David Gogo

I first saw Western Canadian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter David Gogo at the excellently programmed Windsor Blues Festival in Canada a few summers back. He made a good impression as a live performer then, and he makes an even better impression now on Soul Bender, his 11th release.

This album includes just four of his original songs, but the guitar playing and singing throughout is top-shelf. To be sure, Gogo, who may not be a familiar name to some U.S. blues fans, has paid his dues and then some, traveling across Canada from his native British Columbia to Nova Scotia and all points in between.

He does a terrific job with his originals. "Slow It Down," "Time Is Killing Me," "Getting Old," and "Do You Know How It Feels?" will please the most cynical of blues and blues-rock fans. Interestingly, he and his stellar backup band offer up a horn-heavy cover of the late Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" that you can see going over well in a blues festival setting, even without the complement of horns on the recording.

If you weren't a convert to David Gogo's great talents as a singer, song-writer, guitarist, and bandleader before, you will be after listening to Soul Bender. One wishes more U.S. blues festival bookers were hip to him.

-Richard J. Skelly - Blues Revue Magazine

I first saw Western Canadian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter David Gogo at the excellently programmed Windsor Blues Festival in Canada a few summers back. He made a good impression as a live performer then, and he makes an even better impression now on Soul Bender, his 11th release.

This album includes just four of his original songs, but the guitar playing and singing throughout is top-shelf. To be sure, Gogo, who may not be a familiar name to some U.S. blues fans, has paid his dues and then some, traveling across Canada from his native British Columbia to Nova Scotia and all points in between.

He does a terrific job with his originals. "Slow It Down," "Time Is Killing Me," "Getting Old," and "Do You Know How It Feels?" will please the most cynical of blues and blues-rock fans. Interestingly, he and his stellar backup band offer up a horn-heavy cover of the late Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" that you can see going over well in a blues festival setting, even without the complement of horns on the recording.

If you weren't a convert to David Gogo's great talents as a singer, song-writer, guitarist, and bandleader before, you will be after listening to Soul Bender. One wishes more U.S. blues festival bookers were hip to him.

-Richard J. Skelly - Blues Revue Magazine

January 10th, 2012
David Gogo: Soul-Bender Review

In his latest release, Soul Bender, Canadian Blues-Rock guitarist David Gogo displays a great deal of soul, grit and raw emotion. The album showcases a variety of styles, ranging from honky-tonk blues, to ballads, 60's R&B and everything in between. Gogo’s latest release is impressive, with strong lead vocals and gutsy guitar solos, but also at times lacks the balance needed for this to be considered a true masterpiece.

Gogo’s mastery of his instrument is best showcased on slower tunes, such as “Time is Killing Me” and “The Way You Make Me Feel,” not so much because it shows his technical ability to perform, but because it shows that Gogo truly knows what to play and when to play it. On those tunes, he achieves the perfect combination of technique and musicality. That being said, on other tunes, such as the opener, “Please Find My Baby,” the guitar overpowers the rest of the band and the listener has to strain to hear any interplay between the musicians. In addition to the at times overpowering guitar, there appear to be a couple of unpleasantries with the mix. For example, “The Way You Make Me Feel,” is an outstanding old-school blues tune with a solid guitar solo and great interplay between guitar and B3, but the background vocals are too loud and serve as a slight distraction from an otherwise outstanding tune.

All things considered, Soul-Bender is a solid and enjoyable album, showcasing an eclectic selection of material and many strong performances, both by Gogo and by his sidemen.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

- Time Is Killing Me
- I Found A Love
- The Way You Make Me Feel
- Do You Know How It Feels

The Big Hit

- Do You Know How It Feels

Review by Nik Rodewald
- Blues Rock Review

January 10th, 2012
David Gogo: Soul-Bender Review

In his latest release, Soul Bender, Canadian Blues-Rock guitarist David Gogo displays a great deal of soul, grit and raw emotion. The album showcases a variety of styles, ranging from honky-tonk blues, to ballads, 60's R&B and everything in between. Gogo’s latest release is impressive, with strong lead vocals and gutsy guitar solos, but also at times lacks the balance needed for this to be considered a true masterpiece.

Gogo’s mastery of his instrument is best showcased on slower tunes, such as “Time is Killing Me” and “The Way You Make Me Feel,” not so much because it shows his technical ability to perform, but because it shows that Gogo truly knows what to play and when to play it. On those tunes, he achieves the perfect combination of technique and musicality. That being said, on other tunes, such as the opener, “Please Find My Baby,” the guitar overpowers the rest of the band and the listener has to strain to hear any interplay between the musicians. In addition to the at times overpowering guitar, there appear to be a couple of unpleasantries with the mix. For example, “The Way You Make Me Feel,” is an outstanding old-school blues tune with a solid guitar solo and great interplay between guitar and B3, but the background vocals are too loud and serve as a slight distraction from an otherwise outstanding tune.

All things considered, Soul-Bender is a solid and enjoyable album, showcasing an eclectic selection of material and many strong performances, both by Gogo and by his sidemen.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

- Time Is Killing Me
- I Found A Love
- The Way You Make Me Feel
- Do You Know How It Feels

The Big Hit

- Do You Know How It Feels

Review by Nik Rodewald
- Blues Rock Review

By Stephen Dyell

What's On Thorold

Mother Nature was no match for a good cause Friday night as 200 people packed Club Belvedere to witness two legends create magic between guitar and man.

Jack de Keyzer and David Gogo spent hours entertaining the crowd before getting on stage together creating a duo that has won nine Maple Blues awards and have been nominated for five Juno awards, including two won in 2003 and 2010.

“Blues music and roots music seems to be more of a real music,” Gogo stated. “We are all friends. When it was one guys turn to solo, the other would turn down and play rhythm so it’s not like we are trying to stomp each others face into the ground.”

Gogo admits he wasn’t going to let a legend get the best of him though.

“There is no doubt there is some friendly competition. I’m not going to back down and neither is Jack, we are going to play our best.”

De Keyzer has been helping out with Canal Bank Shuffle with performances in Thorold last fall and has been all over the Niagara Region.

A winner of numerous awards that would be easier to name off which ones he hasn’t than has. In the past ten years, he has won two Juno awards for two of his seven CD’s but has been in the business much longer.

Playing with legends like Ronnie Hawkins and Bo Diddley, his biggest praise from one of the greatest of all-time, Bob Dylan. Dylan had heard his music and pronounced if he had been born in a major United States city, he would have become a star in the world of Blues.

It hasn’t turned out all bad for De Keyzer. He was nominated for yet another Guitarist of the Year alongside the talented Gogo that will be announced Monday.

Gogo, a native of British Columbia, flew down to Thorold because he had heard news of the Canal Bank Shuffle.

“It’s a great thing,” Gogo stated. “We are playing and still are getting paid. People are enjoying the show and in the end, it’s all going to a great cause. You can’t go wrong with that.”

Gogo has had three Juno nominations along with winning two Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year. His rise in the world of music has been rapid and has been lucky enough to play with some of the greatest legends in Blues.

The names go from ZZ Top, George Thorogood and Johnny Winter. He has even played with the Blues legend himself, B.B. King. Friday night was no different, playing with a role model in De Keyzer.

“Last time I played with Jack in Mont Tremblant, Quebec and before that we’ve never really had a chance just to rock.”

Rock they did as well as help out the community.

The Canal Bank Shuffle raised $9,000 dollars for charities and programs for the community. While the event was only in one venue compared to the Fall Shuffle, coordinators still consider the event a huge success as the money goes to Autism Awareness, SPCA and other local Thorold programs.

The real heroes of the night are the countless volunteers who spend a year long process organizing groups, funding and venue arrangements to create a concert Thorold can be proud of.

If you’d like to get involved with the Canal Bank Shuffle or would like to know about future events, visit their website at www.canalbankshuffle.com. - What's On

By Stephen Dyell

What's On Thorold

Mother Nature was no match for a good cause Friday night as 200 people packed Club Belvedere to witness two legends create magic between guitar and man.

Jack de Keyzer and David Gogo spent hours entertaining the crowd before getting on stage together creating a duo that has won nine Maple Blues awards and have been nominated for five Juno awards, including two won in 2003 and 2010.

“Blues music and roots music seems to be more of a real music,” Gogo stated. “We are all friends. When it was one guys turn to solo, the other would turn down and play rhythm so it’s not like we are trying to stomp each others face into the ground.”

Gogo admits he wasn’t going to let a legend get the best of him though.

“There is no doubt there is some friendly competition. I’m not going to back down and neither is Jack, we are going to play our best.”

De Keyzer has been helping out with Canal Bank Shuffle with performances in Thorold last fall and has been all over the Niagara Region.

A winner of numerous awards that would be easier to name off which ones he hasn’t than has. In the past ten years, he has won two Juno awards for two of his seven CD’s but has been in the business much longer.

Playing with legends like Ronnie Hawkins and Bo Diddley, his biggest praise from one of the greatest of all-time, Bob Dylan. Dylan had heard his music and pronounced if he had been born in a major United States city, he would have become a star in the world of Blues.

It hasn’t turned out all bad for De Keyzer. He was nominated for yet another Guitarist of the Year alongside the talented Gogo that will be announced Monday.

Gogo, a native of British Columbia, flew down to Thorold because he had heard news of the Canal Bank Shuffle.

“It’s a great thing,” Gogo stated. “We are playing and still are getting paid. People are enjoying the show and in the end, it’s all going to a great cause. You can’t go wrong with that.”

Gogo has had three Juno nominations along with winning two Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year. His rise in the world of music has been rapid and has been lucky enough to play with some of the greatest legends in Blues.

The names go from ZZ Top, George Thorogood and Johnny Winter. He has even played with the Blues legend himself, B.B. King. Friday night was no different, playing with a role model in De Keyzer.

“Last time I played with Jack in Mont Tremblant, Quebec and before that we’ve never really had a chance just to rock.”

Rock they did as well as help out the community.

The Canal Bank Shuffle raised $9,000 dollars for charities and programs for the community. While the event was only in one venue compared to the Fall Shuffle, coordinators still consider the event a huge success as the money goes to Autism Awareness, SPCA and other local Thorold programs.

The real heroes of the night are the countless volunteers who spend a year long process organizing groups, funding and venue arrangements to create a concert Thorold can be proud of.

If you’d like to get involved with the Canal Bank Shuffle or would like to know about future events, visit their website at www.canalbankshuffle.com. - What's On

Grit Grooves and Emotion – David Gogo Soul-Bender
Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 16:05 Cover Story Features

Story: Sandy Graham

David Gogo is known for being one of the hardest working blues rock guitarists in the industry and the moniker suits him well. He is a man of his word, and when a recent routing booking issue took place, he fulfilled his commitment to tour Western Canada. After two shows in Holland, Gogo flew back to Canada to finish the tour he had committed to with the legendary Johnny Winter. A gruelling schedule, but he is a man of his word, and committed to his reputation as well as his music, he flew thousands of miles to keep his fans happy.

We recently had the opportunity to talk to this great Canadian treasure, and he gave some refreshing answers to what makes David Gogo who he is in this industry.

CB: When did you get your first guitar?
DG: I actually started out on a toy ukulele, just strumming on it but I was close to 6 years old when I got my first real guitar; it was a Raven, and we bought it at a furniture store. It was kind of a ¾ size and looked like a Gibson Hummingbird. The biggest thrill of my life was getting my first electric guitar, a Les Paul Black Beauty.

CB: What artists influenced you in your early music days?
DG: When I was a little kid, I loved Elvis. Every girl wanted Elvis, every guy wanted to be Elvis. I also loved The Beatles, The Kinks, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, CCR; I had such eclectic tastes, I was even influenced by Hank Williams. Later on I found my Dad’s huge blues collection and once I heard those artists I was hooked for good. Taj Mahal, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, all the greats who made up that sound. Albert Collins was a huge influence for me and I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting him when I was just 16 years old. I opened for him, and that is still one of the biggest and earliest thrills in my career.

CB: In a business known for it’s ‘sharks’ you have kept a loyalty to the same recording studio for years, Lois Lane Studios, and especially a connection to Rick Salt. This recent recording is yet another one to come out of that relationship, as well as your long standing deal with Cordova Bay Records as your label.
DG: I value my relationship with Rick Salt. We have known each other a long time, and he is the kind of guy (behind the board) who knows when I can do better, and also knows when I capture it. Like the Wilson Pickett track (‘I Found a Love’) Rick said to roll it from the top and it just worked. He knows when I nail it. (This is the 5th recording collaboration with Salt and Gogo) Same thing with Ragged Pup (Cordova Bay Records), they have my loyalty and I have theirs, a rarity these days.

CB: The new CD, ‘Soul-Bender’ is truly one of your best yet. This is your 11th CD Release, it must be gratifying to release this great product.
DG: My new CD ‘Soul-Bender’ is actually named after the Fulltone guitar pedal of the same name. This new offering actually blows me away, as I got to record a combination of original songs and covers, including "The Changeling" by The Doors and "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson. When we were recording them, we tried to get a fresh approach, thinking what if it wasn’t a famous song? How can we do it from our perspective? I am really happy with this new CD. I also got to record my own songs, and co-writes with some other great writers.

CB: What does the near future hold for David Gogo?
DG: I am pumped for this next stage of my career. I am already booked solid into May 2012, and 2011 was my busiest year yet. I have just put out a record I am really proud of, and I have control of my own career at this point. I am hands on right now and I am heavily involved in the social media part of promoting myself. I need to be hands on with audience and fans. I have a band in Vancouver, Ottawa and Holland. It doesn’t get much better than this. When I look at the career I have had so far, it blows me away. I don’t look back, I just move forward.

CB: What advice would you like to give up and coming artists?
DG: Watch your wallet. No seriously, see beyond the bullshit, always play the best show you can play every night. You never know who is in the audience or where that show will take you. Give it your all.

Editors Note:
David Gogo is has a string of remarkable accomplishments; he has gamered three Juno Nominations, ‘The Saturday Night Blues’ Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada, WCMA Musician of the Year, and has twice been named Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year. Over the years, he has performed with blues and rock legends B.B. King, Bo Diddly, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, and numerous others. He most recently toured with Johnny Winter on Canada’s West coast. His 11th release ‘Soul Bender’, is adding even more acclaim to an already impressive list. Gogo continues to tour relentlessly, bringing his cutthroat wit and virtuos - Cashbox Magazine, Inc (Canada)

Grit Grooves and Emotion – David Gogo Soul-Bender
Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 16:05 Cover Story Features

Story: Sandy Graham

David Gogo is known for being one of the hardest working blues rock guitarists in the industry and the moniker suits him well. He is a man of his word, and when a recent routing booking issue took place, he fulfilled his commitment to tour Western Canada. After two shows in Holland, Gogo flew back to Canada to finish the tour he had committed to with the legendary Johnny Winter. A gruelling schedule, but he is a man of his word, and committed to his reputation as well as his music, he flew thousands of miles to keep his fans happy.

We recently had the opportunity to talk to this great Canadian treasure, and he gave some refreshing answers to what makes David Gogo who he is in this industry.

CB: When did you get your first guitar?
DG: I actually started out on a toy ukulele, just strumming on it but I was close to 6 years old when I got my first real guitar; it was a Raven, and we bought it at a furniture store. It was kind of a ¾ size and looked like a Gibson Hummingbird. The biggest thrill of my life was getting my first electric guitar, a Les Paul Black Beauty.

CB: What artists influenced you in your early music days?
DG: When I was a little kid, I loved Elvis. Every girl wanted Elvis, every guy wanted to be Elvis. I also loved The Beatles, The Kinks, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, CCR; I had such eclectic tastes, I was even influenced by Hank Williams. Later on I found my Dad’s huge blues collection and once I heard those artists I was hooked for good. Taj Mahal, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, all the greats who made up that sound. Albert Collins was a huge influence for me and I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting him when I was just 16 years old. I opened for him, and that is still one of the biggest and earliest thrills in my career.

CB: In a business known for it’s ‘sharks’ you have kept a loyalty to the same recording studio for years, Lois Lane Studios, and especially a connection to Rick Salt. This recent recording is yet another one to come out of that relationship, as well as your long standing deal with Cordova Bay Records as your label.
DG: I value my relationship with Rick Salt. We have known each other a long time, and he is the kind of guy (behind the board) who knows when I can do better, and also knows when I capture it. Like the Wilson Pickett track (‘I Found a Love’) Rick said to roll it from the top and it just worked. He knows when I nail it. (This is the 5th recording collaboration with Salt and Gogo) Same thing with Ragged Pup (Cordova Bay Records), they have my loyalty and I have theirs, a rarity these days.

CB: The new CD, ‘Soul-Bender’ is truly one of your best yet. This is your 11th CD Release, it must be gratifying to release this great product.
DG: My new CD ‘Soul-Bender’ is actually named after the Fulltone guitar pedal of the same name. This new offering actually blows me away, as I got to record a combination of original songs and covers, including "The Changeling" by The Doors and "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson. When we were recording them, we tried to get a fresh approach, thinking what if it wasn’t a famous song? How can we do it from our perspective? I am really happy with this new CD. I also got to record my own songs, and co-writes with some other great writers.

CB: What does the near future hold for David Gogo?
DG: I am pumped for this next stage of my career. I am already booked solid into May 2012, and 2011 was my busiest year yet. I have just put out a record I am really proud of, and I have control of my own career at this point. I am hands on right now and I am heavily involved in the social media part of promoting myself. I need to be hands on with audience and fans. I have a band in Vancouver, Ottawa and Holland. It doesn’t get much better than this. When I look at the career I have had so far, it blows me away. I don’t look back, I just move forward.

CB: What advice would you like to give up and coming artists?
DG: Watch your wallet. No seriously, see beyond the bullshit, always play the best show you can play every night. You never know who is in the audience or where that show will take you. Give it your all.

Editors Note:
David Gogo is has a string of remarkable accomplishments; he has gamered three Juno Nominations, ‘The Saturday Night Blues’ Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada, WCMA Musician of the Year, and has twice been named Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year. Over the years, he has performed with blues and rock legends B.B. King, Bo Diddly, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, and numerous others. He most recently toured with Johnny Winter on Canada’s West coast. His 11th release ‘Soul Bender’, is adding even more acclaim to an already impressive list. Gogo continues to tour relentlessly, bringing his cutthroat wit and virtuos - Cashbox Magazine, Inc (Canada)

Throw on an electric guitar blues album, especially from the States, and you're liable to hear what sounds like almost every other electric guitar blues album. I don't know if it's such a limited form, or whether there's just too few innovators in the modern era. But as the joke goes, how many blues guitar players does it take to do a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute? All of them, apparently.

So when I hear somebody pushing, changing, working, and quite simply sounding great and different, it stands out. David Gogo always stands out. His albums don't sound like others, and he knows how to rock. This album just jumps at you, with plenty of great guitar. Best of all, those stupid cliche songs that fill so many albums, where the singer goes on about his right to have the blues, and being a real man, with those smug, knowing vocals, there's none of that. Instead, Gogo proves himself to be an excellent curator, choosing great and almost forgotten tracks from such surprising sources as Procol Harum, The Doors and Wilson Pickett. Oh, and did I mention the Michael Jackson cover?

That's what makes Gogo so enjoyable. He takes Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel, leans into the groove and makes it his own. It's simply a good song, hands down, and Gogo recognizes that and realizes it's ripe for a cover. You give it a tougher vocal, slow it down a little, blues it up with organ and B.B.-inspired guitar licks, and everybody is smiling. And the Procol Harum number is perfect for bringing back the harder blues-rock of the early 70's, when guitar giants such as Robin Trower roamed the earth. Gogo is full of life, volume, and ideas, and makes his blues vital. - Bob Mersereau, Top 100 Canadian Singles

“Soul Bender has all the trademarks of a fine blues LP. Riffs, hooks and wicked solos. It's the latest from Dave Gogo (a name so nice we say it twice). Frankly, Dave sings and plays so effortlessly some may take him for granted. Not me and not this time. Just listen to Wilson Pickets I Found a Love. Sublime and sensational. Let's make this Dave's Year people.”

- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA Radio
- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA

“Soul Bender has all the trademarks of a fine blues LP. Riffs, hooks and wicked solos. It's the latest from Dave Gogo (a name so nice we say it twice). Frankly, Dave sings and plays so effortlessly some may take him for granted. Not me and not this time. Just listen to Wilson Pickets I Found a Love. Sublime and sensational. Let's make this Dave's Year people.”

- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA Radio
- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA

One Track Mind: David Gogo, "The Way You Make Me Feel"
by Nick DeRiso - August 1, 2011

A Michael Jackson hit rejiggered as a blues, by a Canadian. It’s enough to make your head hurt. But in a good way.

David Gogo plays this music, found on his new album Soul-Bender on Cordova Bay Records, with a concussive menace. When he sings “just kiss me baby, and tell me twice – that you’re the one for me,” it has all of the scary salaciousness of a last-call bar-stool come on.

That’s saying something, when you start thinking about the Michael Jackson part, the rejiggered as a blues part, the Canadian part. It has to be the most dangerous this song has ever sounded, or maybe the only time it has ever sounded dangerous at all.

I loved it – and David Gogo – for that. Elsewhere, he tears through a quartet of formidable originals and a set of covers that includes Elmore James (sure), Wilson Pickett (whoa) and Robin Trower (cool!). As good – as, yes, soul-bending – as it all is, none of it compares to “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

It made me feel like digging out my old Michael Jackson records (living off the wall, yeah!) – and finding out a whole lot more about David Gogo. - Something Else!

"Soul Bender" by David Gogo - Blues, Meet Soulful Rock
By Matt Marshall - July 7, 2011

David Gogo is an extremely hard working Canadian bluesman with a laundry list of accolades for his expert musical craft. His latest album, “Soul Bender”, is an satisfying mix of electric blues, rock, and soul styles set to a combination of originals and some interesting cover choices.

The first track, “Please Find My Baby,” originally by Elmore James is deftly reminiscent of ZZ Top’s cover of James’ “Dust My Broom” — with a twist. The slide guitar burns a hole through the speakers, and the addition of Steve Marriner’s skilled piano and harmonica adds a layer of depth. One noteworthy track can be found in “The Way You Make Me Feel”. Those skeptical of seeing a Michael Jackson cover on a blues album will be pleasantly surprised to find some fantastic B.B. King style licks, a B3 backing, horn section and shuffle beat. It’s certainly a challenge for an artist to “own” a song made famous by the king of pop, but David accomplishes it in fine form. Gogo’s version of “I Found A Love” has a strong southern rock & soul sound, with an echoing guitar and soul-dripping vocals.

Overall, Gogo’s album is solid. Whether he set out to display is musically diverse skill or not, he accomplished it. There’s more than enough diversity in Soul Bender to please most anybody, and the album, for the most part, is artfully tied together through a Stax-style soul base.

Find more on David Gogo and pick up a copy of Soul Bender at David’s website
- American Blues Scene

I will be the first to admit that I really haven't followed David Gogo's music. Sure I knew he was a great guitarist and performer, especially after seeing him play at our local Blues Club a few years back, but basically that was the extent of it. Well that was the extent of it until I had the good fortune of receiving his newest album "Soul-Bender" in the mail for review and then all hell broke loose to the point now that I simply cannot get enough of that amazing release and it has become a absolute must listen to album on my days off. One could now easily say that I have officially become Gogofied.

The fact that David Gogo was destined to become a great guitarist was probably already set in stone when he received his first guitar at the young age of only 5, which, by the way, was not his first instrument, that was a ukulele at the age of 4. Constant and consistent dedication to his guitar playing lead David to steady work as a professional musician by the age of 16. David Gogo's love for the Blues also started at a early age and was also set in stone after he got a chance to meet one of his true inspirations, Stevie Ray Vaughan, whom "encouraged Gogo to pursue and commit to become a serious blues artist".

Shortly after David meeting Stevie Ray Vaughan, he formed a band called the Persuaders and quickly made the leap from a high school band to a band that was opening and performing with some truly great artists, among them being Albert Collins. After a European gig tour with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, EMI records came a knocking, to sign him as a solo artist, something that he perhaps was a little saddened to do, having to leave a band he had grown so much with, but sometimes when opportunity knocks, you better take advantage of it, as it doesn't happen often and sometimes not at all.

David Gogo's first and last album for EMI was a self titled rock release "David Gogo" in 1994. It was a good album but David's heart was with the Blues and the decision to pursue his heart, simply out weighed a perhaps less then fulfilling career with EMI. Since making that decision David Gogo has put out 10 albums, with "Soul-Bender" being his latest release. Along the way he has garnered numerous accolades and awards including "two-time Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year, WCMA Musician of the Year and Saturday Night Blues' Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada". With the release of "Soul-Bender", which some are hailing as possibly his best work, David Gogo's legacy as a truly great Canadian Blues Guitarist icon, continues to grow.

"Soul-Bender" consists of 10 powerful tracks and has been described as "a sizzling, hard rocking blues album that is filled with heavy grooves, grit and emotion", something that I certainly had no problem agreeing with. The album itself is nicely peppered with 4 originals and 6 covers. Of the 4 originals, David Gogo is credited with the solo writing of 3 ("Time Is Killing Me", "Gettin' Old", "Do You Know How It Feels?") and co-writing 1 ("Slow It Down"). "Time Is Killing Me " was certainly my most favorite track on "Soul Bender", and perhaps is the best example of how skillful of a Singer, Songwriter, and Guitarist, David Gogo really is. In David's words, he describes the song as coming from "just thinking about my journey with the blues so far, through good times and success as well as setbacks and various bummers. You gotta keep on keeping on!" A beautiful song straight from David Gogo's heart to ours.

For the covers used on "Soul-Bender", David Gogo chose to use quite a few interesting and at least one surprising song from various artists which interestingly included Elmore James ("Please Find My Baby"), Wyckham Porteous "("Was It Love"), The Doors ("The Changeling), Robin Trower ("Whiskey Train "), and Wilson Pickett ("I Found A Love"), and surprisingly included Michael Jackson ("The Way You Make Me Feel"). All of those covers were certainly wonderful in their original form, but add a dash of David Gogo's interpretations of them, and they simply take on a whole new life of their own, especially Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel", a song my wife did not like until she heard David Gogo's version.

One thing you can say about David Gogo, is that he is truly a musician and artist with his own style, which he has brilliantly weaved together with the thread of many a legendary artist whom has either crossed his mind or his path and along with masterful musicians, by his side, such as Steve Marriner, whom played Piano and Harmonica on "Soul-Bender", he is more then able the attract the attention of both his peers and his fans, new and old.

2011 has already marked an extensive year, so far, with David Gogo touring Canada, the U.S., and Europe, which pretty well guarantees that he has already played in a town near you, or certainly will be in the near future and since "Soul-Bender" was produced in such a way as to best represent t - Blues Underground Network

June 14, 2011 - 6:57pm — john kereiff
“Soul-Bender” David Gogo (Cordova Bay) *****

Tape down the breakables and for God’s sake strap yourselves down, this is one blues album that is destined to set the night on fire!
Though I’m not familiar with his work, “Soul-Bender” is David Gogo’s 12th album. Coming out of Nanaimo (as does Gogo, Trooper’s keyboardist- any relation, I wonder?) the man leans into it right off the bat with Elmore James’s “Please Find My Baby” and plays hard all the way through. “Soul Bender” is blues that rocks, the kind of album you can throw on when you head for the open road. It’s a mix of solid originals and interesting covers as he takes on songs by Robin Trower, The Doors, Wilson Pickett and (get this) Michael Jackson- I know! When he isn’t breathing fire DG is at home in the slow grooves too, like the self penned “Time Is Killing Me” which also features some supple Fender Rhodes too. There’s been some great blues in 2011 and “Soul-Bender” is at or very near the top of the heap. Great stuff!
Sweet Spots: “Time Is Killing Me”, “Please Find My Baby”, “The Way You Make Me Feel” (yup, the MJ tune) - John Kereiff - "Recordland" Host

By Peter Rusland - Cowichan News Leader Pictorial
Published: June 07, 2011 9:00 AM
Bluesman David Gogo thinks outside the guitar case.

Take his fresh CD Soul Bender for a spin.

Gogo’s 11th recording ranges from traditional blues, originals, even to a funkified number by the late soul-pop master Michael Jackson.

“I’m a guy who likes to branch out a bit,” the Nanaimo guitar wizard understated while touting his June 10 date at the Crofton Pub.

Bassist Jay Stevens and drummer Gordon Grant-Baird join him for a session of electrically driven blues showcasing songs from Gogo’s various albums.

“We’ll do two big sets,” the globetrotting bluesologist said.

“We’ll draw on a whole whack of albums but keep it pretty current with the past few plus some traditional blues we want to try out.”

Gogo will tote four guitars to Crofton: a Gibson SG, a Fender Stratocaster, A Fender Telecaster “strung to a five-string tuning like a Keith Richard’s tuning”, plus an old Fender Bronco used for slide work and painted by a Nanoose Native artist Ray Bob.

“On Soul Bender we’re trying to look back at the past 10 albums.

“We wanted to capture in the studio the energy of the live shows I do.”

Gogo also wanted to satisfy fan demand.

“People wanted to hear more guitar so this CD’s more loosey-goosey and opens up the energy level.”

Soul Bender follows Gogo’s 2009 disc Different Views, adding to a ton of tunes in his stage roster.

“We have lots of tunes to choose from for sure.

“With this new one, we have some traditional Elmore James (Please Find My Baby) and a Michael Jackson song (The Way You Make Me Feel).”

Toss The Doors number The Changeling into the Soul Bender blender run by Gogo who began playing guitar at age five before lessons with Nanaimo’s Glen Foster.

“He basically taught me how to teach myself; the basic chords and scales,” said Gogo who had no idea how many songs he’s penned.

“Technically, it’s blues-rock,” he said citing blues barons Albert (The Ice Man) Collins, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King as major influences.

The fretsetter has earned a raft of prestigious blues awards — including Maple Blues hardware — and many Juno nods, “so I must be a blues guy, I guess. - Cowichan News Leader

David Gogo – 'Soul Bender' (Cordova Bay Records)

Canadian blues guitarist David Gogo has been largely overlooked by American blues fans, but has built a loyal European audience on the basis of better than a half-dozen studio albums featuring his fluid, imaginative fretwork. Gogo made his bones as a teen, opening for such heavy-hitters as Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and as an award-winning solo artist, he's never been afraid to tip blues conventions on their pointy lil' head. Case in point, Soul Bender, which includes original tunes mixed with cover songs from artists as diverse as Elmore James, Procol Harum, and even Michael Jackson; the album includes guest shots from MonkeyJunk's Steve Marriner and drummer Charlie Quintana (Plugz, Social Distortion) - By Reverend Keith A. Gordon, About.com Blues Guide

Tonight we continue our chapter: Bluesrock guitarists, who have not yet been discovered by the big wide world, but only by insiders and friends of the sophisticated blues. Although David Gogo is an always returning guest here in Europe, where he uses this opportunity to play the local clubscene up and down the countries. - On the other hand he unfortunately belongs to these highly talented artists, who play their butts off and still hasn't managed to climb up a little further on the ladder of success yet. Let's call it the average ignorance of Bluesrock or the leaking musical generell knowledge of people over here. We will never know for sure. But well, we had this topic before in quite a few concert reviews.

Nevertheless, musicians like David Gogo are truly worth while to be checked out, as they do deserve the attention very much. With only 42 years of age, this canadian guitarist has already released 10 albums so far. And back home he was nominated for the Juno Award and won the Maple Blues Award twice.

One thing is for sure, this good man definitely belongs to the blues scene. And to repeat myself, for real fans and Blues lovers, Mr.Gogo does already belong to their record collection for a long time already....

Well, a real blues patriot never gives in, even he's gotta play the small clubs for another 150 years. And because David thinks, Europe is a better place for his music than Northamerica, he's putting his main focus onto here. First because Europe is apparently more open for Blues and second because of all this bureocratic stuff like visa and financial matters.

Besides his solo trips, Mr.Gogo did play with Johnny Winter in the past and supported Albert Collins and other great Blues legends. But of course his main focus is his own baby. And that's why we can be sure, that he will return on a more or less regular base.

Tonight Munich's Garage Rockclub is honoured to welcome David Gogo and band. Some 100 people have found their way to this place to convince themselves about the talent of this canadian musician. Oh, by the way, not to forget to mention his european backing band, who is Jasper Mortier (Bass/Voc) and Ronald Oor (Drums), both from the Netherlands. These guys have a musical carriere on their own, but are playing with David for quite some years now.

You can feel, that these 3 guys do know each other very well, and they are perfectly tuned to each other. Though David himself mumbles about some mistakes he plays because of sore fingers. Well to be honest, something like that is only human, but nobody is bothered and has even realised. - He is good in what he does, no doubt about that. But compared to some other Bluesrocker, who are playing themselves in a highly sweating trance condition, he rather goes for a more laid back blues variety. His songs show an average length of about 4 to 5 minutes, exept the jamsessions and the medley.

The tracks of the new album ‘Different Views’ go down very well, show a lot of drive and some of it you could almost describe as hardrock. In between we hear a cover of the classic tune ‚Hoochie Coochie Man’, also performed with a harder edge.
And inbetween David knows how to appreciate a delicious nip on his whiskey glass or a whole bottle Becks at once.

It's obvious that he also enjoys himself and during the whole show he seems to somehow very impressed by our fairy animal - the bavarian Wolperdinger....

Never mind about the broken guitar string, which at least gives David the possibillity to perform a song on one of the other three guitars, celebrating sort of a premiere. Afterwards the string gets exchanged on stage while we get entertained with some funny anecdotes.

No, there's nothing to complain about David Gogos gig here in Munich. He's a great musician and an amusing entertainer taking care for a good night out, one of these occassions you like to remember for a longer time including Jägermeister and well.... what can I say.... - Wolperdinger of course...... - www.musicmirror.de

Tonight we continue our chapter: Bluesrock guitarists, who have not yet been discovered by the big wide world, but only by insiders and friends of the sophisticated blues. Although David Gogo is an always returning guest here in Europe, where he uses this opportunity to play the local clubscene up and down the countries. - On the other hand he unfortunately belongs to these highly talented artists, who play their butts off and still hasn't managed to climb up a little further on the ladder of success yet. Let's call it the average ignorance of Bluesrock or the leaking musical generell knowledge of people over here. We will never know for sure. But well, we had this topic before in quite a few concert reviews.

Nevertheless, musicians like David Gogo are truly worth while to be checked out, as they do deserve the attention very much. With only 42 years of age, this canadian guitarist has already released 10 albums so far. And back home he was nominated for the Juno Award and won the Maple Blues Award twice.

One thing is for sure, this good man definitely belongs to the blues scene. And to repeat myself, for real fans and Blues lovers, Mr.Gogo does already belong to their record collection for a long time already....

Well, a real blues patriot never gives in, even he's gotta play the small clubs for another 150 years. And because David thinks, Europe is a better place for his music than Northamerica, he's putting his main focus onto here. First because Europe is apparently more open for Blues and second because of all this bureocratic stuff like visa and financial matters.

Besides his solo trips, Mr.Gogo did play with Johnny Winter in the past and supported Albert Collins and other great Blues legends. But of course his main focus is his own baby. And that's why we can be sure, that he will return on a more or less regular base.

Tonight Munich's Garage Rockclub is honoured to welcome David Gogo and band. Some 100 people have found their way to this place to convince themselves about the talent of this canadian musician. Oh, by the way, not to forget to mention his european backing band, who is Jasper Mortier (Bass/Voc) and Ronald Oor (Drums), both from the Netherlands. These guys have a musical carriere on their own, but are playing with David for quite some years now.

You can feel, that these 3 guys do know each other very well, and they are perfectly tuned to each other. Though David himself mumbles about some mistakes he plays because of sore fingers. Well to be honest, something like that is only human, but nobody is bothered and has even realised. - He is good in what he does, no doubt about that. But compared to some other Bluesrocker, who are playing themselves in a highly sweating trance condition, he rather goes for a more laid back blues variety. His songs show an average length of about 4 to 5 minutes, exept the jamsessions and the medley.

The tracks of the new album ‘Different Views’ go down very well, show a lot of drive and some of it you could almost describe as hardrock. In between we hear a cover of the classic tune ‚Hoochie Coochie Man’, also performed with a harder edge.
And inbetween David knows how to appreciate a delicious nip on his whiskey glass or a whole bottle Becks at once.

It's obvious that he also enjoys himself and during the whole show he seems to somehow very impressed by our fairy animal - the bavarian Wolperdinger....

Never mind about the broken guitar string, which at least gives David the possibillity to perform a song on one of the other three guitars, celebrating sort of a premiere. Afterwards the string gets exchanged on stage while we get entertained with some funny anecdotes.

No, there's nothing to complain about David Gogos gig here in Munich. He's a great musician and an amusing entertainer taking care for a good night out, one of these occassions you like to remember for a longer time including Jägermeister and well.... what can I say.... - Wolperdinger of course...... - www.musicmirror.de

A stroll through blues history
By JEREMY LOOME
August 24, 2009

Things looked grim.

The day had started weakly at the final session of Edmonton's Labatt Blues Fest at Hawrelak Park. The normally engaging Aussie Fiona Boyes had teamed up with mandolin player Rich Delgrosso and standup bass man Mookie Brill, but their Piedmont-cum-Delta acoustic set just wasn't turning heads.

Next up was Canadian guitarman David Gogo, who sounded nice enough, but was playing cuts from the rock side of his catalogue. He briefly gave the day some hope, injecting a wicked slide performance on the Elmore James classic Dust My Broom, but was now noodling furiously on a cover of Muddy Waters' Hoochie Coochie Man, the fierce guitar wanking --replete with "dive bomb" string bends and whammy bar madness -- seriously undermining any potential soul he might've rung out of various Fenders.
Then, lightning flashed across the sky behind the stage. The clouds grew thicker and blacker, and a light sprinkling of rain began to fall.
At this point, the blues fest could've gone two ways. It was either a portent of a day devoid of anything that felt like the genuine, lemon-sucking blues, or someone was going to have to bring their "A" game and up the proceedings.
And then Gogo decided to walk off the stage and things got really interesting.
- - -
Rewind some 57 years, and a young Buddy Guy, still a few decades removed from guitar icon status, is growing up in Louisiana. His family is so poor, he can't afford an opinion, let alone a guitar. But Guy dreams of being like Guitar Slim, the famous New Orleans bluesman known as much for his entertaining stage show as his playing. Slim broke it big with a tune called The Things I Used to Do, a slow grinder, but generally can play upbeat R&B with the best of them.
The young Buddy copies him first by playing a diddly bo -- a chicken wire nailed to the wall of the barn, with alternating tension creating the notes. Then, much to his mother's chagrin, he steals some of the wires out of the window screens, and nails them to a broomstick, which he attaches to a cigar box. Presto, Buddy's first guitar is born.
Eventually, a family friend suggests his father actually get him a guitar and before long he's sitting in for notable locals like Rafer Neal. But Buddy wants to be a showman like Slim, who would attach a 50-foot patch cord to his guitar, then stroll among the audience playing.
Soon, Guy is in Chicago. On a night when he copies Slim's routine of playing in the audience, he wins a guitar battle at a local club and is spotted by one Muddy Waters. Muddy buys him a sandwich and a whiskey. The scared and hungry young Guy is on his way to musical history.
- - -
The lessons of history are not lost on great blues players. Flash back to the present and Gogo has one more song in his set. A familiar nine-note pattern rings out of his guitar and he kicks into Buddy Guy's Let Me Love You Baby.
Only now, Gogo is using a cordless rig. And he goes wandering, ripping off masterful, blues-soaked solos one after another, first walking up one side of the Hawrelak Park amphitheatre, then across the top to play among fans outside "the blues store," then back down the other side to the mainstage.
It only takes five minutes, but it's a transcendent moment of bluesman entertainment. Not only does every audience member feel jacked in to the proceedings, but Gogo is absolutely ripping it up. The licks are coming from everywhere. And all of a sudden, it becomes clear which way the day is headed.
- - -
After Gogo has played a crowd-requested encore --rare for a festival -- he is followed quickly by Rick Estrin and the Nightcats. Following such a whirlwind of energy should've been exceedingly tough, but by now the good mojo -- the winning boy's magic, as a wise man once said -- has set in. The band's guitarist, Kid Andersen, peels off chunky, squawky Chicago-style lead on a Les Paul Goldtop, then switches to a Red Fender stratocaster and shoots fire straight from the bowels of Texas.
The die is cast and all of the players are smoking. Estrin croons suggestively, then hammers home some killer chromatic harp. The following band, featuring the gospel, soul and funk of Sista Monica Parker, is just as lock-step, throwing down James Brown vibes and touching tributes.
By the time band leader extraordinaire John Hammond rounds out the night, no one is complaining that it almost rained, or that it started slow or, really, about anything.
The blues have been defeated for another summer -- or another weekend, anyway. History and tradition have been respected, and paid everyone back in kind.
- Edmonton Sun

A stroll through blues history
By JEREMY LOOME
August 24, 2009

Things looked grim.

The day had started weakly at the final session of Edmonton's Labatt Blues Fest at Hawrelak Park. The normally engaging Aussie Fiona Boyes had teamed up with mandolin player Rich Delgrosso and standup bass man Mookie Brill, but their Piedmont-cum-Delta acoustic set just wasn't turning heads.

Next up was Canadian guitarman David Gogo, who sounded nice enough, but was playing cuts from the rock side of his catalogue. He briefly gave the day some hope, injecting a wicked slide performance on the Elmore James classic Dust My Broom, but was now noodling furiously on a cover of Muddy Waters' Hoochie Coochie Man, the fierce guitar wanking --replete with "dive bomb" string bends and whammy bar madness -- seriously undermining any potential soul he might've rung out of various Fenders.
Then, lightning flashed across the sky behind the stage. The clouds grew thicker and blacker, and a light sprinkling of rain began to fall.
At this point, the blues fest could've gone two ways. It was either a portent of a day devoid of anything that felt like the genuine, lemon-sucking blues, or someone was going to have to bring their "A" game and up the proceedings.
And then Gogo decided to walk off the stage and things got really interesting.
- - -
Rewind some 57 years, and a young Buddy Guy, still a few decades removed from guitar icon status, is growing up in Louisiana. His family is so poor, he can't afford an opinion, let alone a guitar. But Guy dreams of being like Guitar Slim, the famous New Orleans bluesman known as much for his entertaining stage show as his playing. Slim broke it big with a tune called The Things I Used to Do, a slow grinder, but generally can play upbeat R&B with the best of them.
The young Buddy copies him first by playing a diddly bo -- a chicken wire nailed to the wall of the barn, with alternating tension creating the notes. Then, much to his mother's chagrin, he steals some of the wires out of the window screens, and nails them to a broomstick, which he attaches to a cigar box. Presto, Buddy's first guitar is born.
Eventually, a family friend suggests his father actually get him a guitar and before long he's sitting in for notable locals like Rafer Neal. But Buddy wants to be a showman like Slim, who would attach a 50-foot patch cord to his guitar, then stroll among the audience playing.
Soon, Guy is in Chicago. On a night when he copies Slim's routine of playing in the audience, he wins a guitar battle at a local club and is spotted by one Muddy Waters. Muddy buys him a sandwich and a whiskey. The scared and hungry young Guy is on his way to musical history.
- - -
The lessons of history are not lost on great blues players. Flash back to the present and Gogo has one more song in his set. A familiar nine-note pattern rings out of his guitar and he kicks into Buddy Guy's Let Me Love You Baby.
Only now, Gogo is using a cordless rig. And he goes wandering, ripping off masterful, blues-soaked solos one after another, first walking up one side of the Hawrelak Park amphitheatre, then across the top to play among fans outside "the blues store," then back down the other side to the mainstage.
It only takes five minutes, but it's a transcendent moment of bluesman entertainment. Not only does every audience member feel jacked in to the proceedings, but Gogo is absolutely ripping it up. The licks are coming from everywhere. And all of a sudden, it becomes clear which way the day is headed.
- - -
After Gogo has played a crowd-requested encore --rare for a festival -- he is followed quickly by Rick Estrin and the Nightcats. Following such a whirlwind of energy should've been exceedingly tough, but by now the good mojo -- the winning boy's magic, as a wise man once said -- has set in. The band's guitarist, Kid Andersen, peels off chunky, squawky Chicago-style lead on a Les Paul Goldtop, then switches to a Red Fender stratocaster and shoots fire straight from the bowels of Texas.
The die is cast and all of the players are smoking. Estrin croons suggestively, then hammers home some killer chromatic harp. The following band, featuring the gospel, soul and funk of Sista Monica Parker, is just as lock-step, throwing down James Brown vibes and touching tributes.
By the time band leader extraordinaire John Hammond rounds out the night, no one is complaining that it almost rained, or that it started slow or, really, about anything.
The blues have been defeated for another summer -- or another weekend, anyway. History and tradition have been respected, and paid everyone back in kind.
- Edmonton Sun

David Gogo - Vibe (4 stars) [Review for UK Release]
January 2009

Canadian blues singer/guitarist David gogo is one explosive package. In possession of a fine voice and blessed with immense talent on the six strings, he takes the blues on a wonderful journey. HIs previous high water mark came with SKELETON KEY; a superb trawl through gutsy rocking blues and big soulful numbers including a magnificent version of Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'. VIBE is his latest recording, and once again Gogo proves just what a performer can do when they're blessed with sensational gifts. The title is spot on; there's a great vibe running through the 12 tracks, all of which were written or co-written by the man himself. Gogo's not a bluesman in the truest sense, he prefers to mix up the styles and spread that vibe around. 'Hey Juanita', for instance is a light pop rocker, the sort of thing John Mellencamp liked to get his teeth into a few years back. 'I'll Do Anything' is a slow building, throbbing love song with a scintillating solo thrown in for good measure, whilst 'Love In The City' works a really tough riff and kicks the proverbial bottom with real gusto. 'She's Alright' features a cameo from the late Jeff Healey which surely must have been one of his last ever performances. Gogo's an absorbing talent, and when he gets it right he's one of the most entertaining performers out there. He got it right with VIBE. - DH - Maverick

David Gogo - Vibe (4 stars) [Review for UK Release]
January 2009

Canadian blues singer/guitarist David gogo is one explosive package. In possession of a fine voice and blessed with immense talent on the six strings, he takes the blues on a wonderful journey. HIs previous high water mark came with SKELETON KEY; a superb trawl through gutsy rocking blues and big soulful numbers including a magnificent version of Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'. VIBE is his latest recording, and once again Gogo proves just what a performer can do when they're blessed with sensational gifts. The title is spot on; there's a great vibe running through the 12 tracks, all of which were written or co-written by the man himself. Gogo's not a bluesman in the truest sense, he prefers to mix up the styles and spread that vibe around. 'Hey Juanita', for instance is a light pop rocker, the sort of thing John Mellencamp liked to get his teeth into a few years back. 'I'll Do Anything' is a slow building, throbbing love song with a scintillating solo thrown in for good measure, whilst 'Love In The City' works a really tough riff and kicks the proverbial bottom with real gusto. 'She's Alright' features a cameo from the late Jeff Healey which surely must have been one of his last ever performances. Gogo's an absorbing talent, and when he gets it right he's one of the most entertaining performers out there. He got it right with VIBE. - DH - Maverick

David Gogo Different Views Cordova Bay/Universal
John Valenteyn
August 2009

The new album, his 10th, from Nanaimo’s other musical export, David Gogo, was released July 14th and as it’s title states it’s a varied program. Recorded at home with a basic backing unit plus guests, I think it’s his best yet. The different views don’t stray too far from his trademark style of rocking blues. Some have a strong Rolling Stones feel: the opener, “Too Late To Stop Now”, “Since You’ve Gone” and especially “I’ll Get Over It” are the best examples.

A gospel song, “Erase Any Trace”, written with Shaun Verrault of Wide Mouth Mason is a highlight, with Verrault taking the lead vocal. Gerry Goffin & Carole King wrote “Don’t Bring Me Down” but this version owes more to the version by The Animals.

The more obvious blues ‘views’ are the Hooker boogie “Where The Devil Won’t Go” with Steve Marriner on harp and “Over And Over”, a shuffle that Gogo says was inspired by a conversation with BB King. Some funk is here as well, as in ‘New Orleans fonk’. “Gunslinger” again features Verrault with Gogo and he throws in a nifty Albert Collins solo. The CD closes with “I’ll Do It Myself”, a fine rocker that showcases what he can do with his guitars and some time at home. A snaking solo rides over top of some driving rhythm tracks.

While he’s nice enough to credit his starting points in the press kit, he’s put together an excellent set of songs, very well-played and recorded. It’s a pity that his appearances here were only at the London and Windsor Blues Festivals and he’s now returned to the coast.

It would have been good to hear the new songs live, where he really shines. - Maple Blues

David Gogo Different Views Cordova Bay/Universal
John Valenteyn
August 2009

The new album, his 10th, from Nanaimo’s other musical export, David Gogo, was released July 14th and as it’s title states it’s a varied program. Recorded at home with a basic backing unit plus guests, I think it’s his best yet. The different views don’t stray too far from his trademark style of rocking blues. Some have a strong Rolling Stones feel: the opener, “Too Late To Stop Now”, “Since You’ve Gone” and especially “I’ll Get Over It” are the best examples.

A gospel song, “Erase Any Trace”, written with Shaun Verrault of Wide Mouth Mason is a highlight, with Verrault taking the lead vocal. Gerry Goffin & Carole King wrote “Don’t Bring Me Down” but this version owes more to the version by The Animals.

The more obvious blues ‘views’ are the Hooker boogie “Where The Devil Won’t Go” with Steve Marriner on harp and “Over And Over”, a shuffle that Gogo says was inspired by a conversation with BB King. Some funk is here as well, as in ‘New Orleans fonk’. “Gunslinger” again features Verrault with Gogo and he throws in a nifty Albert Collins solo. The CD closes with “I’ll Do It Myself”, a fine rocker that showcases what he can do with his guitars and some time at home. A snaking solo rides over top of some driving rhythm tracks.

While he’s nice enough to credit his starting points in the press kit, he’s put together an excellent set of songs, very well-played and recorded. It’s a pity that his appearances here were only at the London and Windsor Blues Festivals and he’s now returned to the coast.

It would have been good to hear the new songs live, where he really shines. - Maple Blues

By Donald Teplyske - Red Deer Advocate
Published: September 04, 2009 8:24 AM

Nanaimo-based David Gogo is a veteran on the Canadian blues circuit and he returns this fall with his 10th album of electric guitar-oriented shuffles and R&B boogie dance tunes.

The originals are power blues-rockers of the finest sort, with changes of tempo that encourage air-guitar miming from listeners and vocal arrangements that recall Tom Wilson (Where the Devil Won’t Go) and Carlos Santana (Lies). Different Views is soaring voices, power chords and waves of organ, tightly arranged for maximum impact.

A pair of crack covers — Don’t Bring Me Down, owing as much to David Johansen as it does Eric Burden, and John Stewart’s Gold — serve as recognizable anchors. The 1979 hit receives a vital update, with Gogo’s whammy bar altering the familiar melody and Carolyn Mark holding her own in Stevie Nicks’ harmony spot.

Different Views is a blues album that holds up to repeated listens.

© 2009 Red Deer Advocate
- Red Deer Advocate

David Gogo may be most familiar to fans as an electrifying blues-rock guitarist who's shared stages with the likes of Johnny Winter, Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, George Thorogood and The Tragically Hip, but his forthcoming album is an entirely acoustic affair recorded with a single microphone in the kitchen of his Nanaimo, B.C. home.

David Gogo: Acoustic — Official Bootleg Series, Volume 2 will be released on September 26 by Victoria, B.C.-based Cordova Bay Records. Gogo is joined on the record by Rick Hopkins, Gerry Barnum, Rick May, Tina Jones, Jeremy McDonald and Michael Pickett. Rick Salt mixed and mastered the CD in his Island Pacific Studios.

One of the songs on the album, "She's Breakin' Through," is based on a Nanaimo mining disaster where Gogo's great grandfather and many others lost their lives.

Gogo also collaborated with Daniel and Bob Lanois on Snake Road, an ambient album said to be reminiscent of the collaborative work done by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Cordova Bay will release that LP on October 24.

Gogo, a past Juno Award nominee, is currently the spokesman for Nanaimo's tourism campaign and is featured in a number of television and print ads promoting the city.
- ChartAttack.com

David Gogo may be most familiar to fans as an electrifying blues-rock guitarist who's shared stages with the likes of Johnny Winter, Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, George Thorogood and The Tragically Hip, but his forthcoming album is an entirely acoustic affair recorded with a single microphone in the kitchen of his Nanaimo, B.C. home.

David Gogo: Acoustic — Official Bootleg Series, Volume 2 will be released on September 26 by Victoria, B.C.-based Cordova Bay Records. Gogo is joined on the record by Rick Hopkins, Gerry Barnum, Rick May, Tina Jones, Jeremy McDonald and Michael Pickett. Rick Salt mixed and mastered the CD in his Island Pacific Studios.

One of the songs on the album, "She's Breakin' Through," is based on a Nanaimo mining disaster where Gogo's great grandfather and many others lost their lives.

Gogo also collaborated with Daniel and Bob Lanois on Snake Road, an ambient album said to be reminiscent of the collaborative work done by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Cordova Bay will release that LP on October 24.

Gogo, a past Juno Award nominee, is currently the spokesman for Nanaimo's tourism campaign and is featured in a number of television and print ads promoting the city.
- ChartAttack.com

Gogo's second acoustic album came about after some acoustic performances with Colin Linden and Colin James last year. I hope this leads to more because he's clearly having a lot more fun creating outside of the power trio format. "It's Killing Me" opens, it's a fast, Piedmont slide piece about forbidden love with Gerry Barnum on harp. Fan requests led to the inclusion of "Dust My Broom", but it's a spirited performance. Ken Hamm's "Intertidal Zone" is up next and I hope it leads to some others finding out about his songs. Tony Joe White's "As The Crow Flies" becomes a solo slide exhibition. The centerpiece of the CD is up next: an original song about a mining disaster that killed his Great Grandfather. Jeremy McDonald's violin supports Gogo's heartfelt vocal beautifully. "(Ya Got Me) Walkin' Tall" is an original Gogo says was composed with Little Richard in mind and Rick Hopkins' piano certainly hammers home the connection. "Once it's Gone" is loosely based on Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would" riff and is an excellent new atmospheric blues. The CD concludes with Gogo doing a version of "That's How Strong My Love Is" with just Michael Pickett on harp. It's a marvelous way to end a fine album. - Toronto Blues Society - October Issue

Damn, David Gogo is talented. You might question, as a blues fan, whether his creative juices have led to him abandoning the style in which he's grounded, based on his recent pop-rock releases. But you can't question the
talent.

This latest in his "bootleg" series has Gogo on acoustic guitar, steel and slide, supported by some harp, a little backbeat here and there and some fine acoustic rhythm work. If you like acoustic blues, it's hard to be disappointed by this effort, given the eclecticism in the song selection and the note-perfect rendition of both covers and originals. Whether Elmore
James's Dust My Broom ever really needs to be covered again might be
debatable, but at least this is one of the better ones. And some of the
original material -- notably the title cut It's Killing Me -- show that Gogo
is more than frenetic fingers and seven-minute guitar solos.

Plus, there's the pipes. Gogo has a shredding soul voice, full of high,
hard notes. His voice could cut through brick, and that kind of power is required when the electric pyrotechnics are removed from the equation....

Jeremy Loome
Edmonton Sun
OCT. 1, 2006 - Edmonton Sun

Because he is such a talented guitarist, Gogo does not get enough recognition for his vocals. Songs like “Skeleton Key” (CD of the same name-2002, 2006--US release), “Something Ain’t Right” (Vibe--2004), and “Hey Juanita” (Vibe) highlight a smooth voice that is often belied by the many growling ballads that he performs. “Hey Juanita,” from the 2004 album Vibe, has a pretty melody and possesses great hooks.

His cover of Eddie Hinton’s R&B tinged “(I Gotta) Testify” got the audience back out onto the dance floor (not that they had left for long).

Like most blues artists Gogo plays a lot of ballads, unlike most blues artists he has the ability to play them a fast pace, slow them down or somewhere in between, and do it well. He also demonstrates the vocal versatility, to match his guitar wizardry, with equally competent vocals.

Julian St Martin was outstanding on the organ and electric keyboard resulting in several instances of spontaneous applause from the audience, as he finished keyboard solos. Drummer Gordon Grant Baird and bass guitarist Jay Stephens completed the musicians backing up Gogo.

If you don’t like Don Rickles’ humor then you probably are not going to enjoy David Gogo’s particular brand of humor, so be forewarned his concerts are not for the faint of heart. He is however, a blues artist who creates memorable grooves and leaves everything he has on stage.

Photo by Joe Montague ©
Reviewed August 3, 2007
© www.rivetingriffs.com
- www.rivetingriffs.com

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


- Joe Curtis Reviews

De Bosuil, Weert 04-04-2008

By Babs van Geffen (BluesRockPagina)


Canadian blues guitarist and singer David Gogo is always very welcome at blues festivals in Europe and America. David Gogo started playing guitar when he was 5 years old and at the age of 16 he became a professional musician. It’s obvious that he is inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan, but also by Paul Butterfield, Willie Dixon and Otis Spann. The guitar skills of this Canadian guy are truly unprecedented. He played with musicians like Little Feat, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, BB King, Otis Rush, Blues Traveler and George Thorogood. To promote his album “Vibe” Canadian singer and blues guitarist David Gogo returned to the Dutch venues and on April 4, he played De Bosuil in Weert.

After support act Vinnie’s Vice, David Gogo came on stage. He was accompanied by no less a person than drummer Boyd Small and bass player Jasper Mortier. The first song is “Louisiana Blues”, a tight song which the audience enjoyed right away. They played a lot of songs from his album “Vibe”, a.o. “Hit Me From Above”, “300 LB Shoes”, “Love In The City” and the magnificent “She’s All Right”. They also did a couple of covers; masterly interpretations of Robert Johnson’s “Dust My Broom’, Johnny Winter’s “Highway 61 Revisited” and Muddy Waters’“Hoochie Coochie Man”.

David surprised friend and foe with his passionate guitar playing and his soulful, raw vocals. Also, Boyd Small and Jasper Mortier did a great job. An unbelievable tight rhythm section. David was really enjoying the show and even – while playing - walked through the audience doing some tricks; playing slide guitar with an empty beer bottle and a lighter. After playing for 2 hours the show was finished but David didn’t leave his audience without giving them an encore. He did a perfect version of the song “I Feel So Good” written by late “Magic Sam”. Unfortunately, the turn out wasn’t that big. Those who weren’t there sure missed something!
- BluesRockPagina