| GOTTA SCREAM - GEORGIE BONES |
| I first met Georgie "Bones" Halpern in January/01 and was knocked out by his self-taught, masterful Fender-bending technique! He is also accomplished on harp, keyboards and saxophone. While Georgie originally hails from Hull, Quebec, he has lived in Toronto for a number of years now and currently has a gig featuring Toronto's infamous Subway Elvis, who was wrongfully convicted of a bank robbery and served five years in a penitentiary! Recently vindicated, Subway is poised to resume a once lucrative career, including stints in Las Vegas. Georgie has been referred to as a cross between Bob Dylan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, vocally and stylistically speaking, and I quite agree. Originally a music store owner and booker for artists such as a very young Jeff Healey in clubs such as the notorious Chaudiere (the "Chaud") in Aylmer, Quebec, he then went on to form Gentlemen of Leisure, which recorded a "45" (remember those?) called ""D'la Gomme" and "Rubbie" on the opposing side. He has also played with Philippe Legault, who recorded "Quebec au Printemps". He recently donated to me a compilation of 12 original tracks, titled Gotta Scream, which is quite an entertaining collection. Beginning with a blistering blues-rock guitar instrumental (definitely influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan and perhaps Jeff Beck), the CD includes the aforementioned "Rubbie" whose chorus contains the wonderful lyrics "newspaper is my blanket, Aquavelva is my wine", as well as a sexy blues tunes performed vocally by his equally talented older daughter, Mandy (who is a recording artist in her own right), called "I've Got a Bone to Pick With You". The title track, "Gotta Scream", is a Bob Dylanesque tune, along the lines of "All Along the Watchtower". There are several great blues-rock tunes as well, including "Love Shock", which a high-profile performer in the audience at Chicago's one night expressed a definite interest in recording himself, but to date this has not come to fruition. (Talk really IS cheap, isn't it?) I get the impression that this CD was an opportunity for Georgie to vent his personal and professional frustrations, as quite a few of the tunes are vocalized fairly harshly with lyrics that drip with bitterness. This is not to say he doesn't have a "good" voice, though, and I would love to hear some more optimistic, tender vocals to go with his amazing instrumental talents, such as on the track "Yours and Mine" in his future endeavours. Backing musicians on the CD include David Divenizzo on bass guitar, Brian Murphy on drums, and David Ebby on back-up vocals, as well as "Gord" on saxophone [names not confirmed at this date]. |
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