Old Nicks News, Issue 71, Week Ending 21st March 2010
Saturday Night: Shawn Harvey and The B-57’s
Saturday saw the return of Shawn Harvey, who travelled from Germany, to entertain us in his own unique style of roll’n’roll. John Joe (Desert Smile) very kindly helped out again on the drums as Shawn’s drummer had other commitments. John Joe did a fantastic job, only having played with Shawn on one other occasion, he drove the band with his flawless beat. The first set was a warm up to a cracking second set of rock’n’roll, converting songs such as Jean Genie by David Bowie to the 50’s/60’s style of the genre. It’s a shame there were not more people to see Shawn Harvey and B57 perform as the music he plays makes you want to dance, which is exactly what happened, by the end of the evening there were many finishing off the set by letting rip and having a good time. Shawn is a true rock’n’roller and plays from the heart, you can hear it in his self penned numbers such as Blue Yonder and Wild Woman. He played covers such as C’mon Everybody by Eddie Cochran, Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison, I’m on Fire by Bruce Springsteen and Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry plus many more favourites. We look forward to Shawn’s return in September when we hope for a better turn out for him, to give justice to his talent.
Read the newsletter at www.oldnickstavern.co.uk
Playmusic Magazine January 2010
This month's very deserving winner is guitarist Shawn Harvey. Unsigned artiste Shawn has been around the block a fair bit but he is still pursuing his dream and actually doing pretty well as it happens, having recorded and played with the likes of guitar virtuoso Albert Lee and Morrisey's right hand man Boz Boorer. A strong Country influence runs through Shawn's brand of Americana influenced Rock, plus you can pick up faint echoes of the Boss himself Bruce Springsteen, in Shawn's big choruses and widescreen tales of life on the road. We like Shawn because he is a guy who hasn't lost sight of his passion for music and the musician's lifestyle. He isn't a spring chicken but we aren't ageist at Playmusic and so we reckon he'll make good use of his spanking new Vintage v6.
Keep on rockin' son.
Playmusic Tim Slater
Old Nicks News, Issue 42, Week Ending 16th August 2009
Saturday Night: Shawn Harvey and The B-57’s
Shawn Harvey and the B57’s came all the way from Germany to play at Old Nicks Tavern on Saturday, a rock and roll band to the core. Due to a prior engagement the drummer could not play this date so John Joe Gaskin came to rescue and learnt about 30 songs with 2 weeks notice so the show could go on. Never having met the band, John Joe performed as though they had been gigging together for years, if no one said anything, you would have never have known. The band played classic songs from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s including Kansas City, The Letter and a selection of his own material including Blue Yonder and Barbarella which fitted seamlessly into the set. Great show!!
Read the newsletter at www.oldnickstavern.co.uk
Shawn Harvey & B-57 fan review of gig at the Waterhole, Leidse Plein, Amsterdam, on 18 April 2009 by Kirstie Andrews
B-57's Rock the Waterhole
I went to see a great band last night at the Waterhole. Shawn Harvey & B-57 were playing the opening slot for the evening. I have seen them quite a few times before and when I saw that they were playing again that night, I had to come of course. These guys are amazing. They are a great Boogie and Rock band. I just love their sound, it's so fresh and I just can't stop myself from dancing when I hear it. I also love the antics of Shawn, the lead singer. He dances, rocks, shreds his guitar and does a lot of wild stuff on stage and off, when he decides again to jump into the audience! I never know what he'll be up to next and no show I've seen has ever been the same yet, I just can't seem to get tired of these guys. The music is a great mix of old 60's stuff, some Rock classics and Shawn's own songs and I like them all. Last night, the guys went through their set and Shawn was particularly over the top. His antics were so wild that by the end he had the whole place singing and shouting for more. I think that this was one of his best shows ever at the Waterhole. All I can say is get out there and watch this band if you can! I certainly will again!
Bar Rock, Maastricht, 31 January 2009 - Live Review of Shawn Harvey & B-57 Gig
Shawn Harvey speelde zaterdag 31 januari als tweede band in BaRRock. Ze speelde inderdaad retro Rockabilly. Opvallend was dat ze speelde over de PA boxen zonder versterkers. Gewoon met zo'n DI-box. De gitarist van "Wild Bill" heeft ook nog een paar nummertjes meegedaan. ( zie foto ) Dit is gewoon eerlijke muziek, what you hear is wat uyou get, recht toe recht aan, geen fratsen, gewoon spelen. Shawn bedankt (en band natuurlijk). Jullie foto's kan je vinden in fotoboek op deze website, nogmaals bedankt.
12th July 08 - Cafe Centrum - Giethoorn - North Holland, review on www.myspace.com/alleycatsuk
After the hectic night before at Studio 62, it was a slightly late breakfast for some of the Alleycats. But by 11am they were on the road again for the not too arduous drive to Giethoorn. It was a glorious sunny day as they headed out over the sea, courtesy of the twenty odd mile causeway that links one side of North Holland with the other. Clever people, these Dutch! Then it was through some picturesque rural countryside where it seems most of the old fashioned windmills have given way to towering wind turbines.
Giethoorn is reminiscent of the Norfolk Broads, with its network of canals and small lakes. Boats everywhere! We got there just about lunchtime, checked into the hotel provided and found our venue for the evening, Café Centrum, where they fed us magnificently. Then there was time to explore this wonderful small town before we had to set up. Many of the 'streets' were just walkways that criss-crossed the maze of canals via small bridges. There were to be six rockin' bands playing in various bars around the place then we were to do a 'wind down' session the following afternoon. We spotted Sunday's venue and were puzzled as to how we'd get our equipment to it. All would be explained the next day.
As we were setting up an old friend of Jerry's, Shawn Harvey, showed up with his wife. Shawn is a young Plymouth born rock'n'roll/country rock singer who spent some time in Essex before moving to Germany, where his wife was born. These days he splits his time between Germany and Holland, with occasional visits back to the UK. It was agreed that Shawn would get later and do a few songs with us. We also met up with Erwin Princen, the Dutch DJ who had organised the whole tour for us. He said he'd be back later to catch a set, but he had six bands to attend to!
It was 10pm before the night's proceedings properly kicked off. There was a good crowd in the Café Centrum and it soon grew as people wandered from bar to bar checking out the sounds. We had to do four sets and the first one was over before you knew it. Just time for a drink and a hamburger (all provided) before the next set. The crowd had grown even more, with a large contingent of vociferous young women making their presence known. Everyone was out for a really good time!
During the third set Shawn joined us as planned and tore into the first of three numbers. At times it was pure Shakin' Stevens as he hip swivelled his way through Boppin' The Blues, Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie and Matchbox. The girls at the front seemed to really like this! At some point in the third number he got it into his head to dance on top of the PA stack, using the foldback monitor as a stepping stone. He never made it as the lightweight monitor twisted under him, dumping him unceremoniously on his back. More like Boppin' The Bruise! Concerned young ladies dashed forward to help him, but he was back on his feet in seconds, shakin' his dented butt like nothing had happened. (His wife said later that does things like this quite a lot!) Anyway, it was a great set and both we and the audience appreciated every moment of it.
Before long it was time for the last set. The girly contingent had moved on to check out another bar, but a large contingent of veteran Dutch rockers had joined us. There was a bit more proper jiving in this set. Plus we were getting requests for songs we hadn't played in years. We were feeling pretty mellow by this time so we did our best to please them by racking our memories to trout out Jailhouse Rock and Three Steps To Heaven. The effort was well appreciated and we may even add them to the repertoire. At last it was time for the last number, then for an encore, then for a period to relax. The wonderful Café Centrum staff were still plying us with food and drink so it took a while to pack away. It was pretty late before we staggered up the street to our hotel and bed.
B and NL Country Online Review by Jean Pierre (Dutch Language)
Shawn Harvey
"In The Hills"
Steeds vaker zie ik dat countryfestivals geopend worden met een Rock Night en daarom verdiend deze cd meer dan de nodige aandacht.
Shawn Harvey is geboren in Plymouth (England) en groeide op in Cornwall samen met de Rock’n Roll, Blues en Country . Hij is niet alleen een singer.songwriter maar ook een multimuzikant en producer. Ik zag hem live aan het werk tijdens de cd presentatie van Shannah waarvoor hij het nummer “Haystack Life” schreef, dat ook op deze cd terug te vinden is samen met nog 9 eigen songs. Met Albert Lee op de lead guitar kan je gerust stellen dat je de beste in huis hebt. Ongecompliceerde heerlijk Roch&Roll met een tintje Blues is wat je van deze cd mag verwachten.
Opener “I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car”en “ Whassa Matter With You” deden mij onbewust terugdenken aan de sound en de stem van Buddy Holly, al wil ik hier geen vergelijkingen gaan maken. , toch heb je vaak zoiets van een back in time gevoel zoals met “Baby I’m Gonna Leave You Soon” waar de blues van Gene Vincent zo vanaf straalt. Dit album swing zoveel is zeker en ook live haal je met Shawn Harvey een dynamische entertainer in huis, een man die de Rock&Roll van de Fifties en de Sixties helemaal uitstraalt Helemaal in contrast met de overige 9 nummers is de akoestische afsluiter “Without Your Love”. een nummer dat met veel gevoel gebracht word en een heel andere kant van Shawn laat zien.
Dit is zonder twijfel een album met topmuzikanten, geproduceerd door Boz Boorner & John David, het werd deels opgenomen in de Mill Hill Studios in Londen en de Berry Hill Studio in Gloucestershire.
Muzikanten zijn: Albert Lee (lead guitar),Shawn Harvey (vocals,rhythm guitar,acoustic guitar and lead guitar), Boz Boorer (acoustic guitar), Silke Harvey (bass guitar) Richard Blanchard (drums & piano)
Een stevige aanrader voor de liefhebbers van Rock’n Roll en the sound of the fifties
Info: www.shawnharvey.com
Voor Nederland en België: INFO: tel: George Kwekel: (0181)324310
www.kwekelevenementen.nl
"In The Hills" album review by Dmitry Epstein
This cat knows what a good lick is. The best English 'country boy' nods approvingly.
Think rockabilly's dead and be proved wrong, as there's at least one young fella who's familiar with the magic of Barbarella to sing about her with a classic slap echo, equally classic rock 'n' roll set of lyrics and a classic "Brown Sugar" lead-in. Pitching himself sonewhere near Eddie Cochran, Plymouth's own Shawn Harvey sounds like he's having the time of his life. "I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car" gently pulls the listener in and takes him for a ride, so comfortable alongside Shawn's unpretentious, boy-next-door's vocals and scintillating guitar lines. Half of the tracks here are graced by the great Albert Lee's presence, which is rather shadowy as Harvey's competent at six-string end himself. When some blues shape up "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You Soon", they ram it all home, even though the prevailing boogie pace, most captivating in piano-driven "Howdy Judy", feels a tad tedious after a while. Fortunately, the album sounds a bit raw, and that's where its allure lies, in this authentic pre-Fabs rock. Missed that? Run in the hills, then, where a new hillbilly cat's playing.
****
The review is at http://dmme.net/reviews/reviews31.html#shahar.
"In The Hills" review on Polish Rockabilly site (Polish Language)
Shawn Harvey - In the hills (promo CD 2005)
Data dodania: 02-05-2005
Shawn to w zasadzie prosty chlopak – chcialby miec w zyciu tylko Cadillaca, gitare i fajna dupe przy boku. Na pierwszy rzut oka widac, ze Cadillaca i gitare juz ma, wiec dupy to juz tylko formalnosc, chociaz nie bylbym do konca pewien, czy Harvey ma czas na dupcenie, bo mimo niezbyt zaawansowanego wieku, dorobil sie juz okolo 450 autorskich kompozycji (od 1995 roku ten psychopata wydal juz okolo 30 wydawnictw), wiec istnieje prawdopodobienstwo, ze nigdy nie wyszedl z domu. Sarkazm na bok, bo Shawn Harvey to powazna sprawa – chlop ma chyba intencje zostania drugim Setzerem, na to przynajmniej wskazywaloby niesamowite zaangazowanie, z jakim brnie w muzyczny swiat, a „In the hills” to dowód na to, ze wciaz nie brakuje mu pomyslów na kolejne rock’n’rollowe przeboje. Shawn lubi tytulowac sie jako „rock’n’roll cyber boy”, co moze brzmiec nieco naiwnie, zwazywszy, ze rock’n’roll to jednak meska muzyka (w koncu trzeba pary w rekach zeby udzwignac kontrabas), chociaz przy sluchaniu „In the hills” nachodzi mnie jednak mysl, ze faktycznie, rockabilly w wykonaniu Harveya jest dosc „chlopiece” – delikatny glos, lekka gra na gitarze, schowany gdzies z tylu bas – wszystko to kreuje wizje takiego relaksacyjnego rockabilly, o ile tak makabryczne okreslenie moze byc przez kogokolwiek zaakceptowane. Zgrabna, aczkolwiek wyciszona platanina rockabilly, country i bluesa w wykonaniu Harveya z pewnoscia nie nadaje sie do serwowania sobie lokci pod scena, ale na pewno sprawdzi sie znakomicie na ckliwych potancówkach, tudziez przy patrzeniu swojej wybrance w oczy. Nie chcialbym tu sugerowac, ze Harvey jest gejem, ja jedynie uwazam, ze jego muzyce brakuje jeszcze solidnego pazura, który poderwalby mnie do góry, jak to robi chociazby wspomniany na poczatku Brian Setzer. Nie znaczy to jednak, ze nie powróce jeszcze wielokrotnie do „In the hills”. Kciuk w góre jest, ale piesc jeszcze nie. (Hellbastard)
Here is the link: http://www.psychobilly.boo.pl/index.php?id=recenzje_plyt&ktory=45
We are not quite sure what these guys are saying, but when pasting the review into Babelfish, amongst the Babbel (yes, it does exactly what it says:) we could make out words like "thumbs up", so we guess this one was a hit then. If anyone speaks Polish out there, a proper translation would be great!!!
Norwegian BACKSTAGE magazine, It's Rockabillytime! by Dag Bøgeberg (Norwegian Language)
Shawn Harvey:
"In The Hills"
(Kissy Music)
Shawn Harvey er en engelsk gitarist og låtskri-ver og Kissy Music lanserer mannens tredje langspiller som et country/rockabilly album. Det er det ikke. Med unntak av én tøff rocker og én twangy og countryinspirert låt sorterer de resterende åtte låtene under tradisjonell blues-rock av det tannløse og snille slaget. Gode musikere til tross – gitaristene Boz Boorer (Polecats, Morrisey) og Albert Lee (vet ikke om det er HAN) bl.a. – den snille lyden gjør at uttrykket er for disiplinert. Kompetent er det, men musikken hadde fortjent en røffere fram-førelse. Melodiene er ganske fine, men det blir fort kjedelig og likelydende. Den før omtalte rocker’n, "Cash On Delivery", lyser opp og "Barbarella" høres ut som en tidlig Rolling Stones-demo, men mangler tøffheten.
Anyone able to translate this, please get in touch.
"In The Hills" album review in Bubblegum Slut Magazine, Issue 20 by Alison B.
Colchester based singer-songwriter Shawn Harvey is a real wild card; after the innovative 'Electro Retro Rock'n'Roll' of last single 'Wild Wild Woman', 'In The Hills' takes Rock'n'Roll right back to its roots, mixing up Rockabilly, Country and the Blues. Though it's hard to feel convinced when the Essex lad starts singing about 'Haystack Life', his 'CadillacCar' or ,best of all, being 'A Chainsmokin' Louisiana Man', the well worn pub Rock vibe to these 10 original tracks lends them another kind of authenticity; an eerie familiarity on first listen as the ghosts of Johnny Cash and Gene Vincent present themselves in Harvey's drunken guitar melodies. As well as turning a fine foot tapper on 'I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car' Harvey proves he can play the Blues too on the classic moody clatter of 'Baby I'm Gonna Leave You Soon'.
Quotes:
"Shawn has got some big guns on his side...he is a promising Rock'n'Roller..." (Classic American)
"Oh Lord won't you buy me a mercedes benz...", song for those and their gals...sounds like driving round in circles...but this song cut's got style...listen! (Strehl Music, Besonic)
"Wild Wild Woman" is a funky little song sample that is going to leave you wanting more! Well, you are in luck! Here's the music video: http://www.mssvision.com/VOD/038.asp#SHWW (Heather Leona, Besonic)
"This young man has what it takes to go all the way. He writes his own songs, records them and performs them as well, the industry is crying out for people like him." (Stairway To The Stars, Torquay)
"A feeling like you just pulled out of a Bodmin roadside cafe in your MK1 Capri onto the A30 with your windows down and the wireless honking out a Teddyboy classic...it's Shawn Harvey, Rock'n'Roll rebel ready for download" (West Briton, Cornwall)
"A guaranteed good time 'till you drop" (Cynon Valley Leader, Wales)
"I've been showing your picture all week and the girls have been screaming, oh yes!" (Chris Young Show, Taunton TV)
"Like Rock'n'Roll? Or maybe Country, R'n'B or Soul? Or what about a combination of all four?" (West Briton, Cornwall)
"Yeah, he's really something else. I like this Retro Rockabilly thang. And Mr. Harvey's got one big advantage. There'll be a whole lot of good material and others still have to invent it." (Jens Hausmann, Besonic)
Newspapers & Magazines:
Mad Rat Magazine - Rock'n'Roll-Rockabilly-Rhythm'n'Blues
Free monthly - Over 10000 readers
Read online at www.madratmag.co.uk
March 2006 Issue
Interview
Shawn Harvey
Prince of Retro Rockabilly Roots & Country
Not since the dawn of time have my neighbours made a good comment about any music blaring from my lounge window, but this winter 'CD day' struck when Shawn Harvey's CD took a spin in the player. Now, I know you wouldn't have heard much of Shawn and I know that some of you don't like your Rockin' mixed with country or with anything else for that matter but I thought that those of you with an open mind might like to take a tripmthrough the looking glass to see the kind of cross over Rockin' that is earning Shawn rave reviews, critical acclaim and sell out tours, all around the world.
Snippets of reviews.....
Think rockabilly's dead and be proved wrong, as there's at least one young fella who's familiar with the magic of Barbarella to sing about her with a classic slap echo, equally classic rock 'n' roll set of lyrics and a classic "Brown Sugar" lead-in. Pitching himself sonewhere near Eddie Cochran, Plymouth's own Shawn Harvey sounds like he's having the time of his life. "I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car" gently pulls the listener in and takes him for a ride, so comfortable alongside Shawn's unpretentious, boy-next-door's vocals and scintillating guitar lines. Half of the tracks here are graced by the great Albert Lee's presence, which is rather shadowy as Harvey's competent at six-string end himself. When some blues shape up "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You Soon", they ram it all home, even though the prevailing boogie pace, most captivating in piano-driven "Howdy Judy", feels a tad tedious after a while. Fortunately, the album sounds a bit raw, and that's where its allure lies, in this authentic pre-Fabs rock. Missed that? Run in the hills, then, where a new hillbilly cat's playing.
Colchester based singer-songwriter Shawn Harvey is a real wild card; after the innovative 'Electro Retro Rock'n'Roll' of last single 'Wild Wild Woman', 'In The Hills' takes Rock'n'Roll right back to its roots, mixing up Rockabilly, Country and the Blues. Though it's hard to feel convinced when the Essex lad starts singing about 'Haystack Life', his 'CadillacCar' or ,best of all, being 'A Chainsmokin' Louisiana Man', the well worn pub Rock vibe to these 10 original tracks lends them another kind of authenticity; an eerie familiarity on first listen as the ghosts of Johnny Cash and Gene Vincent present themselves in Harvey's drunken guitar melodies. As well as turning a fine foot tapper on 'I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car' Harvey proves he can play the Blues too on the classic moody clatter of 'Baby I'm Gonna Leave You Soon'.
The Interview
Hi Shawn, my first question has got to be directed at your internet success many number ones, top twenty hits and a huge internet fan base, technology has been the perfect media for you and your music, how did that happen, deliberate or accidental?
Well, I always believed in new mediums, starnge as it sounds I was always into technology and new ideas, learning early computing at school, got me into the idea of marketing and getting to a wider range of people...my first basic website was for the Flat Top Cats back in 94...so quite early into the net as we know it. Also mp3 sites like Besonic and mp3.com which are no morebut foreru nners of the revolution it was kind of a thought of a way to reach out. Being born in rural Cornwall I was quite cut off down that direction and needed a way to get my music to the masses the net seemed a great idea, although relatively young at the time.I learnt computers/Windows and encoded all my music myself, then obviously from the early days of using analogue reels to record on (a Tascam) and an old W.E.M. Dominator amp, I then had to get it all into the pc. That was a lot of songs about 500! But did I go grey :)
Where would you say that your biggest influence musically lies if you could only have on choice?
Oh musically, my biggest influence...that's really hard! I love so much, but guitar wise I think Chuck Berry...it's close between him and Carl Perkins. The twangy sound of Carl is something else and I like the attack of Chuck.
How many guitars do you have and which one is the best to play?
Guitar wise at this minute only one! my Shine SH-943 WH (strangely same initials SH!...) I have had Fender Telecasters 62 custom, Epiphones, Hohner...but this one is now special so I've narrowed down to just my semi for now... I do enjoy lots of guitars...especially telecasters for their direct cutting edgy sound...being the endorsee for the guitars means I use it a lot! I like the way it's perfect for the country tinge and also that Rockabilly twang! Just flick the switch and it's there...I mostly play very clean with a little reverb and no extra effects...the real rock'n'roll sound :) like the pioneers...it's nice to add say tremeloe etc etc but I really do have a love for how a guitar sounds naturally. It's very easy to get carried away with effects!
How did you get Albert Lee and Boz Boorer involved in the album?
Oh Albert and Boz...I really just asked them and they were happy to be a part of the new CD...I have some surprises for the future...and am in ick Lowe's band and if that works out which I'm sure it will there should be some great recordings from it, John David (Dave Edmunds) was also involved and he's very much into producing Shaky and Status Quo...he's been a real good fellow and very much someone I admire. Boz and Albert too were great, both real gents and a pleasure to be with, the studio sessions were not rehearsed, took abu tried to break into it or did yout 4 hours at Mill Hill and we cut each track in only one take. Albert came into the room sat by me...and we played! That was such a good feeling of real Rock'n'Roll as it happens! So basically what you hear is what came out on the day. Very little in the way of production. Which, once Boz got around he was also very happy. I hope to team up with him in the future again abd I think that's on the horizon. In July I'll be doing some tracks with my friend Darren Juvie of the Juvies/Cathouse Creepers...that's to be more traditional rockabilly...I do love so many styles within rock'n'roll from the sax based stuff to the very basic trio set up...It's really such a diverse world and listening to so many songs as a child it's all rubbed off on me...
Do you know how big the rockin' scene is in this country, have you tried to break into it or did ou bypass it deliberately?
Oh I would love to be in the rock'n'roll scene here. It's really strange how it's not had me in it as of yet :)... I think probably my unusual influences may have contributed by having country and rock'n'roll mixed, but I'm always well received when on stage!
A man of mystery eh? Do you think your music is more country or more rockabilly?
Country or rockabilly? I think I like to see myself as a rock'n'roller really with some country influence, so rockabilly! If you look at Sun, Carl Perkins, Elvis and the like they were rock'n'roll and country...most of the greats had both styles in their music. It's probably how they interpreted the guitar and what they hear. If I have a band with sax etc it would be more driving rock'n'roll. This project was more country with Albert Lee. For the future, I'm hoping to have a sax sound in there with piano etc...Rock'n'roll is my first love and country I also like, but I can't shake my legs so much to that.
You can hear a lot of influences in your music Is it hard vocally?
I guess there a re a lot of influences in my music. It kind of makes it unique. Vocally it's quite ok I think, maybe some of the early stuff would have to be key changed but mostly I sing in keys like g, c, d some flats like b7 and of course minors too. This album was easy because it's very rootsy and simple chords like e, g, c and a. But say like some of my musical songs I have changes between minor to majors and diminished/augmented notes. I can't read or write music though...being self taught...wouldn't know a crochet if it bit me! the only thing I tend to do a lot with my songs and the way I write them is adding some slighty different turnarounds...for instance "howdy judy" is capoed and rather than being just e, a, b7 etc etc three cord trick...it has a few surprises in there like a g chord...more like a rock chod but still rock'n'roll!
Your first band Shawn And The Flat Top Cats how long was that about and did you have a good time with it, was that your meander onto the rockin' scene?
The Flat Top Cats...lasted about from 1991 to 1997...was a lot of fun...a little trio with myself, Alan (a disabled drummer) and my dear friend...and Silke on bass...we cut our very first recordings in Meydey studios, Blackwood Gwent...home of the manics...in fact they also recorded there...and one day I bumped into them...literally!
Anyway the second album by fate was recorded at Beatroute Studios, Hirwaun, nr. Aberdare...by fate, I was there when a young Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics weree in there then called"the tragic love company". I lived in the same road as Stuart Cable, the drummer and they knew me. Anyway, my fame wasn't to be and I knew I would have several more years of work to do...rock'n'roll has always struggled...I was talking to Bobby Cochran (nephew of Eddie) and he agreed that in the 50's it was hard and it's hard now. But we had such a great time as a band... I taught Alan to drum and Silke the bass! What a start! I still have our very first tape recording of our gig! It's at an old diving club! But we definitely started from zero...no money; I had a cheap semi acoustic and rough shows too...a wedding once ended in chaos! Shutters on the bar coming down and me somewhere in the rut!
What has been your greatest achievement?
Oh my biggest achievement...definitely meeting Albert Lee...that was really great! But I feel there is a lot more around the corner as I've a lot to give, a lot of new songs, lots of new contacts and I'm sure something will work out! I must admit flying is also a big achievement! Took my first one this year to Germany!
What is your biggest ambition?
My ambition; Oh I's love to be recognised for all the years of hard work...as a songwriter and guitarist, also as producer...but for this year I shall be over in Holland and Germany, I'm still hoping to crack the USA...as I think the CD and album deserved success there...but whatever, I'm always happy Rockin' and Rollin', that's my love and it's stayed with me through thick and thin.
Thanks for the chat Shawn!
Well there it is, you can check out Shawn's music for yourself on his website www.shawnharvey.com. A candidate for the cross over scene, a little bit country a little bit rock'n'roll.
We will see.
Mad Rat Mag
Article in the Clacton Gazette March, 23, 2004:
Shawn changes recods label
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Shawn Harvey releases his first CD on a new Independent record label.
Shawn makes his debut with Wild Wild Woman next month.
The singer has been on the road touring with a band for many years, but last year was taken seriously ill with a brain virus.
Now fully recovered, he has moved from his home in Cornwall to be nearer London and its music scene.
Success
Shawn's past success has been with rock'n'roll but he has now come up with his own new musical genre, Electro Retro, which he says is a mix of modern dance and techno and good old fashioned rock'n'roll and R'n'B.
First stockists of the record will be at Music Mania, Clacton, It's electric, Colchester and Sound Proof Records, Chelmsford, with the release expanded to London and internationally via the Internet at a later date.
Caption: Changing labels - singer, songwriter and guitarist Shawn Harvey
Old newspaper articles, gig flyers and adverts from 1992 - 2001:
Click HERE to go to the Newspaper Archive.
Radio stations that are playing Shawn's music:
These are just the few that we know of, but there are others out there... Let us know at if you hear Shawn's music so that we can list and credit the station.
Freies Radio Kassel
Musiktaxi
www.myspace.com/musiktaxi
Lexrock.Com
www.lexrock.com
Internet radio station from Kentucky, USA.
Lonestar Country Radio
www.lonestarcountryradio.com/indie.htm
Playing Shawn on their Indie list.
WSVN Radio
www.wsvnradio.net/index.htm
USA radio station. Have inducted Shawn into their Hall Of Fame. 'I Drove Up In My Cadillac Car' is included on the 16th Hall Of Fame compilation CD
Gene aka Doublem - RGW Radio DJ
www.myspace.com/djdoublem2000
Your Radio
www.myspace.com/yourradio
Pensacolalive365
www.live365.com/stations/southerneclectic
Big Dog On The Pound Renegade Radio
www.myspace.com/bigdogrenegaderadionet
Xradiobiz
www.myspace.com/xradiobizartists
Beefy Radio
www.myspace.com/beefyradio
