Thursday, February 14, 2008

So What

So I'm back again--So What???

Well, "This Little Band" deserves better, the last two gigs yours truly has been to (both at Home Base--Rossinis) have been wonderful. To state the obvious, they love playing there and the reception is ebullient , joyful, happy, appreciative, uninhibited and raucous (Not in anyway to suggest- Plain Bloody Drunk)

One person who shall remain nameless but plays the harmonica and brings the house down himself , said to me, he believes SoTight is "God's Band" High Praise indeed (pun intended--don't groan, I know who you are) With his last name of Church perhaps he has knowledge beyond us mere mortals, whatever, his recommendation alone would make me sit up and take notice.

Trying not to get too deep and keep this as short as possible, things are just so GOOD right now, plenty of gigs, the Band is really flying, they sound so relaxed even with their (so welcome) new numbers like Fever etc and I'm hearing whispers of original material ahead which will really tell the tale.

On a personal note the band did an opening number of Chick Corea's Spain a couple of weeks ago,
absolutely A class--more please.

Also on Feb 2nd, I thought musically that the Keyboard playing of Mr Dalzell and the brilliant drumming of Mr Neumann behind the play were just exceptional. (Please send cash--NO CHEQUES)

To finish I tried my best to talk to MissSoTight about her nights (More than one you know) with Mr Bubble but all I got was "He's a very funny guy" "down to earth" and "gave me a hug" What DON'T we know?.. Then we discover that MissSotight is high on Red Bull so we may never know "DeTroof-"--love that lady (Happy Valentines Day Mrs Bubble--nobody quite like you).

Quick notes, at Rossinis on feb 2nd the place was packed to the rafters and yet many regulars missing,(Skiing) . Where I was situated near the bar there were so many NEW people who were plainly excited about what they were hearing and the general hub-ub, need to get those folks on the Bands e-mail list.
It is also interesting to note that it is almost impossible to get to the dancefloor(or washroom) without a "brush-up or two"(or Three) against people trying their very best to avoid you (perhaps), I've personally taken to removing my wallet, keys,mobile(sorry-cellphone) and now taking deep breathing lessons to make sure I'm not taken advantage of. Those women are impossible, please learn to control yourselves like us honest and upright gentleman , thank-you for your attention.

Remember, check the SoTight website at--- http://www.thesotightband.com/ for upcoming venues, see you all at Newlands Golf Club this weekend, GREAT VENUE and at The Yale on Thursday Feb 21st

Monday, October 29, 2007

One Year and Counting

How time flies.

This "Little Band" as they describe themselves (got to be JT) has now been together as TheSotightBand with Miss Nadine for one full year. I'm sure i am not the first person to offer Congratulations but I do have a perspective to offer because of how this "Little Band" has affected me personally.

I remember very well as a newcomer to Vancouver and as a volunteer to the Jazz Festival being told of a one off venue on a Saturday afternoon for good music was a place called Rossini's in Kitsilano. This is June 2006. As a Brit used to playing in bands on Sunday lunchtimes from 11am to two pm this was a GOOD thing. Don't know a single soul but Rossini's seems friendly and has an '"atmosphere" I frankly found missing elsewhere, still do.

Band playing is..Billy Dixon and The SoulTrain Express...electrifying...first rate covers from a first rate artist, audience participation has me enjoying myself. Billy gives his all and has
everybody up and dancing, booze is flowing, ladies seem able to come here alone or with girlfiends without problems and there is a general feeling of goodwill .Good beer too.
Saxaphone player, whose name I don't know, gets my attention, plays a ton of notes at such a furious rate and with such Passion I just know there is SOMETHING here I have never experienced before in Canada. Singers got an ego, hogs the limelight, but nothing wrong with that, he is excellent and gets everybody dancing. Ask the sax players name, bartender not sure, ask the singer at break, gives me his autograph and an invite to Boat party instead, good salesman.

I will always consider myself a lucky person, no background in the local music scene and yet found myself so drawn to what became TheSoTightBand with Miss Nadine.

The very first time I heard Nadine States perform with SoTight, raw, nervous, edgy AND wonderful, if Nadine does not rank with the very best of todays performers then show me WHO is better. Miss SoTight has grown so much in the past year that perhaps we take it all just a liitle too much for granted.. There is a talent here, that for me, is not being recognised at the very highest level. Amazing natural voice, a stage presence which is huge, and has that ability to interact with her audience right on the dance floor level, gets down and dirty with ease and always gives you the impression she just loves and appreciates the audience reaction, not through ego but a genuine will to GIVE and then seems quite astonished at the return.

The very BEST thing one year later is her ability to grow that edgy, nervous and still raw energy she brings to each performance, more comfortable with her own ability,hits almost impossible notes with confidence, I don't think we have seen anything even close to what Miss Nadine can, and will do in the future.. As you read this I would just ask you to close your eyes and do nothing but listen to an extraordinary talent right on your doorstep.....and show your love. Got quite the body..looks and moves too...down boy down (It's all in the mind at my age...fantasy is a wonderful thing)

The Band.

Here is where I totally lose it. I would have given my eye teeth to play with such a group of musicians, sold my first born blonde son to the Arabs, allowed my wife "Freedom to
Fully Explore her Sexual Fantasies in Mongolia"(Still think that's a WONDERFUL idea, just need a ton more air travel points) AND made a contribution of high calibre to the Flat Earth Society.

We will never really know what makes these individuals tick, a Chicken who plays Guitar, a drummer who can STILL get into a one piece outfit from the seventies(whats THAT all about)
a Bass Guitarist who should be in jail as an obvious Biker Hooligan, a saxaphone player ( so he tells us) who pretends to be '"arry Potta"but looks suspiciously like "U Efner" (God help Jeannie )and speaking of God they are all looked over by the Priest Himself masquerading as a keyboard player, well it's not right is it? PLUS they pretend that the only player who knows what he's doing is "Away in China"... beggars belief.

I hold up my hand and swear I do not know of a group of amazing individuals (oxymoron..too late) who play with such energy together...who continually play basically the same material and yet always bring something fresh to each performance, a group that is so committed to each other that time after time over the past year somebody has stepped up to the plate when illness or just a low point has hit a band member , a spouse, close relative, or friend. If this band were all full-time musicians then that's fine BUT they ain't, most are working stiffs like all of us, and yet on A Saturday Afternoon at Rossini's, late at night at the Yale or the Casinos' etc they routinely transform OUR lives and give us a few hours of pure magic.
THEY will tell you that they feed off us, that they appreciate the loyalty and following we give them. I say it is THEIR wonderful musicianship which has grown over the past year and continues to grow, THEIR belief in each other not just musically but as friends and then those moments we all look for when everything just clicks and they" forget" all of us and let the music play, thats what these people give to us..time in and time out.

A great quote from a good friend..."They play covers better than the Originals"...They do too

To Nadine..to Peter..to Rob..to Robbie..to Cliff..to JT..to Kent HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Richard Winn

White Rock BC

One Year In... The Best Is Yet to Come

Keep it Tight...Keep it SoTight

Monday, July 16, 2007

Last Update

Hi all.

This will be the last post at this site, the new site will be released through the SoTightBands website within the next couple of weeks. Watch out for a whole new approach, should be cool.

I was not the only one who enjoyed the band at Rossinis on Sat. july 14th.

For once there was room to breathe, not so full as is usual and it had an unexpected benefit. The group just seemed to me to play with more freedom, more relaxed if you like. It never took a thing away from the "SoTight" brand but they were really letting fly all afternoon and appeared to enjoy the experience themselves. I know Nadine had a great time being able to move and sing among the patrons more than usual and even had a certain lady (or not) play grab ass with her on the dance floor. Quite hilarious, lucky lady I say.

One of the reasons I like to get there early is to listen to the warm-up and sound test stuff they play, wish they would do more of that, great loose jazz feeling. I know of course thats not what they are there for but boy it suits me. Jt, Robbie Marr and Peter did their thing with no guitar or drums for a while, fun to listen to. A Gillespie piece if I'm not mistaken.

Talking of drums, Mr Nuemann had a brand new set to play on and the difference was really noticeable, particularly the bass drum, its odd how some simple changes can make such a difference in the overall sound.

Yes, Rossinis was fun, I love that place.



BOAT CRUISE.



The SoTightBand Inaugral Boat Cruise aboard the Queen of Diamonds was a real blast and hopefully very successful for them and that there will be many more in the future years. (Maureen said to say the band were all great) Everybody seemed to have a great time whooping and hollering all afternoon(glad the bar bill wasn't mine to pay) and it all appeared very good natured. An abiding sight for me and no doubt many others was James and his cape trying to take off into the wind to great applause from those arround him. The weather was good all day and apart from what was happening aboard I personally really enjoyed the amazing scenery from False Creek out into that wonderful bay and back again. What a place we are so fortunate to live in, i know i spoke to many who said they never take it for granted, its just great to be alive in this place.



As to the music, a little more difficult to describe. Unless you were well forward the band were not that easy to both hear or see. From where I was standing, a little over half way toward the back, it simply wasn't easy to know quite what was going on. At some points I couldn't hear Cliff or Rob Neumanns drums (He told me he was "beating the hell out of them") at all and because the band were not on an elevated stage I really only caught glimpses of the odd face or two here and there. That is not to criticize just a statement of fact. I occasionally did venture into the jumble of bodies leaping up and down like whirling dervishes directly in front of the band and of course could hear everything with no problem. I don't think it mattered too much except perhaps to those folks who just went to listen, there was so much going on ,it was just plain fun all afternoon.

The boat was full, the weather was great, the booze was flowing, a lot of skin was on display, the music was hot inside and outside, what more can you ask for.



Richard Winn



White Rock

Monday, June 25, 2007

Blog and The Band

Hi all (at least those that can access this site, the new one should be up in time for the Boat Cruise

Band on their very best behaviour for the Vancouver Jazz festival and so was I.(lol)

Hands up those who thought that last Saturday at Rossinis was simply the best we have heard from this band? Wave please 'cos I'm still deaf and also hoarse from vocal excitement, loved every minute of it and I know from my son and daughters response they had NEVER seen anything like it.

My son who is a wannabe guitarist (his words) could not believe some the stuff coming from Cliff and my daughter immediately fell in love with JT (what the heck is it about male sax players and female listeners)

Right from Nadine's introduction the whole band seemed just determined that the Jazz Festival was an excuse to let fly, there were times when you could just see and feel their own enjoyment of those very special occasions when each member is "in the groove", if you have ever played at any level you always remember and understand those times. Thats when a new dimension is reached and it is truly "all for one and one for all". I would never have thought to use the word SWING (sounds old fashioned) with the SoTightBand but at one time or another during the afternoon they were movin' big time. Brings up a point, these guys and Nadine can play any thing and any style of music (loved those little reggae bits) and play them well, those two opening intrumentals were an eye opener and they never let it drop all day. (I, being me, just loved the very brief 3/4 stuff between Mr Marr and Mr Platt during the warm up, i'll bet THEY don't remember that)

The new numbers the band introduced (and there were many)were really a breath of fresh air too, my daughter thought Mark Knopflors "Private Dancer" was superb and Robbies down and dirty version of "Unchain my Heart" was just plain brilliant, incidentally for those who give a hoot, on the original 1962 Ray Charles version (he was not the first) David "Fathead" Newman was his sax player, guess whos' tickets I have for Wed Jazz Festival, great player.

There were many moments for the memory, you will have different ones from mine (my sons' was he thought jt threw in a little Michael Jackson at one point) whatever they are, why don't you let us know? For me I thought everybody played there best and a special mention to Peter who was just flying, at least a couple of his solos had Messrs Neumann and Marr supporting in fantastic manner. Peters sound is also much improved from earlier gigs, you can hear each note very clearly.

Just talking about support I must mention Rob Neumann who is so good in his ability to read whats going on around and respond at such a high level. My best example would be when there is just him and JT together, thats some playing Mr Neumann and better than drum solos to me.

What do you say about Jt? How he does what he does is beyond me. Played his heart and soul out with no help or break with the absence of Kent's trumpet, takes the breath away with his passion and energy, i reckon he must lost lose a few pounds at every performance, wonderful excitement all afternoon from him.

I'm going to leave comments about Nadine to others. I can tell you a lady approached me who had only heard her on one other occasion at the Fairview. She said the reason she came to listen to Nadine on Saturday at Rossini's was because she felt stardom was going to steal her away from us and she wanted to remember she was there in "the early days"and listened to an extraordinary talent.

Says it all don't it. Bless you Nadine, you are something else.

I know I've missed out so much, if you can help, put it down, me, I just enjoyed the music and the occasion.

Don't forget your tickets for the Boat Cruise July 15th ,its going to be wild.

Keep it Tight---Keep it SoTight

Richard Winn

White Rock

Monday, June 18, 2007

Changes

Hi all
I,m hearing of many people who cannot, for one reason or another, access and comment on this blog site. The site being free is also very limiting in adding photos, videos etc.
I always wanted the blog to be the best support for the SoTightBand with Miss Nadine as is possible and I have tried to do this to the best of my ability. Circumstances and a desire to move forward to help the band in the best way possible mean a change in the way this blog will be presented in future.
Look for a brand new blog coming soon through the Bands website at www.thesotightband.com.

Thank you for all who participated to date and look forward to hearing from all of you who wish this extraordinary group of individuals and their families and friends well. For me it's a privilege.

Take care.

Richard Winn

White Rock

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Adding comments

Hi everybody.
I understand that some people are having problems adding comments to the blog. I'm not sure why, as long as you have signed up for a FREE Google Account you should be ok. Having said that, it may well be that the system at Blogspot itself is not up to speed.

If you have tried to add comments and unable to do so for any reason please email me rswinn@shaw.ca or better still call me at 604-542-1479 and lets sort it out.

I want this to work for everyone not just a few.

Watch this space

Keep It Tight---Keep It SoTight

Richard Winn

White Rock

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

mrallnight6

Seems like its just you and me buddy. I think it is shameful that the Head Blogger (Thats me, although my wife calls me many different names, the court case comes up shortly) doesn't even get an invitation to ALL the private parties and a paid limo to all other SoTight events complete with full bar and "questionable female entertainment" Bloody disgrace if you ask me, working my fingers to the bone thinking up nice things to say about the band when I could be in the boozer getting pleasantly p****d.
I am forced to sit out on my patio overlooking Semiahmoo Bay slugging down the odd Mai Tai and actually TYPING this stuff that nobody seems interested in.

I have an idea to run by you Mrallnight6.

I'm thinking of fining people a small sum of money (say $500 a pop) for not reading and commenting on these blogs within a reasonable period of them being put up (say two hours, I think thats being very generous) Here is how this will work. Everybody will provide me with their credit card number(complete with ccv and expiry date) and i will promise (in writing) only to charge their card when 121 Minutes has passed, can't be fairer than that.

Here is where YOU come in. I may need some muscle for any charge backs, I'll provide the balaclava, wrap around shades, helmet and Harley(stolen, false plates no sweat) and I'll also agree to pay a generous 50, no 25 ahh lets say 15% of all funds you collect.
Are you IN ?

Anon

White Rock