'If Only' album review
Pete Feenstra, realmusiclive.co.uk
Slowly but surely Blues Matters has grown as a label that has opened the door to new blues talent in the UK. And in Sean Webster they have unearthed a raw gem. Armed with an expressive husky voice, capable of some world weary phrasing, and a better than confident guitar style, Sean Webster is a rock blues player with a big future.
Above all as this album proves, he is not limited to the Rock Blues format, as he has penned several very strong songs, on which his brusque guitar style is a classy appendage rather than the song's raison d'être.
The album open with an Ian Parker style ballad "Hero" and is followed by a staccato funky arrangement that would grace many a Free/Paul Rogers outing, as the piece expands into an expansive melodic chorus.
As happy playing acoustic as well as electric guitar, both the "Hurting So Bad" and the Paul Weller feel of the closing "Lie To Me", suggest a young artist with a Pop sensibility as well as some core blues roots. And when he does play the blues as on "So Rare", he does so with total conviction and a soulful feeling that is rare in an artist recording his first album.
And it when you realise that Sean has only recently started to record his own material, that you realise the potential he has. With a great voice, a tough but intuitive guitar style, and a willingness to patiently build up the dynamics, "If Only" is a fine debut album from arguably the most exciting new talent to emerge from Nottingham since Ian Siegal.
Sounds Like
Sean has been compared with many great artists including Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Gary Moore. His vocal style has drawn comparisons with Joe Cocker, Bryan Adams and Jonny Lang.
Sean Webster is the brilliant front man guitar vocalist for the 3 piece band with a great reputation on the British Blues and rock scene. Since forming in 2003 they have been making great headway both in the U.K and Europe.
2004 was a big year for Sean, as he released the debut album “Long Time Coming”. This put the band in the public eye for the first time, and showcased Sean’s fine guitar playing, which combines a great number of influences including Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Gary Moore and SRV to name a few. His vocal style is of a rich, sexy tone with a low end rumble drawing comparisons with Joe Cocker, Bryan Adams and Jonny Lang.
Britain’s leading blues magazine “Blues Matters!” has described the debut album as “A real gem”, concluding that Sean was:
“…. set for big stages with superb guitar work…. They’ll soon be bursting out of the Nottingham area now Sean has got his writing shoes on.”
2005 saw the band perform many live dates around the U.K. including main stage performances at, Burnley Festival, Maryport Festival the prestigious Great British R&B Festival in Colne in August with organisers quoting, “ Sean is a new legend in the making. He has rich powerful vocals and searing guitar licks. Like so many, he has been working hard for years but these are Sean Webster’s years, and he is in his ascendancy”.
Sean’s second cd release entitled, “ If Only” pushed the boundaries of the blues music, with Sean reaching out to a wider and (often) younger audience.
“ If Only” came to the attention of Tony Edser, editor of “ Where`s Eric! “ the official Eric Clapton magazine who decided to feature Sean as The “ One to watch ”. Having personally placed a copy of the cd in Eric`s hands, it has been rumoured that Sean may be inline for supporting Eric in next years tour.
An extract reads, “This is an original collection of blues based songs, skilfully played, nicely produced and with some beautifully melodic guitar work. If Eric is stuck for a decent support act for his forth coming Euro tour, he need look no more “.
Sean recorded a live session for the Paul Jones show on BBC radio 2 which was aired in September 2006, enabling some 500,000 people to hear Sean’s music.
He regularly has his music played on radio stations around the world, including Bosnia, Canada, Spain, France, and Germany etc.
As well as performing various dates throughout the U.K. he has just returned from a very successful 5 week tour of America, taking in Chicago, Minnesota, Houston, Galvaston and Austin Texas. Aswell as having a great learning experience he had the chance to meet up with Jimmie Vaughn and Doyle Bramhall II. Check out the pictures page.
The double album " Live and in Session " is now out and available at gigs and via the website.
Sean hopes to continue his growth in the music industry and bring his music to new ears, both young and old. Sean has something for everyone, make sure you catch him at the earliest opportunity.
Download the new EP 'Hear Me Now' from itunes here ..
You can contact Sean via his website at www.seanwebster.com
Please feel free to add the banner code below to your Myspace or web page.
Best wishes from Devils Creek - Glad to have you as a friend here on myspace. The great thing about myspace is that you can link up with kindred spirits!.
"Here's something a bit different. These guys are heavily influenced by Rory Gallagher, Status Quo and early 70's British bluesy hard rock. They've got a great groove in the rhythm section, a fine guitarist in Guy Rosewall, and their album 'Bullfrog Blues' is recommended! The album includes a rockin' take on Rory's "Seven Days". Definitely not another SRV clone"
"The band is driven beautifully by Terry Brown on drums and Tim Chapple on bass, the latter laying down a stomping beat on every number.......... on the showing of this album I would strongly recommend them" (Ian McKenzie - Blues In The South).
“The old Ten Years After classic Hear Me Calling suits Guy's heavy rock sound the best, and its the guitar sound that has a strong influence..... Guy's own foray into songwriting shows some interesting invention, particularly on the Family Song - good old 70's rock really. The others - Dead Man Walking, Poor Boy and Shadow City are built more on solid riffs, but Guy's also put in some worthwhile lyrics and not wasted the opportunity with rock cliches.... There's some worthwhile material in there" (Al Tait - Blues Matters)
Glad to have you Playing at the festival and on mySpace. Not long now to the BEST FESTIVAL WKND in the UK THIS YEAR!!!! CARLISLE BLUES FESTIVAL UK would love to have any interested Blues fans at their festival THERE ARE STILL TICKETS LEFT and ACCOMODATION if required. 21st to 23rd November 2008 Check out the MySpace for details. Or the website http://www. carlislebluesfestival. com/ Cheers
HIYA SAEN. GREAT JAMMING WITH YOU AND THE GUYS AT MARYPORT BLUES FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.THAT SESSION MADE MY DAY. HOPE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. SAM KELLY
Thanks for the add. See you have met up with my guitar hero Jimmie Vaughan, lucky boy.
Also see you are going to be a the Maryport Blues Fest in Cumbria. Gonna try and get to see ya set, as long as ya don't clash with Jimmie or Chuck Berry that is ha...
Thank you for joining myspace. Most of all thank you for the type of music you are doing. It looks like the UK is going to have to change the music in the US again. We seem to be stuck in this rut with hip hop and many of us miss the crying guitars, keyboards and saxaphones. So keep on playing real music..!!
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