Dr. Brown & The Groovecats
Darlington Arts Centre R’n’B Club [16-06-06]

Doctor Brown has been a veteran of the British blues scene now for well over ten years. He has changed his band many times during this period to accommodate the various styles that he likes to cover - all of which are included under the broad umbrella that we know as “The Blues.”

As well as playing as a duo and three-piece acoustic combo, [playing at most of the major festivals and Clubs], he has recently re-formed his 5 piece electric band who play very uplifting West Coast Swing.

The good Doctor has assembled a tight rhythm section to play behind a very accomplished guitar player, and his own harmonica. This hard-driven sound gives the band plenty of energy and lots of scope for improvisation.

Doc. Brown’s harp playing is a wonderful full-on sound with dynamic effects, and occasionally he still plays rhythm guitar when the song requires it. The progression from the old 50’s Chicago sound with his previous band to this new band, who go out now as “The Groovecats,” is a quite natural transition.

The depth and strength of the band is in the musical arrangements in the material covered, which are well thought out and refreshingly original.

Tonight they played to a “nearly full” room in the “home of the blues in Darlington” – the Arts Centre’s Garden Bar.
It had been like a homecoming for Doctor Brown, as he hadn’t played there for a number of years - and didn’t he make them know just what they had been missing!

Straight from the off, the band with the Doctor in his customary front-man role, lead us through a great array of music ranging from Rod Piazza’s “Sinister Woman,” Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s “Gangster of Love,” Jimmie Vaughan’s “Flamenco Dancer,” The Fabulous Thunderbird’s “Low down Woman” and Little Charlie and the Nightcats “Last Meal.” [To name but a few!] Special guest on second guitar was Tim “T-Bone” Roberts, who took over form Doc. Brown tonight. [The Doctor deciding to concentrate on harp and vocals for this gig].

Lead guitar duties fell to regular guitarist Tex Boardman, [who has been with him in various line-ups over the last few years], and the afore-mentioned tight rhythm section comprised Eamonn “Bam-bam” Cox on drums and Jon “Juke” Codd on double bass.
As a live attraction, this band are cooking on a very hot flame, and with the Doctor in the kitchen, expect some spicey mouth-watering food on offer!

Certainly one of the hottest live bands around at the moment.

Jenny Lyndsey