“Its as if Jimi Is still around to the delight of my ears and my mind But yet, it is still very Randy Hansen”
~ Wayne Rinehart Executive Editor Blues-E-News Magazine
I received a wonderful new album today from Randy Hansen, most notably known for his Guitar Virtuoso sound and interpretation of Jimi Hendrix. Randy has made a career out of performing Hendrix covers, and he sounds very much like the master artist Jimi Hendrix both vocally and on guitar. Yes maybe the Link name was a bit misleading, sorry about that. Yes it was a selfish ploy to grab your eyes and navigate them over to this article. But in reality it’s not too far fetched to imagine this could be true as the two bands (Floyd and Hendrix) actually toured and performed at the same venues even at the same concert! You see this album has flavors of Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and hints of David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen. But yet, it is still very “Randy Hansen”!
As I sit here listening to the album I imagine I’m listening to new Hendrix recordings. Its as if Jimi Is still around to the delight of my ears and my mind. The album one of the first albums by Randy featuring his own music in many years is an audiovisual field trip of the mind where Randy takes us to this amusement park. The Park rides and exhibits are the songs. It’s almost like an audio short story or musical.. lol.. I know I’m probably thinking too much into this.. Let me just say, it’s a great CD and I enjoyed it very much, And am still listening to it!
One interesting note about the album, ALL the instruments (track by track) were played and recorded by Randy. The entire album all but one song where Randy’s son plays drums. The album was also mixed by Randy and mastered by Ufo Walter in Germany.
I asked Randy’s PR/productions person, agent and friend Kevin Fillo a few short questions.. I was really curious about the album art and the cover. The Album art has some great drawings and the cover, well at first glance was a little creepy.. lol
Take a listen to this teaser of the title track.. It’s a great example of what your in for.. enjoy, “Fun Town” Randy Hansen
Here’s the short interview:
Sent by Wayne Rinehart
Sent by Wayne Rinehart
Sent by Wayne Rinehart
Sent by Wayne Rinehart My pleasure Kevin. Can you tell us when the CD will be released to the world and any tours Randy Has coming up?
Eclipsed, Gitarre & Bass, Good Times, Kultur News, music,
Breakout, Rock It!, Music´n´Stuff proudly present:
RANDY HANSEN & BAND
`FUNTOWN` European Tour 2015
29.10.15 DE-Plauen, Malzhaus
30.10.15 DE-Berlin, Quasimodo
31.10.15 DE-Neuruppin, Kulturhaus
02.11.15 AT-Wels, Alter Schlachthof
03.11.15 DE-München, Backstage
04.11.15 DE-Aschaffenburg, Colos Saal
05.11.15 DE-Bensheim, Musiktheater Rex
06.11.15 DE-Scala, Leverkusen
07.11.15 DE-Ahlen, Schuhfabrik
10.11.15 DE-Halle, Objekt 5
11.11.15 DE-Hamburg, Downtown
12.11.15 DE-Essen, Turock
13.11.15 DE-Freiburg, Jazzhaus
14.11.15 DE-Freudenburg, Ducsaal
17.11.15 DE-Regensburg, Alte Mälzerei
18.11.15 DE-Nürnberg, Hirsch
19.11.15 NL-Arnhem, Luxor
20.11.15 NL-Gebouw T, Bergen op Zoom
21.11.15 NL-Deventer, Burgerweeshuis
22.11.15 NL-Tilburg, 013
On his upcoming European tour Randy Hansen will play a mixture of a “Jimi Hendrix Classic Show” and songs he wrote himself for his first studio album release titled “Funtown” in over eleven years. On the album the guitarist and singer surprises you with spherical sounds à la Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa, and also innovative sounds à la Jimi Hendrix. “It was nothing more than laziness, that it took about a decade to release my fourth solo album.” revealed the American. “However, I have composed, played, recorded and produced all songs by myself (except “The Pain” where my son Desmond plays the drums) in my home Studio.” The title “Funtown” “is a fictional amusement park where each visitor can do everything he desires. In this respect, my politically motivated love songs are nothing more than reality become fantasy. “Stylistically”, remains the left-hander, who is from Seattle like Jimi Hendrix faithful: “This record is not different from the albums before, but it keeps the path continuing, “because I can just write in the way which is typical for me.”. Does Randy want to create himself as an independent artist with his fourth solo album apart from interpreting Hendrix? “No, because I’ll always play Jimi’s music. But I am no longer a tribute act, as it is more like an orchestra that performs the great works of classical music.”
Live on stage he is combining his own compositions with “The Best Of Hendrix”. “We are changing the setlist every night a bit,” said the 60-year-old. “Only the classical songs of course remain in the program. We also play a lot of songs that Jimi never presented live on stage. But I do not copy his songs note by note. I interpret the songs rather as he would – in my opinion – play them today. In his songs there is a lot of good advice – about how to spend your life and how to enjoy it! The things about which he wrote, revolved mostly around people’s happiness and how to achieve peace of mind.”. This view expands Randy Hansen now even on his new album “Funtown”: “You should not impose restrictions to yourself – nothing is impossible!”
Jimi’s brother is working on some recordings and will perform later this month at the Whiskey.