Kate Meehan and Skip Landy
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Kate and Skip are playing at wedding next saturday night in Goulburn gues whose getting married !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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More About The Artist
Latest Video's posted on You Tube
My Sister's Shoes
special thanks to David Stoekel SA Blues Society
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y78YCI9owA
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THE AGE Friday, November 14, 2008
My Sister’s Shoes
Kate Meehan, Skip Landy, Peter Gelling
(Independent) «««
Kate Meehan has the authority of one
who has lived the life she sings about and
the voice to wring a tear from recitation of
a telephone book. In company with her
regular musical partner, pianist Skip
Landy, and multitasker Peter Gelling, she
has made an album of surpassing pleas-
ure. Gelling produces and arranges (the
booting horn ensembles are a delight), and
plays guitar and harmonica. His phrasing
on both instruments is imaginative and
spare where so many are prolix. The songs
are largely originals by combinations of the
principals, with two by the Texas-
songwriter Kathy Murray, who has con-
tributed tellingly to previous albums by
Meehan. Marisa Quigley, another big-
Voiced singer, adds her vocal power to
Every Blues Singer. Striking is the melody
and wit on display, and the swing of the
ensemble, that hip-shaking pulse felt too
seldom today. The album is dedicated with
love to Meehan’s sister, Lynette, and Gel-
ling’s brother, Kevin – two who weathered
more of life’s storms than most.
KEN WILLIAMS
.........................................................................................................................................................
KATE MEEHAN – SKIP LANDY – PETER GELLING
My sister’s shoes
Independent. www.katemeehan.com
There is so much to like about this album and for so many reasons. Collaborations can so often turn into just a jam but real collaboration is about knowing one another, sharing stories and building ideas. This is a real collaboration that has produced songs of real substance. What’s the old saying? “Blues is a feeling.” Blues works when those feelings are real and are expressed; it’s the factor that separates the great artists from others. Kate and Skip’s last album was stripped back and it worked well, but here they show their flexibility, easily slotting into a much bigger sound. Kate’s singing and songwriting is as strong as ever, showing a depth and confidence, blending the real and imagined into entertaining and thought provoking material. Skip easily slots into the band format and although not the main focus still manages to always add something whether it is a solo or driving the rhythm on piano or in his songwriting. As for Peter Gelling, well I hadn’t heard him for years, since his Blind Freddy days. I’m not sure how I haven’t heard him as he has released two wonderful albums during that time. His guitar playing and songwriting has a breadth that is gained only through years of hard living and hard work, but his other strings, harmonica & bass playing, vocals, arrangement, production, engineering and sampling show just how much talent he possesses. Songs of meaning such as the trio penned title track and Gelling’s “Where did I go wrong?” add a complexity of understanding that is rarely seen. 8 other originals covering the range of love gone bad (You’ve been telling me lies) to songs of feeling good about yourself (New shoes) are performed in various tempos and feels and provides for entertaining listening. Two tracks from Canadian Kathy Murray slot in seamlessly as the trio meld it to their style. And if that isn’t enough Matthew Ottignon, Chris Soole, Jonathan Hunt, Miroslav Bukovsky and James Greening really cook on horns with arrangements that adds a huge cherry on top! Speaking of cherries, well red heads, I just love the blues bragging songs and “Every blues singer,” a duet with Chubby Rae’s Marissa Quigley, is an absolute pearler.
Rooster
Latest CD Reviews
My Sister’s Shoes…
Hi there! Canadian Cath here from 4
I just gotta spread the news about the Blues on My Sister’s Shoes. Kate Meehan, Skip Landy & Peter Gelling’s latest CD release. I just received it in the mail yesterday and I’m impressed! Let me tell you a little bit about it.
“You’ve been telling me lies” a classic Kate Meehan song. Only Kate can sign about a cheatin’ man and still be entertaining.
“Stay Happy Harry” What a great little tune this one is with Pete Gelling on harmonica & Skip tickling the ivories – what a cool combination.
The title track “My Sister’s Shoes” Is a beautiful heart wrenching song written & sung by Kate. She puts her all into this one. You can almost feel the pain.
Then there’s “New Shoes” Kate’s got her new shoes on and steppin’ out into a new life.
“Every Blues Singer” is a hit! A joint venture between Kate & Marisa Quigley of “Chubby Rae” fame got together to write & record this one. I hope they do it again. This one should win SONG OF THE YEAR! It’s got my vote.
“Where did I go wrong” written by Peter Gelling and sung by Kate - another winner.
“Your Barndoor’s Open” written by Kathy Murray of Texas, U.S.A. Kathy has written quite a few songs for Kate over the years. “Call me Mrs. Blues” was an award winning song on “Soulshaker”
Written by Kathy. I wonder if Kate & Kathy have ever met – face to face?
We also here from Blind Dog Ferguson (a dog) a.k.a. “Spike” on Barndoor and Kate is MooMoo BooHooing during the song. How does she do it? I’d be cracking up laughing trying to sing that. BUT that’s what makes Kate stand out from the rest. The way she can deliver a song is just absolutely marvelous!
We even hear from Peter Gelling himself singing “Analysis Paralysis” What a title for a song. You gotta hear the lyrics – awesome! There are a few more I haven’t told you about (there are 12 tracks in all) but they finish with a Jam with Pete & Skip on “Blues for Lesley” Who’s Lesley?
This CD has got everything – including a bit of Brass, double bass & drums. MY SISTER’S SHOES is not to be overlooked. It’s a very good mix of the talents of 3 great artists namely, Kate Meehan, Skip Landy & Peter Gelling and a little help from their friends. Get your self a copy of My Sister’s Shoes from Only Blues Music www.onlybluesmusic.com of direct from Kate at www.katemeehan.com
Cheers!
Canadian Cath Ford
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FINALIST
Female Vocalist of the year at the Australian Blues Music "CHAIN" awards 2008
FINALIST
Duo/Group of the year at the Australian Blues Music "CHAIN" Awards 2008
See More AWARDS Below
Victorian based award winning duo Kate Meehan & Skip Landy are a dynamic vocal & piano act that meld good rocking old school rhythm & blues with heartfelt original ballads. Come along & find out why Kate is regarded as one of australia's top blues singers & winner of MBAS female blues artist of 2007
Kate Meehan was born in Hobart, the daughter of jazz trumpeter and vocalist Clem Meehan. She was raised in a household infused with music, hearing Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald one day, and listening to Carole King and Shirley Bassey the next. It was in this environment that Clem started giving Kate her first singing lessons. Kate's formal music education commenced at the Sacred Heart College where she received piano lessons as well singing in the choir, and by the time she commenced High School, Kate had added guitar to her arsenal.
At sixteen Kate left High School and moved to the mainland where she busked with her guitar around Adelaide for a few years learning the art of performing as a soloist in public. By the time she was twenty Kate had returned to Hobart where she fronted various covers and originals bands, before returning to the mainland, this time Melbourne, for a brief sojourn in front of another covers band.
At twenty four Kate found herself back in Tasmania where she was approached by the Fabulous Blues Cats, a Chicago jump-blues styled band. This is where Kate found her groove. Koko Taylor was discovered, and there was no turning back. Kate learnt her craft as a raunchy blues belter in front of this band playing the midnight to four shift every Friday and Saturday night at the Round Midnight nightclub in Salamanca.
In 1998 she recorded her first album as the Kate Meehan Blues Band "Let the Good Times Roll", a CD covering her favourite electric Chicago blues songs. This album opened doors back on the mainland on the blues festival circuit. It was also at this time that Kate heeded advice that she would have to write her own material to get anywhere as a blues singer, and over the next four years Kate released two more albums including her own songs as well as originals by her Austin, Texas pen friend, Kathy Murray
Future and Past FESTIVALS
Bidgee Blues Festival 2008
Uranquinty Folk Festival 2008
BASEQ Women in Blues 2008 QLD
Blues on Broadbeach 2008
Big Bad Babes of the Blues 2008
Apollo Bay Music Festival 2008
Devonshire Blues March 2008
Australian Blues Music Festival 2008
Thredbo Blues Festival 2008
Devonshire Blues October 2007
Newcastle Jazz Festival 2007
Bay of Islands Blues and Jazz Festival 2007
Beat the Winter Blues Event 2007
Devonshire Blues March 2007
Taste of Tasmania 2007
Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival 2006
Noosa Jazz Festival 2006
Toyota Gympie Muster 2006
Mount Beauty Music Muster 2006
Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival 2006
Australian Blues Music Festival 2006
Roomful O' Blues 2005
Blues on Broadbeach 2005
Forth Valley Blues Festival 2005
Australian Blues Music Festival 2005
Thredbo Blues Festival 2005
Blues At Bridgetown 2004
Blues without Boundaries 2004
Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival 2003
Canberra Blues n' Rock Festival 2003
Sydney's Blues Gals Cruise 2002
Broadbeach Blues Festival 2002
Thredbo Blues Festival 2002
Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival 2001
Australian Blues Music Festival 2001
Thredbo Blues Festival 2001
Great Southern International Blues &
Rockabilly Festival 2000
Bluestone Blues Festival 2000/01
Australian Blues Music Festival 2000
Forth Valley Blues Festival 1999
East coast Blues and Roots Festival 1994
Salamanca Blues Festival 1993
Salamanca Blues Festival 1992
AWARDS
2008 Nominated Female Artist of the year
Australian Blues Music "Chain " Awards
2008 Nominated Best Duo/Group of the Year
Australian Blues Music "Chain Awards" Awards
2007 Female Blues Artist of the Year
MBAS "VicTas" Awards
2002 & 2003 Consecutive Winner
Female Vocalist of the year
Australain Blues Music Awards
2003 Winner Song/Performer of the year
Australian Blues Music Awards
MusicOZ 2001 and 2002
Runner up - Blues Category
Music Oz - 2003
Top 5 Finalist - Blues Category
Finalist - Australian Blues Music Awards
2005
Female Vocalist of the year
2003
Band/Group of the Year
2003
Album of the year
2002
Song of the year
1999
SKIP LANDY BIO
Skip Landy first publicly played the blues in 1972 when he entered a piano led trio into the Australian National Eisteddfod in Canberra. Over the next thirty years he played in many local bands culminating in receiving the Canberra Blues Society's inaugural Instrumentalist of the Year "Bluey" award in 2003. This was the same year that Skip and Kate Meehan first met, and after playing a couple of hurriedly rehearsed gigs with Kate, Skip knew that "it was going to be now or never, leave everything behind and go for broke with Kate." Since then Skip and Kate have melded their talents into the stripped back duo format that has earned them acclaim from their peers and the public. Skip cites all of the rhythm and blues piano players from New Orleans as his biggest influence, and when he fires up behind Kate in a fast boogie you are sure to hear strains of Champion Jack Dupree or Eddie Bo, and occasionally James Booker.
Skip and Kate's next album, "My Sister's Shoes" recorded in Adelaide with renowned guitarist, composer and producer, Peter Gelling will be released on October 13th 2008.
Press Reviews
Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society - Australia
Kate Meehan and Skip Landy
Two of my favourite things are blues piano and blues singing, so this duo is right up my alley. Singers so often have to compete with their musicians to get heard and are perhaps forced to sing tunes that don't suit their voice, just because it has a good guitar solo in it! It also takes a lot of confidence to strip everything back and let your voice be the main instrument. Kate obviously has that confidence, not only in her voice but also Skip's playing as he too has no one to hide behind. There are so many things I like about this album. I haven't seen or heard a lot of Kate or Skip (sorry guys!) so it is refreshing to hear someone new. There is a great mix of blues and ballads on this album, with the tempo being pretty laid back, allowing us to hear the lyrics and Kate's voice clearly. Kate sings within herself and this controlled power and subtlety really adds depth to the songs. Even though the lyrics cover the usual blues themes they explore more emotional dynamics than just, "my man left me." The original "Leave the past behind" delves into the deep emotional material of how separation and scorn can impact on children. Kate also delves heavily into Texan songwriter Kathy Murray's catalogue with five tracks including 2003 Chain Award winning song of the Year "Call me Mrs Blues."
Don't get me wrong there is still plenty of Kate getting back at men who done her wrong, just imagine getting a song like "Money Hungry Man," or "Second hand man," written about you, exposing your every sordid detail! Often female blues singers are categorised as either the sassy, sexy mama or the big blues shouter, but the likes of Fiona Boyes and Kerri Simpson show you can be all that but a lot, lot more. I think I was expecting Kate to just be a blues shouter, but there is virtually none of this on the album and instead she shows that her voice is strong and dynamic and her songs are rich in content. Kate also doesn't shy from the often more difficult slower blues. With the Murray penned ballad, "Out of Love," her voice is bared for all to hear and it comes up a treat.
You may be saying, yeah but what about Skip Landy? Well you don't notice him, but you do! It isn't a matter of "here comes the piano solo," as the two blend seamlessly, you are able to take in the full song rather than being hindered by what one person is doing. I love the fact that Skip has kept to the piano sound throughout rather than trying out the million sounds keyboards have to offer these days. It takes away any distractions from his playing or Kate's singing. Piano blues offers so much variety in itself and Skip handles all of them and control and subtlety win again. His boogie on "Aint like it is" isn't 100 miles an hour, it's respectful of the song and Kate and spot on.
The other highlight is the album finishing, rather than starting with, "I'm a woman." To hear Kate belt out "oh yeah, everything's gonna be alright this mornin'" at the end of an album of well structured and well performed songs is exhilarating. It has greater impact due to what has gone before it and it oozes confidence. Think of the greats like Etta James and Koko Taylor, it is as if Kate is saying "I can belt it out with the best of them............AND DON"T YOU FORGET IT!!!"
It looks like Kate and Skip will be doing a few winery gigs in June, but hopefully they can arrange a few small, smoky (but not for too much longer), laid back, pub gigs as well for all us real people!!!
Rooster
CD Review from Rhythms Magazine - June 2007-by Al Hensley
Rhythms Magazine Pty Ltd
Kate Meehan & Skip Landy
Pocketful of Blues
(Independent – www.katemeehan.com)
Following up their 2004 CD success Can I Play Too, multi-award winning duo, raunchy vocalist Kate Meehan and barrelhouse piano player Skip Landy, carve a niche for themselves among the top echelon of Aussie blues performers on the release of this new album. Presenting six original songs by Meehan and five by her friend Texas blueswoman Kathy Murray, it climaxes a blistering 45-minute set with a dynamic reading of Koko Taylor's I'm a Woman.
Meehan, from Tasmania, and Landy, from the ACT, are regular performers at major national jazz and blues festivals from Noosa to Wangaratta, the former being acknowledged Queen of the Blues in both 2002 and 2003 at the Australian Blues Music "Chain Awards". Playing in the Dr John/James Booker New Orleans style, Landy is the ideal vehicle to transport Meehan's gutsy voice through a repertoire of swinging uptempo and slow blues, funky R&B and soulful ballads.
A seasoned performer with over two decades experience in the business, Meehan displays adroit songwriting skills on themes ranging from old boyfriends to greedy musicians. The jaunty stop-time feel of her self-penned title track and the rolling boogie of It Aint Like It Is demonstrate an evenly matched pairing of blues talents oozing energy steeped in tradition.
Royal Oak Performance Review
Sauce Editions Online
Dubbed "Australia's Queen of Blues" Kate – originally
of Hobart – has been on the Australian blues scene
for around twenty-four years. Skip was born and
raised in Canberra, and is easily the best blues
pianist I've ever seen live! Separately, they are
accomplished individuals – Kate winning a "Chain
Award" for Female Vocalist of The Year in 2002/03
at The Australian Blues Festival among others; and
Skip, first pounding the ivories at Byron Bay's Blues
and Roots festival in 1984 and recording/touring
with various bands and artists since. Together,
they're a staple at most major blues festivals around
the country, and the perfect compliment to each
other.
On the last day of their Tassie tour, supported by a
small but stoic crowd in "The Boatshed" at The Oak,
the duo performed some classic old-school blues
(both originals and covers), pulled some sweet little
jokes (Kate even sang an orgasm, blues-mamma
style, just like in the classics), and both delivered
it all in the ease one might expect from two such
professionals. Skip is an absolute stand-out on
the keys and had me transfixed on his seemingly
effortless style and speed, and Kate has one of
those gutsy voices that transcends generations, and
is instantly recognisable to any fan of the blues;
a real comfort after the hangover I most richly
deserved.
If you love classic blues/piano, make an effort to see
them next time you get the chance.
-Adam Ferguson
Setlist
As Long as I've Sung the Blues - Kate Meehan
It Aint Like It Is! -Kate Meehan
Leave the Past Behind -Kate Meehan
Money Hungry Man- Kate Meehan
Pocket Full of Blues -Kate Meehan
Second Hand Man - Kate Meehan
Black Cat - Kate Meehan
Sign of the times - Kate Meehan - Gospel
Call Me Mrs Blues - Kathy Murray
Exception to the Rule - Kathy Murray
Final Verdict - Kathy Murray
Off the Clock - Kathy Murray
Out of Love -Kathy Murray
Room for More -Kathy Murray
Spell it Out - Kathy Murray
Your Barn Door's Open - Kathy Murray
One Lie Leads to Another - Kathy Murray
Best Old Friend
Finest Loving Man
I Cant Help You Now
I Will Not Be Broken
Love Me Like a Man
My Sister's Shoes - Kate Meehan & Peter Gelling
Every Blues Singer - Kate Meehan & Marisa Quigley
In the Middle of it all - Arthur Alexander
Hard Times -Eddie Bo
Let the Good Times Roll
Hey Bartender
Where Did I Go Wrong -Peter Gelling
Your Good Thing Has Come to an End
Spoonful
Damn Your Eyes - Etta James
Smackwater Jack - Carole King
6345789
Stormy Monday
Be What You Wanna Be -
That's Why I'm Crying -
Call Me Big Mama -Big Mama Thornton
My Man Called Me - Big Mama Thornton
All Around the World- Titus Turner
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
The Lights of the City - Michael Murphey
Amazing Grace
I Aint Got Nothing But the Blues
Wichita Lineman -Jimmy Webb
Autumn Leaves
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate -Jackson Browne
Don't Touch Me
Don't Explain
Don't Go To Strangers
Lullaby of Birdland
Can it Be Done -Wilson Turbington
My First Night Alone Without You
You Don't Know What Love Is
The Gypsy
Paper Moon
All of Me
Aint Misbehavin
Body and Soul
Lover Man
Hallelujah Louisiana - Dann Penn
Aint Gonna Worry My Mind -Richard Leigh
Lay me down a pallete on your floor
Basic Requirements
Being a piano and vocal duo, we can play on just about any size stage from about 3 square meters
(10 feet by 10 feet) upwards.
If we are not travelling with our own equipment, then we would require the following:
An electronic piano (if no acoustic one is available)
with 88 weighted action keys. Such as a Yamaha P200. And a suitable stand and stool.
A keyboard amplifier
Two microphones and stands.
Kate Meehan & Skip Landy
MBAS "VicTas" Awards
Finalist Female Blues Artist of the Year
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