Cold Shot – Concert Review

March 10 2012 – Cold Shot rocked the Eton House on Danforth Avenue in Toronto on Saturday March 10th. Cold Shot is Canada’s premiere Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) tribute act, a power trio of Jimi Mann on guitar and vocals, Mike Walker on bass and Vinny “B” on drums. They were joined on Saturday by keyboardist John Jamieson who weaved added colour into all the songs. The visual aspect of a tribute band shouldn’t be overlooked and Mann looked very much the part, in Vaughan’s traditional hat, boots and of course, playing a beat up Stratocaster.

The first set opened with a rocking version of So Excited, a rarity that can be found on YouTube of a SRV performance at Toronto’s El Mocambo in 1983. It wasn’t released during SRV’s life but was found on a album that came out after his death. Vaughan’s blues version of Mary Had a Little Lamb was followed by another rarity, SRV’s version of John Lee Hooker’s classic I Want to Hug You. This is another song that can be found on YouTube from the 1983 El Mocambo show. Tightrope and Hendrix’s Red House were followed by the jazzy Riviera Paradise. Cold Shot hadn’t played this one live before but was enabled on this night by Jamieson joining them on keyboards. Hendrix’s Fire, SRV’s version of Stevie Wonder’s classic Superstition and Little Wing closed the first set.

James Mann – (photo taken from Cold Shot Website)

I had the chance to speak with Jimi during the break to learn a little more about his background. Cold Shot has been playing around town off and on for about seven years between other projects. Mann is a veteran of the local music scene. He first picked up the guitar at age 15 and was influenced by progressive rock. He later played in bands that covered the likes of Yes, Genesis, Toto, Saga and Journey. A big fan of Rush, he also once played in a Rush cover band. Today though he’s keeping busy in a variety of other projects. Aside from Cold Shot, he writes and works with The Stellas, a country duet who will be performing as part of the Slacker Canadian Music Week on March 24th at the Cadillac Lounge. Next Friday, March 16, he’s performing at the Hard Rock Cafe (279 Yonge St.) with James King and the Jackhammer Blues Band. He also recently performed at Roy Thompson Hall accompanying flamenco artist Pavlo, who is also Mann’s cousin.

On top of all these projects, Mann just released an incredible new CD of his own original music which you can hear at his website www.jamesmann.ca. I highly recommend giving it a listen, you’ll be hooked from the opening track, Pouring Rain, featuring fantastic vocals by Harem Scarem‘s Darren James Smith. The CD crosses genres from blues rock, prog rock and country. It’s available from Amazon or iTunes.

The second set opened with another Hendrix classic All Along the Watchtower and from then on was a Stevie Ray Vaughan “best of”. Pride and Joy, Texas Flood, Cold Shot, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) and Tin Pan Alley. They closed the second set with an spot on version of SRV’s masterpiece Couldn’t Stand the Weather, complete with solos by Vinny B, Walker and Jamieson.

The third set included Commit a Crime, Mystery Train as a tribute to Elvis, Colin James’ I’ll See it Through and Ain’t No Sunshine (When She’s Gone) but was changed to Ain’t No Sunshine When He’s Gone on Saturday night when Cold Shot was joined by a couple of ladies who gave a great bluesy performance.

Cold Shot – (photo taken from Cold Shot Website)

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Stevie Ray Vaughan looked to his older brother Jimmie (known for his Fabulous Thunderbirds hits Wrap it Up and Tuff Enuff) as inspiration to pick up the guitar and was a natural at it. He’s still rated amongst the greatest virtuoso rock guitarists ever. Supremely talented, he didn’t so much play the guitar as he effortlessly let the music flow out of him through the instrument. (Don’t believe me? Check out Couldn’t Stand the Weather).  Vaughan leaned heavily on his blues influences but his sound was distinctly his own. He used heavy gauge guitar strings tuned down a half step to get a powerful tone. Mann too uses heavy strings, .12 or .13s tuned down.

Seeing Jimi Mann and Cold Shot brought back memories of seeing SRV and his band Double Trouble perform at Varsity Arena in July 1985 when he opened for Dire Straits on their Brothers In Arms tour. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 21 years since he was tragically taken from us in a helicopter crash at age 35 in August of 1990. All the more tragic since Vaughan was fully healthy and sober after successfully battling his drug and alcohol addictions. Life was looking up for SRV when he left that show in Wisconsin, which also featured blues legends Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and his brother Jimmie Vaughan.

James Mann – photo from Cold Shot’s webpage

Check out Cold Shot performing Hendrix’s Little Wing from a show in Oshawa five years ago.