Southern tastes and sounds

TOMORROW night, award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Damon Smith is bringing the Damon Smith Trio to Pistol Pete’s for a night of Southern and Louisiana-inspired music and cuisine.

Pistol Pete’s Food and Blues founder Pete Raimondo started Pistol Pete’s almost a decade ago, with the dream of bringing the authentic style, taste, and flavour of the deep south to the local music scene in Geelong.

“It’s really just combining the passion and love we have we have for Southern Food and Southern Music, everything from blues to jazz to Americana to country… it’s a natural match,” Raimondo said.

Raimondo said they are excited to have multiple award-winning Damon Smith back, bringing the trio’s expert musicianship and piano style Blues and Jazz, to the venue tomorrow night, focusing on new releases from their album Skeletons, Skeletons, Skeletons.

“We’ve had him here before, he’s great entertainer, and with the trio it’s a really great vibe they bring, a bit of the New Orleans style blues that they do,” Raimondo said.

“It’s for anyone who likes good music, anybody from 18 to 80.”

Raimondo said Smith’s performances display both his expert musicianship and his sharp wit, with a dynamic stage presence that grips your attention.

Last year, Smith’s New Orleans Jazz/Blues album, Skeletons, Skeletons, Skeletons hit the Australian Blues and Roots charts at #2 and Smith signed with USA label MoMojo Records.

The Album won the Chris Wilson Award from the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and is currently nominated for a Music Victoria/Age Music award.

Smith’s voice has been described as ‘whiskey’ and is said to serve stylistically as a nod and a wink to his inspirations, including Dr John, Nina Simone, and Donny Hathaway.

Smith said the trio is looking forward to celebrating their most recent album at Pistol Pete’s, having played there once before.

“It’s Pistol Pete’s, the food is incredible, and I’m really excited to play our blend of blues music, because it’s piano-centric and not guitar based.

“There are so many guitar things out there which is why we think this is a point of difference.”

Alongside Smith in the Trio Adam Coad will be playing drums and Trent Mckenzie on upright bass.

“Even with the songs, the lyrics are all sardonic, and because Adam and Trent and I have played together for so long there is a chemistry that is almost sardonic, I mean the band is smiling the entire time we play,” Smith said.

“Adam and I are in a show called Mental As Everything, which is a show about living with mental illness, and we’ve played that all around Australia in many festivals, and probably the most exciting is that it’s a film that I made that’s actually on SBS demand.”

Alongside the quality music, Pistol Pete’s will be serving their locally loved southern-inspired menu.

The menu includes their popular Fried Chicken, Gumbo, Burgers, Southern Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork, Jambalaya, Waffles or PoBoys and more.

Pistol Pete’s also serves several Local Beers, Ciders & Wine, alongside a range of USA Beers and exclusive cocktails.

“We’re trying to create that feel here in Geelong, that genuine southern feel.”

To find out more or book ahead visit pistolpetesfoodnblues.com.au .