Steve Arvey

What was to become an unforgettable Blues night at the Shire Hall kicked off with a late sound check - which appeared to be a cunning move by the promoters Howden Live to ‘warm up’ the audience alcoholically in the bar…. The warm up continued on stage with Paul Judge, accompanying himself in fine style on finger-picking slide guitar with a brief but lively set to ready us for the appearance of Steve Arvey – alone at first, just playing his guitar, sat on a stool but building up the atmosphere with effortless playing and his gritty voice and the introduction one by one of Blues Move :- Roger Inniss – Bass, Jools Grudgings - Keyboards, Mike Hellier – Drums.
The whole evening was a progression – and a couple of times a procession, as Steve meandered off stage amongst the audience (still playing) and emerged from the bar, complete with drink (and still playing). Yes, a real bar – room Blues guitarist! Authentic is the term I have to use, and in the course of the 2 sets, these musicians reached a peak, with ‘Red House’ standing out in particular as one of those moments when the music really does reach the soul of all those present. There is nothing like live music and with Steve Arvey and Blues Move on song like this, the Shire Hall continues to be one of the best places around to get the Blues effect.
You can only marvel at the talent oozing from the band members and a quick bit of research lists countless credentials – especially for Steve – in many areas of music. But quite simply, they played electric Blues at its best – and this at the end of a 24-gig UK tour! No sign of end-of-tour ‘blues’ ……it was hard to keep up with the energy emanating from this band. Quite simply one of the best nights of the continuing Blues Season.
Thanks once more to HL for providing us with a rich slice of pure musical entertainment. And thanks to as individual a musician as you could wish for in the remarkable Mr. Arvey. Return visit with Blues Move, please! And if you haven’t yet been to a gig– try it soon
- Ian Dettmer

The Mississippi river, failed relationships, Jack Daniels and chickens – that was how someone once summed up the music of Steve Arvey; the superb electric blues guitarist from Chicago. The blues funk soul of the ‘Windy City’ certainly seeped into the Penrith Live Blues audience (19th Feb).

Opening for Steve Arvey with chocolately solo slide guitar was Paul Judge who kept the mood mellow before Steve and bassist Roger Inniss took the stage for a few minutes of acoustic splendour with numbers including ‘Poor Boy’ and ‘I’m Ready’.

Steve and Roger were joined by drummer Mike Hellier and, on keyboard, Jools Grudgings. The pace then leapt a couple notches and with his gritty growly vocals that seemed to come from down deep in the ground Steve flung himself into exciting inventive free-flowing guitar blues funk. The improvised texture was reminiscent of Miles Davis’ skills on stage and a wonderful bass solo by Roger very like the style of legendary bassist Stanley Clarke.

Arvey and the band were fluidly funky, rolling from Steve’s own pieces to blues classics. This was very slick musicianship, a delight to listen to and to watch. Some musicians have a practiced charisma, but Steve’s is natural. He’s a fun character, almost flirting with the audience. I’ve been listening to a live recorded CD and it really captures the feel of the gig. Steve’s website (www.stevearvey.com) has details of his albums and tour dates.

One thing was blindingly un-Chicago blues – why was a tin of John West sild fish prominently on stage with them? Was it perhaps a healthy substitute for beer and whiskey? It remained unopened – unlike the Jack Daniels!


- Fi Exon