New Orleans 2009  (May 09)       

Photo by Greg Aiello

Here's a jolly nice review of the House of Blues New Orleans show by Deroy Murdock:

"On Sunday at 2am the House of Blues showcases the New Mastersounds, an outstanding Leeds, England-based quartet whose guitar, bass, drums, and electric organ fill the spacious venue with enough musical thrust to echo a septet. Their captivating instrumental groove recalls Booker T. and the MGs and the J.B. Horns, James Brown's backup band. From one energetic flash of brilliance to the next, this band mesmerizes the crowd and keeps it gyrating very, very hard until Simon Allen and Eddie Roberts, respectively, lay down their drum sticks and guitar pick at about 5:20 in the morning."

We would have played right up to last call (which we were told was 5.30am) if the devious tricksters at the venue hadn't set the stage clock 10 minutes fast, based on the fact that last year we played till 6am. Next year we will insist on independent UN timekeepers.

Jelly Jazz Christmas Party  (Nov 04)       

Long-awaited return to the South West to team up with our Jelly Jazz chums Pete and Griff. The poster has all the details, so see all you Jelly Jazzers there!

Lonnie in Leeds  (Oct 17)       

Here's the poster for the Lonnie Smith residency at Sela Bar, Leeds on 28, 29, 30 October. The New Mastersounds are opening on Thursday 30th, but Simon will also be there on Tuesday night, without drum sticks, to celebrate his 25th birthday (hmmm...)

Hole in the Bag 5 star Review

"...Hole in the Bag is a fat nugget of organs, wah-wah and clattering drums if ever there was one, and sees the band do their best Meters impression to date. So much is this the case in fact, that should Cyril Neville and co. ever hear it they'll be swearing on their mum's lives that this is a long lost cut off 1969 classic The Meters and doubtless wondering how it ever got missed off the final mix as they scratch greying afros."
(Monkeyboxing.com)

Jambase Review

"Like Fred Wesley & The New JB's, Bobby Byrd, Marva Whitney or Maceo & The Macks in their day, the Mastersounds know groove and furrow it out like hogs on truffles."