memphis in the meantime
Whereas the rest of the music industry puts a premium on youth, throwing out the old in favour of the new with alarming regularity, blues and roots audiences seem to like their musicians matured like a fine wine. It is as if they innately understand that you need to live life to sing about it - never trust any guitarist under 30 ! Well, the members of Memphis In The Meantime have no fear of being asked for I.D. at the bar but otherwise this quartet has all the funky energy of a band of young Turks combined with the nuanced musicianship that only comes with experience.
Despite their well-deserved reputation as a party band Memphis In The Meantime have always had a flair for melodies and lyrics as well as grooves. They are a genre-defying group, mixing blues, rockabilly, southern soul & rock ‘n’ roll into something that is truly their own.
The band was formed in 2002 by guitarist / songwriter Mark Shaw and Chris Lomas, who plays bass and is also an accomplished writer. The two share lead vocal duties. Within a few years, the current longtime lineup was assembled with the addition of Fred Skidmore ( piano & organ ) in 2003 and drummer Micky Barker in 2004.
Interest from one of Europe’s biggest blues & roots labels Blues Matters led to the band starting work on there debut album ‘ Take Me Home ‘ featuring originals and favorites from there live set which was released to much critical acclaim in February 2006. The band toured extensively, sharing the bill with the legendry Chris Farlow at The Littlecote House Blues Weekend, opening for Madeline Bell ( ex 70’s chart toppers Blue Mink ) on the main stage at the 10th Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival, performing three shows at The Big Rivers Festival in Holland and a bagged a prime spot on the Roadhouse stage at the Great British R’n’B Festival in Clone, Lanc’s, the largest festival of it’s type in the UK and the touring continues into 2007.
The great thing about Memphis In The Meantime is that they can play blues clubs and festivals or rock venues, a diversified band yes, but everybody’s on the same page and that page is just headed “ Great Music ”
Debut album TAKE ME HOME out now on Blues Matters Records.
Click the image for full details of the album and the many ways you can get your hands on a copy
GIG GUIDE - Now on MySpace
Mark grew up in house full of music; his farther had a record collection to rival that of John Peel and as a boy was exposed to everything from bluegrass to Frank Zappa. At 17 he joined The Lavender Hill Mob touring in the UK, Germany and Ireland. This led to The Jean Vincent Band with whom he recorded two albums. He then became an integral part of international country artist Sara Jory's band touring virtually none stop for five years. Feeling the need to take a break from the road he began teaching and joined a local band Tears and eventually took two years off completely. Returning to the business in 2002 he joined forces with Chris Lomas and formed Memphis In The Meantime.
Chris Lomas - Vocals, Bass Guitar
Starting Out with 60's rocker Dave Berry he then went on to flirt with the pop world as a member of Jealous Girl and The Kind. Back to the blues to work on the Mighty Houserockers debut album Fine Looking Woman and on to tour the UK and Europe with the Houserockers, Big Man Clayton, Jean Vincent and Rang-A-Tang. A spell with new country rockers Circuit Judge led to an invitation to live and work in the USA joining Karen Lynn Johns & The New Age Cowboys. Chris also had some success at this time in the US as a songwriter through a deal with a Memphis based publishing company. Returning to the UK Chris worked as guitarist and tour manager for The Woolpackers until he joined Parkers Alibi in 1998. He formed Memphis In The Meantime with Mark Shaw in 2002. Read more about Chris.
Micky Barker - Drums and Percussion
Micky is a highly experienced performer who has worked with the likes of Ric Sanders (Second Vision), Pywacket, Andrew Cronshaw (The Great Dark Water) before becoming Yamaha session drummer for many years. He then achieved national and international success with Midland rockers Magnum, including several top 20 singles and albums. More recently he has worked with The Steve Gibbons Band, Trevor Burton of The Move and The Bushburys.
Fred Skidmore's power pop band The Timewasters signed to Ariola Hansa in '78, released singles, an album and toured extensively, supporting Doctor Hook and Boney M until '82 when they became Alvin Stardust's backing band. Since 1994 has Fred regularly worked with Chris Lomas, both gracing the ranks of Rang-A-Tang, The Mighty Houserockers, Vincent Flatt's Final Drive and the Jean Vincent Band. He has also worked with top UK blues vocalist Connie Lush and has been a member of Memphis In The Meantime since 2003.