Globe and Mail – 2005-08-26

PROFILE: DAVID GOGO

Canada’s top blues guitarist never felt he was at a musical crossroads. ‘I just try to follow my instincts, and lately it’s been working pretty good.’

By BRAD WHEELER

Friday, August 26, 2005 Page R20

As record companies and musicians do their various things, the blues makes its own way. In the early nineties, EMI Records signed a young blues guitarist out of Nanaimo, B.C., and, naturally, strongly suggested that he put out a rock — not a blues — record. David Gogo did as he was instructed, but in an insurgent stroke, included one blues track on the album, B.B. King’s It’s My Own Fault, a slow burner that was a staple of King’s live shows in the sixties. READ MORE

Toronto Star – 2005-08-25

Broader shade of blues

B.C.’s David Gogo widens audience
Joins B.B. King in town Wednesday

GREG QUILL
ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST

David Gogo’s “Hey Juanita,” a jaunty and infectious country-soul rocker, may be the breakout cut on his latest album, Vibe.

This is not the first time Nanaimo, B.C. singer/guitarist David Gogo has shared a stage with his idol. On Wednesday night at the Molson Amphitheatre, Gogo opens for B.B. King at the American blues legend’s 80th birthday bash at the Molson Amphitheatre.

“The first time was 15 years ago, when I was 21 and just starting to make a name for myself,” says Gogo, who last year received the CBC Saturday Night Blues Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the musical genre in Canada, and earlier this year picked up the Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year Award. READ MORE

From ottawacitizen.com – July 13, 2005

ZZ Top deliver big ol’ slice of blues-rock

Lynn Saxberg
The Ottawa Citizen

Is Bluesfest still a blues festival? ZZ Top and David Gogo answered that question last night with a deafening “hell, yeah.”

A capacity crowd of at least 20,000, most with lawnchairs on the grass and Harleys parked along the street, welcomed a great, big old slice of blues-rock delivered by the same three guys who’ve been playing the same three chords for the last 35 years.

They made that old joke again last night, about 30 minutes into a concert that began with a plunge into the back catalogue. There were plenty of hits to choose from, a gritty Under Pressure to open, a nasty Jesus Left Chicago and an even nastier Nation Wide. By the time a new song, the boogie-blues number Buck Naked, came along, it was indistinguishable from the vintage stuff.

To the crowd of blues-thirsty 20- to 40-year-olds, it hit the spot like a shot of Jack after too many warm beers.

For David Gogo, last night’s show had to be a career high. Backed by his Ottawa-based band, he gave a blockbuster performance in front of a huge crowd of blues-rock fans.

Although the axeman had the same sort of opportunity last year opening for the Tragically Hip at the festival, he cemented the bond with last night’s performance, grabbing attention from the start with his twisted-blues take on Personal Jesus.

The West Coast guitarist’s set included a searing, but soulful, take on Hootchie Cootchie Man, a guest appearance by the Texas Horns, another by Ottawa guitar hero Tony D., and several spots by the sultry-voiced Becky Abbott.

Like last year, Gogo chugged a beer and then used the empty bottle as a slide on his electric guitar. The crowd loved it, even more than last time. It looked like Gogo will be heading back to Vancouver Island with a lot more names on his mailing list.
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© The Ottawa Citizen 2005