Aynsley Lister-Eyes Wide Open

Like a cool breeze on a hot, humid day Aynsley Lister’s eighth studio album Eyes Wide Open refreshes those parts some other blues / rock albums fail to reach. Packed with a variance of style, and a serving of understated panache, here is an assortment of 13 individually superb creations which collectively underlines the fact that hard work and dedication truly pays off.

Take the opening strains of Il Grande Mafioso, for instance, which opens with a oddly calming Spanish acoustic section before easing into a tale of such simple richness its slipperiness is as mystifying as its cosmopolitan make up.

All of this coming, by the way, on the back of two opening tracks – All of Your Love and Everything I Have to Give – which whilst being somewhat more mainstream, are nonetheless gems of their kind. Catchy, tight and beautifully built, these however are all but mere tasters of what’s to follow.

The depth of the Hammond and Keys sound created by the light touch of Bennett Holland and the driving pulse provided by Steve Amadeo on bass and Boneto Dryden on drums, alongside Lister’s smooth vocals and some of the slickest guitar work you’re likely to hear anywhere, here is an album that could be placed in any chart anywhere and still win plaudits.

Yet aside from the superb musicianship, there are two further elements which truly stand out. The first is the quality of the lyrics which, whilst never over complicated, are nevertheless vivid in their depiction whilst also being thought provoking and astute. This is particularly clear on Kalina – a poignant tale of a girl with overpowering mental health issues – which could so easily have become something overly emotionally imbued, but instead stands rock solid and proud in its own body.

The second thing is the assuredness, the out-and-out confidence, which exudes from each and every chord the thirty nine year old’s playing. Here is a man clearly at ease with himself and his art. This, to such an extent, that we cannot help but be carried along with him on the crest of his own self-made wave.

These two facts – and that Lister is clearly enjoying himself to the max – take Eyes Wide Open to whole different level.

Stand out tracks are, well, thanks to their individuality, 1 through to 13, yet if push were to come to shove then the 4 minutes and 56 seconds of blues majesty that is Handful of Doubt just about edges it. However, with this said, that choice could well change the next time Eyes Wide Open gets an airing. It really is that kind of album. Brilliant in all that it generates and immaculate in all that it manages to achieve.

Track Listing:

1. All Of Your Love
2. Everything I Have To Give
3. Il Grande Mafioso
4. Won’t Be Taken Down
5. Time
6. Dishevelled
7. Troubled Soul (Intro)
8. Kalina
9. Handful of Doubt
10. Right As Rain
11. Other Part of Me
12. Stay
13. Hold You to It

Tickets available via www.bandsintown.com

CHISLEHURST, BEAVERWOOD CLUB
Thursday 22nd September 2016
Ticket Price: £12 adv / £13 door
Venue Box Office: 0208 761 9078 / 0788 865 7952
Book Online: Beaverwood Club
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Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 6HF
www.feenstra.co.uk

SUTTON, BOOM BOOM CLUB
Friday 23rd September 2016
Ticket Price: £12 advance / £13 door
Venue Box Office: 0208 761 9078 / 0788 865 7952
Book Online: Boom Boom Club
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The Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2EY
www.feenstra.co.uk

SKIRLAUGH, CORNUCOPIA FESTIVAL
Saturday 24th September 2016
Ticket Price: £45 day / £99 weekend
Venue Box Office: 01377 217406
Book Online: Cornucopia Festival
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Burton Constable Hall, Skirlaugh, East Yorkshire, HU11 4LN
www.cornucopiafestival.co.uk

MILTON KEYNES, THE STABLES
Wednesday 28th September 2016
Ticket Price: £16.50
Venue Box Office: 01908 280800
Book Online: The Stables
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The Stables Theatre Ltd, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU
www.stables.org/Home

CHESTER, TELFORDS WAREHOUSE
Thursday 29th September 2016
Ticket Price: £13
Venue Box Office: 01244 390090
Book Online: See Tickets
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Tower Wharf, Chester, CH1 4EZ
www.telfordswarehousechester.com

BURNLEY, MECHANICS
Friday 30th September 2016
Ticket Price: £14 advance / £15 door
Venue Box Office: 01282 664400
Book Online: Burnley Mechanics
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Manchester Road, Burnley BB11 1BH
http://burnleymechanics.co.uk

GUISBOROUGH, RHYTHM & BLUES CLUB
Saturday 1st October 2016
Ticket Price: £14
Venue Box Office: 07815913981
Facebook
Guisborough Town Football Club, Howlbeck Road, Guisborough, TS14 6LF

BLAKENEY, HARBOUR ROOM
Friday 4th November 2016
Ticket Price: £10
Venue Box Office: 01263 741666
Book Online: Blakeney Harbour Room
Facebook
139 -141 High Street, Blakeney, Norfolk NR25 7NU
www.blakeneyharbourroom.co.uk

PUTNEY, HALF MOON
Thursday 1st December 2016
Ticket Price: £14 advance / £16 door
Venue Box Office: 020 8780 9383
Book Online: Half Moon
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93 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, London, SW15 1EU
http://halfmoon.co.uk

ST. HELENS, CITADEL
Friday 2nd December 2016
Ticket Price: £12
Venue Box Office: 01744 735436
Book Online: The Citadel
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Waterloo Street, St Helens, WA10 1PX
www.citadel.org.uk

DERBY, THE FLOWERPOT
Saturday 3rd December 2016
Ticket Price: £12
Venue Box Office: 0844 412 4642
Book Online: We Got Tickets
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25 King Street, Derby, DE1 3DZ
www.rawpromo.co.uk

NEWCASTLE, THE CLUNY
Sunday 4th December 2016
Ticket Price: £14 advance / £16 door
Venue Box Office: 0191 230 4474
Book Online: The Cluny
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36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
www.thecluny.com

KENDAL, BOOTLEGGERS
Thursday 8th December 2016
Ticket Price: £12 advance / £15 door
Venue Box Office: 01539 723824
Book Online: Skiddle
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24 Finkle Street, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4AB
www.bootleggersbar.com

DARLINGTON, RHYTHM ’N’ BLUES CLUB
Friday 9th December 2016
Ticket Price: £15
Venue Box Office: 01325-363135
Book Online: Darlington Rhythm ’n’ Blues
Facebook
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL1 1SG
www.darlington-r-n-b-club.co.uk

NORWICH, THE WATERFRONT
Saturday 10th December 2016
Ticket Price: £14
Venue Box Office: 01603 508050
Book Online: The Waterfront Studio
Facebook / Twitter
139-141 King St, Norwich, NR1 1QH
https://ueatickets.ticketabc.com

LEICESTER, THE MUSICIAN
Sunday 11th December 2016
Ticket Price: £12 advance / £14 door
Venue Box Office: 0116 251 0080 / 07970 529 760
Book Online: We Got Tickets
Facebook / Twitter
Clyde Street, Leicester, LE1 2DE
www.themusicianpub.co.uk

FARNHAM, MALTINGS
Monday 12th December 2016
Ticket Price: £15
Venue Box Office: 01252 793430
Book Online: Boogaloo Promotions
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Bridge Square, Farnham GU9 7QR
www.boogaloopromotions.com/blues/gigs/

SOUTHAMPTON, THE BROOK
Thursday 15th December 2016
Ticket Price: £14 advance / £16 door
Venue Box Office: 023 8055 5366
Book Online: The Brook
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466 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton, SO17 3SD
www.the-brook.com

SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
Friday 16th December 2016
Ticket Price: £14 advance / £16 door
Venue Box Office: 0114 266 5599
Book Online: The Greystones
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Greystones Road, Sheffield, S11 7BS
http://www.mygreystones.co.uk

MANCHESTER, ACADEMY 3
Saturday 17th December 2016
Ticket Price: £14
Venue Box Office: 0161 832 1111
Book Online: Manchester Academy
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University Of Manchester Students’ Union, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
www.manchesteracademy.net

EDINBURGH, THE CAVES
Sunday 18th December 2016
Ticket Price: £13
Venue Box Office: 0131 510 6969
Book Online: Tickets Scotland
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8-12 Niddry Street South, Edinburgh, EH1 1NS
http://unusualvenuesedinburgh.com

Aynsley Lister

Eyes Wide Open

Label: Straight Talkin’

ASIN: B01L9JIN68

7 October, 2016