Nicotine Stain, Australian Blues
Nicotine Stain (© 2010 Mike de Velta)
LYRICS
I am your neighbor
but I am a stranger
nobody knows me
knows my name
I’m a captive
like a bird
Im a captive
in a cage
In my reflection
I see an ol man
through dirty windows
a shadow in the rain
I’m tired of living
feel like I’m sinking
just lil ol me,and my nicotine stain
lil ol me, and my nicotine stain
What has become of my life, and my family,
Oh my wife, my loving wife
my children I can not see
can not see
What has become of my life, and my family,
Oh my wife, my loving wife
my children I can not see
can not see
No body told me
how my life would end
in such helpless misery
now I’m tired, tired and lonely
won’t somebody help me
rescue me
won’t somebody help me
and rescue me
What has become of my life, and my family,
Oh my loving wife
my children I can not see
can not see
Perth Blues Clubs Festival of Fret Review by Marcus Schultz
Festival of the Fret
By Marcus Schultz
Yes, the annual Perth Blues Club’s Festival of the Fret came and went last Tuesday on the 18th of November but it was definitely a night that will not soon be forgotten.
The first act eased the Club into its biggest night yet with the solo acoustics of Mike de Velta. His set combined a handful of original compositions as well as a mix of traditional blues standards. In an unusual fashion Mike played a 12-string electric acoustic as if it was a lap steel guitar for a number of songs from his extensive repertoire.
He played a few upbeat songs such as Room with a View, Red Dress and The Sailor Song with an instrument not too often seen as the Blues Club, a ukulele. For Life’s Like That he produced a harmonica and proceeded to accompany himself with his 12-string guitar (now played normally).
Mike de Velta finished up with two blues cover songs, Tony Joe White’s As the Crow Flies and a traditional blues titled You Gotta Move.
The house band consisted of an all-star line up with Bob patient on piano an organ, Wayne Freer on Bass guitar and Ric Eastman on drums. Backing Gerard Maunick, Mal Eastick and Lindsay Wells all on the same night, the house band seemed to have had their work cut out for them, but they didn’t seem fazed at all.
The next act, always a crowd pleaser, was Gerard Maunick. He and the house band jammed out some reggae, rock and blues numbers.
Some highlights of the set included South Bound, Back to the Crossroads, a rolling blues tune which drew a large crowd to the dance floor and Suzy Q.
The 12 bar blues shuffle that is Across the Border illuminated Gerard’s mastery over the guitar as well as demonstrated the raw talent that Bob Patient possesses.
Just before the band played their last number, Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower, Gerard announced that they actually hadn’t had time to rehearse their set, but who could tell?
Mal Eastick is widely considered as Australia’s premier blues musician and who could argue? His style is a marvel to watch and is even more amazing to hear.
Mal played a set of all instrumental blues off his two albums The Southern Line and Spirit with a few covers thrown in. Mal opened with a song for his song entitled Blues for Aaron, followed with The E St Blues and then slowed things down with the sensitive Times Like These.
Mal paid tribute to two of his biggest influences by playing Lenny from the catalogue of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddie King’s I’m Going Down to San-Ho-Zay.
After playing a few more of his songs such as Two Love, The Jungle Funk and Swept Away, Mal ending with the fast and distorted Jumping with Stevie.
Finally, the time had arrived that we’d see one lucky winner take home the Fender Squire guitar signed by Gerard, Lindsay, Matt Taylor and others as Mal drew the winning ticket. Unfortunately, Dennis Raditch (apologies if I spelt that wrong) was absent from the Club on the night, however, I’m sure he got the best phone call of his life a bit later that week.
Having just flown back to Sydney I think it’s safe to say that Perth audiences will be waiting anxiously for Mal’s return to WA next year.
Lindsay Wells, a favourite at the Perth Blues Club was back again to mesmerize the audience with his natural talent and incredible stage performance.
Some highlights of Lindsay’s performance included Sugar Coated Love, ZZ Top’s La Grange and Jimi Hendrix’s Red House and Hey Joe where he played his guitar behind his head and between his teeth.
The final song of the night was something very rare and a real treat to see; Lindsay Wells invited Mal Eastick on stage to wrap up the festival. Together they played through a brilliant cover of Crossroads (also called Cross Road Blues) written by the late, great Robert Johnson and as performed by Cream.
After the applause of the audience died down, Lindsay and Mal played a slow blues encore in E, I’m in the Mood by John Lee Hooker.
The only thing that went through my mind as I left the was how are they going to top The Perth Blues Club’s Festival of the Fret next year?
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Voted Best Blues Artist of 2011 by Global Thunda Network, Mike De Velta's intoxicating compositions and performances are constantly on the move. A rich showcase of modern delta, slide and piedmont blues expressed with a hint of the Eastern through the shimmering and delightful tones of lap slide, resonator and acoustic guitars.