UK Rock and Roll Magazine - May 2019 - P&O International Rock and Roll Cruise Review - Bruges

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The gangplank swayed as the two-tones, the jiving shoes and even a smattering of blue-suede crêpe-soles hurried on board in anticipation of P&O’s second rock and roll sea cruise.

The excitement was palpable amongst the 300+ syncopated sailors eager for the music to start. They didn’t have to wait long for Bamboozle, the highly rated Kent-based trio.  With deadpan drummer Les Curtis, driving them onwards, the twin attacks of Jim Knowler on Telecaster and the diminutive ‘ Bass Pixie’ Serena Sykes on slap back stand-up, soon had the dance floor heaving.

 

Three-part harmonies enhance their short, snappy take some classics of the genre; Little Willie John’s ‘Fever’, Louis Jordan’s ‘Caledonia’( the first song ever to be described as rock and roll we’re back in 1945, incidentally) and Janid Martin’s ‘Barefoot Baby’ all rattled along at break neck speed.  

 

More than a covers band, Bamboozle featured several of their own fine songs, including Jim’s catchy ‘The Lowdown’, their current 7” single. No superfluous extended guitar solos here, just danceable gems from an impressive new outfit, who looked as professional as they sounded. Les and Jim in matching trousers, braces, crisp white shirts and wide silk ties, and Serena sporting a classy ‘Vivien of Holloway’ skin-tight halter neck dress. Coupled with her 4” heels and the North Sea swell, it seemed impossible that she’d showcase her trademark bass-climbing, but a total trooper, she did.

 

Watch out for this combo the dancers loved them.

 

Serena, ‘the hardest working woman in showbusiness’, also depped for Mike Sanchez this evening,, with Mark Morgan on drums and Tom Bull on a gloriously glittery telecaster. The MC pointed out that on International Women’s Day, Serena putting in a double-shift seemed entirely appropriate.

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Keith Lee

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Slap That Bass "Heebie Jeebies" Single Review - October 2018

 

Heebie-Jeebies - 7” by Bamboozle. 

Release date 31st October 2018

Reviewed 2nd October 2018

 

Heebie-Jeebies is the all-new 7” turntable thriller from UK (Kent) Rockabilly Trio Bamboozle. Although the single is not due for release until 31st October, Serena Sykes sent me a pre-launch copy for a review, Thank You Serena.

 

There are 2 top tracks on the release, a cover of Train Kept a Rollin’ and the title track Heebie-Jeebies, which is self-penned by the band.

 

The band are made up of Serena Sykes on Bass and awesome female Vocals, Jim Knowler on Guitar/Vocals and Les Curtis on Drums/Vocals. I also need to mention the stunning art work. designed so the three singles, (Heebie Jeebies is the 2nd), fit together to make one big picture, and the album will finish it all off.

 

Side A “Heebie-Jeebies” is a stunner, a mid-tempo track with a great blend of swing and rockabilly, so you may say it’s a "Swingabilly" dance floor filler. Serena lays down great vocals on the track and the rhythm is just so cool.

 

Side B, Train Kept a Rollin’, is a great cover of a rockabilly classic. This one is not going to be on the album. With great female vocals from Serena, this up tempo cover breathes fresh life into a rockabilly classic.

 

WOW, superb release, that I’m sure will get lots of air-time on Rockabilly Radio, dance floor time from DJ’s and will keep all you Katz and Kittens spinning at home. This is one not to miss and with another single, and album, also in the pipeline, the future looks Bamboozled!

 

Highly Recommended!

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(Tony Screti - Slap That Bass) https://www.facebook.com/pg/slapthatbassrockabilly/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2300808436909997&__tn__=-UC-R

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Boppin' Around Review - June 2018

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MAYHEM/ BAMBOOZLE
Jimena Records, JMA03

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De Britse band Bamboozle, door ons beschouwd als de opvolger van The Keytones omdat twee/derde van The Keytones de helft van Bamboozle zijn of op zijn minst wáren, heeft een strak plan om de wereld te veroveren: na de 4-track EP Red Right Hand begin vorig jaar is er nu een nieuwe single, in september en oktober volgen nog twee singles en dan moet tegen het jaareinde het full albumdebuut komen.

 

Sinds Red Right Hand is de groepsbezetting licht gewijzigd: Keytones drummer Shaun O’Keefe is out, Les Curtis die we kennen van Darrel Higham & the Enforcers en Bob & the Bearcats is in. Op Red Right Hand zong contrabassiste Serena Sykes één van de vier nummers, nu zingt ze beide kantjes van deze single vol (een goede pokeraar speelt zijn troefkaarten uit) en dan valt uiteraard op dat Mayhem een cover is van het bekende – tenminste toch in Engeland – Imelda May nummer.

 

Dat lijkt een vreemde keuze maar Mayhem maakt al langer deel uit van de Bamboozle setlist, net als May’s Johnny Got A Boom Boom trouwens: toegankelijkheid van de set werkt altijd aanstekelijk. Mayhem zou trouwens niét op dat full album gaan komen dus ’t is misschien nu of nooit voor wie de Bamboozle versie wil hebben.

 

Ze blijven trouw aan May’s arrangement en het blijft dan ook een sterk staaltje hedendaagse rock ‘n’ roll maar alleen al door het gebruik van contrabas in plaats van elektrische bas zoals bij Imelda May, wordt het nummer toch weer net dat tikkeltje meer rockabilly in de uitvoering van Bamboozle die sowieso minder “geproduceerd” klinkt.

 

B-Kant Daddy's Girl, geschreven door Sykes, is meer in de stijl van de Right Red Hand EP, een rustig rockend en melodieus voortkabbelend medium tempo rockabilly nummer met pedal steel en veel aandacht voor de backing vocals. Stap 2 van hun masterplan is dus geslaagd en bovendien ook uit als echte vinyl single Jimena Records (JMA 04).

(Frantic Franky) - http://www.boppinaround.nl/ > Recensies

 

Slap That Bass Review - May 2018

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Bamboozle are a highly talented rockabilly band from Kent UK, formed in 2016 and Mayhem is their stunning new double a side 45. It’s oh so good!

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The band is made up of Serena Sykes on Bass and awesome female Vocals, Jim Knowler on Guitar/Vocals and Les Curtis on Drums/Vocals. They have a busy 2018, as there are another 2 singles (September and October) planned and an album and I can’t wait!

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Bamboozle know how to play rockabilly oh so well, with Serena’s vocals this band is going places.

The first track, “Mayhem”, is a cover of the Imelda May hit, but Bamboozle kick it into another level. It's a much more rockabilly version and I love it.

 

The second track on this Double-A side is “Daddy’s Girl”, a self-penned track from Serena. It is a roots rockabilly track with more than a hint of western swing. They are joined by Dave Kirk on Pedal Steel/Vocals and Keith Wilkinson (Squeeze, The Jar Family) on Vocals. Both are great dance floor fillers and I’m sure they will get lots of Air time.

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Well worth adding to your 45 collections, highly Recommended.

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The release date is July 13th and we'll have it up to pre-order on

www.bamboozlehq.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWQ-dKO7MI0

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I just can’t wait for the Album.

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The Betta Jive Review - February 2018

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Start with a Bam.  The live bands start early at this event, playing an hour and fifteen minutes each, and at 2.30 sharp, over from the east, ie Kent, came Bamboozle. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen the band, fronted by vocalist and bassist Serena Sykes and lead guitarist and vocalist Jim Knowler.  Adding the pedal steel talents of Dave Kirk with the ace drumming from Les Curtis, you’re bound to have a good experience.
 
Would anyone want or need to categorise Bamboozle?  Not really, it’s just not necessary to be honest, they just play a hugely enjoyable selection of top rockin’ sounds.  Serena weighs in with some cracking Janis Martin tunes, ‘Two Long Years’ and ‘Just Squeeze Me’, Wanda Jackson’s ‘Fujiyama Mama’ and ‘Funnel of Love’, Imelda’s ‘Johnny’s Got a Boom Boom’ and ‘Mayhem’, with some ace R&B in the form of LaVern Baker’s ‘Bumble Bee’.
 
Then came some harmony, and call & answer duet vocals with ‘False Hearted Girl’, ‘Hey Good Lookin’ and ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’.  Slipping a couple of originals in added to the variety of sound, Jim’s ‘Ice Cold Beer’ from last year, and Serena’s ‘Daddy’s Girl’ (soon to be released). 
 
There was bass climbing, the ‘Pink Panther Theme’ great musicianship, a super rockin’ vibe and a stellar set from the four piece.  Excellent start.

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UK Rock & Roll Magazine - March 2017​

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Bamboozle, are a relatively new four piece band based in Canterbury, Kent.  They’re made up of Serena Sykes on upright bass, Jim Knowler on lead guitar, Dave Kirk on steel guitar and Shaun O’Keefe on drums.  This debut EP, contains two covers and two original tracks.
 
The title track for example, is a re-working of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ sinister sounding ‘Red Right Hand’.  The tempo has been increased, reducing the duration of the song by a minute and three quarters, it’s pacey and punchy, and the guitar work in it is first rate.  Liked Serena’s vocal delivery too, retaining the ominous undertones of the 2007 original.
 
Jim Knowler, many of you may know from the Keytones, and indeed he is an accomplished songwriter (‘Good To Be Alive’ remains a favourite of mine).  Two of his compositions appear here, the first of which ‘Just Like You’ is an absolute peach.  Backing vocal harmonies, spot on and a floor filling jive beat, with some sumptuous slide guitar, and lead guitar in the instrumental break.  Dancers, you will love this track
 
I doubt there’s anyone on the planet that won’t recognise the opening bars of the Henry Mancini composition ‘The Pink Panther’.  This take has no brass section, relying on some deft bass work keeping the rhythm, and guitars making the tune.  For just four instruments, the sound is full and catchy.
 
Topping off the release, is the second Jim Knowler track, ‘Ice Cold Beer’, once again employing consummate backing vocals on this tune, which given the title, unsurprisingly has a Western Swing feel to it.  Loving the exchanges between slide and lead guitar.  ‘She’s a sweet combination of love and rehydration’ has to be one of my favourite lyrics of the year so far.
 
This is just a four track taster, but I tell you what, the talent and musicianship on display here has set the bar very high.  A well packaged and cleverly conceived release.  Available from March 24th 2017
 
© Andrew Smith, UK Rock and Roll Magazine, February 2017 

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The Betta Jive Review - June 2017

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Third cab off the rank, up from Kent, Bamboozle, three lads and a lass, and a kick a*se sound, having formed just about a year ago.  Bassist Serena Sykes takes the lead vocals most of the time, opening with ‘Fujiyama Mama’, backed by ace lead guitarist Jim Knowler, drummer Shaun O’Keeffe and pedal steel and occasional rhythm guitarist Dave Kirk.  In a pacey set, they swung between Rockabilly and Western Swing with the odd ‘hang on a minute’ moment tune, like the instrumental ‘Pink Panther’ for example.  Connie Francis’ ‘Stupid Cupid’ stood out among equals, so did ‘Johnny’s Got a Boom Boom’, while ‘False Hearted Girl and ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ featured some top drawer vocal exchanges between the band.  Their own ‘Ice Cold Beer’ is a beauty, as is their take on ‘Red Right Hand’, and ‘Funnel of Love’.
 
Yep this was the first time we, and many in the hall, had seen the band. There was bass climbing, first class guitar work and great entertainment in this set. Go see!
 

© Andrew Smith, the Bettajive Review, June 2017 - http://www.thebettajivereview.com/reviews-of-public-events-festivals-and-car-shows.html