UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION
| Bay band beats Belgium
blues! |
 |
Super-charged
The Nightporters, a four piece who play a super-charged
brand of 1950's-style R&B, are celebrating by launching a ten day tour of the country
which will even include a spell inside.
As well as club dates, they've been booked to play for the inmates of Antwerp jail.
The band's singer and rhythm guitar player, Ian Roberts, said: "We're going down
really well over there."
"We are doing a radio special while we are there and someone told us they had seen
posters of us up all over Antwerp advertising it.
"The CD is Belgium's best-selling blues record for 1997."
The Nightporters, who have played hundreds of gigs all over the country since they formed,
hope conquering Belgium could lead to more European success.
Approach
They have just signed a European distribution deal for
their CD, which has sold nearly 1,000 copies.
Early next year they are going back to Europe for another tour which will also include
dates in Germany, Holland and France.
Ian said: "I think they like our approach over there. We put on a good show."
Porters got the blues
for debut
Herald Express, Friday 22
August 1997
DRINKING, sex and losing
your woman. That says Nightporters drummer Kevin Crowe, is the essence of the blues.
To these moody themes the four piece have added the hint of danger which strums in the
back of rockability.
Now the Newton Abbot-based band are riding high following the recent release of their
first album Feelin' Good.
Recorded earlier this year at the Sawmill Studios, Cornwall, the group's ferocious
work-rate and live-tight experience came as a shock to producers used to putting albums
together over months, not the four days the Nightporters had available.
"The engineer was absolutely knackered by the 14-hour session," recalled Kevin.
Most tracks went down on two days, he said, with another two days for mixing.
The band's live set was wittled down to the eight track album which is now on sale in Our
Price, HMV and Virgin. Locally it is out-selling some chart-topping outfits.
Having their own silver disc is a real high point for the Nightporters.
"It's a pinnacle. Most bands don't get that far, for a start it's a great financial
outlay,"
But then they've always been in it for the long haul.
The Nightporters - Ian Roberts, Martin Vowles, Chris Robbins-Davey and Kevin - formed
four-and-half years ago.
But unlike so many young bands who believe a burst of inspiration is enough to take them
to stardom they've been under no illusion that perspiration holds the key to success.
Each member juggles performing with full-time work.
Kevin, who is a carpenter and joiner by trade, said: "It's hard work. It's tiring if
you're playing somewhere like the Midlands on Sunday and you've got to get back to get up
at 6am for work on Monday."
They're also worldly wise enough to tolerate the occasional bum booking.
Sometimes we get booked for a gig and we blindly accept only to get there a find out it's
real rubbish.
With their unique repertoire of 1950s-style R&B, sharp suits and rattling guitars the
Nightporters have built up a devoted local following.
Now they are bringing their feet-shifting, hip-swaying beat to a wider audience.
This year has seen them perform at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival and in July
the Dublin Temple Bar Blues Festival - Europe's biggest blues crack.
While already professional, said Kevin, their big hope is to be able to eventually cast
off their day jobs.
Blues might be undergoing a resurgence nationally but the Nightporters are under no
illusions that they're playing to a niche market albeit one they hope to expand.
"We're not an Indie band who're going to make millions, concedes Kevin.
"But maybe we'll be a '90s version of Doctor Feelgood," he adds.
Having played relentlessly over the last two years, taking in dates at just about every major national blues and jazz festival, last month they turned their backs on day jobs and recorded their first CD "Feelin' Good" at Sawmills Studio in Fowey, Cornwall.
The result is an eight track assemblage of the best sounds of that era with classics such as "Mellow Down Easy", "Blue and Lonesome", "Certainly All" and the title track "Feelin' Good". The CD is available on the Wang Label (Wang CD/MC 001) and can be purchased from all Our Price or Virgin stores nationally, a snip at £11.00.
For a real treat catch their energetic live act this
summer at venues throughout Devon, I challenge anyone to watch them without tapppin' those
feet and emerging "Feelin' Good"…….