ALBUM REVIEW
Artist: Dave Ellis & Boo Howard
Album: Facebook Friend
Reviewer: Allan Cairns
Released: 30th October 2015
Liverpool-born Dave Ellis and London’s Boo Howard have been playing together since 1979 when Dave formed his electric band ‘The Reactors’ which incorporated guitar, drums and keyboards, and had Boo playing bass and handling most of the vocals. The band was eventually trimmed down and developed into an electric duo (comprising Dave and Boo) which was renamed ‘Brave Lucy’, and the pair produced their only electric album ‘Snaps’ in 1996 under that name.
In 1998 the pair combined Dave’s intricate guitar work with Boo’s mellow vocals to create something very different and entirely new in the folk and acoustic clubs. Their debut acoustic recording was called ‘Maybe I Might Fall’ in 1999. Followed by another five albums.
Facebook Friend is their eighth album together. It is as it says on the album sleeve a widely diverse range of songs and styles. I’ve listened to the album a good number of times. Dave and Boo’s voices blend well together and all the instrument work is excellent not just Dave’s guitar. The lyrics are thought provoking and very singable.
Starting with Home Again with Boo’s voice carrying the tune and you along on this journey. The title track is next with a change of pace and style and Dave taking over the lead vocals this is one of my favourite tracks all about one of today’s phenomenons and the way it effects our lives.
The third track God Save Olive Cooke is about that wonderful woman who for many years sold poppies and in recognition of being the longest serving poppy seller she received The Points of Light award. When I first heard the song I didn’t put two and two together but upon reading the sleeve notes I remembered the sad story of her years of charity work and her sad death. Dave and Boo have said we hope this might raise some money for the cause she cared so much about so – click here to find “God Save Olive Cooke” on iTunes for 99p – any money they receive from this song will go to the British Legion. Please share this video by using this link youtu.be/f7mX3qfqzK0
Now the fourth track I feel is out of place more a stutter rather than a stall in the flow of the album but we are back on track with the next. Back to Default has some lovely guitar work and a catchy tag line the next track takes on a jazzy feel to the vocals and instrumentals the track is called Nothing in Between and this is mostly the feeling of the album nothing mediocre about it. You will be hard pressed not to find something to like.
The website Folk Words made it album of the month in October this year. I just missed out hearing them live at the Brombough Folk Club (Bridge Inn Port Sunlight) were they went down a storm. Hopefully I’ll catch them next time they come north.
The album Facebook Friend is available to buy from Dave and Boo’s website.
Dave and Boo are playing a number of local gigs in 2016. Full details here.
- Sunday 14th February 2016 – Raven Folk Club, Chester
- Sunday 20th November 2016 – Bothy Folk Club, Southport
- Monday 21st November 2016 – Folk at the Prospect, Runcorn
- Tuesday 22nd November 2016 – Sandbach Folk Club (TBC)
- Wednesday 23rd November 2016 – Bromborough Folk Club (TBC)
Review © 2015 Allan Cairns – Liverpool Acoustic
Dave Ellis & Boo Howard
Website – daveandboo.com
Facebook – facebook.com/Dave-Ellis-Boo-Howard-188922327801878
Twitter – @dellisbhoward
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Album review: Dave Ellis & Boo Howard – Facebook Friend