Eric Gales has rescheduled his February 2022 UK tour to March/April 2022. The tour follows the release of his album ‘The Bookends’ via Provogue/Mascot Label Group earlier in 2019. The album features collaborations with B. Slade, Doyle Bramhall II and Beth Hart.
Tickets for all dates are on sale via www.thegigcartel.com. Previously bought tickets for all shows are still valid. Customers unable to attend the rescheduled date should contact their original point of purchase for a refund.
Special guest on all shows is the critically acclaimed British Blues rock guitarist Danny Bryant. Hailed as “A National Blues Treasure,” Bryant recently released his 11th studio album ‘Means of Escape’ via Jazzhaus Records to great fanfare.
The challenge for making ‘The Bookends’ was for Gales to challenge himself. “As a guitar player it’s been established that I can play a little bit, just a little bit,” he smiles. But for this album he not only wanted to push himself as a musician, but also as a vocalist, to build up his vocal discography. “What spearheaded that was the artists that I have on the record,” he says.
Written over a nine month period, the album was recorded at Recorded at Studio Delux, Van Nuys, California, The Dog House, Woodland Hills, California, Blakeslee Recording, North Hollywood and the day before he was due to fly to LA for pre-production the original producer David Bianco tragically died. It was Bianco’s management who then suggested Matt Wallace. “I heard his work and the kind of people he has produced such as Maroon 5, Faith No More and all these cats. When we met up together it was just perfect. I just trusted the guy and it ended up being great, I love Matt Wallace,” says Gales.
Three-time Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award winning vocalist B. Slade appears on two songs, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ and bonus track ‘Pedal to the Metal.’ “When he came in during pre-production and we were writing, it was so intense. At first, I was a little afraid to sing in front of this guy, because this is what this dude does, he’s a phenomenal person and he just brought it out of me,” he says before continuing. “I don’t know if he was really aware of who I was before we met, but the day that he walked in and he heard the songs, his mind was blown. That was before he even saw me playing guitar, so when he saw me playing, he said ‘in my life I ain’t never seen nobody that can play like this.’”
The notions of change (‘Reaching for a Change’, ‘Somebody Lied’) and love (‘How Do I Get You’, ‘Whatcha Gon’ Do’) are throughout the album. On ‘Something’s Gotta Give’, Slade’s and Gales vocals take turns to yearn “I tell ya people have lost their mind, happy children so hard to find, desolation all in the streets, plenty babies don’t have food to eat, hey, I ain’t preaching, that’s not my thang, I just know we’ve got to make a change.” ‘It Just Beez That Way’ features Gales beatboxing and playing slide guitar on record for the first time.
Talking about being in the studio he elaborates; “The whole vocal thing was something I consciously wanted to push and Matt was on the same page, saying, ‘there’s gonna be sometimes you might not like me because I’m gonna push you because I feel that I know what you can do, and its more than just guitar playing’. It was just really powerful and moving.”
Doyle Bramhall II and Gales’ friendship dates back to the 1990s and Eric Clapton’s right-hand man features on the triumphant ‘Southpaw Serenade’, while powerhouse vocalist Beth Hart joins Gales on a rousing rendition of ‘With A Little Help from My Friends.’ “Why that song? Well we both have similar stories,” he says. “We’re survivors you know, drug addiction and her from depression. If you’ve got the right support and you can have help from your friends, it will all be awesome. It is such a powerful piece.”
RESCHEDULED MARCH/APRIL 2022 UK TOUR
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST DANNY BRYANT
TICKETS VIA THEGIGCARTEL.COM
Brighton, Concorde 2
Wednesday 23rd March 2022
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286A Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1EN
www.concorde2.co.uk
Dover, The Booking Hall
Thursday 24th March 2022
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Dover CT17 9FE
www.thebookinghall.com
London, O2 Academy Islington
Friday 25th March 2022
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16 Parkfield St, The Angel, London N1 0PS
https://academymusicgroup.com/o2academyislington
Southampton, 1865
Saturday 26th March 2022
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Brunswick Square, Southampton SO14 3AR
www.the1865.com
Bristol, Fleece
Sunday 27th March 2022
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12 St Thomas St, Bristol BS1 6JJ
https://thefleece.co.uk
Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 29th March 2022
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Masonic Pl, Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5LB
www.rescuerooms.com
Bilston, The Robin
Wednesday 30th March 2022
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20 – 28 Mount Pleasant, Wolverhampton, Bilston WV14 7LJ
www.therobin2.com
Manchester, Academy
Thursday 31st March 2022
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Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
www.manchesteracademy.net
Glasgow, Oran Mor
Friday 1st April 2022
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Top of, Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8QX
https://oran-mor.co.uk
Whitley Bay, Playhouse
Saturday 2nd April 2022
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Marine Ave, Whitley Bay NE26 1LZ
www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk
Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Sunday 3rd April 2022
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33 Queen’s Rd, Leeds LS6 1NY
www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk
