Rhythm & blues gig

Warrnambool Standard 11th Feb 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999.

 WARRNAMBOOL is set for a taste of authentic Memphis country roots blues tonight, with the return of The Amazing Rhythm Aces. If you don’t remember the Aces, you’re probably not alone. Their heyday was in the mid-seventies when they picked up a grammy for Best Country Group. But in the last few years the group has made something of a comeback, releasing albums in 1995 and 1997 and touring the US, New Zealand and Australia. Not that they weren’t busy in the intervening years; singer Russell Smith has been penning tunes for Nashville country stars like Randy Travis, while pianist James Hooker was working with artists such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Organist Billy Earheart and bassist Jeff “Stick” Davis have been appearing with an array of performers from Waylon Jennings to B.B. King and Bob Dylan. Since reforming, the Aces have come to regard Australia as a second home and Australian and New Zealand audiences will be the first to hear the band’s new album Chock Full of Country Goodness. Tonight’s live show promises to be a potent mix of classic roots, blues, country and soul from some of the American country scene’s most accomplished musicians.

The Aces will also be joined by some faces that may be familiar toWarrnambool country music fans. The support slot will be filled by Lost In Suburbia, featuring ex-members of 1970s Warrnambool band Nevada — Peter Bird, Murray McDowall and Trevor McKenzie — along with Rob Bevan (Hot Tamale Baby) and Wendy Goyen (Second Line). Also in the line-up are Roots Music Award winner Lee Morgan and Michael Schack, former member of The Dead Livers. The Aces gig kicks off tonight at Warrnambool’s Lady Bay Hotel.

 

Russell Smith, Pete and Meg Bird, "Stick Davis"