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Marvin Rainwater at Hemsby,
England..a review
It was now time for the headliner of the night, namely Marvin
Rainwater. Backed
up by The Hemsby house band with the lead guitar work being handled in
a
superb manner Antonio Coni, it was straight into 'Love Me Baby (Like
There's
No Tomorrow)' and it was quickly apparent that we were in for a magical
performance.
After singing his 1958 UK number one hit 'Whole Lotta Woman', Marvin
commented
that he was then 34 years old and told that he was too old to be a rock
'n'
roll star. Now 80 years old he declared that he still loved to
rock
'n' roll. Believe me; he was rockin' out with the best.
With very little gap between numbers, he proceeded with 'Baby, Don't
Go', 'I Dig You Baby' and 'My Brand of Blues'. All quality songs
performed in the
best possible rock 'n' roll manner. You may get the correct impression
that
I was really enjoying this! Following an inspired 'Mr. Blues', he then
advised
his favourite place in the UK was 'Newcastle Town' and the reason for
this
was his favourite drink Newcastle Brown. He then sang a tribute in the
form
of 'Me And Newkie Brown' before delivering a devastating 'Dance Me
Daddy'
that was originally titled 'Rock Me' before the record company decided
that
this was too suggestive. Marvin's singing voice was in great shape and
he
had a lovely guttural edge to the vocals, especially on the song
'Rockin'
Down The Wall' that he had previously advised was to be on his new CD
but
which has yet to appear Marvin, I am waiting.. The set closed out
with
a new number 'Rockabilly Music Is Coming Down' and the classics 'Boo
Hoo'
and 'Hot And Cold'. Forget the 'Starvin' Marvin' tag as based on this
performance;
it has to be 'Marvin the Magnificent'.
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Friday, May 9th 2003 Marvin
slayed 'em at Hemsby 30
A
wild rockabilly
show was in store for all the fans attending Hemsby 30. Marvin took the
stage
and ruled it . Swaying side by side, shoulder to shoulder with the
Hemsby
House band, the place rocked. All of Marvin's great rockabilly
numbers... Hot
and Cold, Mr. Blues, Roving Gambler, Whole Lotta Woman, Boo Hoo,
Gonna
Find Me a Bluebird, Dance Me Daddy, Rockin Down the Walls, The
Rockabilly
King, Baby Don't Go ..
and many more.
According
to reporters present, Marvin really outdid himself this time.
Absolutely his greatest Rockabilly show yet! He keeps Rockin, and
keeps improving. Truly a pioneer of the genre, Marvin showed the kids
and veterans alike what real Rockabilly is . Wild , but
controlled...emotional , well written lyrics put to a beat that can not
quit! Hey! Hey! That's our man...The Rockabilly King and
the Cadillac Band!! Thanks to all the folks at Hemsby for
presenting Marvin Rainwater once again!
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A Smash Performance August 11, 2002 Oneida "Rockin 50's Fest" August 11. 2002 was a great day in the history of Rockabilly. At The Oneida "Rockin 50's Fest", after terrific sets by "The Crickets", and then by "The Original Comets", Marvin Rainwater took the stage. Not only did he take it, he owned it.  With Rockabillies from all
over the
world standing 40 deep at the stage, "Da
Rockabilly King" ran through his repertoire of Swingin,
Rockabilly
Classics. Amazing energy, terrific phrasing and downright excitement
permeated
Marvin's performance.
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Marvin Rainwater Rocks The Gold Coast! Las Vegas Deluged with Rainwater Gold Coast Hotel Severely Rocked By Mike MacRae
Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender
April 13, 2001
Friday
the 13th was a lucky day for thousands of slap-happy
Marvin Rainwater fans who caught his wild 45-minute set during this
year's Viva Las
Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. This year's VLV took place April 12-15 at
Vegas's
Gold Coast hotel. As the festival's Friday night headliner, Marvin
showed
the throng of frenzied fans from around the world why he is regarded as
a
rockabilly and country music legend. Backed by Big Sandy's awesome
Fly-Rite Boys, Marvin peeled off rousing renditions of his classic
1950s recordings, and threw in a couple of surprises to boot.
The following report is kinda light on the
particulars of Marvin's set itself; I didn't know beforehand that I'd
be invited to write this review so I didn't take notes or anything.
However, I hope the write-up and the accompanying photos give you a
feel not only for what it's like to see Marvin on stage but also what
these Viva Las Vegas events are all about. So with that out of the way,
here we go!
Marvin proceeded to blaze through all of the
rockinest numbers from his sizable songbook - "Hot and Cold," "Mr. Blues," "Whole Lotta
Woman," "I Dig You Baby," and of course his signature tune, "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird." Marvin
was in fine voice that night, and was clearly having a heck of a good
time careening through the classics. Hit after hit was met with a huge
ovation from fans who, like me, figured they'd probably never get to
see this one-of-a-kind artist on stage. Marvin Rainwater comes off as a
down-to-earth, completely unpretentious guy who loves his music, his
fans, and the world in general; this all came through loud and clear in
his performance.
Marvin has
always blurred the lines between pop, country, rock, and folk while
dreaming up some
of the quirkiest lyrics ever put to a bopping beat. As you'd expect at
a
rockabilly festival, Marvin's set showcased his more up-tempo numbers,
leaving
some of his ballads and straight-ahead country tunes for another night.
I
also heard fans calling out for cult favorites like "Get Off The
Stool,"
"Down in the Cellar," and "Albino (Pink Eyed) Stallion," but there was
no
way to include every single gem in such a short stretch of time. Marvin
did
debut one new number, and although I didn't catch the title, it went
over
so well he did it again as an encore. He also gave a repeat performance
of "Hot
and Cold," with Ashley
Kingman plunking
out the opening notes of "Rockabye Baby"
before yielding to
drummer
Bobby Trimble's pounding intro. It rocked, it rolled, and man I'm sold!
Marvin later said he had so much fun he couldn't talk for three days.
If
he had half as much fun as the crowd did, then it was worth it!
One of the
best traditions at Viva Las Vegas is the autograph table, where the
stars mix and
mingle with the fans they have just destroyed. Marvin was very gracious
in
signing all sorts of memorabilia lugged to Las Vegas from around the
world (he was even more gracious after the organizers finally brought
him a Newcastle Brown Ale!). After we scored our autograph and said hey
to Marvin and Sheree, my wife and I were thrilled to meet the great
Patty Rainwater, who was there to root her brother on. We are both big
fans of the songs Patty wrote and/or recorded with Marvin, especially
and some of her solo numbers. We also love the song she wrote for
Marvin called "Crazy Love,"
"Can I
Count on Your Love?,""Down in the Cellar." Marvin didn't seem to
consider that particular tune one of his personal career highlights,
but we think it's
pretty cool. Someday it would be great to see Marv and sister Patty on
stage
again doing some of their killer duets. Meanwhile, I'm hoping some
rockabilly
record company gets busy recording both of these talented Rainwaters
and
puts some new material on the market pronto!
Thanks to performances like Marvin's, I'm sure Viva Las Vegas will continue for a long time to come. Keep
rocking, Marvin!
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Marvin was featured on OTTO FUCH'S ROCKIT RADIO SHOW! APRIL 21, 2001 Legends
Fest
Saturday, June 16, 2001  LCO
Casino, Haywood, WI
Marvin stared along with Dave Dudley,
Jack Greene, Stonewall Jackson and Tommy Cash. It was a sellout show!
Great job, legends! Traditional country still draws big!
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Marvin Does It Again! Marvin Rainwater Stars
at
Midsummer Jamboree Rock and Roll Festival
in
Honkalu, Aitoo Finland
June 22nd and 23rd, 2001
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AMERICANA July 7, 2001 Marvin Rainwater was the feature attraction at Americana 2001 Britain's Premiere
Music Festival
!!
Many thousands of Music Fans attended
to see and hear great entertainers from the USA, Britain, and all over Europe. On
Saturday, July 7, Marvin stole the show! Here is what the British press
had to say!
A legend
of Rock, multi million seller MGM Star, Marvin Rainwater, whose career
was launched in 1955, has not lost his touch, singing rock and soulful
ballads. His work capitalises on his Cherokee ancestry, which he showed
with some real Indian songs. Marvin was ably backed by the members of
our Welsh group The Rimshots, who also did a few sixties numbers.
From "Country Music People"
Topping
the bill was a 76-year-old veteran of country and rockabilly music,
Marvin Rainwater; and his energy levels and his continuing enthusiasm
were a lesson for everybody. Marvin just seems to enjoy life itself and
never had a negative word to say about anything throughout the weekend.
He was superbly backed by the Rimshots, whose regular line-up now
includes Mandy Davidson, their fairly new bass player;
and for this show they were augmented by guest sax player, Mark Watson.
Marvin
played a mainly rockabilly set, opening with "Love Me Baby" and "Rock Me Daddy."
His voice is as good as
ever and the set was only slightly marred by some discordant feedback
which the sound men were never able to remedy. Interspersed with his
classic MGM recordings like "Mr. Blues",
"Whole Lotta Woman" and '"Lonesome
Blues", Marvin mixed in
John Fogerty's "Proud Mary" along with a trio of newly-written
songs of which "Rocking Down The
Walls" scored best. He
did briefly slow the pace for his 1957 ballad, "Gonna Find Me A
Bluebird", before
revving it up to demonstrate what the song would have sounded like if
he'd cut it as a rockabilly number. The crowd watching Marvin was the
biggest of the Festival as everybody seemed
to have deserted the other stages. One girl at the front had her finger
on
the pulse as she repeatedly called for her favorite song, and a roar of
expectation
erupted as he finally tore into the ever-popular 'Boo Hoo'. Marvin
Rainwater
is a performer who understands precisely what his audience wants and,
as
he closed out his show with "Roving Gambler",
"Hot And Cold" and "Hey Good Lookin", he received recompense from the
crowd for a fine, entertaining display.
Afterwards
the Rimshots set the mood with some good rockin' country and western
swing before it was time for the granddaddy of country rockabilly ,
Marvin Rainwater. He
may have a few years on the clock but he came on to a tremendous
welcome and
many fans had come especially to pay homage to a living legend! You
would not believe the energy of this man in his 70s and he included all
his biggies like "Gonna Find Me A
Bluebird", "Baby Don't Go" and his UK No. One and world-wide
hit "Whole
Lotta Woman". After
an encore it was the end of
a perfect day.
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Marvin Rainwater Sweden's Rockabilly KingNovember 1987
International Rock' n' Roll Festival
Marvin Rainwater was summoned by
the Rockabilly fans of Europe to bring his brand of music to the
masses. "Henryetta"
had just topped the
charts in many parts of Europe, adding yet another gem to Marvin's
vault of hits.
The people were ready.
The crowd was
prepared.
It was time for the
Coronation!
Marvin was to become "The Rockabilly King". Shows all
around the area brought huge crowds of screaming Rainwater fans.
Folks were dancing to "Henryetta"
blaring from the trunks
of their cars, dancing in the streets and on
the parking lots! Fans were playing "Whole Lotta
Woman" and "I Dig You
Baby" on their
boomboxes and walkmens. Marvin Rainwater took
his rightful place on the Rockabilly Throne!
Long Live the King!!
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© 2006 Marvin
Rainwater
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