Mid-Juno 2014 week, Canadian bluesman David Gogo hopes to turn his four-time track record of Juno nominee to Juno recipient for Blues Album of the Year at the awards ceremony, held March 30 in Winnipeg, Man.
The internationally-acclaimed blues singer/songwriter and guitarist is the next act in line for the Bragg Creek Performing Arts (BCPA) season.
Set to take the stage in trio format April 5 at the Bragg Creek Community Centre, Gogo will be showcasing his 13th album, Come On Down (2013), inspired by his fall 2012 trek along ‘the Blues Trail’ — a pilgrimage throughout Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama that led to his crafting of six new tunes and six rewrites of blues standards.
Gogo will be joined in the hamlet by Jay Stevens on bass and Gordon Grant Baird III on drums.
“As much as I’ve studied blues my whole life, there’s something about breathing the air, and meeting the people and eating the food,” said Gogo.
His 10-day, jam-packed exploration that included pouring bourbon on the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson’s grave, as well as an interview and showcase of Sonny Payne’s King Biscuit Radio Hour— the longest running American radio show in history, on air since 1951.
Alternating between a solo, acoustic storytelling performance to his electric act, Gogo embraces the classic image of a bluesman — paying homage to his predecessors and dressing the part.
“A big part of the show is between the songs....first and foremost, I was always a ‘live’ guy,” he said, adding that looking the part is integral to the authenticity of his musicianship, admitting being “thrown for a loop” when feeling off-balance at a show and looking down at his feet, as he realized he accidentally wore his street shoes on stage.
A variety of guitars are included in his collection, including a 1930 National Steel and the usual suspects of Fenders and Gibsons.
“Fender Stratocaster has stickers all over it...but in the last couple of years I’ve learned to play a Gibson Les Paul.”
Hailing from his family property, located 15 minutes from Nanaimo, B.C., Gogo got his move on music by wielding his guitar first, showcasing his vocals second.
“It was the guitar playing that got me gigs...at first (the singing) was more of a shouting, but I think it’s developed over time,” he said, musing over his storied career, which has seen him performing with industry icons such as George Thorogood, ZZ Top, Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, Otis Rush and B.B. King.
He has also toured at length with Texas blues legend Johnny Winter.
Reflecting on the politics of life in the music business, Gogo said he almost wound up ending his career in the early-mid ‘90s.
“Everything was moving upwards, until I was getting approached by others for management...all of a sudden there were too many cooks and it spoiled the stew. It almost ruined my career,” he admitted, adding that he longed at that time for the simplicity in music: getting up and playing for his fans, night after night, minus the complexity.
“Luckily I was young enough to rebuild and give another kick at the can...I kind of poo-poohed the major label thing and went indie long before it was hip,” he explained.
Gogo is currently signed to indie Victoria label, Cordova Bay Records and has been for 15 years.
International nods, accolades and peer recognition has been highlighted with two Maple Blues Awards, one Western Canadian Music Award, a Great Canadian Blues Award (through CBC Radio) and a West Coast Music Award, among many nominations.
Another recent nomination includes one for Blues Artist of the Year by the SiriusXM Indie Awards.
Learn more at davidgogo.com.
Tickets to the April 5 BCPA show are available at braggcreekperformingarts.com.
