Are you experienced?

Music:

Member Since: 6/19/2006
Band Website: areyou-experienced.co.uk
Band Members: John Campbell - Guitar & Vocals, Mark Arnold - Bass Guitar, Kevin O'Grady - Drums & Backing Vocals
Influences: Hendrix, Hendrix, Hendrix and errrrrr oh yeah Hendrix
Sounds Like: Last Thursday we went to Leeds City Varieties to see Are You Experienced, a Hendrix tribute. There could be no half measures, this would either be awesome or awful. My heart sank as the lights dimmed, the announcement was made and a man looking uncannily like Hendrix, complete with scarves, fringed shirt and crushed velvet loons came on stage. Plus he was holding his white Stratocaster right handed, but it had a left-handed neck, this, I thought, is taking it too far. My spirits rose when the discordant intro of Purple Haze resounded through the theatre and stayed up there until the last wha-wha notes of encore Voodoo Chile brought proceedings to a close more than two hours later. Yes, John Campbell looks like Jimi Hendrix and he is good enough to play like Jimi Hendrix, with a few of his own flourishes. One of my great regrets is that I never saw Hendrix play live. Last Thursday, I went with the flow and the experience was like being transported 40 years back in time and seeing the real Hendrix.Outstanding... If John Campbell is playing anywhere remotely near you – just go and see him. Jaw-droppingly good playing, great band, great visuals - and a polite, good-natured personality as well. I saw JH back in 1969 but I have to say he didn’t sound nearly as good as John does. I went with friends and assorted kids from 12 upwards and all agreed it was a gig that easily deserved a place in our ‘top ten’ concerts list.Shaun Skelly In an interview in Guitarist magazine (November 2005) Are You Experienced? are described by Jon Stewart as:"Uncannily like the real thing (if you don't believe me check their website )" John Morgan of The Sunday Telegraph Magazine - Seven (August 2006) said of John:"Campbell in person does not come across as an arsonist, he grins constantly, speaks with an improbably thick Birmingham accent and talks as fast as he plays the guitar... but the sound that came from his guitar was genuine talent. Nothing was beyond him"Quotes from venue owners and punters across the UK:"I have never really rated Hendrix, but by watching these so accurately portray their heroes, it made me appreciate how ahead of his time he was. I even bought the 'Best of' CD the next day..." - Sean Booker, Army & Navy (Chelmsford) "...as someone who isn’t over enthusiastic about tribute bands, I didn’t expect much when I was persuaded to go and see Birmingham based “Are You Experienced”. I had heard their version of “Foxy Lady”, taken from an early album, but assumed that it was just a clever mixing job. I thought, “surely no one can ever attempt re-create the live stage show”. Well, these lads not only attempted it, they achieved it."- Graham Stellmach, The Borderline Club (Telford)" The power trio that is "Are You Experienced" seriously rocked the joint. Apart from not being left handed (sorry man - my only criticism), John and the guys were awesome. This was just like being transported back to the late 60's, being in some cramped smokey jazz club listened to the world's greatest rock guitarist."- Mick Champness, City Limits (Romford)BARRY MARTIN , DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH.Are You Experienced? at The Flowerpot King St, Derby. Two and a half hours of Hendrix heaven. Absolutely awesome. A.Y.E.? lit up a gloomy, damp Derby night with an amazing, pyrotech-tastic tribute to 60’s/70’s psychedelia. Wild thing drummer Kevin O’Grady and moodily statuesque bassist Mark Arnold provided the perfect wall of sound backdrop for guitarist John Campbell to produce a phenomenal performance truly worthy of the great Jimi himself. Campbell dressed like, looked like, sang like and played like Hendrix. Look away and listen. It was Jimi.Look up through the swirling fog of cigarette smoke. Jimi was there. From the first note, Are You Experienced ? had the crowd happily head banging as they hammered out what seemed to be the complete works of the most inventive, iconoclastic guitarist the world has ever known. The staccato chewing, the flamboyant gestures, playing behind the head..with his teeth , the fleet-fingered fret-work on his signature Fender Stratocaster . John Campbell had ‘em all and did ‘em all. Soft, lilting Little Wing and Wind Cries Mary dovetailed with ear-numbing, axe- attacking, face-contorting versions of such classics as ‘Voodoo Chile, Purple Haze’ and a Gatling ‘ Machine Gun’ dedicated, tongue in cheek, to George Bush. Request time ! and the boys blasted out for me a storming version of the special one’s ‘Fire’ which near took the roof and rafters off of the building. Finishing the set with a touchingly respectful, blazing lighter-fluid flourish and ceremonial burning of his white Strat., John and co. exited the stage leaving the whooping and a’ hollerin’ Flowerpot faithful in an exhausted afterglow of musical nostalgia. Are You Experienced? I am now.
Type of Label: None