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The Darcy Perry Band

Bio

Darcy Perry became part of the New Zealand blues scene in the early 90s when he started playing bass guitar for Manawatu bluesman Tura 'Bullfrog' Rata. A decade later Perry released his debut album as a guitarist, 'Blues 4 Dad', dedicated to his father Ross Perry who died of Cancer March 5th 2002. The rave reviews that followed its independent release saw the formation of the Darcy Perry Band.

The band began performing in pubs, bars and venues around the country. In October 2002 they made their first television appearance, playing live on the Good Morning Show. Then in April 2003 they were invited to the National Jazz and Blues festival in Tauranga. Entering the district relatively unknown, they played 2 gigs that had crowds overflowing onto the streets. They became the talk of the town after their passionate performances.

At the end of 2003 the main studio at Stebbing was booked to record the original blues album, 'Don’t Hold Back'. The resulting twelve songs (recorded in a tight three day schedule) were written and arranged by the band with a drive to capture the energy and magic that people experience at their live shows.

Appearances for 2004 started with the huge Blues Brews & BBQs event at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui. A welcome return to the Bay of Plenty, for the National Jazz Festival saw an increase in the band fan base and an almost fanatical rush to grab a copy of the new 'Don’t Hold Back' CD. Other highlights included featuring in the Roots Music series (on the new Maori TV channel) and playing live on Hyundai Sports Café.

Last year they were busy performing at various venues in Auckland including The London Bar, Occidental Belgium Beer Cafe, Lincoln Green and the Kings Arms. They headlined at both the Blues Brews & BBQs in Mount Maunganui and Hawkes Bay. Their third year at the Tauranga Jazz Festival was hugely successful. The band also made their first appearances at the Mission Bay Streetfest, Pasifika and the Auckland Food & Wine Festival.

New Zealand Music Month 2005 saw their first performance at Sky City. The entertainment management at Sky City were so impressed with the show, that the band were immediately secured for two nights in the New City Bar for the third AB vs. Lions test.

The Darcy Perry Blues Band have established themselves on the underground blues scene as a force to be reckoned with. Their award winning album ('Don't Hold Back') has garnered righteous acclaim from critics and roots music fans alike. With a loyal following from their travels, fans can look forward to the next album which the band recorded in October 2005 at Revolver.

'Heavy Rain', the title of the new album, is being released in July 2006 on RMA (Roots Music Aotearoa). It consists of twelve new original tracks highlighting the band's ardent appreciation of electric blues.

Band Members:
Craig Bracken (Harmonica)
Paul Merriott (bass)
Simen 'Blue Keys' Taylor (piano)
Darcy Perry (guitar, vocals)
Justin Roys (drums)

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Shade
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Joined: 17/07/02
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Location: Manawatu
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The Darcy Perry Band - Heavy Rain
Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:55 pm
Heavy Rain
Darcy Perry Blues Band
New Album in June
New Label Roots Music Aotearoa

Darcy Perry Blues Band are releasing their third album on 5 June on their new label RMA (Roots Music Aotearoa). Entitled Heavy Rain it consists of twelve new original tracks, highlighting their ardent appreciation of electric blues, for which they are renowned from their live concerts, establishing themselves in the underground blues scene as a force to be reckoned with.

The band recorded Heavy Rain during a long weekend in October last year at Revolver Studio in Waiuku. Neil Baldock (who did the mastering at Sonic Rat) engineered with Jason Shoushkoff assisting. The studio set-up was simple, being as close to a live performance as the group could obtain with very few effects.

Darcy Perry (vocals, guitar) has composed ten of the new tracks, with Craig Bracken (harmonica) and Paul Merriot (bass) composing one each. However, Darcy does not believe in taking the full credit with his compositions. Firstly he takes them to the band so they can work together on the best arrangement and then gives the other members composing credits to ensure a fair share of the royalties.

The title track Heavy Rain revolves around the things you could have talked to your father about on his death bed that were left unsaid. Regan (one of Darcy's brothers and guitarist for Cornerstone Roots) makes a guest appearance on guitar. Other songs include Pushing Me Round, Save The World (with a groove which never fails to fill the dance floor), It's All Downhill From Here (raw, guitar driven energy and a compelling harmonica solo, I Miss You Brother, Here Comes Winter (touching on the New Zealand child custody court system), Reaper Man (Craig recorded the harmonica in the bathroom), Peddler's Blues, Jade's Song (an ode to the birth of Darcy's first child), Ten Thousand Miles From Norway (dedicated to Simen, the band's Norwegian pianist), Before I Let You Down (part New Orleans boogie, part rumba featuring Darcy and Craig on trumpet and saxophone) and King Hit.

The members of Darcy Perry Blues Band are Darcy Perry (guitar, vocals, trumpet), Craig Bracken (harmonica, backing vocals, saxophone), Paul Merriott (bass, backing vocals), Simen "Bluekeys" Taylor (piano, backing vocals) and Justin Roys (drums, backing vocals). Darcy was part of the original line-up for Bullfrog Rata and the Jakes in the early nineties, and has worked with pioneers Shayn Wills and Midge Marsden.

He formed Darcy Perry Blues Band in 2002 and since they have performed in pubs, bars and venues around the country, building up a loyal fan base. The following year saw them at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Tauranga where they returned during the next two years to much success. In 2005 Darcy Perry Blues Band made their first appearances at the Mission Bay Streetfest, Pasifika and the Auckland Food & Wine Festival. A debut show at Sky City resulted in them being immediately booked again. Recently, they were a headline act at the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival.

The group's previous albums are Blues 4 Dad and Don't Hold Back.

The label, Roots Music Aotearoa has been launched by Darcy and Craig to help promote New Zealand blues and roots music. Perry explained they had been thinking about a label for some time. They hope that Roots Music Aotearoa would provide opportunities for New Zealand blues and roots musicians as a stepping stone. Bracken, whose great grandfather Thomas Bracken wrote the words for the national anthem, said they wanted to get New Zealand blues and roots music more widely promoted, particularly overseas.

Album: Heavy Rain
Artist: Darcy Perry Blues Band
Label: RMA Cat. No. DPCD004
Release Date: 5 June 2006
 

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