Band News

Friday 5th March 2010
Venue: The Shoe Inn, Plaitford.

Last Friday saw the band playing at the Shoe Inn, Plaitford, A new venue for us and one that we certainly hope to be playing at again. On a cold night the pub was a very warm and inviting place and we certainly felt at home as we kicked off the evening with a very tight version of Riding with the King, closely followed by Unchain my heart. This place has a good reputation as a decent blues venue so we were a bit unsure before we started about just how well our mix of blues, rock and more up tempo soul music would go down. Luckily for us, we had no need to fear, as the decent sized crowed showed their appreciation to some pretty slick guitar playing from Iain as well the usual expressive and gutsy singing from Steve. By the time we got half way through the first set we knew that it was going to be a great night.

Before we started the second set we did the honors of drawing tickets out of a hat for the pub's meat draw! And guess who won? Yep, that's right, our very own Iain! We wonder just how many meals Nicky, Iain’s other half managed to get out of that huge slab of lamb? The playing in the second set just got better and better as we soaked up the fantastic atmosphere of this superb venue and the great crowed. Brilliant versions of Tore Down, Stormy Monday, Badge and Move on Up were all topped off by a crowed pleasing finale of Mustang Sally, which brought on the usual break out of impromptu crowed dancing!

A personal thanks from me to Steve, Rob and Iain for keeping everything so tight! Some brilliant playing, guys.

All in all, a great night for all, with the band playing on top form throughout. The Shoe Inn really is an excellent pub with good food, brilliant beer and some pretty decent live music as well. Can't be bad.

Rich

Saturday 6th March 2010
Venue: The Salisbury Arms, Christchurch.

Saturday March 6th saw us visit our good friends Dean and Mel down at the Salisbury Arms, Purwell. It was Dean's birthday bash (although his birthday was actually on the previous Wednesday) a good number of friends and fellow musicians had gathered to celebrate. It was (yet another!) cold night but the Salisbury Arms was warm and inviting and the new lick of paint, stage set-up and furniture has certainly made this place even more cozy than before. Dean and Mel are working hard to put this pub back on its feet and we certainly noticed their efforts on Saturday. Well done!

Following the obligatory non-sound check, Steve kicked off the evening by welcoming every one to Dean's 50th Birthday celebrations! Nice one Steve! We'll never play the Salisbury again! We then slid comfortably into the first few numbers, even managing to pull off an excellent take of an old Robyn Ford number 'She Moves Me' A tricky little number at the best of times requiring a high degree of concentration and bar counting! So God only knows how we managed to get through it without any noticeable errors! 'Crossroads' went down a storm with some great singing from Steve and deft guitar work from Iain. 'Moon Dance' and 'Red House' were a few of the numbers which followed before we rounded off the first set with a thumping version of 'Walking by Myself.' Time for a break! Where's my pint!

The second set began with 'Keep Your Hands to Yourself' followed by thumping versions of 'Tore Down' and 'The Seventh Son'. Stormy Monday' was followed by 'Badge', another tricky number needing excellent hand, eye and ear coordination between all four members of the band to really pull it off! A blinding version of 'Move on Up', driven relentlessly by Rob and Rich, was followed by 'Mustang Sally'. Again, superb lead guitar work from Iain and some 'full-on' and impressive vocals from Steve. We rounded off the evening with an old favorite of Steve's (really?), ZZ Top's Tush.

So, until the next one Dean, many, many happy returns from Rob, Steve, Iain and Rich. We hope you enjoyed it! Cause We did.

Rich

Friday 29th January 2010
Venue: Chaplin's/Cellar Bar

The band returned to one of its favourite haunts last Friday night - the Cellar Bar at Boscombe - where, despite the cold temperatures outside, there was an excellent turn out. When there's a crowd in, the atmosphere is fantastic and tonight was no exception, especially during the second half.

After a slow start the evening warmed up as more and more people descended into the Cellar Bar. We could feel it was going to be a good night. Third song in saw the band play a masterly version of 'She Moves Me', an old Robyn Ford number, with Rob and Rich laying down a tight and progressive rhythm upon which Iain and Steve interweaved slick guitar and soulful lyrics. About half way through the first set we were joined on stage by Danny, a young guy from California, whose tight and punchy lead guitar on Stormy Monday complimented well with the band's more free flowing take on this brilliant T-Bone Walker number, first recorded way back in 1947. A sublime version of Jimi Hendrix's 'Red House' followed, with Steve's gutsy vocals again taking centre stage. The first set was toped off by a tight and solid version of 'Walking by my self' included some unbelievable intro guitar playing from Iain. A great set, now where's my beer!

The second half opened to a nearly full house and, once again, we were joined on stage by Danny, who showed some excellent finger work on the second number, 'Tore Down', synching well with Iain on second lead throughout. By the time we were half way through 'Seventh Son' the Cellar Bar was bouncing! 'Badge' and 'Fool for your stockings' followed, before the band changed up a gear with a fantastic and furious version of Curtis Mayfield's 'Move on up'. By now the band was having to compete for space with one half of 'Legs and co' who had broken out into some rather raunchy dancing right in front of us! How we managed to get through the next couple of tracks, I'll never know. A rip-roaring version of 'Hoochie coochie man' was followed by the evening's closing number yep, Steve's favourite, ZZ Top's 'Tush'

Once again, another great night at the Cellar Bar.

Cheers Rich. (Bassist with Shoestring)

Saturday 2nd January 2010
Venue: The Plough, Nr Tiptoe.

It was a cold crisp very frosty Saturday night, the first gig after the festive hols. You have to wonder if your going to get an audience! On arriving at the pub I ventured in, a group of 3 at one table and one other bloke sat about half way down the pub (make love to his tonic and gin!) as the song goes. On greeting Tom my question to him, is this it? his reply "its been like this all day" As the band started to set up the pub started to fill up, we had an audience. Friends of the band, locals and some not so local. A quiet night turned into a busy one. Tom the barman rushed off his feet, a great evening for the band and the pub. A big thanks to all of you who turned out to support us.

Saturday 28th November.
Venue: The Branksome Railway, Branksome, Poole.

What an evening, the weather foul. We had a bit of a rest bite from the bloody rain, got all the gear into the pub without getting to wet. An evening of good music with Shoestring, the audience steadily growing, some friends of the band turned out to make a great evening go even better. Great comments about the band from various people in the audience. Thanks to Chris & Han for booking us. I am sorry to say that Han has decided not to book bands in 2010. A great shame as we enjoyed playing at the old BR.

Friday 27th November
Venue: Chaplin's/The Cellar Bar, Boscombe.

Once again we found ourselves at The Cellar Bar in Boscombe and yes it was another good night. It started of on the quiet side, but what can you expect with the weather the way it is! As the evening went on the crowed got bigger, the old place was packed and rocking to the music. of Shoestring. The band performed up to there usual standard and will be back in the new year. Thanks to Andy and the crew.

Saturday 21st November
Venue: Dukes Bar & Grill, Christchurch.

I have to say that I pleasantly surprised with the outcome, having been to Dukes on the odd occasion plus having jammed there, I was a little unsure about how the evening would turn out, but what a night it. despite the inclement weather the place was packed, the response we got from the crowed, superb. Thanks Dukes for a great evening.