News
Grit Grooves and Emotion – David Gogo
Cashbox Canada Cover Story by Sandy Graham
As David Gogo prepares for a weekend in Toronto enjoying the festivities of The Maple Blues Awards, Cashbox Canada has published a feature article about him. As a label, we are proud to be associated (12 CDs) with this talented entertainer. And as interviews go, this one is amazing. It presents the facts correctly! What a concept!
"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."
January 13, 2012
David Gogo's Soul Bender A Shining Star On Year End Radio Charts
Soul Bender, David Gogo's most relent CD on Cordova Bay Records has had a pretty massive year since it's June 2011 release. His relentless touring has exposed the new CD to audiences across Canada and Europe, from the biggest cities to the smallest of towns.
It is radio, however, that provides the greatest exposure to a new CD these days and we are very pleased to see the 2011 Year End Charts begin to trickle out. Early results include radio stations:
DAWG-FM Ottawa: #7
CHLY-FM Nanaimo: #2
CKUA-FM Edmonton: #4
Specialty and campus radio has also been supportive including these early reporters:
Folks/Roots/Blues CFUV Victoria: #6
Top 100 CFUV Victoria: #40
Not to be outdone, international radio has also been very supportive in 2011 thanks to the wonderful people at Dixiefrog in France who released the CD shortly after the Canadian release.
Specifically, Roots & Fusion - Pure Radio 107.8fm Stockport UK picked Gogo's interpretation of The Procol Harum track Whisky Train, the final track on Soul Bender as their #1 pick of 2011!!
Updates will be forth coming as new year end charts are revealed.
December 29, 2011
David Gogo Nominated For Maple Blues Awards
The Toronto Blues Society will be celebrating its 15th annual Maple Blues Awards by honouring nationally and internationally recognized Canadian Blues artists from across the country on January 16, 2012. The nominees are recognized both for their talent as well as their contribution to the growing Canadian blues music scene.
This year Cordova Bay's David Gogo has been nominated for:
Electric Act of the Year
Guitar Player of the Year
Hosted by internationally recognized blues performers Treasa Levasseur and Shakura S'Aida, The 2012 Maple Blues Awards are taking place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on January 16th, 2012.
Public voting opens Friday, October 28 at midnight ADT & closes Saturday, December 10 at midnight PST. Blues fans can cast their votes online at www.mapleblues.ca .
The Toronto Blues Society is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Blues. The Maple Blues Awards is Canada's national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field.
For more information contact:
Sarah French
Sarah French Publicity
416-566-4188 | sarah@sarahfrenchpublicity.com
Jordan Safer
Toronto Blues Society
416-538-3885 | info@torontobluessociety.com
October 27, 2011
Gogo Opens For Johnny Winter On Tour
Johnny Winter thrills audience at Regent Theatre
By Joanne Courneyea Fitzroy and Martin Fralick, QMI Agency
Not since the Roaring 20's when it seated over 1,000 has Picton's Regent Theatre seen such a large house when a sold-out crowd paid homage to Texas bluesman Johnny Winter.
Full houses and large crowds are not strange to the legendary Winter, who has played with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker to name a very few. Playing live is his first love and although he says travelling is not as easy as it was for him in the 1970's, he still tours extensively. He came to Picton from a gig in Ottawa the night before, and was moving on to a blues festival in Kitchener the next night. After that he plays four states in four nights, then after a few days off, embarks on a tour of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In October he teams up with his brother Edgar to participate in a Rhythm and Blues Pacific Coast Cruise. Also booked on the cruise tour are Smokin Joe Kubek and B'nois King, who played the Regent three months ago.
The raucous audience of 449, coming from all over eastern Ontario and even some from Quebec thrilled at Winter's own material as well as his personalized versions of such numbers as Highway 61 Revisited and a ripping Johnny B Goode.
Opening for Winter was leading blues guitarist David Gogo. Gogo is one of Canada's hardest working blues-rock guitarists, and he has a string of remarkable accomplishments to show for it. He has garnered 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 Diddley, George Thorogood, ZZ Top, and numerous others - most recently touring with Johnny Winter. His eleventh release, Soul Bender, is adding even more acclaim to an already impressive list of accomplishments.
While his brother continues to rock with the Edgar Winter Group, the elder Winter's heart has always been with the blues. He credits his introduction to slide guitar to Muddy Waters among others. His custom slide is a piece of metal pipe he purchased at a plumbing supply store back in 1967, he said. It fits his little finger which, like the rest of Winter, is "real thin".
Winters' show would not have been possible without James Jones' Zapp Productions. Jones has brought several incredible blues acts to the Regent and other eastern Ontario venues. He brings Louisiana blues great Larry Garner to the Regent October 14. For more information on Jones' blues productions, see the website www.zapp-productions.com.
The live acts keep coming to the Regent later this month with Canadian folk great Ian Tyson August 25. Canadian comedian extraordinaire Lorne Elliott will tickle your funny bone September 17. For more information contact The Regent Box Office at 613-476-8416, or visit the website www.theregenttheatre.org.
August 7, 2011
David Gogo's New Release Soul Bender is Making Waves Across Canada
Fans and critics all across Canada are raving about Soul Bender, David
Gogo's newest CD.
Here is what people are saying:
"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!"
- John Kereiff, Host of 'Recordland' on Rossland Radio
Co-Op
Full article here
"As an award-winning solo artist, [Gogo]'s never been afraid to
tip blues conventions on their pointy lil' head. Case in point,
Soul Bender."
- Reverend Keith A. Gordon, About.com Blues Guide
Full article
here
"...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."
- Bob Mersereau, Top 100 Canadian Singles
Full article
here
"David Gogo is Nanaimo's Gift to the Blues"
- John P. McLaughlin, Post Media News
Full article
here
"Soul Bender has all the trademarks of a fine blues lp.
Riffs, hooks and wicked solos. It's the latest from David 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 Picket's I Found a Love. Sublime and
sensational."
- Terry David Mulligan, CKUA Network
The album features outstanding new tracks - some original and some unexpected covers - that showcase Gogo's best guitar and vocal performances ever! Those who have already heard it, all say, "it's a hit!"
The original works reflect recent changes in Gogo's life, everyone's life, as only the blues can.
The covers run the gamut of sources and styles including those from Procol Harum, Elmore James and even Michael Jackson.
Soul Bender is available from Maple Music and iTunes, the Cordova Bay e-store and in retail stores across Canada.
Gogo will be touring Canada this summer to promote Soul Bender.
Summer 2011 Tour Dates
June 25 Hitching Post - Hedley, BC
July 9 Rainbow - Ottawa, ON
July 11, 12 Mount Tremblant Blues Fest - Mt. Tremblant , PQ
July 13 La Casbah - Quebec City , PQ
July 15 Rainbow - Ottawa, ON
July 23 Blues Fest - Campbell River , BC
August 4 Concert with Johnny Winter - Constance Bay , ON
August 5 Concert with Johnny Winter - Picton , ON
August 6 The Old Winery - Niagara on the Lake , ON
August 13 DAWG FM Party - Calabogie Peaks Resort, ON
August 19 Edmonton Labbatt Blues Festival - Edmonton, AB
August 26 Summertime Blues - Nanaimo, BC
On Tour With Johnny Winter
October 9 Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC
October 11 Charles Bailey Theatre, Trail, BC
October 12 Key City Theatre, Cranbrook, BC
October 13 Memorial Centre, Red Deer, AB
October 17 Vic Juba Theatre, Lloydminister, AB
October 19 Louis' (University of Saskatchewan), Saskatoon, SK
October 20 Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium, Brandon, MB
October 21 Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
October 22 Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
*more dates to follow*
June 24, 2011
David Gogo's new album Soul Bender available today!
ORDER HERE NOW and get your copy today!
Your CD will ship immediately.
Virtuosic bluesman David Gogo has produced a sizzling, hard rocking blues album that is filled with heavy grooves, grit and emotion. Opening with Elmore James? classic blues shuffle ?Please Find My Baby? and closing with Procol Harum?s ?Whiskey Train? Soul Bender features five original songs, and five covers, all benefiting from David?s unique interpretation. Recorded in his hometown of Nanaimo this album is another important chapter in the evolution of a great guitarist.
June 7, 2011
Release Date Set For David Gogo's New Album
Soul Bender, David Gogo's newest CD release, is scheduled for a June 7th street date in Canada and June 21st in the USA.
The album features outstanding new tracks - some original and some unexpected covers - that showcase Gogo's best guitar and vocal performances ever! Those who have already heard it, all say, "it's a hit!"
The original works reflect recent changes in Gogo's life, everyone's life, as only the blues can.
The covers run the gamut of sources and styles including those from Procol Harum, Elmore James and even Michael Jackson.
There are some interesting new aspects to this album's arrangements and voicing. For the first time ever, this recording includes strings! Back for more "oomph" is Rick Hopkins with his keyboard antics. As with previous albums Soul Bender includes horns and strong vocal backups from a variety of singers.
Monkey Junk's Steve Marriner adds some harp, soul and wonderful piano. Back for more Gogo punishment are blues stalwarts (and good music generally) Pat Steward - drums, Doug Elliott - bass, both from The Odds, Billy Hicks - drums, and Jay Stevens - bass.
Having Charlie Quintana on drums on two tracks adds a new twist. Charlie is known as a premier punk rock drummer from his work with bands (Social Distortion, Ju Ju Hounds and The Plugz) as well as touring with Joan Osborne, Cracker and Bob Dylan.
Gogo will be touring Canada this summer to promote Soul Bender, so keep your eye on his calendar. This summer, make sure you catch Gogo at a venue near you!
May 6, 2011
Busy Spring For Gogo - In The Studio And On The Road!
David Gogo fans have a lot to be excited about this Spring. In addition to his typical heavy touring schedule, Gogo is spending a lot of time in the studio, laying down tracks for his upcoming album. A recent post to Gogo's Facebook Page entices his fans, displaying the array of guitars shown here, along with the caption, "Look at these pretty girls!! In the studio all week...." Scheduled for release in early June, the album "Soul-Bender" promises to be packed full of incredible blues guitar licks for your listening pleasure.
Upcoming tour dates include a range of Alberta and B.C. shows, including Gogo's annual visit to Hornby Island for the Hornby Island Blues Workshop, May 9 - 12. The workshop is followed by The Hornby Island Blues Odyssey, featuring some of the country's finest blues musicians, held at The Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay Saturday May 14. Tickets are on sale now.
March 23, 2011
What is David Gogo Reading?
Check out this interview our own David Gogo did with a local literary website... MyReadingTrees.com.
It allows us a unique perspective into the man behind the guitar.
December 7, 2010
David Gogo Nominated for Electric Act of the Year!
We are delighted to announce that our own David Gogo has been nominated for Electric Act of the Year at the 14th Annual Maple Blues Awards. Previous years have seen David nominated in a number of categories and he has won Guitarist of the Year twice.
The Maple Blues Awards is Canada?s national blues awards program. Its goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. The nominees are selected by a distinguished panel of some 50+ blues experts. The panel includes radio hosts, journalists, and festival organizers regionally distributed across Canada. Members of the Nominating Panel are not eligible for any of the awards.
This year the voting will be handled slightly differently. For most categories, the winners will be selected by blues fans from across the country. The Instrument categories, guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards, horn, drums & bass, will be voted on by the Nominating Panel.
CLICK HERE to cast your vote for David Gogo! Voting is open until Midnight Pacific Standard Time December 11th, 2010.
The winners of the Fourteenth Annual Maple Blues Awards will be announced at the Annual Maple Blues Awards Gala held at Koerner Hall in Toronto, on Monday, January 17, 2011. This very special evening is Canada's national annual celebration of homegrown blues talent. It's also a night of great music by the Maple Blues Band, comprised entirely of Maple Blues Awards winners and nominees.
A full list of Nominees can be found HERE.
November 22, 2010
