FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: January 17th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Writing the Wrongs... 2020 in Review
  • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
  • McCartney III
  • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
  • Featured Album Reviews
    • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
    • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
    • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
    • King King - Maverick
    • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
    • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
    • Fish - Weltschmerz
    • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
    • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
    • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
    • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
    • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
    • Pat Metheny - From This Place
    • Anchor Lane - Casino
    • 2019 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Fat-Suit - Waifs & Strays
      • Wayward Sons - The Truth Ain't What it Used to Be
      • Flying Colors - Third Degree
      • Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited Band & Orchestra: Live
      • Burnt Out Wreck - This is Hell
      • Runrig - The Last Dance
      • Scarlet Rebels - Show Your Colours
      • The Blind Lemon Gators - Gatorville
      • Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
      • Sweet Oblivion Feat. Geoff Tate
      • Rebecca Downes - More Sinner Than Saint
      • Stray - Mudanzas
      • Snarky Puppy - Immigrance
      • Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics - The Man With Stars On His Knees
    • 2018 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti - Trikala
      • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
      • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
      • Jawbone - Jawbone
      • Steve Perry - Traces
      • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
      • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
      • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
      • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
      • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
      • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
      • JCM - Heroes
      • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
      • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
      • W.E.T. - Earthrage
      • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2021 Reviews
    • 2020 Reviews
    • 2019 Reviews
    • 2018 Reviews
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
    • Midnight Oil - 02 Brixton Academy, London
    • Ana Popovic - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Eden's Curse - The Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Her Way to Hell - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Quireboys and FM - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Erja Lyytinen - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Wille & The Bandits - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Frankie Miller's Full House - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 2 featuring Brian Downey's Alive and Dangerous, Prestwick
    • John Verity Band - Borders Blues Club, Innerleithen
    • King King (with Sari Schorr) - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck (with Scarlet Rebels) - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Buckcherry / Hoobastank / Adelita's Way - SWG3 Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Q&A with...
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Borders blues raid
John Verity Band (with Unfinished Business) – Borders Blues Club, Innerleithen
22nd February 2019
Picture
I’ve driven through the small Borders town of Innerleithen a fair few times but, for my sins, have to admit never having spent any time there – until now.

And I’m very glad I did; not only is it one of the friendliest little places I’ve yet encountered within my own bonnie lands it has the relatively new, but very welcoming, Borders Blues Club, the town’s social club transformed in to a live, blues based music venue every last Friday of the month.

This time around the club hosted the John Verity Band, who were making the first of their annual across the border, blues rocking raids as part of their 2019 touring schedule.

Innerleithen’s hospitable blues club has not been going long (this was only the fifth such event) but it has already picked up a reputation beyond its own Borders (geographical pun intended).
​
And you have to applaud the passion and dedication of the organisers, led by Paul and Cathy Burnett, that has led to the creation of a successful, non-profit making endeavour that relies on the help of locals, raffles and the like to be able to host live events at knock down ticket price (every penny of every ticket sale goes directly to the artists who have popped in to town to play).

PictureBlues Club host and blues band singer Paul Burnett of Unfinished Business
Paul Burnett plays the role of Master of Live Ceremonies as well as fronting the Edinburgh and Borders based Unfinished Business, a tidy little four piece covers band that feature Jon Laing (bass), George Campbell (guitar) and Jim Stevenson (drums).

Unfinished Business have a very simple but effective musical modus operandi – to deliver good time, up-tempo, up on your feet for a dance, rhythm and (rocking) blues – the perfect antidote to the more staid or sit back and settle in audiences that frequent the tables, chairs and bar of many a music club but never the front of the stage.

With vocal assistance from Suzanne Taylor Little, who guested on a song or three in both lead and duet roles with Paul Burnett (a vocal blend that worked well) Unfinished Business ran through a gamut of well-known numbers including set opener 'Walking By Myself' (based on Gary Moore’s version) a rattlin' rendition of Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh Well' and Bad Company’s 'Can’t Get Enough.'
The results were a performance that was as much blues sing-a-long as it was blues standards.

Given the audience, a packed crowd of predominately (but not all) local music fans who were there as supporters of live music and not necessarily au fait with John Verity's material, it did no harm that the aforementioned Mr Verity and his band – drummer Liam James Gray (a young man with an old-school music head on his shoulders) and the blues solid bass lines of John Gordon – included a healthy selection of notable covers in the set.

John Verity’s love of so many, wide ranging classics of rock and blues (from the band’s power trio take of 'Hold Your Head Up' and 'God Gave Rock and Roll To You' (nods to John Verity’s Argent past) to 'Cocaine' and a fully blues’d up 'I Put a Spell On You') guaranteed sing-a-long song recognition for those not so familiar with the noted guitarist’s current work (which happens to be some of his best – Verity's last two studio releases, My Religion and Blues to my Soul, are his strongest back-to-back blues based offerings to date).

And while John Verity is still in mighty fine voice (strong deliveries with a deceptively high upper range) it’s his prowess with beloved Fret-King Corona "JV" signature guitar, that truly does the talking, as heard on numbers such as the expressive and autobiographical 'Hope For the Best' and the weightier, pulsating blues rock of  'Blues in Heaven' (the latter written for a good friend now sadly passed).

Bang on about Joe Bonamassa all you want but in the smaller but no less rich arena of blues clubs and blues festivals, John Verity, for tone and touch, is your player of choice.
Picture
Tone hound John Verity, Liam James Gray and John Gordon - in the green hued blues groove
​John Verity can also crank it up and pedal board it out, as exemplified on the closing brace of 'Star Spangled Banner' and 'Purple Haze,' a fully fuzzed and howling rock guitar bombast played in homage and tribute to Hendrix’s famous Woodstock performance.

But there’s also some fun to be had between the sublime blues and ridiculously accomplished rock guitar moments – the rhythm and bluesy 'Too Hot To Hug' for example allows the band to loosen up in the semi-improvised middle section; Liam James Gray and John Gordon getting rhythmically jazzy or funky depending on where John Verity decides to take the song.

Innerleithen isn’t exactly the rock and roll capital of Scotland; nor do all blues roads lead to the Peeblesshire town; but it’s equally fair to say FabricationsHQ will be stopping by, and not passing through, more often in the future.

I'd invite Scottish and across the border blues fans, supporters of live music and those that enjoy the atmosphere of friendly and welcoming blues clubs, to do the same.


Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ

​
Photo Credits: Graham Riddell Photography ( 
www.grahamriddellphotography.co.uk )
Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved