David Gogo’s next concert is going to be smoking. Literally.
On Feb. 29 the Nanaimo bluesman is performing an acoustic show at Lantzville’s Costin Hall. He’ll be accompanied by Marisha Devoin on upright bass and the evening will feature a Memphis-style BBQ buffet dinner.
Gogo said he brings out special guitars and memories for his acoustic performances.
“I play a 1930 National steel guitar … well, actually mine’s made out of brass, and an old Gibson from the ’20s,” Gogo said. “And I take the opportunity to tell stories in between songs talking about the guitars and talking about the experiences I’ve had in my career getting to play with some of the blues greats.”
For those unable to catch those stories in person, Gogo announced on Feb. 19 that he is launching a podcast, the David Gogo Soul-Bender Podcast, with Scott James from Victoria rock station 100.3 the Q. Gogo said each episode will cover a different subject.
“The first one is just my memories of getting to hang out with Stevie Ray Vaughan. The next one is my experience going to the world famous Montreux Jazz and Blues Festival,” he said. “So it’s just stories from the road.”
Gogo said he was motivated to start the podcast because “I’ve just been doing this for so long” and he’s amassed a collection of stories. He said he hired some younger musicians to do some shows with him in the Prairies in November and they were fascinated by the tales he told in the van. He said he finds the same interest on social media.
“Whenever I might post a picture of me with a BB King or a Stevie Ray Vaughan, people just want to know the story behind it,” Gogo said. “So I said, ‘Well, what the heck. Let’s get a podcast going.'”
Soul Bender launches on March 3 at www.anchor.fm/david-gogo-podcast.
WHAT’S ON … An Evening of Acoustic Blues with David Gogo and Marisha Devoin at Costin Hall, 7232 Lantzville Rd., on Saturday, Feb. 29. Dinner at 6:30 p.m., show at 8. Tickets $45, available at Lucid, Desire Tattoo, Sunrise Records and showpass.com.
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