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GIGS: ::-::Friday July 11th, 2008 Ottawa Blues Festival @ Rainbow Bistro, Corner Murray & Parent, Byward Market Ottawa Paul Fenton & Peter Lazz Rattle Snakin Daddy will be the heading band at the Rainbow Bistro Ottawa Blues fest starting at 10:00 pm ::-:: Saturday June 7, 2008 Rainbow Bistro, Byward Market Ottawa ::-:: Sunday May 25, 2008: 4pm Matinee Black Sheep Inn: Sunday matinee` 'Rattle Snakin' Daddy' CD Release Party (SOLD OUT!) ::-:: Saturday May 3, 2008: Irene's Pub on Bank St. 885 Bank St. Ottawa (613) 230-4474 NEWS: Rattle Snakin' Daddy is getting heavy airplay at CKUW 95.9FM (University of Winnipeg)...  Another radio add, this time in Toronto. The prestigious Jazz 91 FM station is now featuring the CD as BLUZ FM host Danny Marks has begun playing several of the "Rattle Snakin' Daddy" cuts on his show. Click the highlighted text for the newest review in the Toronto Blues Society's 'Maple Blues' magazine Another news flash: Corus radio's "Max Trax Digital Music" has added “Rattlesnakin’ Daddy” “Checkin’ up on my Baby” and “Stranger Blues” which will be their focus track. Music Director Peter Silversides said "All three songs will be featured in a regular rotation with the emphasis on “Stranger Blues.” Congratulations on a great sounding record…I love the raw feel to the whole thing. Thanks again for sending the disc. We are available to digital subscribers of Rogers, Shaw and Cogeco cable and to StarChoice satellite customers as well." News flash: The CBC requested 35 copies of the record and playlisted the new Fenton-Lazz CD nationally. Free mp3: HERE Paul's got a brand new blues CD and band with Domenic Troiano's cousin 'Peter Lazz' (Peter Lazazzera). Highlights/bio: In the mid-sixties, Peter was part of the duo that opened at the River Boat in the Toronto village for Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry. After the gig, Sonny Terry showed the young teenager some harp chops that he still uses today on stage, and Peter gives a fond nod to the kindness of a blues icon, those many years ago. Canadian Celtic folk legend the late Stan Rogers lived at Peter's farm in Corbeil, northern Ontario, for almost a year in 1975 where they played and wrote songs nearly every day. In 1982, at the Inn at the Bay Moorings Hotel, Penetang Ontario, Pete played a gig with the original Good Brothers band and still exclaims "What a great bunch of blue grass roots music players!" In 1989 Peter and his band opened for the Tragically Hip in Lahr Germany and he and his band performed two shows with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks in Lahr. Also in 1989 the Baden Baden TV station recorded and broadcast a show with Peter's band of German players, sharing the program with Delbert McClinton and the Jeff Healey Band.  Beginning in 1997 Pete played at the Saxophone Club and at Harry’s Bar at Boat Key for three years in Singapore. 2000-2006, Peter and his band played at the Geneva Blues Fest on the lake and toured Switzerland and France extensively. Peter Lazz has been a professional blues player for forty years and has lived outside of Canada playing blues for the past eighteen years, then moved back to Cumberland Ontario this year. He sings and plays guitar, harmonica and piano. Peter said "With the many years of playing blues on the road and Paul Fenton’s many years of playing the best slide blues guitar in Canada, we have joined forces to create a band and release a CD in January 2008. We'll be playing the blues in Canada and the States, and then hopefully a tour back to Europe playing old blues standards played in a traditional way that has not been heard for years."  
Paul is no longer represented by Tony McLean. The two remain fast friends and may work together again late 2008/early 2009 on an acoustic PF CD but Paul is representing himself now and playing and recording with Peter Lazz. Tony continues as part time webmaster. It was a blast. 1999-2007. Paul's email is 1959.paul (at) gmail (dot) com Download store PayPlay.FM is selling Judgement Day, Live! In Toronto and Vancouver Blue, click each of them to buy individual mp3's or buy the whole albums  "Paul Fenton Judgement Day four stars Jealous Monk Records, www.paulfenton.com An album, which would be just as well be placed in the rock category. The Canadian Paul Fenton stands on Gitarrenlastiges and realizes this accordingly on "Judgement Day". This begins already with the Opener, "Lost in The Woods" (the video hiezu is likewise on the enhanced CD), with good, rocking Hookline, which settles immediately in the gehoergaengen. Fenton convinces with concise voice and more experienced (Slide) Gitarre, which reminds in some passages of Sonny Landreth. From the style move the singer, guitarist and Songwriter between Psychedelic rock, something Punk, unite Indian sounds ("The River") as well as blues infused ("Stella II", "Your Close Friends", "Judgement Day"). In addition something Sixties-flair and a Bob Dylan tribute ("Desert Island Girl") come. This variety holds Fenton together meanwhile skillfully, the album works as from a casting. For adventurous listeners. DiHo - " auf Deutsch: Ein album, das in der Rock-Kategorie, ebenso gut aufgehoben ware. Der Kanadier Paul Fenton steht auf Gitarrenlastiges und lebt dies auf "Judgement Day" entsprechend aus. Dies beginnt Schon beim Opener "Lost in the Woods" (das video hiezu findet sich ebenfalls auf der ehnahced CD) mit guter, rockiger Hookline die sich sofort in den Gehorangen festsetzt. Fenton uberzeugt mit pragnanter Stimme und versierter (slide) Gitarre, die in manchen Passagen an Sonny Landreth erinnert. Vom stil bewegt sich der sanger, Gitarrist und songwriter zwischen Psychedelic Rock, etwas Punk, einigen indischen Klangen ("The River") sowie bluesinfiziertem ("Stella II", "Your Close Friends", "Judgement Day"). Dazu kommen etwas Sixties-Flair und eine Priese Bob Dylan ("Desert Island Girl"). Diese vielfalt halt Fenton unterdessen gekonnt zusammen, das Album wirkt wie aus einem gut. Fur Aufgeschlossene Horer. Dietmar Hoscher, Concerto, Wien Ottawa SUN: Sick Fits remember all those young dudesAllan Wigney, Ottawa SunKenny James apologizes for the state of his apartment as we navigate our way through a narrow hallway made that much narrower by the presence of a mattress and a variety of debris. Explaining he moved in only recently, the Sick Fits guitarist guides us to the living room, where his bandmate Michael A. Hurts is seated on a well-worn couch. (Bassist Chase Manhattan will presently join us.) The Centretown apartment does appear to be in need of a decorator. Yet, James has found time to file his LPs and to beautify his living room walls with vintage photos of Marc Bolan, The Rolling Stones and The Sweet. And as I gaze at the framed photo of The Sweet in all their 1970s glam-rock glory, I can't help but think, 'You know, you don't see many of these, these days.' But then, these days, you don't hear many albums that capture the meat-and-potatoes essence of rock 'n' roll like Sick Fits' long-awaited debut full-length release. One listen to the self-titled album reveals a number of cheeky rock-'n'-roll touches that would make any of the faces staring down at us from the living room walls proud. Odes to Real Lust and New Fashion Kicks. Drummer Oliver Sutherland Victor's enthusiastic answer to the call for more cowbell on Blank Stare. Charismatic frontman Hurts' "You betcha!" ad lib and spoken dedications to the likes of "all the newborn babies of the world." A ballsy saxophone and female vocal chorus on the opening track Every Day is Sunday. Producer Paul Fenton offering his best Mick Taylor slide-guitarwork on two of the album's Stonesier tracks. A Stooges-style take on the blues (Fruit of a Beast). Acoustic guitars at the heart of loud, electrified rockers. Plus echo, riffs and attitude to spare. SNEERING Yep, they don't make 'em like Sick Fits anymore. Sure, there's no shortage of bands adept at sneering for publicity photos and looking like they stepped off the cover of a Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers album. But studying the rock-'n'-roll stylebook will take a band only so far. The quintet has been dazzling us with full-throttle performances for a few years now, but took its time with the all-important CD (and vinyl!) debut, recording in, uh, fits and starts through 2005 and 2006. But with veteran local musician Paul Fenton at the controls, Sick Fits succeeded at capturing that adrenaline on disc. MIXED SOUNDS So how did they do it? "I told (Fenton) we wanted to make an album that sounded like a mix of Ziggy Stardust and Exile on Main Street," James deadpans. Fenton, whose own recording career has included work with bona fide Spider from Mars Mick Ronson, was also willing to pitch in with a solo or two. He even contributed a song, the meaty House Boy, to the project. "Mick Ronson told Paul that song would put a swimming pool in his backyard, but it was never released," James says of the track. "So maybe it'll put swimming pools in our backyards." REVIEW FROM BARCELONA SPAIN: Paul Fenton “Judgement Day”. Jealous Monk 2006. Si os gustan las referencias a los sonidos psicodelicos con reminiscencias del Delta blues mas toques de punk rock, entonces no lo penseis dos veces en adquirir una copia de este último álbum del cantante y guitarrista Paul Fenton que, una vez más, nos sorprende de nuevo con un trabajo serio, sobrio, original y de gran calidad artística. Paul es un músico competente con ideas brillantes y grandes aportaciones a la estética musical actual. Como suele ser habitual en él, Paul se encarga de tocar con técnica y atinado gusto, todas las guitarras del disco, slide, acústica, electrica, mas el bajo y el bajo con slide. Su voz no suena como la de un cantante de blues ortodoxo, pero eso no es óbice para que aflore profunda y equilibrada con un toque mas bien áspero y muy particular, embelleciendo sobremanera todas las canciones que interpreta. Este nuevo trabajo es totalmente diferente a lo que ha publicado hasta el momento y creo que deberíais apostar por él si os gusta lo más novedoso. MUY BUENO. If you like psychedelic sound references with Delta blues drops and a punk rock touch, do not hesitate and get the new singer and guitar player Paul Fenton recording. Once again Fenton surprises us with a serious, restrained, original work and high musical quality. Paul is an able musician with new bright ideas who has done a great contribution to contemporary music. As usual, he tastefully plays with great technique all kind of guitars, slide, acoustic and electrifyied, plus bass and slide bass. His voice does not have the orthodox blues singer record, but it sounds deep and balanced, with a very special harsh touch which improves all songs. A new piece of work completely different to what he has been doing till now, you should bet for, if you like the most new fashion trends. VERY GOOD. - Vicente Zumel, "La Hora del Blues" There are literally dozens and dozens of new-to-the site pictures at Paul's Yahoo photo site Support original music! Buy Judgement Day at Puretracks.com REVIEW FROM GERMANY here. For those of you who don't read auf Deutsch a 'human' translation appears below. "Some of you surely already know it. We have it with www.rorysfriends.de already announced his new release presented in our column MUSICIAN! It’s called “Judgement Day and 2006 appeared!! Paul Fenton was born in Canada, is a Blues rock guitarist, singer and an admitted fan of RORY GALLAGHER. Paul Fenton saw Rory in person in 1973 for the first time in Canada and met him as well. Paul said that this experience was the deciding factor in making music his life...... Rory was fascinated from this statement a young kid!!! …. and later they should meet again in 1982. Paul Fenton opened at Le Spectrum in Montreal for Rory. Paul gave Rory after a concert 1985 a white “Supro Dualtone”, which Rory played quite often after receiving it. I also saw this guitar, when he played her, i.e. a month later in 1985 in Montreux. Rory used it on Muddy Waters’ “I Wonder Who”. You can now see this guitar (and many different of Rory´s guitars) up to 21.01.2007 in Dublin in an exhibition. Now however more information on the new CD: Paul Fenton is a very in demand musician in Canada. For this reason it is in Europe also rather rarely on route… unfortunately!! His new CD can be ordered through links at his website www.paulfenton.com. As Dave Hole is to Australia, Paul Fenton is to Canada… the absolute SLIDE KING!! He plays nearly 95% of his solos with Slide. On this CD there are 12 original titles, that show a strong RORY slide influence…. my personal favourites: The Instrumental “Stella II” and “Your Close Friends”. Very outstanding CD…. Blues rock with a Touch of Psychedelic and Punk… a super mix!!! Result: Very strong CD in every respect. A beautifully designed booklet and a bonus video “Lost in The Woods” and is also here clearly again the admiration of Rory Gallagher is noticeable!! …. at the beginning of the video a camera focusing with frame on the head stock of Paul´s “airline Guitar”…. there one “To Paul from Rory Gallagher” where you can plainly see the signature of Rory Gallagher! Thanks to Tony McLean and www.paulfenton.com"    Paul's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/paulfentonrocks  The Supro guitar that Paul gave his mentor Rory Gallagher is part of the 40-guitar sampling of the Gallagher guitar collection 'exhibition' taking place first in Ireland then on tour on the continent. See Rory's page for details More Fenton reviews Review from Norway CD REVIEW: Paul Fenton Judgement Day (Jealous Monk Records, 2006 Canada) Remember I gave Canadian Paul Fenton's previous CD (Live! In Toronto , 2002) a terrific review. And when I now, in receiving Judgement Day, his fresh release on my desk, am giving another excellent thumbs up to this brand new disk. Man this is a very good one, categorically! Fenton has composed a bunch extraordinarily varied songs and sounds that absolutely creep under your skin and stay there. They aren't pure blues, by any stretch of the imagination, but they're not pure rock rather. Both describe the music here but let's call it blues rock along with hippie - active psychedelia. Listen to the lovely instrumental track "Red Tele Raga", and you'll see what I mean. The superb title cut "Judgement Day" also deserves special mention. Paul Fenton is plainly put an incredible slide guitar player, a slide guitar player without equal. He has during his 5 or 6 solo CDs clearly invented absolutely his own radical down'n dirty slide tone and is in a class by himself. I said before I was glad to make the acquaintance of this special musician, and I say it again after hearing this superb new CD. Decca said in ’62 as they declined to sign The Beatles that 'guitar based music is on the way out.' Absolutely not! Bjorn Wiksaas Om Radio Ung Norway PLATEANMELDELSE: Jeg husker jeg anmeldte kanadiske Paul Fentons forrige utgivelse (Live! In Toronto, 2002) i meget rosende ordelag. Og når jeg nå, i form av skiva Judgement Day, får hans nyeste prestasjoner inn på pulten, så husker jeg så bestemt hvorfor. Mannen er fantasisk bra, basta! Fenton har skrevet et knippe overordentlig vakre låter som simpelthen sniker seg inn under huden på deg, og blir der. Dette er ikke rein blues, langt der ifra, men det er ikke rein rock heller. Det nærmeste men vel kan komme blir å kalle det blues-rock med hippie-aktige psykedeliske overtoner. Hva nå enn det måtte være…Sett på for eksempel låta ”Red Tele Raga”, og du forstår hva jeg mener. Det er rett og slett de gode låtene som gjør Judgement day så bra, det og det faktum at Paul Fenton spiller en absolutt avsindig bra slide-gitar. En slide-gitar som er helt og holdent hans egen. Han har i løpet av sine 5-6 utgivelser klart å spille på seg en helt egen tone i slide’n sin, Paul Fenton ligner rett og slett ikke på noen. Jeg sa det i 2002 – se å bli kjent med denne mannen, og jeg kan ikke annet enn å gjenta meg selv. For min del setter jeg på skiva for ”ørtende ” gang, og denne gangen skal jeg bare nyte. Decca sa i ’62 da de nektet å signere Beatles at gitarbasert musikk var ut – tror ikke det, nei! Bjorn Wiksaas PAUL FENTON Judgement Day Jealous Monk Records JMR0208 (2006) Perhaps only the Australian Dave Hole is comparable in the slide guitar stakes, as Canadian Paul Fenton plays some of the most mesmerising, warm toned slide guitar you have ever heard. In fact 'Judgement Day' is not so much about the strength of his songs as establishing different musical context's for his searing slide. From the opening repeated catchy slide motif of 'Lost In The Woods' to the two part closing title track, Paul seeks out every nuance and every tone colour imaginable on his array of guitars. On the aptly titled instrumental 'Red Tele Raga' he extends the Eastern feel explored on the preceding George Harrison influenced 'The River', and both pieces suggest Paul is happiest searching out different textures and drones rather than focusing on one particular style...it's a rare pleasure to hear such musicianship outside of the usual 12 bar context on, although when he does dip into the Bo Diddley beat underpinning 'Skydog', he comes up with a Keith Richard style triumph...(and) by the time of the penultimate hard rocking intro of 'Nothing To Say' you get swept along by the sheer frisson of it all. The closing title track is a tour de force guitar piece opening with a mournful sounding slide over a lilting blues backing. Paul reverts to a an effective laid back Dave Gilmour style vocal and for the rest lets his playing colour the piece. The closing use of harmonics is perfect. A majestic player who at times seems to weave his guitar lines through the eyes of an imaginary needle, 'Judgement Day' is the perfect introduction to those who have never heard Paul Fenton before. Once you've heard this album you will be hooked. Review by Pete Feenstra getreadytorock.com ***** (Dutch original below the English translation): PAUL FENTON - "JUDGEMENT DAY" full CD - CAN I didn't know the Canadian Paul Fenton until I received his new album "Judgement Day." What a revelation this mix of blues, punk and psychedelic rock. A sound that brings us back from the late sixties to the early seventies. His is a great guitar player when it comes to rhythm guitar but his slide distinguishes him from other guitar players. He learned it from books by the way. One of the biggest influences to start playing himself was the late Rory Gallagher, but his list is much longer. Mainly blues guitar players who made Paul play the way he does now. His new album "Judgement Day" doesn't contain your every day blues which we (read you and me) can expect on a blues site, but there is enough blues in this album for those who want to listen carefully. Blues isn't the same for you or me. On this album we hear twelve fresh songs and the majority stays in your head and is all very well performed. I must say I played this album over and over again for several days before I was ready to write an honest review. I cannot compare him with any other guitar player which means that Paul has, for me at least, a unique style. There's only one cover to be found on the album and that's 'Your Close Friends' by Blind Willie Davis. All other songs are written by Paul and the title track "Judgement Day" got the most of my attention, because it has got a blues base, although "Skydog" has got it as well. He finishes the song with a blues turnaround. For all you guys who want to try something else I advise this album, and don't judge it immediately but give it some time. Definitely worth the effort. Reviewed by "BluesBoy" Georges Dorka, www.bobtjeblues.com, Netherlands/Belgium "De Candees Paul Fenton was tot kort geleden nog een onbekende voor mij, tot ik de cd "Judgement Day" ontving. Wat een openbaring deze mix van blues, punk en psychedelische rock. Een geluid wat ons gemakkelijk terug voert naar eind jaren zestig tot in het begin van de jaren zeventig. Hoewel Paul een goed ritmegitarist schijnt te zijn gaat zijn voorliefde duidelijk uit naar slide wat hij op zichzelf geleerd heeft via allerlei boekwerken. Een grote invloed om met muziek te beginnen was die van Rory Gallagher. Maar zijn lijst met invloeden reikt veel verder. Voornamelijk bluesartiesten die op een of andere manier een stempel gedrukt hebben op hoe Paul nu is. De cd "Judgement Day" bevat minder alledaagse blues dan dat wij (lees U en ik) zouden verwachten op een blues site. Maar er zit voldoende blues in verwerkt voor wie het maar horen wil. Blues is voor U niet hetzelfde dan voor mij. Op deze schijf horen we twaalf frisse nummers waar het merendeel van in je hoofd blijft zitten die stuk voor stuk goed uitgevoerd worden. Ik moet er wel bij vertellen dat ik deze cd meerdere dagen onafgebroken gedraaid heb voor ik zover was om voor mijn gevoel een eerlijke recensie te schrijven. Ik kan dan ook geen vergelijking maken met welke andere muzikant dan ook. Dit spreekt in zijn voordeel als je het hebt over geluid en stijl, uniek voor Paul Fenton. De enige cover komt van Blind Willie Davis en heet 'Your Close Friends'. De rest is van eigen hand waarvan de titelsong 'Judgement Day' mij het meest aanspreekt, waarschijnlijk omdat hier een lekkere bluesbasis in zit. Maar dit horen we ook in 'Skydog' waar Paul afsluit met een blues turnaround. Voor wie eens iets anders wil horen adviseer ik deze cd en dan niet gelijk oordelen maar even op je in laten werken, zeker de moeite waard." 'Blues Boy' Georges Dorka www.bobtjeblues.com "He doesn't really sound like a blues singer in the traditional sense, but more like a rock vocalist, and actually, more like a punk rock vocalist. He's gotten more and more into developing a distinctive style of his own since I first heard him, which I think is a really good thing. This new album in particular, is different than anything else you've done before." Marty Murray, The NAIL (St. Catharines) Thomas Ruf, president-owner of Germany's Ruf Records label, after hearing a preview of the new CD said "It was a real listening pleasure! Different, very cool and well crafted." "What a wonderful sound this is, slide with a touch of Sixties music, this makes you think about life." Bobtjeblues.com, Belgium Paul was the featured artist on "Blue Jeans Generation" radio show Tuesday Sept. 19. "Mr. Paul Fenton is presented as the 'headliner' of this edition of the radio emission. His extraordinary music deserved it." Dragutin Matosevic, host. Digital  Note-worthy: Paul used Leon Hendrix's drummer for his gig in Seattle The 1978 Action hit "TV's on the Blink" appeared on the Canadian Punk Rock History compilation CD along with songs from Teenage Head, DOA and other seminal bands. It's available at punkhistorycanada.ca LinksPaul's myspace.com website with downloadable mp3's, video, press reviews, pics and much more Paul Fenton fan page in Chicago Paul's legendary first band The Action Paul Fenton and Rory Gallagher and pics German Fenton fan site with reviews Belgian review of "Live! In Toronto" Paul Fenton CD Planet Dobro labels Paul an "up and comer"
 “God is playing my guitar, I am with God when I play.” Link Wray "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." - Decca rejects the Beatles, 1962 email Paul Fenton The official Paul Fenton website went online on February 10, 1999 |