Hitman UK 2005 Tour

Cat Concerts and Rocking the Blues in association with Joanna’s Way presents

Russell "Hitman" Alexander & Storm Warning At The Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury

Storm Warning took to the stage at this lovely, sold out, venue before an expectant audience. I've reviewed their shows in the recent past (see Issue 37 with Ray Dorset on the cover & Issue 41 as part of the Tring Festival), so I'll just note that this was a shorter version, to set the scene for the "Hitman". Some numbers have had small improvements added to their arrangements and the band was on top form this evening. You will have also read about Hitman's background in Issue 41, so straight to the concert review.

After the interval, the regular hired guns, in the shape of Roger Willis - drums, Derek White - Bass and Ian Salisbury - Keyboards from Storm Warning were there with an "all in black" Hitman. On this occasion though Bob Moore - Guitar also joined the band. They took straight off with a track called "Green Thing" about a bar that didn't take credit cards and set to the tune of "Green Onions"/"Help Me" and you can find that on his Blooztown CD. Hitman plays an amazing two tone blue Oscar Schmidt guitar, on which he produced a cracking slide solo, we also got more than our fair share of Organ solo from Ian. A slow blues followed, called "It's Raining Up In Harlem" and on this Bob added the delicious guitar solo.

The third number had a nice New Orleans beat to it and then we had a song inspired by the Long Island Freeway, which seems to be comparable to our M25! Son Maxwell crept out of the shadows to do a Harmonica solo, so now we were rocking with a full six piece band. Obviously time to add a seventh, which came in the form of 12 year old, Krissy Matthews. He joined the band for Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready" and received a rapturous applause for his solo, even Hitman commented that he couldn't play that at the age of 20 let alone 12!

Well we needed to cool down and a slow Blues called "Two Minute Warning" was just the ticket.

Both Son Maxwell and Ian Salisbury got to do some fine solos on a track called "Fine Piece Of Merchandise" from the new CD "Angel In The Shadows". Hitman has a penchant for story telling blues songs and we heard "Drinking My Blues Away" and "I Know That You Love Me" again both from the new CD.

It was back to a cover of the classic "Mean Mistreater" for a fast number to close, but we got them all back for an encore, and a great raunchy blues version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Born On The Bayou". This incorporated some Hendrix licks and extracts from one or two other classic rock songs, bringing to a close an exceptional night.

Russell 'Hitman' Alexander The Running Horse - 9th June

You knew it was going to be another one of the classic nights at the Runner from his first number - a low turnout inspired The Hitman to take and play his guitar on to Alfreton Road and stop the traffic, get nearly knocked down by a bus in an effort to get more punters in. Fortunately he returned and played a superb set. He seemed to have everything excellent guitarist and vocals, good tracks written by himself and a captivating presence on stage being very much a showman without detracting from the performance. The support band Storm Warning were good in their own right as well as being excellent as the Hired Guns when the Hitman took the stage - it was their last session backing him on this tour and it was not going to be made easy for them as the Hitman insisted for a bit of fun to play something they did'nt know or as he put it 'They know it but they don't know that they know it'. From his web diary he seemed to really enjoy the gig and looking forward to playing the Runner again - that will be a night not to be missed.

Bernard Gallimore Taken from the Running Horse website www.therunninghorse.ukpub.net

To read a review of Hitman's gig at Warrington visit the Warrington Blues Club website www.wrbcblues.co.uk/hitman.htm

Hitman's UK representation - Cat Concerts (www.catconcerts.netfirms.com )in conjunction with Rocking the Blues:


	Hitman UK Tour 2005

Radio interview at Resonance 104.4 FM with Pete Sargeant	Hitman Blues Band at the Malt Shovel Tavern	Hitman at The Stables, Wavendon

Hitman Blues Band with young guitarist Krissy Matthews	Hitman outside Malt Shovel Tavern	Hitman's backing band - three members of Storm Warning at The New Crawdaddy Club