The Flaming Mudcats Reviews

THE FLAMING MUDCATS

Whether you like your blues contemporary, traditional, low down or funky...., you’re gonna love The Flaming Mudcats. Matter of fact, you’re gonna dig these guys even if blues ain’t your thing due to the sheer energy and musicianship they bring to their live performances. Together now for over eight years, this Auckland based band has established themselves among the country’s premier blues acts. With their signature brand of rocking rhythm and blues, The Flaming Mudcats have taken their show to festivals and clubs in the USA, Australia, The Pacific Islands and throughout New Zealand. They have also appeared live on national radio and television.

The Flaming Mudcats are four dedicated musicians who share a common passion and love of the blues. Whilst drawing inspiration from their eclectic influences, their music provides a refreshingly original take on the universal themes of love, loss, and cruel women. The band is fronted by vocalist Craig Bracken, one of the country’s most accomplished harmonica players, with guitarist Doug Bygrave providing the six string raucousness. Anchoring these two, is the tight and true rhythm section comprising Ian Thomson on drums and Sean McCarthy on bass. With a sound, raw, real, and gritty, these cats do it all – swing, shuffle and boogie.

The Flaming Mudcats have to date recorded two well received albums - 2011’s "Gave You What You Wanted" and 2013’s "Mistress". Apart from a lone cover on each, both albums comprise original material and present a wide spectrum of blues styles, whilst celebrating that unique Mudcat sound.

Constantly developing new material, the band attacks every performance as if it was their last. Everyone can identify with the Mudcat’s brand of blues; it’s just that not everyone knows it. Be sure to catch them live and get yourself Mudcatted!

REVIEWS

Mike Garner, respected performer and supporter of the blues in New Zealand says "this bunch of seasoned Kiwi blues musicians have been putting together what might be the finest blues band in New Zealand".

According to David James, host of the Saturday night blues on 89.5 WNIJ in DeKalb, Illinois, USA, “the blues is alive and well in New Zealand, courtesy of bands like The Flaming Mudcats. Craig, Doug, Sean and Ian play off one another as well as any four musicians I've heard in a long time and sound like they have been playing together for decades. The Flaming Mudcat's music is real and its music you can feel. If this band doesn't get your toes a tappin', then you must be dead”.

Darcy Perry, another respected New Zealand blues artist, songwriter, producer and band leader says "after honing their skills around the country for the last few years, they are widely regarded as the best blues band on the scene at the moment".

Steve Jones, secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society of Northern Illinois, Chicago, USA says in Blues Blast Magazine "these guys are the real deal and you should check them out."

John Vermilyea from the Blues Underground Network in Canada says "each year I get half a dozen great albums submitted to my network, from Australia & New Zealand, and I must say that so far for 2012, The Flaming Mudcats "Gave You What You Wanted", is the best album I have listened to yet from that region, by far. These cats know how to stir up some great blues mischief and their latest album is one that I thoroughly and highly recommend giving a listen to."

Rowena Richards, 2011 Woollaston Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival organiser says, "The Flaming Mudcats are HOT! Fans followed these guys from venue to venue and I would have these guys back in a flash!"

Samoa 2010 and Fiji 2011 International Jazz and Blues Festival Director, Billy TK Jnr, says that “The Flaming Mudcats play authentic blues and have that kind of great energy on stage that the audience responds to and loves. I appreciate that both as a performer and festival director.” For bookings and enquiries please contact The Flaming Mudcats via email at: [email protected] or phone Sean on +64 21 532654 or Ian on +64 21 02945130 www.theflamingmudcats.com www.facebook.com/theflamingmudcats SHOWS

Notable recent performances by The Flaming Mudcats include:

. Crossroads Blues Festival: August 2016 – Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A

. Marchwood Blues Picnic: February 2016 – Omokora, Tauranga, New Zealand

. Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society: October 2015 – Melbourne, Australia

. Auckland City Council Music In Parks: February 2015 – Waiheke Island, New Zealand

. Marchwood Blues Picnic: February 2014 – Omokora, Tauranga, New Zealand

. The Inaugural Field of Blues Festival: July 2013 – Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A

. Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival: August, 2012 - Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

. The Rotorua Blues Festival 2012: June, 2012 - Rotorua, Waikato, New Zealand

. National Jazz Festival 2012: April, 2012 - Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

. Volvo Ocean Race 2011 – 2012 Village: March, 2012 - Auckland Viaduct, Auckland, New Zealand

. Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival: February, 2012 - Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

. Good Morning Show: November, 2011 – TV One, TVNZ, New Zealand

. Party Central Waiheke (Rugby World Cup 2011): October, 2011 - Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand

. Waiheke Blues Festival 2011: August, 2011 - Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand

. The Rotorua Blues Festival 2011: June, 2011 - Rotorua, Waikato, New Zealand

. Fiji 2011 International Jazz and Blues Festival: May, 2011 - Port Denarau, Nandi, Fiji

. Samoa 2010 International Jazz and Blues Festival: November, 2010 - Apia, Samoa

. Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest: February 2010 - Tamaki Drive, Auckland, New Zealand

For bookings and enquiries please contact The Flaming Mudcats via email at: [email protected] or phone Sean on +64 21 532654 or Ian on +64 21 02945130 www.theflamingmudcats.com www.facebook.com/theflamingmudcats MISTRESS

Fresh from their whirlwind tour of the USA and full of inspiration, The Flaming Mudcats set about recording their second album ‘Mistress’ The album spans the gamut of blues styles, and presents a refreshing take on traditional blues themes. Saucy and seductive, that ‘other woman’ that they just can’t get enough of, that ‘bit on the side’ they can play around with, the wanton woman they can cut loose with.... the blues. This time around, the band enlisted the combined keyboard talents of Craig Denham, Justin James and David Thomas, and brought in the Hellfire Horns for extra propellant on a handful of tracks.

From the incandescent slow-burner ‘Drinking My Life Away’, to the sly rhumba groove of ‘Itchin’ and Scratchin’, to the combustible ‘Superman’, ‘Mistress’ is a blazing bonfire of boogie. The sole cover on the album is The Mudcats’ take on Albert King’s ‘Breaking Up Somebody’s Home’.

GAVE YOU WHAT YOU WANTED

In late 2011 the band just up and played ‘live’ in the studio, cutting loose on a repertoire comprising of mostly original material, hoping to capture their live gig sound. Their debut album ‘Gave You What You Wanted’ is the end result which has been critically acclaimed both in New Zealand and the USA. ‘Gave You What You Wanted’ seems an obvious title for the album; not only is it the name of a blazing Ike Turner song that the band particularly enjoys firing out at gigs, but it is also the band’s long overdue response to fans clamouring “Got any CDs?”

Winston Watusi of the Bay of Plenty's Sun Live newspaper said "Gave You What You Wanted, is a tough exciting blast of electric blues, solid and propulsive, as though the Fabulous Thunderbirds or an equally staunch band had set up in New Zealand". Darren Watson, International award winning New Zealand blues musician and songwriter called this record “a fine debut from the best blues band north of the Bombays.” Music.net.NZ said that “a rich blend of Blues, old fashioned Rock n Roll, R n B and a hint of Country, makes for an exciting fast paced debut album that will leave you smiling and your toes tapping till the last chords ring out”.

Craig Bracken - Vocals & Harmonica Craig's musical career began as front man for Auckland ska, soul and R & B band Guava Groove in the late 1980s. He has performed at many high profile shows including the 2008 inaugural Bluesfest NZ in Whitianga with the Darcy Perry Band, and the Pohutakawa Festival in Tairua, alongside Luke Thompson, Autozamm and Opshop. Craig has also shared the stage with Watermelon Slim and Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers as well as local blues icons Midge Marsden and Hammond Gamble. Craig has a harmonica style and grace that is the envy of many harp players, whether its blowing that single penetrating note, hanging out back or tearing the roof off... you can’t resist his feel and tone. Craig’s style has been influenced by the likes of Little Walter, William Clarke, Big Walter Horton and Kim Wilson.

“I have always had a strong love for Roots music whether it be soul, reggae, R & B or blues, I just ended up at the blues” says Craig.

Doug Bygrave - Guitar A late starter on guitar, Doug turned to the blues after witnessing Jimmie Vaughan’s no-nonsense approach to the guitar. He found himself hosting a popular weekly blues radio show, which forced him to delve deeper into blues history and all blues styles. He played in a number of Bay of Plenty blues bands in the late 80’s and 90’s, such as Austin Texas, Jigsaw Blues, Sensational Gutter Brothers and Gurus of Groove aquiting altogether in 1993 until joining the Flaming Mudcats in 2009. Doug’s primary influences are Magic Sam, Johnny Guitar Watson, Jimmie Vaughan and the Louisiana swamp blues sound of the likes of Lazy Lester, Lightning Slim and Lonesome Sundown.

Doug says “It’s great to playing some honest blues with a bunch of guys who share the same passion for the music.”

Ian Thomson - Drums The only music Ian’s ever loved is the Blues, even before he knew what it was called. “It got to me young and never left, so did drumming... seeing those military side drummers and watching the jazz greats on early black and white TV gave me the taste. But what really did it (and still does) was hearing those iconic grooves from Earl Palmer, Louis Jordan, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry.” Ian has toured through the USA soaking up the music, mixing with the local musicians, picking up afew pointers and paying homage to his influences have been totally inspirational.

Ian says “Playing with the Mudcats is just great... we all just love playing this stuff.”

Sean McCarthy - Bass Guitar Sean still remembers the first time he heard the Blues. He was at home with his Dad who was playing some of his old 45s and the first few bars of Tommy Tucker’s High Heel Sneakers hit him like a ton of bricks and got him headed down the blues road forever. He is talking blues the way it used to be played... Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed and Hound Dog Taylor to name but a few. He fell in love with Hubert Sumlin’s guitar playing, he shuddered at the sound of Little Walter’s harp playing, but it was Willie Dixon, Calvin Jones, Dave Myers and Willie Kent that got him tapping his feet and made him think...”Yeah, that’s what I wanna do!”

“I’m a Blues bass player. I’m not a Jazz player. I’m definitely not a Rock player who doesn’t know better...and I’m pretty sure there’s a difference”, says Sean.

Videos of The Flaming Mudcats are also avaialble on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/theflamingmudcats/