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It's been a long time coming, so the title of Matchstick Mike Bidlake's new album, Forever & A Day, is fitting.
The Texas-blues inspired singer-songwriter, who will be performing with his talented rhythm section The Chain-Smoking Altar Boys at the Lunar Rogue this weekend as part of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, has built a solid reputation in Canada's blues industry, earning recognition with a Best New Blues Artist nomination from the Maple Blues Awards in 2006 and winning that year's Harvest Galaxie Rising Star Award.
But Bidlake slowed down a bit in the years since - playing only a handful of shows so he could focus his energies on cultivating a new relationship and to get his personal and business affairs in order.
So it's easy to hear the emotion in the bluesman's new album - a slick-sounding workout that features the beautiful title track, seven other crisp originals and four covers, including a stellar version of Jimi Hendrix's Red House and an interesting blues take on 1980s smash hit Tainted Love.
Bidlake said the time away from his musical career helped rejuvenate his passion for music.
"I needed to take some time off to really sort of re-prioritize some things in my life. The business of being a musician and travelling is very exacting," he said.
"I kind of got eaten up a little bit and needed to take a step back, really. I had to figure out what was important musically to me and what was important in my life. I've got a great partner in my life now and she makes it so much easier. When you've got two people rowing in a canoe in the same direction, it's a lot easier to go up-river. I'm just really grateful about the people I have in my life right now."
He also credits drummer Tom Blizzard and bassist Peter Palmer, who he believes provide invaluable guidance and solid musicianship on a nightly basis.
"The best part about putting this album out is that it captures the music this band is playing right now. There are moments with the guys on stage, where we just look at each other and share a moment. That's pretty important to me," he said.
Bidlake said he worked a lot of his influences into Forever & A Day, which benefited greatly from the capable production ears of Sleepy Driver guitarist Ethan Young-Lai.
"There's some Texas blues on there, some Motown on there. I think it's a good representation of what we play in our live shows and what we're about," he said.
"I'm not Stevie Ray Vaughn and I don't want to be. It's an honest body of work and I'm really proud of it. I'm also excited to release it with Harvest because I really owe a lot to the organizers, who have been great to me over the years."
The album will be available at upcoming shows, including performances tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at The Lunar Rogue Pub, starting at 9 p.m.
- Daily Gleaner
Discography
Baby Won't You Please Come Home - 2007
Forever and a Day - 2010
Photos
Bio
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival CBC Galaxie Rising Star ‘06 and Toronto Blues Society’s ‘06 Best New Blues Artist Runner Up, Matchstick Mike Bidlake has developed a sound all his own from the years of searching and honing his craft into a show that can be as quiet as a church mouse one minute, and have the crowd kicking stuff over the next from all the frantic dancing action. Having been compared to a genetic freak meld of Jimmie Vaughn, T-Bone Walker and Muddy Water’s, Mike’s traditional Texas Blues style is infused with insane energy and will leave you with warm memories when you wake up with stale liquor breath and sore dancing feet the morning after a show. “Did I just get hit by a truck?” you will ask …. Nope, just one smoking maritime blues party.
Having been playing roots-based music for 35 years, since the age of 7 when his father introduced him to the mandolin. Bluegrass and country, along with early rock and roll were staples in the household. Guitar and popular music were soon to follow for several years until the early 90’s when Mike discovered traditional Delta Blues as interpreted by Poor Charlie Robertson. “Having met Charlie and his wife, Beverly was such a wonderful experience …… hearing Charlie connected a few missing dots, stylistically for me. It was those dots that I had been looking for, the ones that gave me chills man !”
Matchstick has been working his craft both writing and performing 40 to 60 shows a year of upbeat, dance-inspiring music around Eastern Canada and the East Coast. Recently released and critically acclaimed Sophmore record, “ Forever and a Day ” is recieving regular airplay with blues stations accross the country.
Since returning from a Canadian Forces Show Tour which took Matchstick to Afghanistan to play for our UN troops, Mike has had several trips to Southern Ontario building a substantial following. . The Show can be seen regionally until late summer 2011.
Over the years, Matchstick Mike has had the opportunity to open or jam with the likes of “Steady Rollin” Bob Margolin (Muddy Water’s Band), Room Full of Blues, North Mississippi All-Stars, Zack Harmon, Toni-Lynn Washington, Matt Guitar Murphy, Jack Dekeyser, Sam Moon, Joe Murphy, Shirley Jackson, John Campbell-John, Carson Downy, Brant Parkins, Bill Dowey and the Blues Devils, Ronnie Burk and Little Voodoo as well as numerous rock and country acts such as Dr. Hook, Wide Mouth Mason and the Cruzeros.
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/matchstickmike#ixzz10fI7bpo5
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