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Great Blues Duo from The Deep South
Crossroads Blues Club, Birmingham, 12 June 2008
Thursday 12th June saw the debut gig of Mike Markey and Nick Jones at the Crossroads Blues Club at ‘The Tower of Song’ venue in Cotteridge.

As usual, the evening was hosted by Chickenbone Blues and started with a Blues open mic session. This kicked off with a swinging set from Steve Butt on yet another of his many guitars and was followed by some serious finger picking from Harry Boyen, who also accompanied Chickenbone Blues to deliver a poignant harp solo on 'Stormy Monday'. Mark Bennett rounded off the open mic session with a skilful and robustly delivered jazzy set and it was great to see harp maestro Tony Stokes enthusiastically helping out on a couple of numbers.

After the break, Mike and Nick started their set the way they intended to continue - with tight and powerfully delivered Blues classics and material from other styles that they 'made their own'. Mike's strong, soulful vocals and solid harp playing gave the duo a distinctive sound while Nick's guitar and slide playing drove the set along and kept the many guitarists in the audience mesmerised with his original and creative solos.

Their set took us on a journey from solid straight ahead Blues, though Ragtime and on to the blatantly raucous, and before we knew it the set was over and we were demanding an encore! Their Bluesy versions of Hank Williams' 'Move it on Over' and Woody Guthrie's 'Dust Pneumonia Blues' demonstrated how well this talented duo can stamp their own mark on classic numbers and their slow minor key delivery of 'If it Hadn't Been for Love' added a whole new dimension to a great song.

After the gig, Mike Markey said 'this is a unique and welcoming music venue and we've had a fantastic time tonight - it was well worth the journey and we'll be back!'

Another great night at The Crossroads!

Review by Ken Stratford

Crossroads Blues Club meets every Thursday at ‘The Tower of Song’, 107 Pershore Road South, Cotteridge, B30 3JX. Open mic followed by one or two acts (music from 8.45pm).
Further information
www.towerofsong.co.uk/blues

www.myspace.com/crossroadsbluesclub

kenstratford@hotmail.com







"The best blues duo I've seen - Andy Roberts, BBC Wales"






"Mike Markey and Nick Jones are always a welcome treat at the Blue Front - well chosen material excellently performed and well received." John Anderson, promoter. Blue Front Blues Room.






The Borough Blues Club Newsletter
September 2007

Gig Review – Borough Blues Club Second Birthday Bash – 8th September 2007

By Adrian Bold

Two years of the Borough Blues Club already! And what a good reason for a great celebration last Saturday night! Not only were there live performances for the whole evening but there was also a free raffle with the usual prizes of Blues CDs, wine and chocolates, an “on the house” birthday drink for everyone and a superb complimentary buffet. The Clubroom had been decked out with balloons, candles and posters and from very early on it was clear that people were entering into the party spirit. The room was nicely crowded and, with the atmosphere building, the evening kicked off with a great set from local “unplugged” duo Mike Markey and Nick Jones, fresh from their previous weekend’s successful performance at Pontypool’s “Jazz in the Park” festival.

Mike is a vocalist and harp player in a traditional blues style who sang a range of songs from the blues greats including “Tired as a man can be.” (Sonny and Brownie); “I just can’t be satisfied” (Muddy Waters); “Dust Pneumonia Blues” (Woody Guthrie) and “I’m so lonesome” (Hank Williams). Mike was superbly supported by Nick Jones who is highly accomplished on both guitar and a beautiful, shiny, metal resonator. Nick’s intricate picking and slide guitar was held in awe, particularly among the aspiring blues guitarists in the room. It takes a special talent to hold an audience spellbound with just guitar, voice and harmonica Mike and Nick managed this well and the Borough Blues Club provided a good reception and warm applause






Review from The Borough Blues Club 2006

Mike and Nick have an impressive list of appearance credits having worked with Walter Trout, Dana Gillespie and Mike Sanchez and have played at the Lydney Jazz Festival, Abertillery Blues Festival and at Brecon Jazz where, contrary to the current organisation, they busked in the street! And they did not disappoint at the BBC.
Their hour long set opened with Sonny Terry's Living with the Blues with Nick Jones showing great pace and presence on the guitar with thumb and finger picks creating a sublime mix of bass lines, rhythm and lead.


Nick moved to a chrome Nashville resonator for Hank Williams "My buckets got a hole in it" with Mike displaying his trade mark gravel-deep blues voice and great virtuosity on the harp. Earl Hooker's "I need me a car", Woody Guthrie's "Dust Pneumonia Blues" and Eddie Vinson's "Kidney Stew" were followed by, "Your Red Wagon" and "Tired as a man can be" by Tim Ball and Kenny Sultan, taking the set to the halfway point. It was amazing that two guys using only microphones, guitar and harp had the presence and variety of music to hold the room.
Mike amused the audience with "It should have been me" famously recorded by Ray Charles and "Filthy Rich", another Tim Ball song which drew loud applause at the final line "I'd be one happy son of a b-ch if someone would make me rich". A fast and upbeat version of Elmore James "Dust my Broom" brought a neat combination of shuffle and slide guitar and led through Muddy Waters "Can't be satisfied" to a rock and roll "Hip Shakin'", and Big Bill Broonzy's "Bankers Blues". The set came to an end with a tribute to Rory Gallagher in the song "Too much alcohol".
This fitting conclusion was a mix of high speed and melodic phrasing mixed with quirky timing and great vocals which resolved into a traditional shuffle. Borough Blues members were fortunate to see two skilled artists with such commitment to the blues and gave Mike and Nick a great ovation! Of course there were loud calls for an encore which, to the delight of the crowd was the song which has become the anthem of Borough Blues Club - Muddy Water's "Hoochie Coochie Man". Great stuff!





Mini review from BBC website:
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/pontypool/pages/jazzinthepark_review.shtml





Courtesy of King Pleasure regarding Mike's guest appearance:
" Michael Markey is a sensational blues harp player. Joining us on stage at the Beaufort theatre, he added an extra dimention to the band and with a feverish and blistering finale helped bring the house down."