Hold on, stop... on of these 3 Gentlemen is pretty known to us, as we just had him here a few weeks ago, entertaining us with his energetic Heavy Metal Funk. Yep, exactly - TM Stevens, bassist of god and the world, from Steve Vai to Tina Turner, - simply everybody. He's a talent in every way and in the truest sense of the word. And when he's not on tour with some other artists, he does his own thing, inventing himself every time new, whether it is as a solo artist, or under the moniker Shocka Zooloo or with Challenge. 

The last mentioned group also features Cindy Blackman, who's also the drummer of Lenny Kravitz, and has just become the wife of Carlos Santana. But that's not the subject right now here. Tonight we got TM's trek named 'Voodoo Chile' here, named after the famous Hendrix tune. And yes of course, here we got an - almost - tribute band. And TM has recruited two big names for this Hommage to the god of all guitarists. 

There is guitarist Eric Gales, who has earned himself already a sunshine-sparkle on the musician's sky with his 9 yet released solo albums. 
On the other hand we got Keith LeBlanc, who almost owns a legend status within insider circles. Keith has worked with people like Peter Gabriel and Nine Inch Nails, just to name two of many other's. But while his job for all these musicians more or less a job is, - Voodoo Chile is a pleasure, where he and the other two guys can do what they luv most to do. 

And it is indeed this kind of concerts, where you can experience the whole talent of each musician. It's like with everything else as well. - Whatever you love doing, you do it much better, then things, you just have to do. -
But such a thing can also have it's shady sides. Because often the own individual reputation doesn't reach the surface of the soupbows outside these insider circles. For the rest of the whole world the individual name is still unknown. - So these kind of brilliant musicians tour mainly the club scene and just can't manage to escape to more fame in larger venues unless they tour with other famous artists together. 

Well, everything got it's advantages and disadvantages. But whoever wants to see and listen to the high art of music, should come along and experience such a club event. Not many people have ever regret such a visit. 
Okay, and here we are again at the comfy Village Club, close to the city of Garmisch and the austrian border. Thanks god, as the fatal winter desaster has challenged me twice to turn round back home, on my way to the club. Sibiria is close, not so much, what's up to the cold, but what's up to the tons of snow. The result is - crawling on the motorway with 50 miles an hour most, on a carpet of snow with an icy underground.The usual 25 minutes way, turn into 50 minutes. And to be honest, the thought about the way back later in the night, doesn't let me really enjoy this evening. 
However, clubevent or whatsoever, in the end there are about 100 people in here, who have not hesitated, despite the bad weather conditions, to convince themselves of the brilliance of these musicians. And this again gets honoured in return up there on stage by the threesome. 

No, Voodoo Chile are not a 100% Jimi Hendrix Tribute Band. Yes, the focus is put on on the holy shrine, but it is nicely spiced with TM Stevens and Eric Gales solomaterial as well, all ending up in a wonderful jamsession. Most of all it's Gales, who dominates the stage here.

So there is not much more to say, exept he truly proves his reputation. Not so much drummer Keith LeBlanc, who can't develop all his skills here. But this has more to do with the narrow space on stage here and less with acoustic material. Although you can feel, that there is a huge potential and Keith is a genius, who is still not 100percent discovered. -
I assume I don not have to say too much about TM Stevens, exept maybe, that he always uses the same running gags, no matter with what project he's on the road. Whether it is the bass playing with a guy from the audiance in his arms, or the request to a photographer to take pics of the audiance, sometimes including the band...

Tonight the surely youngest visitor is taken on stage to play the drums with the help of Keith, and daddy is allowed to present his brilliant translater skills. - In addition of that, there is the usual gag about the age of TM's shirt, all that underlined by the usual bass art. 
Nothing new really, but always very amusing, that's a real TM Show.

And once again, it hurts my sould, when I see and hear all these brilliant talents here, playing just tiny clubs like here, - only because the musical understanding of the average people are so limited, exept these very few fans here. 

On the other hand, this is exactly one of those events, which is the most fun for a music journalist like me, thanks to the intimate and very personal atmosphere. And this again is what the Village club stands for. 
Unfortunately my own personal pleasure is rather limited tonight to around 90 minutes, as I do leave 30 minutes before the end, because of the heavy snowing.
But this horror trip from Munich to Habach has been definately worth while in each way. And I got back home save - so what?
It's been absolutely great, and I'm gonna be there again next time, expept the very last day comes before this. 
http://www.tmstevens.com/
http://www.ericgales.net/
http://www.keithleblanc.com/   

Many more pictures can be found at: http://www.rob4.at