Erin Christie
Morning Star Staff
For Michael Charles, it香蕉视频直播檚 not about the size of the stage _it香蕉视频直播檚 how you use it.
The 62 year-old blues-man says he knows how to use a stage, and he intends to prove it to local audiences when he performs at Lorenzo香蕉视频直播檚 Cafe in Ashton Creek on September 30 and The Grateful Fed in Kelowna on September 29.
Whether he香蕉视频直播檚 playing on the gilded stage of the opulent Oriental Theatre in Chicago or a cramped corner bar in Moose Jaw, Sask., the eight-time Grammy-nominated performer said his 香蕉视频直播済o big or go home香蕉视频直播� approach has served him well.
香蕉视频直播淚 can remember going to these little venues and seeing the people香蕉视频直播檚 faces as I hauled in all my seven or eight guitars and my smoke machine. And then there香蕉视频直播檚 the band. They see this and they香蕉视频直播檙e looking at me like, 香蕉视频直播榃ho is this guy?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Charles said.
香蕉视频直播淲hether we香蕉视频直播檙e playing a big hall or a tiny bar, we try to give people the same show. I will bring in whatever I can fit.香蕉视频直播�
A show, he added, typically lasts two hours or so with no intermission.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 take breaks, I never have; even when I started out. My theory then was if I don香蕉视频直播檛 make it in this business, they香蕉视频直播檙e going to see what I can do now.香蕉视频直播�
Though longer shows are considered unique, Charles said he香蕉视频直播檚 not alone. Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen consistently play longer shows. Charles says this is presumably because, much like himself, they just love to play.
香蕉视频直播淚 guess we香蕉视频直播檙e just old school. Mostly, I think, we just love what we do.香蕉视频直播�
That love, he said, stems from childhood.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Charles was introduced to the guitar by his father when he was seven-years-old. Under his father香蕉视频直播檚 tutelage, the exuberant young Aussie honed his skills and developed a life-long love of music. When he turned 13, Charles香蕉视频直播檚 father bought him his own guitar _ a Fender Stratocaster that he still plays on stage today. He began playing shows around the city, eventually earning himself an invitation to play at the infamous Legends blues club in Chicago with the world-famous rhythm and blues guitarist .
Charles returned to Australia briefly, but was quickly lured back to the North American scene where he spent the next several years working the Chicago blues circuit, performing with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Eddy Clearwater, Junior Wells, George Blaze and Jimmy Dawkins.
香蕉视频直播淚 went to Chicago for two weeks 29 years ago and I香蕉视频直播檓 still here. I香蕉视频直播檝e got my citizenship. I香蕉视频直播檓 officially an American now,香蕉视频直播� he laughed, adding that he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 expect to ever lose his Aussie accent.
香蕉视频直播淵ou just don香蕉视频直播檛 know where life is going to take you.香蕉视频直播�
The soft-spoken musician said he could never have imagined the places his musical pilgrimage would take him. In 2015, it took him to the Blues Hall of Fame where he was inducted and honoured for his substantial contributions to the blues genre and the music industry. In 2016 production began on a documentary chronicling Charles香蕉视频直播� career. The documentary will be released later this year.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been on the road for 50 years and I香蕉视频直播檝e loved every minute of it,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a hell of a ride. I feel very blessed to be doing something I love, and lucky that it also pays the bills.香蕉视频直播�
Now, Charles is travelling his tenth consecutive tour, the 2017 All I Really Know Tour, which will take him to the far corners of the United States, Canada, and Australia, and includes a new host of night spots and festivals in cities he香蕉视频直播檚 never been to, including Kelowna and Ashton Creek.
While the prospect of a massive and varied tour might intimated some, Charles says he jumps at any opportunity to be on the road, and isn香蕉视频直播檛 precious about where he plays.
香蕉视频直播淏ig or small, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 really matter to me. The bigger halls are great, but the intimate corner bars and pubs remind me of where I got my start. As long as I can keep doing what I香蕉视频直播檓 doing, you really won香蕉视频直播檛 hear me complaining.香蕉视频直播�
Michael Charles will perform at Lorenzo香蕉视频直播檚 Cafe in Ashton Creek on Saturday, September.30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door. Charles will also appear at The Grateful Fed in Kelowna on Friday, September.29 at 9 p.m. For more information or tour dates go to .
