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SNAKECHARMER Press Launch
The name Snakecharmer may be a new one on the scene, but its members have some of the most respected careers in classic rock.
Guitarist Micky Moody and bassist Neil Murray were integral in the original (and best IMHO) Whitesnake and later in Company of Snakes
Harry James needs no introduction as the character behind the drums for Thunder and Magnum, and Laurie Wisefield served over a decade as one half of Wishbone Ash’s twin guitar team, toured with Tina Turner and has been part of the We Will Rock You house band.
Less well known but equally credible are Heartland singer Chris Ousey, who has just released an outstanding solo album, and the newest member Adam Wakeman, from the famous keyboarding clan. Ahead of a prestige London show with Uriah Heep, they were introduced to a press and industry audience by a besuited figure with milky bar kid glasses, who we all whispered looked like Coronation Street’s Curly Watts. Hang on a minute, he WAS Curly Watts! (aka actor Kevin Kennedy). With Neil Murray very much acting as chief spokesman, they described how they had got together and how , after a low-key start under their old name of Monsters of British Rock, they are looking to step up activity in 2012 including playing major festivals, and possibly a national tour if the venues are right.
Although
they were not sure at this stage whether a full-length album would
result, we were treated to a playback of two brand new songs.
'Turn of the
Screw' was an enjoyable bluesy romp in the style of Bad Company or Come
an Get it era Whitesnake, with the riffs enriched by some Hammond organ,
while 'Smoking Gun', as befits its title, had a more dramatic,
smouldering feel and a trademark slide guitar solo from Micky Moody.
Both left me seriously wanting to hear more.
There was a
relaxed atmosphere with lots of natural banter, but the old pros were if
anything too self-effacing and it was the invited audience who suggested
they push themselves forward more with a single and even a video.
With the
pedigree of the members involved, their evident joy in working together
and on the evidence of both their new songs and their take on 'Fool for
Your Lovin' and 'Here I Go Again', Snakecharmer would be very welcome
guests at any classic rock bill in 2012.
Photos by
Bob Singleton
Gig review (8 December 2011)
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