Joe
Curtis Reviews
David Gogo at the Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
-- Opening For B.B. King, Wed. Aug. 31, 2005 |
-- By Joe Curtis --
David Gogo is one of Canada’s premier powerhouse guitarists.
His explosive energy on stage, is a real treat to see and listen to.
His ingenious use of wah wah pedal, coupled with his beautifully melodic,
scorching guitar solos, puts him in a class all his own. Gogo’s
performance at Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre, Wednesday, August
31, 2005, was a major stepping stone for this dedicated Nanaimo, B.C.
blues guitarist. He was opening for the one and only ‘King of
the Blues’, B.B. King. B.B. was celebrating his 80th birthday
tour this night.
Gogo began his incredible set with the rockin’ and rollin’ “Things
Are About To Change” from his 2002 ‘Skeleton Key’ CD.
This really got the crowd going, and kept them there! He followed this
upbeat winner with the James Brown classic “It’s A Man’s
World”, from his 2001 ‘Halfway To Memphis’ CD. He
took this version into a long jam that showcased his extremely soulful
vocals and guitar licks.
This absorbing rendition was followed by Gogo’s rousing top
35 rock radio hit “Love In The City”, featured on his 2004 ‘Vibe’ CD.
(It’s co-written by Gogo and Tom Wilson of ‘Blackie and
the Rodeo Kings’). Becky Abbott added sultry background vocals
to “Love In …”, that really fired up David’s
ballistic guitar riffs.
Gogo finished his amazing set with the Willie Dixon blues classic “Hootchie
Cootchie Man”. It’s from his 2003 ‘Live At Deer Lake’ CD.
He really went at it with wah wah pedal urgency on this one. Part way
through while the crowd was eatin’ it up, David downed a bottle
of beer and then proceeded to play some mind-blowing slide guitar with
the empty beer bottle!
The only disappointment for this writer is that Gogo didn’t
get a chance to sit in with B.B. King later in the evening, when the
King of the Blues wowed the audience, with his own impeccable blues
band. However, with talent like David Gogo’s, just to be on the
same bill as B.B. King made this much more of a winning night of entertainment
for the audience as well as for Gogo himself!
David Gogo’s website:
http://www.davidgogo.com/index.php
David Gogo's setlist for Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, Wed. Aug.
31, 2005:
1. Things Are About To Change
2. It's a Man's World
3. Love In The City
4. Hoochie Coochie Man
© 2005 Joe Curtis. All Rights Reserved.
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