Although she grew up in South West England and lives in London, Bex Marshall will bring to the Heartland of the United States some all-American blues, bluegrass and gospel.
Marshall, whose first name is short for Rebecca, will bring her tour in support of her British Blues Award-nominated “House of Mercy” album, to Topeka for a 7 to 11 p.m. Friday show at Jeremiah Bullfrog’s Live, 4115 S.W. Huntoon. Before 10 p.m., there is no cover charge, then it is $3.
Marshall, who also is a British Blues Award nominee in the category of Best Female Vocalist, grew up in Devonshire influenced by two distinct family backgrounds: one blue-blooded, landed gentry, the other Irish Romany. As a girl, her uncles would encourage her at family gatherings to stand on the table and sing. When she was 11, her uncle gave her a 1963 Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar, which she still plays.
Classical guitar was her first passion, then flamenco, but later her tastes expanded to rock and roots music, which progressed into her own brand of the blues, which she accents with bluegrass and gospel.
Before becoming a full-time, professional musician, Marshall worked as a croupier, traveling around the world, dealing illegal poker games in Amsterdam, then hitch-hiking throughout Europe, always with her trusty guitar strapped to her back. More than once, she had to sing and play for her supper or a night’s lodging before her musical career took off.
“House of Mercy” draws its name from Marshall’s North London home, where the CD was recorded. Marshall wrote all 11 of its tracks, which also show off her unique earthy voice, described as equal parts Janis Joplin grit and homespun Joan Armatrading tunefulness.
The songs include low-down blues, back-porchy bluegrass and soul-stirring gospel and feature Marshall playing the acoustic steel-top resonator guitar blending fleet bluegrass picking and bluesy slidework into her unique sound, which one United Kingdom critic described as “Bonnie Raitt and Led Zep jamming in an Everglades moonshine joint.”
In the United States, Guitar World raved: “Guitarist Bex Marshall might hail from Britain, but she’s managed to nail the swampy blues and grooving gospel rock of the American South on her latest album, ‘House of Mercy.’ Her expressive, gutsy vocals are matched by her confident six-string style, which is exemplified on guitar workouts like ‘Love’ and ‘Bourbon Street.’ ”
Her 28-city U.S. tour in support of “House of Mercy” continues through September before she returns home to prepare for a Brazilian tour in October.
bill.blankenship@cjonline.com
The next artist on my “Hot List” is Aurora "Rory" Block (born November 6, 1949, Princeton, New Jersey, United States) is an American female blues guitarist and singer, a notable exponent of the country blues style.
Until next time, remember to help “SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC” . . .
MUSICIAN by Night
GOD Save “The Blues”
Beale Street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee
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