Blues Train - Local Band - GuitarTalk Community

Blues Train - Local Band

Rob-dos

Hey all

On Sunday i was lucky enough to catch this band, Blues Train playing some live covers
Just want to say this is a group of some amazing musicians, a bunch of ol' timers who know how to rock 'n roll
The guitarist ripped through the fretboard and the rest of the group was just as good if not better
The drummer looked as if he had been rocking it his whole life, i think he had a groupie there with him...

The songs they are playing are covers but its not the cheesy crap its some solid blues based jams from BB King to Bob Dylan to Cream
They tight and they have their own vibe so some of the tracks just flew by without me even realising what they were
If anything, its worth going to listen to a guitarist who knows a thing or two.. hes some good solo time which was great, didnt want them to stop

if you see they playing somewhere near you and you appreciate the good music go and give them a listen, and let me know about it too

DonovanB

Rob, please put your location in your profile so I don't have to ask this next question...

where are they from?

joel

If you dont know of them, they are joburg based and led by Mike Slavin , a 60 -70 something yr old absolutely awesome blues / jazz guitarist , with some good help from very well seasoned experienced players .

Bass ( "Big Ralph" Stafford ), Keys ( ?) & drums (Ivor Back), .........

I know they have a gig coming up at the new Tanz Cafe the first or second weekend of October and another joint gig with a Pretoria based band towards the end of October .........check out the Tanz website for further info.

A qoute from a review done elsewhere :

"Includes standards from T Bone Walker, Muddy Waters , B B King , Eric Clapton , Gary Moore through to the "Jazz-edged" music of Ray Charles, Robben Ford and Lou Rawls etc. The purpose and message of BluesTrain is clear: Find some great songs - arrange them so everybody gets to stretch out and "blow" - add a good helping of energy and passion, and have a good time!"

Tokai-SA

I sat in the amp room at Marshall Music Woodmead with Mike Slavin for two hours.
He played non stop for those two hours, hardly repeated a riff, the guys a monster blues/Jazz player.

Rob-dos

Wow that must have been a good day in your life Tokai
He was so on ball i had a smile on my face for most of the time...
Im gonna make an effort to take myself and friends to go catch the next shows..

Joel you seem to know them, please post some when they are playing.. Definately going to try catch them at Tanz Cafe..
I spoke to him and i think he said the 17th but if you find out please post it and other ones in the events section

joel

Rob dos wrote: Wow that must have been a good day in your life Tokai
He was so on ball i had a smile on my face for most of the time...
Im gonna make an effort to take myself and friends to go catch the next shows..

Joel you seem to know them

Well , I've got to know Mike yes, such a cool guy . He's a huge inspiration for me .

please post some when they are playing.. Definately going to try catch them at Tanz Cafe..
I spoke to him and i think he said the 17th but if you find out please post it and other ones in the events section

Here's their program for October :

October 9th......Cafe Barcelona Pretoria......8 pm onwards
October 13th......The Refinery , Milpark , Jhb..... 7 pm onwards
October 17th......Tanz Cafe Fourways .......afternoon Gig (see Tans website for exact times)
October 31st...... Double bill with : Deep Blue C , ( an 8 piece band from Pretoria)..... Tanz Cafe Fourways......Afternoon gig

Rob-dos

I'll definitely be there on the 17th at Tanz, if anyone else is there let me know and we can share some beers..
Try make the refinery gig too if i can

bloukie

Great thread, guys - thanks!

Would love to catch them here under the mountain some time...

joel

So, Mike Slavin asks me If I know any of the main blues okes in Cape Town , because he's planning to go down for the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of October and would like to meet some of the gigging blues people. I mention that I'm a friend of Bloukie (on this here forum) , who is very well connected on the blues circuit in Cape Town.

I introduce him to Bloukie , they talk on the phone , one thing leads to another............ and Its hereby confirmed that Mike will be doing a few numbers as a guest of the world famous Boulevard Blues Band at Die Boer on Saturday night the 23rd October 2010 8) :dance: :goodtimes:

Enjoy guys and thanks to Bloukie for his assistance in arranging this !

joel

? , BTW

Only Mike is going this time , not the whole Blues Train Band.........

bloukie

Well, I've booked my ticket for the Boer show on Saturday night and looking forward to hearing Mike play, Joel.

Rupert Mellor on keys will also be joining the guys on stage so it promises to be a memorable night?

You're gonna make it surely?

joel

bloukie wrote: ....................You're gonna make it surely?

.....no man ! , I'm in CPT the next morning >☹

On a lighter note , apparently Mike knows Rupert well and is looking forward to this gig immensely. 8)

Also , BTW , he is bringing his recently aquired Hermida Audio Zen drive pedal with. Its awesome .
(Theres about a 6-8 week waiting list if you want one.............. ?)