My Playing History

I haven't had a regular band in a bit (since I moved from Vancouver Island) in September of 2005. I'm now living in scenic Peace River, Alberta and working with my brother at Custom Computers and Music, playing regularly at a great local jam here (hosted by Peace River's talented and gracious Jeff and Suzanne McCann) and and I'm looking forward...

In the meantime, here''s some history:

RATTLESNAKE SHAKE:

me, Sam Hurrie, Peter Bryant, Barry Polichek
photograph by Ian de Hoog

In this line-up, nationally known local blues guitarist Sam Hurrie joined forces with me, bassist/guitarist Barry Polichek and drummer Peter Bryant (currently drumming for Courtenay's R-Drive) to bring the Valley a solid dose of live electric blues, coupled with classic and rare recorded blues during the ‘Shake’s breaks. 

Sam Hurrie is a sought after performer at blues festivals all across the continent and is often the featured guest at other shows in town, including solo and duo gigs under his own name.

His influences are a lot more rooted in American electric and acoustic blues than mine. With Sam you think Albert King, Duke Robillard, Robben Ford and Buddy Guy (when he plays electric...when he plays acoustic or National Steel you think maybe he's 90 years old with a history of bad jobs and troublesome women). As I've said before, my blues roots are pretty solidly British, coming from the likes of early Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown or the Stones, and newer stuff like the Kingsnakes or Nine Below Zero. And the mix of influences worked out great.  

Both Barry Polichek and Peter are seasoned players, with steady gigs as house musicians at very popular weekly jams in the Valley. 

OTHER GIGS:

I played sometimes with the Sam Hurrie Band when the gig called for a 4-piece and Sam wasn't using his great friend--and very talented slide player--Doug Cox.. The Sam Hurrie Band includes Rawn Wolfe on drums and Chris Williams on bass. Yep...same Sam as in the 'Shake. Always enjoyable.

DELIVERANCE:

One band I played with for a year and a half of steady Sunday nights was "Deliverance"-- a very classic dance oriented band. We played a solid mix of country, blues, classic and very classic rock with a few new twists thrown in to keep everything fresh.  These are great guys and good friends--and we got together and played at the local jams whenever we all turned up, which was pretty often....till I moved to Alberta.

The most regular Deliverance gig was at the Mex Pub/Washington Inn in scenic Courtenay, BC, Canada on Sunday nights . 

Apart from working with this band--Barry hosts a couple of the area's best local jams (Saturdays at the Mex Pub and Wednesday and Thrusday night at The Arbuckle) and he's a member of the notorious local band *The Lonely Guys* featuring Edwin Grieve.

John is the featured drummer for the Mex and Arbuckle Pub jams, plays regularly with the well-known Valley band, Westwind, and is one of the top *on-call* drummers in the area. 

Rob presently plays a cool piano singles act at one of the Valley's highest rated tourist and entertainment venues: the Crown Isle resort and golf community complex. 

ABOUT THE COMOX VALLEY:

One of the best things about playing in the Comox Valley (Courtenay is the biggest city in the Valley...and Courtenay isn't that big) is the musical camaraderie around here. Everyone knows each other, turns up at each other's gigs, plays at each other's jams, sits in with each other, features each other and just generally gets along with no ego BS. Folks are happy when other players get a gig and--for a town this size--there's a good number of available paying gigs. No-one is getting rich but no-one starves, either. Good music--good place to live. So visit.