The Fabulous Thunderbirds live @ Kingston Grand Theatre
The Fabulous Thunderbirds Live at Kingston Grand Theatre
Show Notes and Background by Stuart Roberts and Stoney Plains Records
Photography – The Photo Roadies (www.thephotoroadies.com)
Last month, several venues in Ontario had the music luxury of hearing Austin blues legends, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Under the leadership of Kim Wilson, the Thunderbirds came to life in 1974. Their biggest selling album, “Tuff Enuff” spawned two major singles that blues fans recognize instantly, “Wrap It Up” and went on to sell over one million copies.and the title track which was featured in the Michael Fox movie. You might have heard music from the Fabulous Thunderbirds in movies such as Hot Pursuit (1987), Light of Day with Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett (1987) in which the band also made a cameo appearance, and in the 1988 Tom Cruise movie, Cocktail. The Fabulous Thunderbirds with guitar wizard Jimmie Vaughan have become favourites with many musicians and fans over the years, with opportunities that saw them sharing a bill with The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.
The band celebrates their 50th anniversary with the release of their first new studio album in eight years – Struck Down. Struck Down features 9 original new songs cowritten by Hamilton bluesman Steve Strongman & Kim Wilson and a stellar cover of Memphis Minnie’s song “Nothin’ in Ramblin. The album was produced by Kim Wilson, Steve Strongman & Glen Parrish, recorded in New Jersey and Hamilton, and mixed by Shelly Yakus (John Lennon/U2/Tom Petty). Guests include Billy Gibbons on the first single “Payback Time”, and Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and Mick Fleetwood on the sole cover song on the album, Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing In Rambling.” Stand out tracks include the opening track “Struck Down By The Blues” featuring Steve Strongman on guitar, the Cajun-flavored “Don’t Make No Sense” featuring Terrance Simien on accordion, “Watcha Do To Me” featuring Elvin Bishop, and the wistful closing track “Sideline.” The band continues to tour internationally selling out venues and headlining festivals with the current line-up of Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Johnny Moeller on guitar, Bob Welsh on keyboards & guitar, Rudy Albin on drums, and Steve Kirsty on bass
If you were in Kingston, Markham, Oakville or St. Catherines, you had the chance to hear to hear the new LP in person. The band is now prepping for a UK tour that begins in Glasgow, Scotland on January 17/2025
Get all the latest news on the Fabulous Thunderbirds at https://fabulousthunderbirds.com/
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, from “Stuck Down”
Tuff Enuff
Powerful Stuff
