Quotes from the Press
More Quotes About David Gogo
Vibe
"...a standing ovation for David Gogo's Vibe."
"This big-sounding record is impressive." - 4 1/2 Stars (out of
5)
"...a commanding singer and crack guitarist."
"...it's meatier efforts like Hit Me From Above and Silk
And Stone that should get your attention, bringing to mind The Fabulous
Thunderbirds. Meanwhile, Gogo shows his softer side on such bluesy Robert
Cray-like ballads as I'd Do Anything and Something Ain't Right."
"...is showing early signs of being the disc that could make him a
household name with the nation's hard-rock fans."
"David Gogo has hit the perfect balance of rock and blues, while creating
an individual sound that is uniquely his own. Vibe is an
excellent example of why David Gogo is one of Canada's hottest recording
artists, and promises to be such for years to come."
"Gogo has emerged as a musician in the mold of John Haitt: a roots
belter comfortable cranking out Memphis Soul (I'd Do Anything), Crescent
City swamp shuffles (Silk and Stone), sturdy country (Hey Juanita)
and grinding Stones-like rock 'n' roll (Love In The City) with a newfound
sense of authority."
"...demonstrates why Gogo is still at the top of his game, be it blues,
rock, soul or any combo of the three."
Love In The City (Vibe)
"The song, which he co-wrote with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings' Tom
Wilson, who also helped out on vocals, may well be the best Rolling Stones
song that Jagger and Richards have never heard."
"Could David Gogo and Tom Wilson actually be twin brothers mistakenly
separated at birth?? Vocally and stylistically these two are perfectly matched.
It's an inspired collaboration!"
Live At Deer Lake
" This is the REAL DEAL with Gogo and Band at their best!!!! Put this
album in your CD player with the volume at "loudest" and David
Gogo is playing in your Living Room!!! This is a must have record for
every blues-rock fan!!"
"It's raw, it's lively & it's a fine piece of work... This
album gives a no-frills insight into Gogo's talent... live recordings
don't lie, that's one reason why I love them & another reason is that
with headphones cranked up it's just like being there... try it you WILL
like it."
"This CD contains a great mix of David's own compositions and covers
and serves to demonstrate that the skill and power that is present
on his studio recorded material is, if anything, even greater in a live situation.
If you liked his studio CDs you will love this live one and even if
you have not heard the previous CDs this is one hell of a good live introduction."
"David Gogo is a West Coast bluesman who has worked tirelessly to
build an audience for his brand of the blues, gradually making inroads across
the entire country from constant gigging and a prolific five-album catalogue. Last
year’s Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year has this year’s
distinction of Deer Lake being nominated for a 2004 Juno, only
to have the honour retracted over a bungled eligibility issue. The resulting
press drew more attention than a Juno ever would but the fiasco is Juno’s
loss, since this “bootleg” does a superb job of summing up
what Gogo is all about. Originally a “live” blues radio recording,
its release stems from fan-based pressure, augmented by two additional “unofficial” recordings.
Deer Lake finds Gogo as less of a front-man and more of a band player and
the songs are the better for it. Of course, Gogo’s scorching blues
rock guitar remains at the core of his music and his powerful vocals have
come to earn equal billing on such soulful numbers as James Brown’s “It’s
A Man’s World” — melding R&B to blues rock with true
conviction. But songs like Muddy Waters’ “Louisiana
Blues” and his own “Skeleton Key” showcase a hardworking
crew in top fighting form, with a driving rhythm section and exceptional
B3 contributions from Brendan Hedley. Gogo uses this solid platform
as springboard for his aggressive style but has also learned to sit back
and enjoy the groove. You can hear it on Deer Lake and it’s a mature
recording that only teases at what is to come."
Halfway to Memphis
"Gogo is an upper tier guitarist whose brand of blues/rock
will hit you in the chin with the force of a Clark Kent uppercut."
BluesRockers.ws
"Whoa! Hot stuff."
"...excellent songwriting talent and brilliant guitar style."
"There is a new blues-rocker on the scene and he comes screaming and
wailing like a banshee."
"...from the moment track one grabs you by the throat you will be
putty in David Gogo's hands."
"If you're looking for some good old bourbon-drinkin', bar-brawlin',
cigarette-smokin', balls-to-the-wall blues, then Halfway to Memphis is
the album for you."
OK.... Holy **##@@# %*#@ I am wiggin out over the new Gogo. Obviously I
will be playing this a lot."
"(Halfway to Memphis) is fantastic. I love this cd."
"'Halfway to Memphis' top track: James Brown's This is a Man's
World. Intense!"
" With ease and grace, [Gogo] blends the emotion of blues and the
spirit of rock into a format that is a joy to the ear."
"...brilliant guitar solos...brightly performed...GREAT!"
Great new blues from super hot guitarist David Gogo."
"Gogo was named Musician of the Year at the 2000 West Coast
Music Awards, evidence of which abounds on the exquisitely produced
and maniacally performed Halfway to Memphis, the best of Gogo's young
career -- a record whose feel is as swampy as the city it harkens back to."
"For fans of electric blues, it gets no better than this."
"His sound is deep, complete, authoritative and blue."
"Best played at maximum volume!"
"Occasionally, very occasionally, a performer comes along whose natural
talent is so obvious you almost have to seal it in a container to avoid is
leaking out all over the place."
"David Gogo has found his own voice in the blues, and he's got something
to say."
"He doesn't mince strings or wank with words. He's got their breaking
point nailed down, abusing only the calluses on his fingertips and larynx."
"That his own work stands shoulder to shoulder with classics like
Muddy Waters' Rollin' and Tumblin' or Willie Dixon's Wang Dang
Doodle is testimony to the authenticity of Gogo's capabilities."
"The title may be Halfway to Memphis, but this album goes 'all
the way'..."
"The man is dynamite on his guitar and he sings with conviction."
"A killer!"
"Actually, every song on this album, whether original or cover, is
a classic."
"…the star of the show is very much Gogo, who excels at laying
down potent riffs and licks to accompany his singing."
"Gogo shows why he is considered one the finest blues guitarists...an
equal mix of style and substance, alternating between straight-ahead boogie
rock and blues standards with a few forays of fancy fretwork thrown in for
effect."
"I'm no expert on guitar technique, but at a minimum I'm certain there's
frequent use of a wah-wah pedal and wammy bar, manipulation of various audio
controls, and occasional physical abuse of the guitar's structural components.
While that's a lot of activity, I'm not sure these techniques alone can account
for the wild variety of tones and sounds heard during Gogo's solos."
"The type of music that makes you wish you were cruisin' down the
highway with the top down."
"Gogo's version of James Brown's This Is A Man's World on the Halfway
to Memphis CD is a beauty - not far from masterpiece. Truly hair-raising!"
"A blistering guitar player,"
"Gogo pours his heart out with his guitar and voice."
"Halfway to Memphis is the recorded synthesis of Gogo's work.
In it he revives, simply and with much talent, the James Brown soul hit This
Is A Man's World by putting his own stamp on it. The blues are powerful
here - the slides are relevant and the voice is an integral instrument."
"Acoustic blues leaves no room for pretenders, and (on Bare Bones)
Gogo bares his soul to show that he's a true bluesman to the bone."
"Gogo wrote three of the tunes including Halfway to Memphis which
shows he is capable of the very difficult task of writing a blues tune without
sounding like an 80-year-old from Chicago."
"...could have been a stand-up comedian if he hadn't decided on pursuing
a career in music."