Anthony Gomes – The 411 Club, 11/19/2011
The Anthony Gomes Band hit The 411 Club hard and did not let up all night. Anthony’s guitar(s) playing is well rounded. Yes, to many he is a rocker, but he wraps it up in a blues undertone that is unmistakable, and his vocals drive the point home. He could blow the walls out of the side of the building, but he doesn’t, because his heart is in the blues, and he punctuates that guitar virtuosity with gritty vocals.
At points in the show he simply tore it up, but he brought it back down to a level that made you cry. He can play with effects, but he also showed that he didn’t need them – he turned off all the pedals and sound gizmos and played with intensity.
Folks, there is no mistaking down home blues with what this “kid” plays, but it is the blues – despite his Canadian roots, he has played all over the world, he’s paid his dues, he DOES the blues. The audience was huge – a large following – and there was a bunch of dancing going on! He played his butt off and brought feeling, artistry, truth, and a bit of soul with every lick.
Although (only?) a three-piece, the entire band was tight and right. They were a powerful presence and the crowd was never disappointed by this road-tested crew. His drummer (Blaze Thomas) was most recently here this past summer and played the Kalamazoo Blues Festival with Mississippi Heat. Calvin Johnson, on the bass, held down a funky tone all night – it actually seemed they’d been playing together forever!
Also happy to report that Mr. Gomes is now one of us…he filled out a KVBA member application and paid his membership on the spot! How cool is that! I remarked to him that it was evident that his love for the audience was reciprocal. “What I try to give back is a feeling of harmony and unity. Blues unites us all – regardless of where we’re from or what we do…we’ve all had the blues at one time or another.” Yes, Anthony, you are correct. And you remind us in a very, very good way. He is a very good showman and a real human being too.
Thanks, Anthony, for sharing your love.
I saw Anthony Gomes in May at the 411 Club, it was a great show. I first saw Anthony in 2005 in Kalamazoo and haven’t looked back since. There was a 3 or 4 year dry spell in the West Michigan area, without a single Anthony Gomes gig, so having AG come back to our town has been a brethe of fresh air.