We really enjoyed playing for the packed Beverwood Club on Thursday, a show that Saiichi dedicted to the memory of the late George McFall. The call for encore and the crowd at the merch table afterwards were amazing. We sold out on the Smokehouse Sessions CDs on the night.
The band featured Monica George, Sam Grimley, Ben Reed and Mark Wright as well as Saiichi and Mune, who is the MD for the tour. Geoff Pine of the Broadstais Blues Bash stood in for Pete for the MC duty. The sound was looked after by our live engineer, Harley Wing. The Paul Cook Blues Band playing Chicago style blues with two guitars and a harp player opened for the band.
The set included the latest single, “Somewhere Down the Road (2017 Remix)” and the last year’s single, “Melting Away (feat. Andy Fraser)”
Although it was our first time playing Beverwood Club, Saiichi has been working with Pete Feenstra and his late colleague George McFall for over 25 years. The last time that Saiichi played for Pete was a few years ago at George’s memorial gig at the Boom Boom Club. George was instrumental in putting Saiichi on the London Blues scene back in early 1990s giving Saiichi a platform at his gigs. The photo is of George with Pete Feenstra outside the Bull’s Head Barns back in the days.
The next stop for the tour will be the Iron Road Evesham on 15 March, followed by Penny Lee’s Haven Club Oxford on 16 March, Mr Kyps Poole on 17 March and Unit 23 (the former South Devon Arts Centre), Totnes on 18 March.
