The Alastair Greene Band
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The Alastair Greene Band

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"A Little Wiser Review"

VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE

This is one of those discs that harkens to a time when I was growing up, but fits perfectly in our time.

Greene is a wonderful blues/rock player. It's the kind of playing that us 40-somethings grew up with, but doesn't seem to exist amongst the younger crowd.

"Ramblin' Mind" kicks things off and shows exactly what I'm talking about; nasty blues/rock fueled by a killer tone and a wah solo that'll bring a quick smile. And it only gets better from there. "Get My Wings" is a tough, rowdy, ultra-speed boogie with nasty Albert King-style bends that kick off a hellacious solo. The title cut has some big rhythm guitars (like most of the album) and cool slide. Southern Rock (in the best sense) comes to mind. Same for "Other Side Of The World".

The sweet sound often associated with the likes of Duane Allman makes a strong appearance.

There are nice acoustic rock ballads too. "The Long Way Home" fits that bill. And "Chico" is an acoustic instrumental that lets Greene show off his nice touch. If slow blues is your deal, check out "Love Too Strong" with its masterful solo that builds to a shattering climax. "Off The Edge" is one of my favorite cuts. It's a slightly-skewed shuffle with a tone to die for on a nasty solo.

If you long for the rock of the early-mid '70s, when it was dominated by players influenced by the blues, this one's for you.

- JH


- Vintage Guitar Magazine


"A Little Wiser 2"

Slip Alastair Greene's "Chico" into your CD player and you're reminded of Eric Johnson's mature and thoughtful acoustic fingerstyle instrumental "Song for George" on his great blues/rock classic "Ah Via Musicom". Go one or two tracks on either side of "Chico" on Greene's self-titled debut CD, however, and like Eric Johnson's CD you are blown away by some of the most blistering and authentic power blues since the heyday of SRV, Johnny Winter and the Allman Brothers Band. Alastair Greene clearly has more than one voice and one volume, though, as evidenced by the acoustic numbers on this release. "The Long Way Home" is a clever acoustic re-jiggering of a twelve bar format in minor mode which creatively integrates mandolin and banjo (also played by Greene), and features a very non-bluesy vocal chorus which soars in a produced but likeable way similar to Edwin McCain. The acoustic slide on this number betrays the likelihood that Greene's spent some serious time listening to Duane Allman, or more recently, to Warren Haynes. Still, this is overwhelmingly an electric blues album which smokes very close to the point of combustion at all times. "Love Too Strong" is a "slow" blues that cooks in the way that "Stormy Monday" from the Allman's "Live at Fillmore East" also did. "Get My Wings" opens with a Hendrix-ism straight from "Crosstown Traffic", and thankfully, little such Hendrix-isms are heard all over this recording so that one is reminded that Jimi's music didn't die with him in the 60's. It just takes a gifted guitarist like Greene to remind us.
- ©Alan Fark
http://www.minor7th.com - Minor 7th Magazine


"Review Of Live Show"

Alastair Greene
BB KINGs
Studio City 10/16/02

The Players: Alastair Greene, guitar, vocals; Jack
Kennedy, bass; Steve Utstein, keys; Tom Lackner,
drums.


MATERIAL: Alastair Greene takes you back in time by dishing out legendary numbers by Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, John Coltrane and Albert King. Greene gives credit where credit is due then rocks the songs his way. Besides being a fantastic guitarist he's also a good songwriter heavily influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Allman Brothers. His blend of worn blues and classic rock implies he's done his homework
and found the right tunes to complement his style.

MUSICIANSHIP: The rhythm section of Kennedy and Lackner are experienced at playing for the song. Whether they're waiting for Greene to pounce, or hammering out solos of their own, both prove themselves worthy. Utstein's big organ sound sweeps attention towards him as it accents the guitar work. The band's sense of unity was apparent, especially during their retro-rock version of "Afro Blue", a jazzy tune made famous by Coltrane. Lackner provided a percussive intro, which paved the way for Greene and Kennedy's harmonic blowout that Utstein mimicked and taunted.

PERFORMANCE: After testing all the bells and whistles on his guitar, a particularly jaw-dropping moment occured during Albert King's "Love Too Strong" where Greene had the audience in the palm of his hand. The song began with a slow goove and a whole lotta "hey baby's" until the band stood back for Greene's solo. He turned down the volume and plucked his strings so quietly it built tension in the room.

SUMMARY: Greene is a fantastic blues guitarist with a preference for less well-known material, But, even in the midst of legendary tunes, he stood out and depicted a signature classic-rock sound. In fact, he's so good, his mentors would certainly approve.

- Deanna Segretarian
Music Connection Magazine - Music Connection Magazine


"Review Of Live CD"

You will like it all, from the band's cover of Muddy Waters' "Ramblin' Mind", through their rendition of the Allman's "One Way Out" and climaxing in an explosive presentation of the Alastair Greene original "3 Bullets" from his debut recording. The band is quite impressive, allowing Greene the room he needs to really shine on this set. He is an extremely gifted guitarist, whether playing effects heavy blues/rock or intense electric slide. He melds a touch of Walter Trout, a dash of Warren Haynes, and a pinch of Robin Trower into a high powered blues/rock beast.
-Tom Branson - Bluewrockers.ws


"Live CD Review 2"

Alastair Greene, originating from Santa Barbara, CA, is determined to revive Blues inspired rock à la Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Bros & Led Zeppelin. Previously he released "A Little Wiser" & now there is "Live In LA", an "official bootleg", in other words a live recording consisting of seven tracks recorded in LA in 2002. Alastair writes songs, plays guitar & sings. The opener "Ramblin' Mind" reminds me of Rory Gallagher. Alastair's own songs like "Say What You Want", which has a tremendous intro by drummer Tom Lackner & the up-tempo "3 Bullets" are quite catching. Funky but at the same time with a strong bluesrock feeling is "Beginning To Wonder (Cissy Strut)" with a remarkable performance by bass player Jack Kennedy. With 8 minutes 35 seconds this is the longest track of the album. Then there are "One Way Out" with slide guitar à la George Thorogood, once again with superb hammond organ, the progressive rock-ish "Afro Blue" (think of The Doors) & the slow Blues "Love Too Strong" with intensely played solo's by Alastair. Neat, very neat. Lovers of steaming Blues rock will be delighted with this one. - Bobtjeblues.com


Discography

Alastair Greene- A Little Wiser 2002
The Alastair Greene Band- Official Bootleg Live in L.A 2003

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Alastair Greene is a guitarist/singer/songwriter based out of Santa Barbara California who plays blues and blues influenced rock much in the same vein as Gov't Mule, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers Band, etc,..

He has been performed and/or recorded with a number of California and International artists over the years including: Alan Parsons, Mark Karan (Ratdog), Jeff Pevar (CSN), Aynsley Dunbar, Frank Goldwasser, The Pontiax, Wally Ingram, Seymour Duncan and Mitch Kashmar to name a few. His first full length album under his own name entitled "A Little Wiser" was released in late in 2001. The Alastair Greene Band has shared the stage with such artists as John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mike Campbell's Dirty Knobs, Lonnie Brooks, Jonny Lang, Junior Brown and Robin Trower.

2002 found Alastair doing session work with world-renowned drummer Aynsley Dunbar as well as playing lots of shows around Southern California with his band and a variety of others.

October 2003 marked the release of "The Alastair Greene Band: Official Bootleg- Live In L.A." Rounding out the established sound of Alastair, Tom, and Jack is the Hammond B3 stylings of former Junior Wells Band alumni Steve Utstein.

2004: The Alastair Greene Band teamed up with Delta Groove recording artist Mitch Kashmar (Harmonica and Vocals) to play gigs as the Kashmar Greene Band. Mitch and Alastair also formed an acoustic delta blues style duo and have been playing gigs all over Southern California. In May Alastair played the Spring Blues Fest in Belgium with Frank Goldwasser and Mitch and upon returning home got a chance to open the American Roots Festival with Jonny Lang and Junior Brown at the Santa Barbara Bowl with the AGB. On the recording front Alastair played on 2 songs on the newest Alan Parsons CD "A Valid Path" which also contains contributions from David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and The Crystal Method.

2005: The beginning of the year found the AGB in the studio backing Blues Guitarist and Singer Frank Goldwasser for a full length CD. Other studio work is planned for another AGB release as well as plenty more gigs.

Alastair Greene Band
News Page

JAN 2005
AG Invited to play Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon Ireland in June.
More Info @ www.goingtomyhometown.com

JAN 2005
AGB finishes recording new CD with Blues Singer/Guitarist FRANK GOLDWASSER. More Details ASAP.

DEC 2004
Alastair was Awarded BEST BLUES ARTIST by ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE
www.allaccessmagazine.com

DEC 2004
Alastair was listed as one of the TOP 100 Unsigned Acts in MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE for the 3rd Year in a row.
www.musicconnection.com

AUG 2004
ALAN PARSONS new CD A VALID PATH is released. This CD features Alastair on 2 songs with additional contributions by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Crystal Method and more.
www.alanparsonsmusic.com

JUNE 2004
06/25 Alastair Greene Band opens American Roots Music Festival at SANTA BARBARA BOWL. www.sbbowl.com
Other acts: Jonny Lang, Shelby Lynn, and Junior Brown

MAY 2004
05/15 Alastair appears w/ Mitch Kashmar and Frank Goldwasser at SPRING BLUES FESTIVAL in BELGIUM
www.springblues.be

APRIL 2005
SEYMOUR DUNCAN AND FRIENDS with Jeff Pevar and Alastair Greene 04/18 AG celebrates his 33rd Birthday jamming with Guitar Tone Legend Seymour Duncan and CSN Guitarist Jeff Pevar.