Now this isn’t a complaint, far from it!! just a few observations really.....
Picture this, a quaint old English village pub, on the top of the hill, with stunning panoramic views over the Gloucestershire countryside. You know the sort of place, a typical “midsummer murders” location, where nothing interesting ever happens and time stands still. In reality, there’s a thriving wife swapping scene and the postmistress is into devil worship and the vicars daughter is a mass murderer, the children have ginger hair and webbed toes!!...No!! only joking!!! but you get the picture!!!

All the more bizarre then, that Aynsley should pop up at the Black Horse Inn, to play the Saturday headline at the Amberley beer festival. The gig, played at the rear of the pub, saw Ayns and the band playing inside the pub conservatory, with all the glass panels removed (except the roof). The conservatory looked out over a terrace area, which could acommodate about 70 people standing, or several tables if you’ve gone there for Sunday lunch!! The terrace looked out over a fantastic view of a huge valley and rolling sweeping hills.
Aynsley did a great set, with all the favourites including Prince’s Purple Rain, the sound man knew his stuff, the mix was excellent, although Rich’s toms could’ve been a bit more prominent in the mix. Ayns relied mainly on the Strat, but did alternate between that and the 335, with the odd appearence of the “F-hole” guitar

Now my serious point. I accept that everyone has to make a living, and that goodwill doesn’t pay the bills, but is this really the best Aynsley can do? playing to 60 or 70 pissed ale heads with the obligatory village idiot dancing at the front cannot surely represent a career highlight for one of our most talented artists? the beer festival, which was situated at the front of the pub was packed, with over 250 people, and Ayns had a fair few coming and going to see what the music was like. Now there were several people there, who had come a fair way specifically to see ALB, some from the midlands, some from the south coast, and us, from Bristol. It was a fiver to get in, and it was terrific value for money, don’t get me wrong. When though, is Aynsley gonna make the step up and take his career to the next level, his talent so richly deserves? Surely, this autumn, Ayns should be supporting a major artist on a major tour? or even his own headline tour of bigger venues. Look how Joe Bonamassa’s career has taken off in the last 3 years, even Wally Trout gets a great crowd at the Fleece in Bristol...I get the impression Ruff records aren’t pushing Ayns at all (I could be totally wrong there) and whether his management has tried to get Ayns further up the ladder I don’t know, I could be way off the mark with those two comments, but as someone who has bought all of Ayns cd’s (bought, not downloaded!!) and I see him whenever I can, I can’t help but think his career is trundling on nicely, but going nowhere really. We need to see ALB at the Colston Hall in Bristol!!! Soon!!!! Ayns needs to get on something like later with Jools Holland!!

You can’t tell me there isn’t a touring vacancy suitable for ALB, to increase his profile?? Whilst it’s great to see Ayns “up close and personal”, it would also be great for those of us who have followed his career from almost the start to see him kick on and get the recognition he deserves. At times last night, Ayns looked a bit bemused by it all, and his body language appeared to show him a bit wary of some of the crowd, who had been on the sauce all day, especially one guy, who was either on the ruff cider or had one disco buiscuit too many!!! Talking to the guys who had come to see ALB specifically, there was a general consensus that whilst it was a fun thing to do, and they were undoubtedly paid the going rate for the gig, it wasn’t the sort of place where Ayns was going away with dozens of newly converted fans.

As I say, I’m not complaining really!! it was one of those gigs where that situation may never arise again, and I can say I was lucky enough to have seen Ayns on the day.

We found that the crowd was split - a lot of the people Greg spoke to were people who had followed Aynsley’s career from the beginning - yet as I was walking round people were asking me the name of the band (which is why we were handing out postcards). A number of the people I spoke to were massively impressed and asking where they could find out more…

It’s a tricky balance for Aynsley and the band IMHO - do they play bigger venues where you never get to chat, or more intimate venues where you know you are likely to share a pint with them afterwards…

What I was encouraged by was that many of the people who I spoke to who had heard of Aynsley, were often pointed in his direction by a friend who said ‘you have to listen to this’ - so the more gigs like this that Aynsley and the band play the more that effect snowballs.....

Although a few of the younger ones there had clearly had a few too many I think it’s the fact that not only do the band play the places where you’d expect to see them, they also get out there and are not afraid to try a new audience. Personally standing looking at that view and listening to the band felt like one of those moments you want to keep with you for a long time…

I’d like to see them play the rock and blues custom show although just checking their website it looks like it’s cancelled for this year - a crying shame as it’s one of the festivals i was always happy to go to on my own…

Thanks Rachie, I take your point entirely. Lets hope the snowball rolls a bit quicker from now on!!!

Amberley- a weird and wonderful gig, perhaps a `Conservatory Tour` beckons! Aynsley was brilliant, perhaps the set could have used a longer encore and I personally missed a Hendrix song (that may have brought a few extra people away from the beer to check it out).

I have yet to see Joe Bonamassa live but cannot believe that he is better than Aynsley at his best. I agree with the previous posting- a slot on `Later` would surely break him big in this country.

Here’s my tuppence, I wasn’t at Amberley, but I fell you have made some valid points in the paragraph below. Aynsley is an excellent artist. Although his music is grounded in the blues, I would say for the most part he had potentially far greater appeal than simply blues fans (not that I have anything against blues fans, I am one myself!)however I do feel better promotion by Ruff would certainly be of benefit. Wherever I Am was a song from the last album that had potential to be a breakthrough hit for Aynsley. Had it being released as a single with promo video with copies being sent to leading djs I feel this song could have been a hit. The other problem with being on Ruff is that the albums will only be found in specialist areas of the shop (HMV doen’t even have a blues section anymore). Interestingly Walter Trout recently left Ruff to join Provogue which is Joe Bonamassa’s label and James Hunter who was previously with Ruff has been top of the blues billboard chart in the USA for 7 weeks, which is pretty much unheard of for a UK artist!

Oli Brown is also on Ruff, yet has recently toured with artist such as Robben Ford and the Fabulous Thunderbirds so there are gigs available out there.

This is not intended as a criticism of Aynsley and his band. Clearly they are doing things right from their side, making the amazing music and touring for a large proportion of the year. I do feel though he needs support to get to the next stage, which is where we all want him to be.

Re Joe Bonamassa, he is touring the UK again in November, you should get a ticket to go and see him now, while tickets are still available and then you can make your own mind up

spasmcasm - 20 July 2008 09:16 AM

Now my serious point. I accept that everyone has to make a living, and that goodwill doesn’t pay the bills, but is this really the best Aynsley can do? playing to 60 or 70 pissed ale heads with the obligatory village idiot dancing at the front cannot surely represent a career highlight for one of our most talented artists? the beer festival, which was situated at the front of the pub was packed, with over 250 people, and Ayns had a fair few coming and going to see what the music was like. Now there were several people there, who had come a fair way specifically to see ALB, some from the midlands, some from the south coast, and us, from Bristol. It was a fiver to get in, and it was terrific value for money, don’t get me wrong. When though, is Aynsley gonna make the step up and take his career to the next level, his talent so richly deserves? Surely, this autumn, Ayns should be supporting a major artist on a major tour? or even his own headline tour of bigger venues. Look how Joe Bonamassa’s career has taken off in the last 3 years, even Wally Trout gets a great crowd at the Fleece in Bristol...I get the impression Ruff records aren’t pushing Ayns at all (I could be totally wrong there) and whether his management has tried to get Ayns further up the ladder I don’t know, I could be way off the mark with those two comments, but as someone who has bought all of Ayns cd’s (bought, not downloaded!!) and I see him whenever I can, I can’t help but think his career is trundling on nicely, but going nowhere really. We need to see ALB at the Colston Hall in Bristol!!! Soon!!!! Ayns needs to get on something like later with Jools Holland!!

quote]

Yeah, again, I have to agree.
Aynsley can’t really do anymore than make the great music he has. He has certainley served his apprenticship, and must now look to kick on. Surely his next deal must be with a major label and the resources that go with it.
As regards to Joe Bonamassa, A great guitarist, with a completely different technique to Aynsley, which makes them special in their own way. I have tickets for the Colston Hall gig in Bristol, I also saw him at the Point in Cardiff. What a double header that would be, Aynsley and JB!!!

spasmcasm - 21 July 2008 01:11 PM

What a double header that would be, Aynsley and JB!!! :-)

It certainly would be! I don’t think it will be happening this year though. I’ll be seeing both of them in the space of two weeks in November, it makes me look forward to the autumn!

Sorry just edited this to say, has Aynsley got a street team yet? If not, maybe we should start one up. Then we could hand out Aynsley cards etc at Joe’s gigs and other concerts in the future.

greenose - 21 July 2008 03:51 PM

spasmcasm - 21 July 2008 01:11 PM

What a double header that would be, Aynsley and JB!!!

It certainly would be! I don’t think it will be happening this year though. I’ll be seeing both of them in the space of two weeks in November, it makes me look forward to the autumn!

Sorry just edited this to say, has Aynsley got a street team yet? If not, maybe we should start one up. Then we could hand out Aynsley cards etc at Joe’s gigs and other concerts in the future.

Hi,

Please PM me if you are interested in getting involved in AL’s ‘Street Team’ it’s something we are looking into........

The Amberley Festival was superb fun for us, we were invited to play and whilst the venue may have seemed strange I’m pleased to say we were given THE BEST hospitality we have ever experienced in the UK at any level, the organizers made sure we had everything we needed, so on behalf of ALB I would like to say a heart felt ‘Thank You’ to the team who put it together, It was their first attempt at an event and we found it to be exceptional, its very important to support new ventures of this kind in the UK as many music venues are struggling financially at the moment....they are already planning bigger things for next year as they had a great response.

See you all soon!

Spoons

Greenose & especially Spasmcasm,
Great posts by both—Spasmcasm"s may be the most “spot on” observation to hit this site. Sadly, the overall popularity of the Blues peaked sometime ago and it doesn’t totally matter if gifted guitarists like AL or Joe Bonamassa are the kings of their genre. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be fans —it’s just the public’s tastes have changed. One can find a measure of success with good promotion but in order to “make it to the top” the artists of today have to broaden their fanbase. I’ve never seen Aynsley but I have detected a more contemporary rock twang to his recent music. If Ruf could get the word out through marketing and touring with Big Name acts, and not has-beens, I feel ALB should be near the top in popularity in England. The fact that he can still give a great performance in a small beer hall speaks volumes for his character. I wish he could open for someone like John Mayer who would bring a large audience of new listeners.ready to be wowed by talent.

Glad you made the contribution IndyScott. You mention the popularity of the blues has fallen recently. That may be true, but I certainly feel that there is still a big market for blues influenced rock. I have recently attended gigs by The Black Keys, Seasick Steve and Buddy Guy, all of which contained a large following of younger fans, just the types that Aynsley could tap into. Interestingly enough each of these acts had support acts who were not a patch on the ALB! John Mayer would have been a great support slot too.  The value of a street team at these gigs could possibly have helped Aynsley, so Spoons I will pm you about this (some more gigs up this way to promote would help though!)

You are right that Upside Down does have a more mainstream rock feel ( with some great blues tunes too), so I feel ALB would appeal to general guitar based music fans. Therefore a tour with someone like the Stereophonics or Paul Weller could benefit, and I have just noticed the Kings Of Leon are doing a December tour, which again would be ideal. Where there is a great demand for live music, there is always the potential of a larger fan base for Aynsley.

Some interesting comments here - I agree with the Later with Jools Holland one - I had been thinking that when watching some of the crap bands they have on there - also, supporting bands like Trower has to be good - or Johnny Winter, as Oli Brown recently did - but Aynsley is somewhere between headlining big venues and starting up - hence he still plays at smaller venues - players like Ian Parker and Danny Bryant are in the same boat - they’re good but haven’t got the mass appeal to the youngsters - also, what does Aynsley think - he may not want to go on long tours etc - I see he is now doing guitar lessons?? - perhaps he saw the advert from Michael Schenker in Loot charging £200 an hour and thought there was an opportunity???? - Britbabe will probably sign up!!!

Simon . . . there’s so much wrong with that comment I don’t know where to start LMAO!!!! 

I would love to see Aynsley on Jools but I fear I’m losing a bit of respect for that gent with regard to him getting the unseen and unappreciated on our screens.  I’ve not really watched it for a long time because it always seemed to be the ‘flavour of the month’ bands who got on.  Look what it did for K T Tunstall tho, I was driving down to see her almost the moment her spot had finished.  Where is she now tho?  Also is it still the case that one has to write an actual letter to the Jools Holland show, because last time I tried a campaign there was no email contact.  Cost me so much in stamps I had to give up!

Seasick Steve is another one who has benefitted from playing on Jools Holland’s last two Hootenanny shows. I see your point though Britbabe. He does little to support blues acts and no idea why he’s at Maryport (that;s another story). I think support slots to larger artists is a good way to go, but you’re right they have to be the type of artists who would play the NEC, SECC etc. Aysnley is too big to be a support act for smaller venues as he is an established artist.

Funnily enough, we went on a works do to see Jools Holland at Kew Gardens a couple of weeks ago - more like Bill Haley and the Comets!!!! nice venue though...........