“ Memphis In The Meantime are a band with a soul as big as its heart, they pay scant regard to fad or fashion and while their music is rooted in the rich fertile soil of the blues, the vibrant flowers that blossom are all its own. “
MM – Maverick – July 2006
Whereas the rest of the music industry puts a premium on youth, throwing out the old in favor of the new with alarming regularity, blues and roots audiences seem to like their musicians matured like a fine wine. It is as if they innately understand that you need to live life to sing about it - never trust any guitarist under 30 ! Well, the members of Memphis In The Meantime have no fear of being asked for I.D. at the bar but otherwise this quartet has all the funky energy of a band of young Turks combined with the nuanced musicianship that only comes with experience.
Despite their well-deserved reputation as a party band Memphis In The Meantime have always had a flair for melodies and lyrics as well as grooves. They are a genre-defying group, mixing blues, rockabilly, southern soul & rock ‘n’ roll into something that is truly their own.
The band was formed in 2002 by guitarist / songwriter Mark Shaw and Chris Lomas, who plays bass and is also an accomplished writer. The two share lead vocal duties. Within a few years, the current longtime lineup was assembled with the addition of Fred Skidmore ( piano & organ ) in 2003 and drummer Micky Barker in 2004.
Interest from one of Europe’s biggest blues & roots labels Blues Matters led to the band starting work on there debut album ‘ Take Me Home ‘ featuring originals and favorites from there live set which was released to much critical acclaim in February 2006. The band toured extensively, sharing the bill with the legendry Chris Farlow at The Littlecote House Blues Weekend, opening for Madeline Bell ( ex 70’s chart toppers Blue Mink ) on the main stage at the 10th Nantwich Jazz & Blues Festival, performing three shows at The Big Rivers Festival in Holland, the band also appeared at the Burnley Blues Fest and two years running have bagged a prime spot on the Roadhouse stage at the Great British R’n’B Festival in Clone, Lanc’s, the largest festival of it’s type in the UK. In Jan 2008 work began on the next album and the touring continues.
The great thing about Memphis In The Meantime is that they can play blues clubs and festivals or rock venues, a diversified band yes, but everybody’s on the same page and that page is headed “The Bluesâ€
