Shadowmania - Thanks Bruce!!!

[ivanthurlow]

It was wonderful,all the musicians where exellent, saturday on shadowmania.Thanks to Bruce Welch.The best song sung by Bruce was Mona Lisa.The best instrumental of this shadowmania was The Wall played by The Runaways.
We saw many good friends



Luc

Kind regards

Ivan (Drums the Runaways)

[MdL]

I really enjoyed this Shadowmania. I have attended all but one (and played myself at three) Shadowmania's. Reading all reviews I must have been the only one who feels insulted with the renditions of Shadows hits by Warren and Friends. I thought they were joking with 'Theme for young lovers' but was definitely not amused when it was going on with the other Shadows titles. The young ones in the young ones competitions many years ago did so much better Otherwise I really enjoyed myself!

Martin.

[Steve Parish]

I really enjoyed this Shadowmania. I have attended all but one (and played myself at three) Shadowmania's. Reading all reviews I must have been the only one who feels insulted with the renditions of Shadows hits by Warren and Friends. I thought they were joking with 'Theme for young lovers' but was definitely not amused when it was going on with the other Shadows titles. The young ones in the young ones competitions many years ago did so much better Otherwise I really enjoyed myself!

Martin.

'Insulted'???? I disagree, actually I'm very disappointed with you, although I was expecting that predictable sort of reaction... and I'm happy to explain...
I really enjoyed the Warren and Friends set. Having a taste in music that sees past the Shadows, and I mean that in the nicest possible way... I thought their choice of material made a refreshing change. Now, I'm saying that as a big Shads fan... and on reflection all of the acts that day played a few tracks that you would not expect, didn't they? Not just obscure Shads tracks, which were good to hear, but numbers not associated with the Shads. Back to Warren's set... I liked the vocal numbers, being a bit of a rock 'n' roll enthusiast... Blue Rondo A La Turk was absolutely outstanding from a drummers perspective and really made my day (I'm into Dave Brubeck's music... Joe Morello et al... 9/8?! At a Shadows convention?! WOW!)... as did the superb selection of Alan Hawkshaw's TV themes... and their awesome interpretation of Green Onions. It's not often you get these guys on stage together... I hope and wish that one day they consider doing a few gigs in their own right away from the Shadowmania setting... perhaps where they don't feel forced to play Shads material at all. I'd certainly pay to see them! These guys are legends on the music scene! Sure... the Shads numbers seemed a bit alien to a couple of them... hence the sheet music... but I'm sure the other six hours worth of Shadows music compensated for that?! Funnily enough, thinking about it... four of them have actually been 'in' The Shadows at various times, haven't they?! Maybe they don't have any inclination to play 'note for note' carbon copies of the originals anyway? Who cares?!
I'm going to share a story with you that occured... which I'm afraid typifies 'some' Shadows fans from my experiences... my mate (a pianist/keyboard player etc... Shads tolerant... general 'all things' music lover) went to the toilet during Warren's set, when another chap walks in to do what people generally do in toilets most of the time I guess... all of a sudden this chap says to my mate... 'I don't like Warren's set. It's not very Shadows is it?'... my mates reply?
'Actually... I really like it. It's a bit of a change isn't it?!'...
So... as you can tell... there were at least two people there that day who thoroughly enjoyed Warren and Friends set! I'm thankful to say we weren't busy all day, drummer and pianist, analyzing and comparing the various lead guitarists sound to Hank's on the original record either! We were too busy enjoying the great music and having a good time! That's what it's all about!
Each to their own I suppose...

[Steve Parish]

I must add that ALL the bands were brilliant! The Runaways were superb as the 'opening' band playing some of my personal 'later' Shads favourites... plus I liked 'Crazy' the old Patsy Cline song and notably 'Another Brick In The Wall' by the Floyd which was amazing! The Foot Tappers? Well, what can one say about them?! EXCELLENT! Timothy Jackson on drums just keeps getting better and better every time I see him... great performance all round boys! I've covered Warren Bennett and Friends already... although I have to say my favourite drummer 'insulted' me throughout... especially with his solo!
BB is God in my book! THE BEST!
Licorice was bang on form as ever... legendary on bass and legendary on harmonica! The Rapiers are possibly hard to beat in the 'vintage rock 'n' roll sound' stakes... I know they do not class themselves as being an out and out Shads tribute band, there is more to them than that... and anybody who follows them will know this is the case. However, in this context, once again... they were outstanding... not only show classing their talents as an instrumental band... but also as a tight knit fine close harmony band. FANTASTIC!
The Jet tribute was more like a celebration of Jet's life and music rather than a mournful, teary eyed tribute. It seemed appropriate and fitting... knowing Jet, it's how he would have wanted it...
Bruce's Shadows set? AMAZING! Featuring some random choices... Bruce really freshened up his set this year... to good effect! Loved the choice of vocals... a couple or three 'new' (?) instro's that I've never seen them do before... plus of course the well known familiar hits.
All in all... a fantastic, happy, good and memorable day! Thanks to all who made it happen!
Not least of all to Bruce... without whom Shadowmania wouldn't be possible... you're the best!

[neil2726]

Could I just add that I think the success of this years Shadowmania was also down to the sound engineers! I think we had the best sound and balance ever! Well done Dave, Dianne and Paul at E.S.P. You really did everyone proud!

[padmat78]

A very big thanks to Bruce and all of the organizers... Thanks for the after concert short meeting near the backstage.
Shadowmania 2011 was a very great event and we hope it is not the last one...Sade about Jet was not with us. Thanks to all of musicians for the tribute to him!
A special thanks to Licorice, Warren and Brain, Cliff , The Rapiers, Mike Johnson, Phil Kelly and his wife for there friendship

Matilda & Pierre Antoine (French Shadows Fan Club)

[Uncleboko]

Have any videos been uploaded elsewhere than Youtube please?

[JimN]

It was wonderful,all the musicians where exellent, saturday on shadowmania.Thanks to Bruce Welch.The best song sung by Bruce was Mona Lisa.The best instrumental of this shadowmania was The Wall played by The Runaways.
We saw many good friends
Luc

It was good to see you there, Luc.

Tilburg next April?

JN

[Geffers]

Personally, I enjoyed all the performers ( young and slightly older ) - The music was excellent - great choice and played with feeling ( and humour )!
I think you have got it spot on Steve.
7 hours of fabulous entertainment - that went all too quickly!

Thanks again Bruce.

[geoff1711]

Hi All

I think the only comment I would make re Warren's band is that whilst they clearly knew the non Shad's numbers, the Shad's tunes had to be sight read and consequently weren't quite as polished as the other bands who showed their passion for the music and know it off by heart

As far as their choice of music I had no problem with them straying from the "hallowed path" but I can see that those wishing to be immersed in nothing but Shadow's style music may have been not so enthusiastic.

It's clear that the other bands who played tunes not from a Shadows source have had much praise, which would suggest that it's all in the style rather than the source.

Mind you I did notice nobody played Country Roads ( I'd insert a smiley here but my machine doesn't recognise them so just imagine a winking smiley face)

Geoff