For the latest in our Baker's Dozen feature, RGM caught up with Phil Poole vocalist for Doomsday Outlaw the UK bluesy hard rock act who'll be releasing their new album 'Hard Times' via Frontiers on May 11th. The band will also be supporting the release with their own shows and dates with Jizzy Pearl of Love/Hate fame. So please join us for Phil's thoughts on Elton John, Chris Cornell, 'The Devil Wears Prada' and his reason for being.

1. What is your earliest musical memory?

Dancing around the living room with my brother and sister to Star Trekkin’ (A No.1 hit back in 1987 by The Firm…Ed).

Buy on Amazon

2. Do you remember the name of your first band?

The Jimis. We were 14 years old. We were a Hendrix cover band.

3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?

John Grant; lyrically and musically a genius.

4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?

I use the voice recorder on my phone, wherever I am and whenever the mood strikes.

5. Big venue or small venue – what’s your favourite to play?

It’s more about the place being full, whether it’s big or small. A packed house always brings out the best in me.

6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?

Steve Marriott. His voice is still probably the best ever. And the party after would be legendary!

7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?

Without doubt it’s Chris Cornell. He’s such a big influence of mine. One of the best voices of all time.

8. Is a saxophone solo ever ok?

Of course a sax is ok – there’s nothing sexier when it’s done right. The problem with it is it was overdone in the 80s and became cheesy.

9. Should music be free?

No, music shouldn’t be free. But then it also has to be worth paying for. There’s an oversaturation and that makes it difficult. But you hope if it’s good enough people will be willing to part with their hard-earned moolah.

10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?

The first album I bought was ‘Sleeping with the Past’ by Elton John. I still love it; 'Sacrifice' gets me going. Recently, I’m into Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Great voice and songwriter. ‘S.O.B.’ in particular is an amazing tune.

11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?

‘Mayfly’ by Terry Reid. One of my favourite singers of all time - every time I hear it I get goosebumps and shed a tear, It has the same effect on my dad as well. More people should know who he is because he’s as good as it gets.

12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?

I love TV and film and binge watch constantly. I’d recommend “F is for Family” or “Rick and Morty” on Netflix. Both animations and by far the funniest things out there right now! And as for guilty pleasures, I don’t have any because I don’t feel guilt for anything that brings me pleasure or joy. If people don’t like it, I don’t care. I love “The Devil Wears Prada”. It’s great, end of!

13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?

My son – he’s my reason for being. The reason I exist! It’s all for him. He makes me the man I am and the man I hope to be.

The Baker's Dozen @ RGM

Dec 12, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #46 The Last Hurrah (!!)

Dec 12, 2023

These days, with a seemingly inexhaustible amount of music available at the click of a mouse, it is easy to miss things in our search for instant gratification. The art of getting to know an album over repeated listens, allowing it to slowly reveal itself, is in danger of being lost. A case in point is the aptly titled ‘Modern Nostalgia’, the latest release from The Last Hurrah (!!), a project helmed by Norwegian musician/producer HP Gundersen. ‘Modern Nostalgia’ blends a distinctly European (Serge Gainsbourg/Marianne Faithfull) approach with the California sound of Gram Parsons and The Byrds, utilising a variety of singers and instrumentation along the way to reveal its charms. With this in mind, we caught up with HP Gundersen to learn more about HP and his collaborators in The Last Hurrah (!!).

Dec 12, 2023

Nov 28, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #45 Joby Fox

Nov 28, 2023

Northern Irish singer, songwriter and humanitarian Joby Fox was in London recently for two shows in support of his excellent album ‘I Once Was A Hawk…Now I’m A Dove’. RGM was lucky enough to be at the second of these, and you can read a review here. While Joby was performing his promotional duties, he took the time to complete a Baker’s Dozen for RGM. Topics included his favourite records and artists that inspire him while we were reminded that one invention is particularly vital.

Nov 28, 2023

Jun 1, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #44 Jennifer Crook

Jun 1, 2023

With the release of 'The Broken Road Back Home' in late 2022, Jennifer Crook received some of the best reviews of her career, with Folking claiming it as "One of the year's best albums". Jennifer is no stranger to good reviews, and a high bar had been set with The Telegraph, Mark Radcliffe and Fatea Magazine praising her previous work. ’The Broken Road Back Home’ is a lovely record with a timeless quality that should appeal to anyone who appreciates good songs and a finely crafted album with excellent musicianship. The album recently received a limited edition vinyl pressing, so it seemed like the ideal time to catch up with Jennifer to learn a little more, and, unsurprisingly, we found her in the recording studio.

Jun 1, 2023

May 18, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #43 Dave Foster

May 18, 2023

Fans of Big Big Train and the Steve Rothery Band will need no introduction to Dave Foster. The guitarist and songwriter has been heavily involved with both in the last few years but dig a little deeper, and you’ll discover Dave’s solo career and his work with vocalist Dinet Poortman. ‘Glimmer’ is the second album from the duo and does a wonderful job of utilizing progressive instrumentation, including plenty of fluid, yet punchy, guitar playing from Dave, on a bunch of songs with striking pop sensibilities. Fans of the aforementioned acts, and a band we recently championed here at Red Guitar Music, League Of Lights will surely enjoy ‘Glimmer’ immensely. The album was released on CD/LP in April, with a digital release on May 19th, so go check it out. We caught up with Dave for a wide-ranging chat (anyone who starts out by mentioning Bob Seger’s Nine Tonight is alright in my book) about his musical tastes, career and choice in film (Wes Anderson is another big tick here at RGMHQ). Now if we can get him to elaborate on that Steve Vai story…

May 18, 2023

Apr 20, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #42 Jenny Don't and The Spurs

Apr 20, 2023

If you were very lucky, you might have caught Jenny Don’t and The Spurs on their recent UK tour, which included a show at the Ramblin’ Roots Revue in High Wycombe. The Portland, Oregon act were promoting their excellent ‘Fire On The Ridge’ release, an essential purchase for all lovers of old-school twangy country sounds delivered with maximum gusto and bags of attitude. Before they set out on the Europe dates, which will keep them busy through May, we caught up with bassist Kelly Halliburton who was incredibly generous with his time, resulting in a very cool edition of the Baker’s Dozen.

Apr 20, 2023

Mar 24, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #41 Jerry Leger

Mar 24, 2023

In 2005, nineteen-year-old Jerry Leger cut his first independently released album. Since then, the prolific singer-songwriter has recorded 10 additional albums under his own name, with the last 4 released via Cowboy Junkies' label, Latent Recordings. His latest release is a four-track EP 'Latent Uncovers' that features his take on songs by Lou Reed, Jeff Tweedy, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. Red Guitar Music caught up with Jerry for a brief chat about his influences, and he reminds us it doesn’t get much better than Gordon Lightfoot.

Mar 24, 2023

Mar 23, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #40 Adam Masterson

Mar 23, 2023

London-born but New York-based Adam Masterson recently released his second album ‘Time Bomb’ digitally with CD/LP to follow on July 21st. It’s been two decades since his debut ‘One Tale Too Many’ but Adam has kept busy releasing various EPs, shared stages with the likes of Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics and guested with Patti Smith and Mick Jones (The Clash). We caught up with Adam for an enlightening chat about the music business in 2023 and how buying a Tom Petty record from a beach vendor in Turkey proved inspirational.

Mar 23, 2023

Mar 20, 2023

The Baker's Dozen #39 Craig Gould

Mar 20, 2023

Craig Gould is an artist looking to make a difference. Following a run of singles, Craig will release his debut album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ on April 14th. The album is the centrepiece of Craig’s personal campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues, with ALL profits from the album and singles benefitting the CALM charity https://www.thecalmzone.net/. Please read on to learn more about Craig’s back story, the album ‘Songs From The Campfire’ and why he feels so passionate about this project. Singer. Songwriter. Storyteller. Campaigner. Craig is all these things, so it seemed an ideal time to get to know Craig a little better via The Baker’s Dozen here at Red Guitar Music.

Mar 20, 2023