GRASS VALLEY, Calif. September 20, 2016 – Acclaimed drummer Mick Fleetwood, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, is taking his own band on the road this September and October with over a dozen stops including Grass Valley on September 23rd. The tour travels through Colorado, Southern and Northern California, the state of Washington and ends in British Columbia, Canada.
In addition to its namesake, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band consists of singer/guitarist Rick Vito, who was also a member of Fleetwood Mac (1987-1991), bassist Lenny Castellanos and keyboardist Mark Johnstone who also provides background vocals. Some years ago, this same line-up recorded Blue Again!, a live album that exemplifies the quartet’s power as a performing act, and underscored their adherence to the living, breathing genre that is the blues. Soon after its release, the album made it into the Top 5 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart and went on to be nominated for a GRAMMY® in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.
Mick Fleetwood explained what motivated him to form the band. “Over my career I’ve been called a pop star and a rock star, yet in my inner heart, I will always be part bluesman. On my journey from blues to a life of rock ‘n’ roll, I’ve always remembered where I started.” He also commented on his band mates, “A lot of guys can play the licks, but Rick has the tone and that’s so important in real blues.” He noted of Castellanos, “Any bassist who plays with me has big shoes to fill.”
Aside from originals, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band repertoire concentrates on material drawn from the formative years of Fleetwood Mac. 1967-1969 Peter Green era songs are covered, such as “Oh Well,” “Rattlesnake Shake,” “Love That Burns” and “Black Magic Woman,” later made famous by Santana, as well and blues classics like “Shake Your Money Maker” and “When the Levee Breaks” are also key components of The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band’s set list.
The Center for the Arts is a non-profit performing arts organization that relies on membership to bring cultural enrichment and entertainment for the good of the community. Early on sale is offered to its members who can then select the best seats.
OPENERS ANNOUNCED! Achilles Wheel Duo!
Paul Kamm and Jonny Mojo are singer/songwriters and frontmen of the Northern California Roots and World music/Rock and Roll jam band, Achilles Wheel. As an acoustic duo they bring the same high energy and engaging stage presence to a quieter place, combining a bit of Country and Bluegrass to the band’s famously hard driving sound. But it’s the infectious quality of their songwriting that really shines in this setting, and the diverse nature of it as well. Paul and Jonny work off of each other like two sides of the same coin, actively looking for and pushing each other to find the most in whatever song they’re playing.
Achilles Wheel is a California based rock and roll band that blurs the lines between genres and fuses an infectious blend of Roots and World Music Rockadelia.
Their sound comes across as both Old School and New School and is riddled with great songwriting. The one thing that rises to the surface as you get to know this band is that supporting the benefit of our human condition is foremost in their work. They play hard as a way to break down walls and celebrate life. The idealism that they embraced as younger men has not diminished in the harsh light of the modern world as we struggle to live freely and have a good time, and in the end, hopefully matter. Achilles Wheel fearlessly sings out to these times.
With the release of their third studio recording, ‘Devil In The Yard’ Achilles Wheel is also waving the flag for Ben Jacobs (Poor Man’s Whiskey, Grateful Bluegrass Boys, Rusty Stringfield), who came to the AW studio in Nevada City to record a couple of songs, but after playing on every track he left as the new Achilles Wheel keys man. He joins Jonny Mojo Flores on lead guitar and vocals, Paul Kamm on guitar and vocals, Shelby Snow on bass and vocals, Mark McCartney on drums and vocals and Gary Campus on drums and percussion.
WHO: The Center for the Arts presents
WHAT: The Mick Fleetwood Blues band featuring Rick Vito, plus support to be announced.
WHEN: Friday September 23, 2016, 8:00pm
WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, 255 S Auburn St, Grass Valley, CA 95945
TICKETS:
The Center Box Office – 530-274-8384 ext 14
BriarPatch Co-op Community Market – 530-272-5333
Tickets online at www.thecenterforthearts.org
WEBPAGE: http://thecenterforthearts.org/mick-fleetwood-blues-band-feat-rick-vito/