The SpikedriverS Website

Excerpts from some live reviews 2009:

The Portland Gallery, London
May 2009

The late Michael Tyzack was a professor of art in Iowa and trumpet player, which was why his son Ben Tyzack and The Spikedrivers were playing at the opening of a retrospective exhibition in this lovely art gallery near the Ritz. Guitarist Ben, bass player Constance Redgrave and drummer and percussionist Maurice McElroy did a long set on a lovely summer’s day while the booze flowed. Eventually people were lying on the floor but the waiters just bent down to fill the glasses. If you have seen The Spikedrivers, you know what they play. If you haven’t, well that is a treat yet to come

Fran Leslie Blues In Britain
****

Blues Passion Cognac, France
July 2009

…Other stages included the Place du Canton, where both The Spikedrivers and The Mountain Men impressed the journalists and the public. These two bands were decided by the attending hacks to be the hits of the festival. As often happens, the smaller stages throw up the best music. The Mountain Men hail from Grenoble. A guitar and harmonica duo with their feet squarely in the Delta, their razor sharp sound lit up the afternoon crowd flooding the Place du Canton. Mat Guillou hammered out rhythms on his National Steel while on harmonica; Ian Giddey added that flavor of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Check out their release The Time is Coming.

The Spikedrivers braved what was clearly the hottest day of the festival for two scorching sets that filled the pedestrianized streets to breaking point. People were literally hanging out the windows to catch a glimpse of Ben Tyzack’s gorgeous guitar work.

Both The Spikedrivers and The Mountain Men featured at a secret gig on Sunday courtesy of Blues Qui Roule’s Alain LeClerc. Those fortunate enough to attend were treated to both bands totally acoustic in the surrounding of an ancient winery. They jammed with Italy’s Max Ferrauto, an excellent Howlin’ Wolf style vocalist who’s currently on tour around Europe.

All in all I’d call this years Blues Passion Cognac, a big success. Michel Rolland has answered critics of last year’s festival by providing some serious blues acts from all over the world. He’s also done well treading that thin line of attracting big name popular acts while giving the blues audiences what they want.

Katie Dalstrom Blues In Britain
****

Rock ‘n’ Blues on the Pier
Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Norfolk
October 2009

A brand new festival on the circuit, this inaugural bash took place on the pier at Cromer. With every new venture there are always the pre-match nerves, but credit must be given to festival producer Scott Butler for organizing a well balanced, varied and very interesting event.

… The Spikedrivers finished the afternoon session with possibly the set of the weekend. A highly original band, The Spikedrivers play with an intensity that makes you sit up and listen. Those familiar with the Live at the High Barn album will get the picture. Superb versions of Blue Trash, Where Did the Money Go featuring Maurice McElroy on drums, washboard and vocals, L’l Red Rooster and Constance Redgrave took vocals with an excellent rendition of Gypsy Wind and with guitarist/vocalist Ben Tyzack on top form this really was an exciting set.

Hopefully this festival will now become a fixture on the calendar. Special mention for Howie on sound, Andy and the backstage crew and of course Scott Butler for a very successful weekend

Mike Lightfoot Blues In Britain
****

Mamas, Crieff Scotland
Oct 2009

Spikedrivers acclaimed as “one of the best ever live acts” to appear at MAMAS.

MAMAS finished 2009 with one of the best ever live acts to appear in Crieff when the Spikedrivers provided a night full of life, good humour and highly impressive musicianship.

The night was opened by Sandy and Charles swapping from solo to duo while they covered tunes from Lindisfarne to Stevie Ray Vaughan and finishing off with some tip top blues harp from Sandy on Little Walter's Easy.

The biggest surprise of the night was when the Spikes walked on to open with an acapella start to their first set, but it certainly got people listening. With Ben Tyzach on guitars, Constance Redgrave on bass and washboard and Maurice McElroy on drums and all sorts of percussion with the vocals shared by all three, you expected some hard driven blues to start the night but the acapella was a "sit up and watch moment" leading in to some gutsy slide guitar and rhythmic drumming on Train Done Gone.

A few tunes into the set and the band had the crowd in the palm of their hands. There is a big difference between polite applause and an enthusiastic response to bands and both the crowd and the band were obviously having a ball. Highlight of the set had to be Ben's tribute to his youth called Layin' Down Lincoln's, about placing 1 cent pieces on railway tracks to get a flattened coin! With Maurice playing a rootsy beat on his Spanish box drum over a blues riff you could hear the train rushing by.

Thinking the first set had been good didn't prepare anyone for the second set as the band stepped things up with some outstanding blues. After nine years of playing together the band have a good back catalogue of their own material but still like to throw in some old classics from the masters of bygone days and thanks to a request via their website on the day they included James Moore's Shake Your Hips. A slow starting number that builds and builds to a 10 minute masterpiece that you don't want to finish. Mr. B had brought all his moothies with him and was a bit chuffed to be asked to join the band for Bright Lights Big City with a bit of a dueling moothie/guitar improvisation. And of course the Spikes had saved the best tune of the night as they finished off with Dust My Broom and no blues night is complete without a Robert Johnson number. A proper blues tune with driving bass, powerful drumming and jaw dropping slide guitar to leave the crowd wishing the night could go on a bit longer.

Probably the best band ever to appear at MAMAS over the last eight years. A big thank you to everyone who came along to make the night so memorable.
If you would like to know more about MAMAS view www.mamas.org.uk or call Norman on 681667.

Stephen Lowson Strathearn Herald
****

Boogaloo Blues Weekend
Cricket St Thomas Nov 09

Saturday afternoon acoustic set:
The Spikedrivers equally comfortable in this more intimate setting, gave a typical and quite beautifully observed vignette of authentic blues as always featuring wonderfully evocative and warm tonal delights. One this occasion featuring that well know instrument, the quail’s egg whisk, played exquisitely on washboard by Constance Redgrave. Ben Tyzack’s warm compelling vocal and superb slide guitar work enchanted a thoroughly contented audience. Tim Aves added an acoustic set to his inimitable work as MC and DJ for the weekend to complete an unbeatable afternoon’s entertainment. He invited The Spikedrivers back to join him and played some exquisite slide guitar.

Saturday Night
Following on from the wonderful Sean Webster, The Spikedrivers then reprised their matinee appearance. This popular trio, with their unique and erudite approach, manage to charm and entertain with consummate ease. “Love Her With A Feeling” was followed by an uncharacteristic burst of venom from Ben Tyzack prior to a newly written piece “Easy Money In Hard Times” focused on recent events concerning bankers and MPs; a relevant piece of modern blues recording recent events and with reference to a live recording the band are to undertake in January and invite you - check out their web site. Drummer Maurice McElroy also featured with his inimitable vocal style before “Bright Lights, Big City” and "Hip Shake” completed a tremendous dancing set.

Bob Chaffey Blues In Britain