Just surfacing after another late night at the BBC -Basingstoke Blues Club.
Last night's band were Uncle Buck. Fabulous funk, soul & blues. The first band I've seen with 2 keyboard players, one with a second deck on his keys that sounded like a horn section. Amazing guitar & screaming vocals from frontman Nick Hyde -more like Jeckyl & Hyde I think -5 guys in their 50s that you wouldn't look twice at if you passed them in the street, but put them in front of a microphone & they become rock gods. More talent in one finger than the entire cast of Britain's Got No Discernable Talent Whatsoever put together.
http://unclebuckband.com/homeLoads of small live music venues around the country, many, like the Basingstoke club, constantly teetering on the edge of financial collapse & kept going purely by the enthusiasm & dedication of their core members. 100 yards from the blues club venue is the Anvil Theatre, which hosts a lot of B list music acts -maybe not household names but you've probably heard of most of them. I've seen Dr John, Robert Cray & Jools Holland there. 100 yards in the other direction was another venue called Stage which launched last year but was forced to close after poor ticket sales.
If you've got a local theatre, club or village hall that puts on live acts,
please go along & support them. For 8 quid at the Blues Club I get 4 hours of absolutely top notch musical entertainment from guys that are playing their hearts out for just a handful of people. Get out & enjoy your local spots & give 'em your support. Don't sit in front of the telly, staring at Z Factor, put your best boogie boots on & go find something local & live.
http://www.basingstokebluesclub.co.uk/ 
