Gerry Joe Weise et National 1930
A conversation with
Gerry Joe Weise
by interviewer P. Rochefort
Here is an interview I had with Oz-guitarist from "down under", Gerry Joe Weise, at a Cafe in Rheims, on a sunny afternoon the 3rd of January 2007.
P. Rochefort : I have been listening recently to your 2005 release "Sydney-Paris Blues", where track 3 "Down In Sydney (Weise)" and track 5 "I Just can't Make It (Hound Dog Taylor)" were credited as live solo recordings at the Zenith in Toulouse. Were they recorded on your 1930's resophonic guitars?
Gerry Joe Weise : Yes they were. "Down In Sydney" I performed with my green 1930 National Triolian in normal tuning, and "I Just Can't Make It" in open B tuning on my chrome 1932 Dobro M15.
P. Rochefort : Did you perform these songs back in 1997 at the Grand Theatre in Rheims with Paul Personne?
Gerry Joe Weise : No I didn't, but I did play "Celtic Blues (Weise)" and "Hoochie Coochie Man" in open drop D tuning on the Dobro, and "Voodoo Child" on the National.
P. Rochefort : Tell me what you thought about the Paul Personne show?
Gerry Joe Weise : It was a magic night. All musicians were in great form, the sound system from the house P.A. was excellent, and stage lighting was very efficient. I enjoyed Paul's show which he performed with lots of feeling, so many great guitar solos from this humble man. I had seen him on T.V., but live in concert was a thrilling experience. The audience was very receptive, and very loud indeed. I did my best to warm up the crowd for Paul Personne!
P. Rochefort : 1997/1998 were busy years for you. Usually you tour in a trio configuration, with bassist Peter Metzger and drummer Stephane Ehrhart from the Alsace region?
Gerry Joe Weise : Yes after the Grand Theatre in Rheims (10 April 97), I played with Peter and Stephane at the Espace Caussimon in Paris (26 April 97), before embarking on an European tour 97/98. Starting in May in Switzerland then going onto Luxembourg, Germany, France and Belgium.
P. Rochefort : Then ending at the "Nuit Du Blues" Festival at the Theatre in St. Quentin (friday 10th April 1998), where you performed once again as a Dobro solo act?
Gerry Joe Weise : Yes, word got out, with lots of positive reactions from the Paul Personne concert in Rheims, that St. Quentin wanted urgently to do the same. So there I was with my Dobro and National, sandwiched and scheduled between two large orchestras.
P. Rochefort : How did that turn out?
Gerry Joe Weise : Once again I tried my best, and by using the same repertoire as in Rheims, the local press said I "wowed the St. Quentin audience!"
Gerry Joe Weise, Zenith Toulouse 1999.
P. Rochefort : That led to another unique solo experience, this time as support act to the Scorpions at the 7,000 seater hall at the Zenith in Toulouse. Two of those songs can be found on your latest release "Sydney-Paris Blues", were they recorded on the same night (thursday 3rd June 1999)?
Gerry Joe Weise : Yeah that's right, right you are. There is an anecdote. The rowdy audience were impatient for the concert to commence at 8.30 p.m.. As soon as I walked on stage in leather pants, the crowd went really wild, but when I sat down on the chair in the middle of the huge stage and took out the Dobro, there was a great silence. The audience then knew I had nothing to do with the Scorpions! Nervous I had to work very hard to win the crowd over!
Gerry Joe Weise, Zenith Toulouse 1999.
P. Rochefort : And did you win the crowd over?
Gerry Joe Weise : Yes I did, by the time I played my ol' faithful "Broken Hill Blues", everyone was singing out loud with me. I got an encore! And when the Scorpions went on stage right after my set, they were very happy to see the crowd singing along from song one!
Gerry Joe Weise, Zenith Toulouse 1999.
GERRY JOE WEISE Live at the Zenith.
To play the following songs click onto the title:
01) "Down In Sydney" (Gerry Joe Weise)
02) "I Just Can't Make It" (Hound Dog Taylor)
03) "Island Sunset" (Gerry Joe Weise)
Gerry Joe Weise moved from France to Switzerland in June 1997. In September 1999 after the Zenith concert, he moved to Melbourne, Australia. After a 33 concert tour in Australia 2005/2006, Gerry Joe Weise moved back to the north of France.
P. Rochefort
All compositions by Gerry Joe Weise.