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December 2011
So December rolls around again.
Our album launch in November was a huge success and it was a real pleasure for the band to share it with great friends at a great venue.
A special mention must be made of our guests; Mark Mazengarb (check our Mark’s web site HERE) who opened with a fantastic solo set and Murray Patten who joined us later to lay down some righteous grooves on keyboard.
Thanks also to Leslie for her merchandising expertise, to Dean for the fantastic job as MC and to Tony for the great job on the sound desk trying to make us sound good.
But what good is a CD launch without a promo tour?
Ours started with a trip down to Hamilton and the Hamilton Blues Society.
An enthusiastic, vocal crowd made it a fantastic night.
Thanks guys… good club you got going down there.
The following week we were down in Wellington with a two song performance on TV One’s, Good Morning Show.
First time on TV for most of us and our thanks to such a professional crew that made it all go so smoothly.
From there it was on to Bodega – one of Wellington’s top venues with a big room filled by a huge in house PA where we caught up with Darren Watson and some other friends and swap stories.
Heading north but just south of Palmerston North at Tokomaru is the renowned Bent Horse Shoe Café, a converted school room with a fabulous view over the river.
It’s an intimate room where the appreciative audience is very much part of the performance, very much like playing at Christmas time in front of all your relatives – a weird feeling.
We enjoyed mixing with the crowd and getting to know the locals with plenty of banter and laughs.
Next time you’re down that way make sure you call in but better book first.
Our special thanks to Bullfrog Rata for helping us out with a PA.
From there it was on to Rotorua and the Belgian Bar, another great venue and terrific audience of locals and tourists alike.
More recently, the historic tavern at Riverhead has been beautifully renovated and is a fabulous pub in a beautiful setting.
We thoroughly enjoyed our gig there and hope to be back next year.
Finally, we wish to sincerely thank you all for your wonderful support throughout the year.
We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The Flaming Mudcats look forward to seeing you at another of our gigs real soon.
September 2011
The coming of September brings spring and while the grass and the lambs are sprouting, it’s time for us to recoup and regroup after completing the album.
The Launch Party is being planned for November so watch this space… we’ll be bringing you more details shortly.
Everyone will be invited and we certainly hope you can all make it along for a great time.
We enjoyed our two nights at the Tool Room in Titirangi.
It’s a small intimate room with a great atmosphere and special big thanks to our friends who traveled all the way up from Rotorua.
A big thank you to Eve also, who has written a review on her blog which can be found here Apple Tree Synergy
We really appreciate your support.
The Waiheke Blues Festival was wonderful.
We started with an early gig at the Woolshed then on to a full house at the Golf Club to wrap up and it was great to see a lot of the other muso’s there supporting each other and talking music.
Be sure to check out this festival next year, it’s a great weekend.
If September has been quiet, November is shaping up to be busy for us with the album launch and a mini North Island tour in the works, so watch this space for more information.
See you at the gig…
July 2011
After a quick glance at the gig guide it may appear that The Flaming Mudcats have been hibernating for the winter but in fact we have been tucked away in the studio basement of The Lab recording our first studio album.
The album has been recorded almost entirely “live” and it’s been a whole lot of fun laying down a dozen or so tracks, the majority of which are originals and mostly written by the band.
We also draw on other contributors, such as New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Glen Moffatt and Simen “Bluekeys” Taylor, whom you may know from the Darcy Perry Band.
Without giving too much away about the record… it includes a slightly extended Mudcats line-up as we draft in Murray Patten, a renowned and well respected session man, to add some wonderful hammond organ on two of the tracks.
Due to the miracles of modern science Simen adds some extra keyboards from his base in Europe.
That’s a whole lot of ‘new technology’ in such a low tech band.
When we haven’t been recording we’ve enjoyed hanging out and supporting the Auckland Blues Club and its recent events.
It’s been great to see such talented younger players turning up to strut their stuff.
Keep an ear out as Craig’s Sonny Junior amp has been restored to full voice and is now teamed with a new harp mic courtesy of the one and only Rod Piazza.
And so not to be out done or feeling left out… Ian’s got a new drum stool.
See you at the gig…
May 2011
Following a quiet April (when a quarter of the band took leave to visit the UK) the Flaming Mudcats back into the hard at work by performing at the Fiji International Jazz and Blues Festival.
The band played well, had a wonderful time, said hello to some old friends and ‘Bula Vinaka’ to some new ones.
The highlight of the 4 day festival for us was jamming on stage with a wonderful Fijian keyboard player Waqa, and witnessing Craig tear it up with Kevin Borich and his band during the festival’s finale.
Back in Auckland we continue to work on the upcoming album, and prepare for another festival appearance at the Rotoura Blues Festival held over Queen’s Birthday weekend.
There are a few local gigs in the calendar too, so it would be great if you could make it along.
Thanks again to you all for the ongoing support, we really do appreciate it.
See you at the gig…
March 2011
Welcome to our website and our first update for 2011.
You might have noticed a few changes… we’ve rebuilt our site with a new design which we hope you will enjoy.
The band have had a great start to the year with some full on Festival appearances already at the Wollaston Nelson Jazz and Blues Festival, Blues, Brews and Blues at Mt Manganui, The Marchwood Blues Picnic and The Kia Motors Devonport Food and Wine Festival, spreading the blues to some pretty lively summer crowds.
Our appearances at the Nelson Jazz and Blues Festival was the first time we have performed in in the South Island and we had a blast; fantastic hospitality, great venues, beautiful scenery, weather and now, some new friends.
Craig has a new baby; his name is Sonny Junior… a hefty 24kg harmonica amp.
This baby sounds great and just loves hanging out with the band.
We are also busy working on some original material due to be record in later in the year.
We’ll keep you informed of progress and let you know when the finished product is ready to be unleashed.
Our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch (and Japan) and we are supporting a Christchurch Earthquake relief concert in Taupo March 19th along with Darcy Perry, Mike Garner, The Blues Brothers Review and others.
It would be great if you could make it along.
Special thanks to you all for the ongoing wonderful support, we really appreciate it.
See you at the gig…
To contact the band… click HERE