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"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Dr. Hunter S. Thompson  "It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it." David Stanowski To find older articles; use Search or Site Map |
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Tuesday 06 September 2005 Skip Devlin It was many months ago when my good friend James asked me if I had ever heard a guy named Skip Devlin play guitar. I had not. He went on to say that Skip had been out of "the business" for 15 or 16 years, but that he could still "get the job done"! James introduced me to Skip that night, at The Balinese Room, and we got a chance to hear him jam with two other excellent guitar players, so it was hard to get a good sense of what he can do. A few more months went by, and we saw Skip again at Willy's Cinco De Mayo Party hosted by Tom Cats and The Line Up. As is often the case, at musical events, some people are not really paying attention to the music, so they didn't notice when The Skip Devlin Band took their turn to play. However, when they launched into "Little Wing" and then merged into "Comfortably Numb", Miss Jacquelyn and I WERE NUMB! This is the type of performance that sends a chill through your entire body; when the High Priest of the six string Channels the Power of the Universe through himself, and out into and through the audience. At least the ones who are paying attention. When it was over, Miss Jacquelyn and I looked at each other, with tears in our eyes, and said "WOW"!!! "This is what they call a Peak Experience!" Unfortunately, since that time, Skip has had trouble getting booked anywhere, and has been relegated to hosting the Sunday night jams at Poor Michael's. Recently, I was thrilled to learn that Andrew had given The Skip Devlin Band the Thursday night slot at Whisky's. I have been there three times now, and the Power continues to flow from this band! When I met Jasen, at Captain Jack's last week, he told me that he will be putting on a festival at the Sunspree Resort during Lonestar Biker Weekend, so I asked him if I could suggest some bands. One of those that I included on my list was The Skip Devlin Band. When we were at Whisky's, last Thursday, Jasen dropped by to audition the band, and by the time they were screaming through "Voodoo Chile", Jasen was in front of Skip, with his cigarette lighter lit! I think they passed the audition! At the break, Jasen said, "I don't even like the F**king Blues, but I LOVE this guy!" That seems to be the building consensus! Last Saturday night, Skip called to tell me that he had gotten a last-minute booking at the legendary Balinese Room! Don and I arrived about half way through the gig, and I was surprised when a table full of young ladies called out for "Little Wing". These were girls who knew their music, and weren't there to dance! I was impressed!! About half way through the piece, they shrieked their approval in a manner that indicated that they truly appreciated what was happening! I was further impressed! And, of course, in that special energy that is "The Balinese", Skip nailed it even better than on Thursday night!!! At the break, I realized that I had come full circle. I hadn't seen James in months, but there he was; that grizzled old Buffalo Hunter, searching for more game, beaming like a proud papa at what Skip was doing in "his" Balinese!! "Boy, you sure were right when you told me about Skip, way back when", I said! "I told you so!", he said. Then we went up to talk to Skip. James said, "Skip, you're doing great, but you're not going to be popular with the club owners if you don't add some dance music. If they don't dance, they won't drink as much"! Skip and I turned towards James, gave him a look, and then I said, "Don't try to change what he is doing; he has a vision of where he wants to go; it's about the music"! Then Skip added, that he had played in "dance bands" before, and that's not what he wants to do. He wants to build a following that come to hear what he has to play; not to dance; to focus and LISTEN! A very novel concept! I agreed, and James shrugged. "What do you want me to do; play Mustang Sally?", Skip added. Skip is dedicated to the vision of what he wants to do, and I applaud him for following it, no matter what kind of feedback he gets from the clubs!! He is doing as Joseph Campbell suggests; he is Following His Bliss! This means that there will be no "Brown-Eyed Girl" or "Margaritaville" from the Skip Devlin Band!! It will be a band for people who LOVE music! People who want to listen to a Master guitar player push the music to its limits! Besides his amazing work on the guitar, Skip was backed by Smiley on bass, who was in the Zone with Skip all night; really laying down a powerful bass line! Rita, on drums, was playing like a woman possessed!! The drums literally slid off the riser once, and the cymbals went flying at another time. And, no matter what anyone tried to do, the drum riser kept moving around all night, under her powerful beat!! At one point, in the middle of "Voodoo Chile", when the drums went flying, Skip flipped them over, and then held them in place, for Rita, with his foot, as they finished the piece; without missing a note!! When I watch and listen to Skip do "Little Wing" and "Voodoo Chile", I marvel at the thousands of hours of practice that it must have taken him to move his fingers so flawlessly, to produce the sounds and tones that are Channeled through him! I even ask myself whether Skip is actually Channeling Jimi or Stevie Ray; but then I say no; he is a new force, standing on their shoulders!! There was a time, about 20 years ago, when you could hear the question whispered on The Island; "Have you seen that guitar player over in Austin called Stevie Ray?" Well, it won't be too much longer before they are asking the question in Austin, "Have you seen that guitar player over in Galveston they call Skip?" When I was leaving that night, I went over to talk to Jasen, who had come back for another taste of "That Guitar". All he could say was, "I don't even like the F**king Blues, but I LOVE this guy! He is awesome!" And now, I'm going to ask you the same question that James asked me so many months ago, "Have YOU heard Skip play?" If you haven't, Mr. Don Emerson, Miss Jacquelyn, and myself will be at Whisky's this Thursday, 08 September, when Don records "The Skip Devlin Band: Live at Whisky's". George will rejoin the band, on keyboards that night, too! I wouldn't miss this one! It could quickly become a collectors item! After you see them on Thursday, you will want to come back to see them again on Friday as they do another performance at Whisky's! Skip, my friend; I hope that you will print out this narrative, and make it the first in a long line of reviews and press clippings that are sure to come! James and I are looking forward to big things from The Skip Devlin Band, as the future unfolds!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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