Belated Update:

 

Amazing what you can fake with PhotoShop, eh!

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2013
 
The Shadz+Shane performance at the Blockhouse Bay 'End of Summer Blues' Festival went really well (and went down well, according to crowd feedback), It was a blast having Shane (complete with pink jacket made for him by the Sir Cliff NZ fan club a few years ago) working with us on a great set of Cliff & Shadows numbers.



SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013

Next up was the Variety Artists Club day/night show, 'Shakin' the Chev' at Pt Chevalier RSA. The afternoon kicked off with a rousing rock'n'roll dancing session led by a rocking 'no-name' band which just happened to feature all four Shadz members plus songstress Karen Davy and her collaborator Ken Strong (guitar/vocals/musical direction). No prior rehearsals, just a full-on jam that felt and sounded great! First "name" act of the day was the irrepressible, always impressive Marian Burns with a typically crowd-pleasing set.

Then came the formal set by the Karen Davy Band (Karen plus Ken Strong on lead guitar and vocals, Linde Walker on BVs, and Shadz members Alistair Taylor on bass, Garry Betti on drums and Graham Gibson on rhythm guitar). After an intensive rehearsal programme, this was a valuable dress rehearsal for the band's upcoming appearances at the Bay of Islands Country-Rock Festival (10-12 May).

After a quick-change for three of us, The Shadz+Shane stepped out for our set. This was really well received and we got a lot of very positive comments afterwards. Once again, drummer Garry Betti was working overtime, anchoring the first three bands and staying on to power Indigo Blue, which was the next act on the bill. Finally, Shane & Band rocked the show to an after-dark close. Excellent event and a useful fund-raiser for the VAC.

"Move It!" - Shane & The Shadz "Shakin' the Chev" (frame capture from compressed video clip)

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 10-12, 2013

A couple of weeks later, Garry, Al and Graham were on the road to Paihia to perform six gigs as members of the above-mentioned Karen Davy Band. More on that, and a few pics, to come...     

 

Sha-Sha-Sharing the spotlight

 

We decided that, since the legendary vocalist 'Shane' is gonna be on the Blockhouse Bay Festival bill - with his own band - we should invite him to perform some :Sir Cliff" numbers with us. And, being a big Cliff/Shads fan, he agreed. So, we've had a couple of workouts and it sounds great! If you're going to Blockhouse Bay Primary School for tomorrow's (Sat. April 6) "End of Summer Blues Festival", make sure you catch this at around 4.30 pm:

 

"Whau!" There is a cure for the Summer's Gone blues...

In between photo-ops, The Shadz have been rehearsing hard for our third* hit-out of 2013, as part of the entertainment line-up for the Blockhouse Bay (Auckland) 'End of Summer Blues Music Festival', set to "rock the Westies" on Saturday, April 6 at Blockhouse Bay Primary School. Also appearing are Shane, Indigo Blue and many more acts - all with a local connection. Hope to see you there!

*We started 2013 bright and early with a loooong, HOT day's/evening's work up north at the '2013 Matakohe Music & Arts Festival' (in home territory for our bassman Alistair) on Saturday, January 5, in the beautiful grounds of a restored 1890s villa - now a home-stay. Besides appearing as The Shadz, we backed longish sets by Paul TT, Karen Davey and Tom Sharplin. Garry, as drummer for both The Shadz and Indigo Blue - whose powerful set gave at least three of us some welcome respite - was on-stage almost non-stop.

*Gig #2, on Friday, Feb. 15, was a little closer to home but still north of Auckland city limits  - a mainly outdoor wedding on a stunning riverside estate at Matakana. By bridal request, Pete and Graham strapped on acoustic guitars and trilled versions of Lenny Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and Chris Knox's '(Love) Not Given Lightly' for the ceremony on the lawn. Then, back to the amps and PA on the patio of the magnifique Provencale-style mansion, where we rocked the young and old guests through the sudden rain and on until 'round midnight - even though the disco guy was supposed to start much earlier.

 First photo-sesh: Thursday 14 March 2013

 

"EYEZZZ...

 ...FRONT!"

 Alistair Taylor (Bass), Peter Wallace (Lead Gtr), Garry Betti (Drums), Graham Gibson (2nd Gtr)