Eric Gales Band and Gary Hoey

Description

DOORS: 6:00PM SHOW: 7:30 AGES: 13+ ERIC GALES Growing up in a religious household, his brothers Eugene and Manuel used to blast out Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Muddy Waters, Blue Cheer, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, King’s X and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Whilst their mother was at church and little Eric was just age 4, he was soaking it all up and this is where he had his incredible grounding of blues, hard rock and psychedelia. Naturally right handed, Eric learned his distinctive left handed upside down playing from his older brothers Eugene, his ‘mentor’ and Little Jimmy King, who was later adopted as Albert King’s godson. His talents caught the eye of Elektra Records, who released his debut album The Eric Gales Band in 1991 when he was only 16 years old. The band was made up of Eric, his older brother Eugene and drummer Hubert Crawford. Picture of a Thousand Faces followed in 1993, then Manuel Gales (aka Little Jimmy King) joined his two brothers for 1995s Left Hand Band as The Gales Brothers. Over the next few years he worked on various projects including performing as Lil E with Hip Hop collectives Prophet Posse and Triple 6 Mafia. It’s no wonder why he is the guitarists’ favourite guitarist, counting fans in the likes of Tony Rombola (Godsmack), Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Joe Bonamassa and Carlos Santana. Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction) said “how Eric Gales isn’t the hugest name in rock guitar is a total mystery” and Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) also claimed “this guy could be the best player on Earth.” Gales proudly tells his story every night before every show, now over two years sober he is creating some of the most breath-taking music he has ever made. Talking about his approach to song writing in this time he reflects. “I guess the songs would answer the question more or less, I definitely don’t have anything clouding my view and it’s definitely a much more pure place its coming from.” GARY HOEY “Neon Highway Blues”, Gary’s latest release, carries its 11 tracks with the confidence and assuredness of a veteran,and the freshness of someone who's still in the process of discovery and refinement --with the help of famous friends such as Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Josh Smith and Hoey's 17-year-old son Ian Hoey. “It’s great to hear Gary sing and play the blues with his trademark intensity, feel and authenticity. And the guitar tones...both vintage and modern at the same time.” -Joe Satriani With a collection of 21 albums it’s no wonder Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. The world renowned rock guitarist’s first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne liked Hoey’s tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition and encouraging him to move to the West Coast. In 1990 Hoey was signed to Reprise Records with a short lived band called Heavy Bones, but followed up in 1993 with a solo album,and Gary's cover of “Hocus Pocus” rocketed into the Billboard’s Top 5 Rock Tracks. He went on to score the successful “Endless Summer II” soundtrack for New Line Cinema and in1995 started a trilogy of “Ho! Ho! Hoey,”a collection of instrumental Christmas classics that continues each year in his Rockin’ Holiday shows. And in 2013’s release, "Deja Blues",he came home to the blues. Gary’s release in 2016, "Dust & Bones," displayed an exuberant fusion of blues and rock. But whatever style he plays, one thing is certain, Gary Hoey is a fiery, charismatic player who connects with the crowd. Whether he's playing scorching originals or classic rock covers, his solos are thrilling and reminiscent of Clapton or Stevie Ray in their fiery youth. One thing that remains consistent is Hoey’s impassioned command of the guitar. He can attack his instrument with feral intensity and then play something very soft and achingly beautiful. This ability to mix feeling, phrasing, technique and tone is the true mark of a master guitarist.