AT&T building at night

 

Another surprise for me was Miki’s love of the American skyscraper, she found them quite aesthetic and pleasing, as I do.

We had arrived in Nashville in the midst of a record-breaking freeze, and the 100 year-old water pipes on the famous Broadway music strip declared ‘enough is enough’ and exploded out of the sidewalk with the pressure from the expanding ice, resulting in many bars and businesses in this tourist district being without water and forced to close.  The Hard Rock Cafe, luckily supplied by a separate main, served coffee to the workers who were out there round the clock trying to fix it.

"they say the neon lights are bright on Broadway..." Nashvilles' own version of the famous street, suffers underthe big chill.

 

At a time where music in the UK is having the life squeezed out of it by unmitigated horsesh*t like Britain’s (not) got Talent  and X factor,  I felt incredibly emotional and proud to see real music played and enjoyed on just any ordinary weekday afternoon. Saturday night in a bar in the UK, you’re more likely to get some drunken tart singing I will Survive on a karaoke machine. So I say, God bless America!

 

Kev Moore

 

January 12, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Touring, Writing | , , , | 2 Comments

And the beat goes on….

It’s been a hectic week leading up to our flight tomorrow to the States, but during this time I’ve uncovered a cassette with a collection of songs that a producer friend of mine and I wrote for my daughter. Now 24, and a mother, these were recorded between the ages of 13 and 16 in studios in Southampton and Hamburg.  Here’s the first offering written by myself and Clyde Ward, with myself on rap and backing vocals, and a 13 year old Hollie on lead vocals!

Kev Moore

January 8, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Writing | , , | 2 Comments

Down the Mississippi Line!

Only four days to go until Miki and I head off to the States where we’ll be following the advice of our very own Jeff Christie, and going down the Mississippi line! It’s a dream trip, particularly for me, as we’ll be taking in Nashville, Memphis, Clarksdale, New Orleans, Austin and Dallas. So much musical heritage and 2 months to savour it all!

The first gigs for this year’s CHRISTIE: “Yellow River 40th. Anniversary Tour” came in last night, so it seems entirely appropriate that I should post this version of Down the Mississippi Line from one of our 2009 tour shows in Germany. Enjoy!

P.S. Don’t forget to download my latest solo album FREE by clicking on the link in the sidebar – and Derby County fans, check out my song for Chris Porter in the previous entry HERE !!

Kev Moore

January 6, 2010 Posted by kevmoore | Music, Recording, Rock, Touring, Video, Writing | , , , , | 4 Comments