Reviews
'Rockin R&B from these festival favourites' Burnley Blues Festival 2006
Sat 8th May 2010 - MACHINE SHED BAND 9:30
Popular covers with these great musicians, you won’t want to miss it! The Jolly Farmers Purley, Surrey
The Fox & Hounds Stony Stratford
The regular crowd of blues lovers were treated to a new band who braved the lashing rain and assorted witches and zombies to drive down from Cambridgeshire for a Halloween evening og good, solid no nonsense blues.
They were The Machine Shed Band, a four piece with a pleasingly eclectic repertoire played within an authentic gimmick free blues style. The stalwarts were there. ' Help Me', 'Shake Your Moneymaker' and an ex'cellent swinging version of 'Dust My Broom'. Also performed , were ' Stop Messing Around', Tulsa Time', ''Two bones And A Pick' and George Thorogood's 'If Youi Don't Start Drinking' (dedicated to the landlord and landlady).
Russ Squires and Terry Callanan provided a tight an imaginative rhythm on bass and drums, perfect for Doug Martins powerful yet melodic voice and rthythm guitar. Dave Keeling turned out some impressive lead / bottleneck guitar and rocking keyboards (played with TWO hands - you know a bit like that thing called a piano).
As if this was not enough they took some good old favourites and recaptured them for the blues: a lovely expressive version of 'Black Magic Woman', a rocking reading of Wilbert Harrison's 'Lets work Together' and, to finish off two hours of pleasure, a couple of crowd pleasing rock n' rollers 'Whole Lotta shakin Goin On' and 'Johnny B Goode'.
the Machine Shed were immediately rebooked. If they're playing within 50 miles of you get out and hear them". - Ken Daniels
As reviewed in 'Blues In Britain Magazine'.
Mama K's Blues Bar London
The level of performance and intensity of this set was just simply breathtaking; an opinion shared by all the audience including all the musicians present, not the least the band that was to follow them.
Tonight's main act 'The Machine Shed Band' are based in the Cambridge area. Doug Martin on vocal and guitar is joined by Dave Keeling on keyboards, slide guitar and lead guitar, Russ Squires on bass and Simon Martin on drums. Their performance was a complete contrast to that of 'Rude Mood'. They performed with a more countrified 'down home' feel, which was well received by the knowledgeable and appreciative crowd. They started with 'Moving on' a spirited R & B number with a country feel, rounded off with some fine bottleneck guitar. This 'feel good' factor continued with the rumbustious 'Statesbro Blues', beloved of Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, and that energetic classic 'Shake Your moneymaker'. VintageChicago blues followed in the shape of 'Help Me', 'Don't Worry Baby', 'I Ain't Superstitious' and 'You Don't Love'Me'. The evening was then rounded off with a trio of rock n' roll classics 'Whole Lotta Shakin', Johnny B Goode' and 'High Heeled Sneakers'.
The audience responded well to this spirited, energetic, very musical and thoroughly honest performance. On this showing The Machine Shed Band will be welcome whenever they wish to return to Mama K's. Lets Hope its soon" - Bill Smith club co ordinator
As reviewed in 'Blues In Britain Magazine'.
The Blueberry Norwich
A new band to the Blueberry, and what a refreshing change! A blues band they are, but under that banner a wide range of tunes were played. Indeed, during the second set they announced 'The Bug' by Dire Straits when the power went off. Upon its return they treated us to a very fine, up tempo, danceable, slide guitar version of it. Dave Keeling excelling on slide and simon Martin providing superb drum backing.
Their first set had a strong mainstream blues feel to it. 'Help Me'',a particularly climactic number 'Stormy Monday'', Johnny Guitar Watson's ' Too Tired' and a great funky version of 'I Ain't Superstitious' among others.
They had drive and energy to keep us entertained all night, with dancing all through the second set and the rest of us moving various bits!
The second set had more of a party feel to it, which almost unconsciously drew you in. An upbeat 'Killing Floor' featured some fine bass playing by Russ Squires. They slowed it down with Hendrix's 'Red House' with guitar soloing that drew an especially loud applause, then went into the party big time with 'High Heeled Sneakers','Shake Your Moneymaker' and so on, finishing with that old blues classic (!) 'Back In The USSR'. The packed audience screamed for more, they came back four times playing rock n' roll, each time asking the landlord if they could, the lights did not come on so it must have been okay. I was later told the landlord was not there. He missed a treat. Book them again - Rob Jones
As reviewed in'Blues In Britain Magazine'.
REVIEW OF OUR LAST CD IN BLUEPRINT MAGAZINE
Good time Chicago blues is the main style on this set of twelve covers. There are also two T-Bone Walker numbers, a nice instrumental take on'Two bones And A Pick' and 'Stormy Monday' with tasty guitar and organ. Thorogood's rocker 'If you Don't Start Drinking' is a good closer, and I can empathise with those lyrics. On 'Red House' - aargh! - for once, the guitar is not overdone.
From the Chicago contingent there are two of Wolf''s, 'Help Me' has tasty organ but of course, no harp. Slide guitar is to the fore on a F.Mac influenced take on 'Shake Your Moneymaker' and a delightful, fresh new version of 'Dust My Broom'. Sunnyland Slim's 'Gotta Get To My Baby' lopes along with good piano work, while Otis rush's 'All your Love' has a jazzy touch.
Production is solid as are the vocals. Both guitarists avoid rock excesses and the keyboards help flesh out the sound. The rhythm section contributes to a nice overall tight sound. Given a standard looking track listing, I was very pleasantly surprised with these good variations on standards. I added this band to my Great British R & B Festival itinerary and suggest that you investigate also. R Jim Greaves album reviewer.