After hearing Jamie (with musical sidekick, Rob Lamothe) play a miniature acoustic set at the Ronnie Hawkins U.S.A. Benefit Concert at Copps Coliseum in September, I knew this man had something special going for him. It doesn't hurt that he is a tall, lanky, good-looking fellow to begin with, but when such an image can be backed up with instrumental and vocal prowess, it's a recipe for instant success!
From the moment I walked into this venue (for the first time, being relatively new in town), I knew it was going to be a great show! While I was disappointed to learn that I had missed Hamilton's popular Rob Lamothe's opening set, I immediately felt the musical lure emanating from the stage area.
Initially concentrating on some Jeff Beck-inspired electric guitar compositions, I was further astonished by the breathtaking slide guitar work (in the Ry Cooder vein) which followed for a few tunes before he reverted back to the electric. It sure is a pleasure to experience the effect of those electronic "magical gizmos" he utilizes to transform a few simple notes into something so majestic!
Accompanied only by Danny Lockwood on drums and Paul Intsen on bass, less definitely meant more, at least for showcasing Jamie as the "star"! At times sounding alternately like Duane Allman and Bob Dylan, he played songs from both his debut CD and an upcoming one (including the rock anthem, "It's a Fool's Game). I especially enjoyed the electric version of "If I Don't Get Some Rest" (heard acoustically on the previous occasion), "Try a Little Harder", the rock ballad seemingly based on the traditional nursery rhyme "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" and the orgasmically delightful "Pontiac" rock song. The sound engineering could have used some improvement, too, as there were a few "noisy bits", but overall it was great, especially after moving closer to the stage area.
My attempts to meet with Jamie afterward to secure more information on the upcoming CD (and to scoop up a copy of the previous one) were unsuccessful, as he had disappeared into one of the nooks or crannies built into this club. As well, once the "Energizer Bunny" (thump, thump) music started, that was my cue to leave for more pleasant auditory experiences.
|
