ReviewsMICK KIDD with DAVID BLIGHT -MENU OF SIN "Harpin', Slidin' & Stompin' Acoustic Blues!" For years singer-songwriter/guitarist Mick Kidd regularly collaborates with harmonica master David Blight. The acoustic duo brings authentic blues. In 2015, they won the IBC in South Australia, which was set up by the Adelaide Roots & Blues Association and represented Down under in Memphis in 2016, where they took the quarter-finals. A year earlier, during the presentation of the South Australian Blues Awards, Mick and David won the award of "Outstanding Solo/Duo" and Mick the award of "Outstanding Male Performer".
David participated in Mick's debut album ' Winter Sun ' [2014] and they are again a duo on his last album ' Menu of Sin ' [2017], which was presented last year in The Semaphore workers Club in Adelaide with good results. ' Menu of Sin ' is an album with ten songs, which Mick wrote. The text of "Born to be My Crime" written by David. On the album Drums D.D. Mc Gee on three songs. With Mick's foot ready on the stub-box, "Déjà vu Blues" opens the album, where his resonator supports David's harmonica and where then on "Good Enough For Me", David's harmonica will lead more to the dance. The atmosphere becomes more voodoo as Mc Gee takes place for "Menu of Sin" behind the drums and in the stripped traditional "Miss Beehavin'" as David sings the vocals and Mick accompanies him very handsome fingerpickend. "Cut You Loose" is the next Stomper and "Last Fly in Memphis" rocks through the night. "Born to Be My Crime" draws the line by and for the rocker "Heaven, Hell or Harrogate" with the help of Mc Gee, the gates will open a little bigger again. The instrumental valve Slidy "Going Home", which Mick does solo here, is quite short, but that things that don't last long can also be beautiful confirms Mick Kidd here again. "On ' Menu and Sin," Mick Kidd and David blight again focus their qualities as songwriters and musicians of outstanding acoustic blues, that's sometimes unjustly receiving too little attention. Sin anyway!... "-Eric Sanders for www.rootstime.be. Album Tracklist: 01. " Déjà Vu Blues "– 02." Good Enough For Me "– 03." Menu or Sinn "– 04." Miss Beehavin' "– 05." Cut You Loose "– 06." Last Fly in Memphis "– 07." Born to Be My Crime "[Lyrics: David Blight] – 08." A Waste of Time "– 09." Heaven, Hell or Harrogate "– 10." Going Home "– Written by Mick Kidd, except where otherwise [noted] ℗ 2017 – Album Line-up: Mick Kidd: VOCs, resonator, acoustic, bass & electric guitars, stomp-box David Blight: Harmonica, VOCs (4. D.D. Mc Gee: drums (3, 6, 9) Discography MICK KIDD: Menu of Sin, with David Blight [2017] | Winter Sun [2014] | Blues Blast magazine USA Review by Marty Gunther December 2017 "Singer/guitarist Mick Kidd and harmonica player David Blight are a familiar pairing in the blues scene of southern Australia and follow up on their well-received album, Winter Sun, with this interesting collection of what Kidd terms “slidin’, stompin'” acoustic blues. Based out of Adelaide on the south-central coast, Kidd’s been working as a bluesman professionally for the better part of three decades and has also delved into the world of electric rock when fronting symphony orchestras in Darwin and his hometown for multiple Pink Floyd tribute events. After their debut release climbed to the Top 10 of Down Under blues charts, Kidd captured the prize for outstanding male performer at the 2014 South Australian Blues Awards and they won in the solo/duo category, too. They represented the Adelaide Roots & Blues Association at the 2016 International Blues Challenge, surviving three nights of competition to reach the quarterfinals. A gifted songwriter and storyteller, Kidd created nine of the 10 originals on Menu Of Sin himself, teaming with Blight on the other. Several of the tunes came about as a result of their experiences at the IBCs in Memphis. The disc was captured at Cashel Street Studios in Adelaide and features Mick on resonator, acoustic, electric and bass guitars as well as stomp box. Blight handles harp throughout and contributes vocals on two numbers. And they’re augmented by D.D. McGee, who sits in on drums for three tunes. The album opens with Kidd on resonator for “Deja Vu Blues,” which he delivers vocally in a clear, pleasant tenor. It’s an interesting tune that describes the repeating troubles — from writing checks he’s no longer able to cash and much, much more. Blight’s simple harp lines are in the background as Mick’s out front strumming chords until they stretch out a little for a mid-tune break. The action gets more interesting on “Good Enough For Me,” which features Kidd picking on slide and David stretching out a little. The message is that it doesn’t matter what the situation might be, the singer’s ready to accept the hand that he’s dealt. McGee joins in for the title cut, “Menu Of Sin,” which invites the listener to sit at the table, before Blight takes command of the mike for “Miss Beehavin’,” a tasty country blues suggestion that a lady change her wild and cheating ways. His harp skills come to the fore during the solo. An extended instrumental section introduces “Cut You Loose,” a slow-blues song of parting, before the duo pick up steam again for “Last Fly In Memphis,” a powerful number built on a steady guitar hook. The insect on the wall has been there for an indeterminate length of time on Beale Street — and he’s seen it all. Blight delivers “Born To Be My Crime,” a tune that describes someone with a quiet disposition who’s out for revenge and knows it’s best to serve it cold. The mood brightens for another propulsive number, “A Waste Of Time Well Spent,” which begins as a coming-of-age tune and progresses into a search into the future. The tempo picks up dramatically for the southern rocker “Heaven, Hell Or Harrogate” before the instrumental “Going Home” brings the action to a close. If you’re a fan of modern acoustic blues and looking for something different, this might appeal to you. You can buy it or download it through http://mickkidd.bandcamp.com. "Blues Blast Magazine USA Review by John Mitchell - 2015- "Wintersun" "On his previous album Rehab & Camel South Australian left-handed guitarist Mick Kidd was in predominantly acoustic mode. This time around he has changed focus and mixes acoustic tracks with electric, supported on most tracks by drummer DD McGee and harp player David Blight; Mick sings, plays all guitars and bass and Emily Kelly provides backing vocals on one cut. Mick had a hand in all the material here with assistance on three songs. On the last CD Mick’s voice was mixed a little too low but here he is clear and well suited to the material. The album opens with “What Don’t Kill You (Makes You Stronger)”, a mid-paced rocker with David’s harp to the fore. “Free Wheelin’ Feelin’” finds Mick on acoustic finger-picked guitar with slide as David blows sensitively on this gentle instrumental which he co-wrote, the drums also catching the feel with an understated performance. “When My Old Dog Died” is a co-write with Edward (not Elmore!) James, a duo performance with Mick on acoustic and David’s harp keening like a sad dog, Mick’s voice expressing the loss of an old friend. “Voice Inside” brings back the drums on a down-home piece about drinking and relationships. There are not many blues songs about heritage railway lines but Mick has written one in “Duke 621”, singing about a vintage steam train in Australia: “journey back in time on the oldest broad gauge line to a place in time when mighty locos run”. This one is a full production with backing vocals from Emily, buzzing harp from David and steady drumming from DD, Mick again on acoustic and bass. “Loanshark Blues” was the title of a Rory Gallagher tune but this one is Mick’s, mining a similar vein to Rory in a catchy tune with Mick on electric rhythm and a tasty solo. “Sights Set On You” is another catchy blues while “Sawpit Gully Stomp” is a second instrumental, this time with an Eastern flavour. The tune (and opening verse) of “Tick Tock Blues” bears a strong similarity to Muddy’s “Trouble No More”. The album closes with the solo acoustic “I Just Can’t Hold On”, Mick being joined by co-writer David who adds a plaintive touch on his harp to make this a very effective tune. The addition of drums on some tracks and the quality of David Blight’s harp playing both add to Mick’s guitar and vocals to make a pleasant and interesting album which fans of acoustic and traditional blues will enjoy. Reviewer John Mitchell is a blues enthusiast based in the UK who enjoys a wide variety of blues and roots music, especially anything in the ‘soul/blues’ category. Favourites include contemporary artists such as Curtis Salgado, Tad Robinson, Albert Castiglia and Doug Deming and classic artists including Bobby Bland, Howling Wolf and the three “Kings”. He gets over to the States as often as he can to see live blues. " |
Awards2022- Semi-finalist International Songwriting Competition - "Boneyard" (Blues Category) from the album "It's All Worth It"
2022- Runner-up -Adelaide Blues Album Of The Year for "It's All Worth It" Peaked at #6 on the ABARAC National Chart. 2018 Top 3 finalist-Adelaide Blues Album Of The Year for "Menu of Sin" Peaked at #4 on the ABARAC National Chart 2016 Quarter Finalist- International Blues Challenge, Memphis USA with David Blight 2015 Top 3 finalist-Adelaide Blues Album Of The Year for "Winter Sun" Peaked at #9 on the ABARAC ( Aust. Blues & Roots Airplay Chart) 2015 WINNER - Adelaide Roots & Blues Assoc. Inaugural “Memphis Blues Challenge” – solo/ duo category with Dave Blight 2014 – “DERRINGERS MUSIC S.A. BLUES AWARDS” # WINNER- Outstanding Male Performer # WINNER- Outstanding Solo/ Duo (with Dave Blight) S.C.A.L.A. – (Songwriters, Composers & Lyricists Association) 2014 - # Highly Commended – Instrumental Section 2013 - # Commended – Demo Open 2012 - # Highly Commended – Lyrics #Commended - Studio Open 2011 - #WINNER- Demo Open # Highly Commended – Studio Open 2010 - #WINNER – Live Section #WINNER – Studio Instrumental #Commended – Studio Open 2009 -#Highly Commended – Demo Instrumental # Commended – Studio Open MUSICOZ – NATIONAL UN-SIGNED MUSIC AWARDS 2005 - # Top 5 Finalist (Blues Category) with “Bluestone” 2004 - # Top 10 Finalist (Blues Category) with “Bluestone” |
