The first lady of British blues reflects upon Bulgarian kazoo players and the wisdom of keeping a corkscrew handy at all times…
What was the first gig you played and how did it go?
“My first ever gig was at a school fete in Hitchin. The stage was a few school tables pushed together and I was dreadfully nervous, but it seemed to go pretty well from what I remember. It was mainly school children and so I don’t expect I’ve kept a lot of the clientele over the years. But in terms of being a first gig and getting up and playing, being horrendously nervous and thinking I was playing Madison Square Garden, it was a good one. It was all covers, I think. I may have written one or two songs, which would have been Time Has Come and Blackest Day, which both ended up being on my first album, White Sugar [2009]. I wasn’t singing – we had a singer – but I was picking the setlist; there were some Albert Collins numbers, I think we always opened with Don’t Lose Your Cool, there were a few Luther Allison songs, Stevie Ray Vaughan. I remember a band called The Paladins; we played a few of their numbers. So it was mainly blues-rock covers.”
Describe your current stage rig…
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
QUICK CHANGE
As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop line-up, Dave Burrluck revisits this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar
Return Of The Rack
A revered rackmount digital delay makes a welcome comeback in pedal form.
Pure Filth
This all-analogue preamp pedal based on Blues Saraceno's amp is a flexible powerhouse with a variety of roles.
Reptile Royalty
From Queen to King - there's another Electro-Harmonix royal vying for the crown of octave distortion
Tradition Revisited
Line 6 refreshes its Helix-based modelling amp range by doubling the number of available amp voicings - and more
Ramble On
Furch's travel guitar folds down so you can transport it in its own custom backpack and, the company claims, it returns to pitch when you reassemble it. Innovation or gimmick?
Redrawing The 'Bird
A fascinating reimagining of one of Gibson's more out-there designs, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound...
1965 Fender Jazz Bass
\"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.
Boss Cube Street II
Regular readers will know that the last time I took the Boss Cube Street II out, I was in rehearsal for a debut gig in London.
STILL CRAZY
One of the most creative yet reliably great-sounding effects makers out there, Crazy Tube Circuits grew out of a fetish for old valve amps. We meet founder Christos Ntaifotis to find out more