Blues News #687
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Blues News #687

You have no doubt read several times my comments on using jam sessions to develop skills and form a band with like-minded individuals. Well, there’s a flip side to that – sometimes those bands don’t last. Not for any bad reason, but because people change and sometimes want to move on.
One band currently facing that end is Buxom Blues Quintet (BBQ). BBQ had their origins in the regular Sleepy Hollow Blues Club. They started out as a quartet of Kay J Gibbons (vocals), Ethan Farmer (guitar), Steve Minutoli (drums/percussion) and Lenny Keys (keys), all Sleepy Hollow regulars and used to each other in the jams. Later Peter Kure (electric upright bass) joined, and the quartet became a quintet.
Buxom Blues quickly gained a strong local following, packing out blues venues around Geelong and the Bellarine. They played Bluestone Blues Festival to great acclaim and were the first band to be invited to play at the newly formed blues festival in Tooleybuc up on the Murray River.
From the huge voice of singer-songwriter, Kay Gibbons, to the soulful strings of, Ethan Farmer, they pack a punch into every song. Add the backbone of bassist, Peter Kure, and the resident hippie-in-the-hat, drummer, Steve Minutoli, and resisting dancing is futile. Throw in the incredible talent of a boogie-woogie, honky-tonking piano man and you’ve got yourself one helluva good time.
As a youngster, Kay slept behind pianos at local country dances. As a young adult, she played in a stack of cool bands and supported Aussie greats like Brain Cadd, Mental as Anything, Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, Dragon, Joe Camilleri, Screaming Jets and many more.
Ethan Farmer has already graced the stage with the likes of Jimi Hocking, Wayne Jury and Geoff Achison. He played with Mr. Black and Blues, Michael Pollitt, at the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival and jams at Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and has assisted at their Youth in Blues program. He was runner-up in the Lazenby Young Blues Guitarist Award. His new project, Ethan Farmer Band is already getting gigs around the place.
When Lenny rips out one his solos the keys fly off the piano! He’s tinkled the ol’ ivories from the streets of Tamworth to the blues alleys of our cities. H has also sat in with The Housewreckers and Derek & The Champs to name a few.
Steve spent eight brilliant years with local legends, Backstreet Blues Band, and now divides himself between BBQ and pub rock band Copycat Killers. Peter and Kay have gigged together since high school! Pete has also played with a huge number of bands in the region including Blue Jam, Blue Dogs, Derek & the Champs and Ball & Chain to name just a few. For this band, he’s switched his usual bass to an electric upright.
After getting the pick of the gigs that they were interested in, they then produced an excellent CD — get a copy before it disappears!
We will miss them, so you better see them! Sleepy Hollow Blues Club, April 22.

By John Lamp


Image sourced via HouseWreckers socials