DISCOGRAPHY 1990-2014 (13CD)
BIOGRAPHY
That original Cigars line-up brought together four like-minded
experienced players, all veterans of Sydney inner-west blues venues, and
from the word go, as the 1990 tracks demonstrate, the Cigars have been the
very model of the ‘no passengers’ band, a well-oiled machine plus soul: no
room for slackers here. Always one of the country’s hardest working
outfits (on the road more than off), the Cigars have kept their music
tight, hard-driving and down – to – earth: the Australian bar band par
excellence.
Apart from the timeless, unpretentious nature of the music, an obvious
reason for the longevity of the Cigars must be the ongoing musical team
work of 2 foundation members, Shane Pacey and Al Britton, who continue to
co-lead the band. This also explains the consistency of the band’s sound,
instantly recognisable for 17 years now, despite personnel changes and
occasional stylistic variations. Front man Shane Pacey has long been a
forceful, convincing singer, and a hard-attacking, razor sharp guitarist
in the modern blowtorch style of Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, Larry
McCray and other crazy stringbenders; he’s also an outstanding prolific
songwriter, and there’s ample evidence in these tracks of his sardonic,
savvy and slightly warped way with lyrics.
Bass player Al Hollywood Britton is another blues trooper, having
survived the Dynamic Hepnotics and the Foreday Riders, and puts real
backbone into the rhythm section – rock solid, responsive and funky;
what’s more, he’s a dab hand in the organisational department, playing
great lead telephone, according to the credits of Mercy (1998).These dual
father – figures have kept the music tough and vigorous by usually
recruiting new members from Sydney’s inner-west breeding grounds of
exciting young R&B/roots bands....
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