I very often find myself comparing the bands I’m reviewing with other bands, A singer with another singer etc. In the case of last nights guest at the Harmonie there was no danger of that happening. Gabby Young is so different that they had to invent a genre just for her sound. Ask at your local music store for the ‘Circus Swing’ section from the three cd’s there – all of them killers.
Tag Archives: harmonie
Crossroads Festival 2014 – Day 1
The first Crossroads show from the mighty Rockpalast got underway with a band from my hometown, Portsmouth (UK that is). On the evidence of New Desert Blues and German punk rockers Angelika Express it’s going to be another bag of allsorts every evening – and I can’t wait!
Henrik Freischlader – Budapest, Bonn & Blues
Henrik Freischlader’s star continues to rise, only recently he could be seen trading licks with Mr Joe Bonamassa onstage. Layla Zoe has also increased her fan-base hugely in Europe in the last months since her excellent second CD on CableCar ‘The Lily’ hit the shops both physically and virtually (internet).
Anything less than an evening of BluesRock magic at the Harmonie would have been a disappointment then, so if you did have a disappointing Wednesday night then you must have been elsewhere – Layla and Henrik both clearly enjoy playing music too much not to give it their best.
Texas Heat in March
Hard to believe as it is, Johnny Cash bid us farewell eleven years ago on the crest of a late fame surge courtesy of ‘The American Recordings’. He sang homage to America in ”Ragged Old Flag’ and backed the downtrodden American Indians via ‘Ira Hayes’. So how can a man from Leverkusen ever dare to think he can step onto the Harmonie stage and play music so quintessentially from another continent with conviction? Texas Heat is the name of his band and they’re hot.
Firegirl – Layla Zoe Interview
I met Layla Zoe for the first time in April 2011. It wasn’t until later that year that I first heard her incredible voice singing live, but I got to witness first hand just how important music was to the girl labelled affectionately ‘Canadas Darling of the Blues’. She had come down to Koblenz for a concert by Ana Popovic and her journey down had been a bad one for reasons I won’t go into, but what I will always remember from that day is Layla suggesting that maybe she could sing a song that evening – as a way to get the bad experience out of her system.
For Layla Zoe music was, and as you will find in my interview still is, the best medicine. Her last release ‘The Lily’ was one of my favourite discs of last year, so when I heard that Layla would be supporting Henrik Freischlader for his show at the Harmonie Bonn on March 19 I took the chance to try and find out why making music is so important to her.
A Bonafide Good Time
‘Woargh!’ and ‘Kerrang!’ It’s been a long time since I had hair long enough to shake it. Luckily though I still have my ‘Air Guitar’, because Tuesday night was Metal Night at the Harmonie as Swedens finest Bonafide made a welcome return courtesy of Mr Music.
Julian Sas – Still Rolling
Can you improve on 12 legendary concerts? Julian Sas made it 13 on Saturday, and it was another memorable evening for the Harmonie record books.
Spin Doctors & Stacie Collins
“When we were selling 50,000 records a week,” remembers Chris Barron, “I’d walk into a mall to buy underwear and 300 kids would surround me!” A Harp playing blues girl and a powerpop band that a few years ago was all the rage with commercial tunes and witty lyrics. Stacie Collins was blowing harp and Chris Barrons band The Spin Doctors were prescribing a good time for all. The only losers were those who stayed at home.