I first met Mr Gary C in November 2011 when we were both backstage at the Brudenell Social Club awaiting our turn in the spotlight. It was a wholly fun and only slightly competitive affair filling the support slot for the main headliners – Black Lace! We’d both volunteered to perform in a ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ session – me as Freddie Mercury, Gary as Tony Hadley. I’d love to say that I went up on stage and totally nailed it but that would be a miserable lie. Listening to his Spandau Ballet cover, it suddenly dawned on me and my stage-mate (David Bowie) that we were way out of our depth… and we were on next! If you get a chance to watch the performance (his, not mine) on YouTube you will see what I mean when I say Gary was pure GOLD! and should have won that coveted trophy in my humble opinion (sorry Niv!).
Fast forward three months and Gary is back on stage at Mozfest, with me watching on equally impressed and equally inebriated whilst he does a top job of covering a number of Smiths songs. Mr Gary C isn’t defined by his cover versions however: his musical career has so far seen him achieve commercial success with his former band, win plaudits from fellow artists such as Richard Hawley and earned him an award from the International Songwriters Association! This month sees the launch of his new single – Three Cheers for the Underdog – and an accompanying show at the Northern Monkey on Sunday 25th March. Mr Gary C will be supported by local acts Maggie8, Little Vegas Lies and Steph Stephenson and hopes to make the night that bit more special by collaborating onstage with the bands. Oh and by doing some of his best kickboxing moves as well I hope!
Having spoken to Gary on a number of occasions, it is clear that he has a real passion not just for making music but also for having fun in the process. Despite an acrimonious split with the band he was a member of for seven years, Mr Gary C remains positive about the song-writing process and exudes confidence and style as a solo artist. His songs are relentlessly upbeat and puts you in mind of the swinging sixties – “retro acoustic pop… with panache” as his website would have it! Just the right kind of sound to see in the beginnings of Spring and to celebrate the increase in sunny weather; smiling and dancing along to Mr Gary C’s music is inevitable so don’t fight it! His musical influences stretch from Bobby Darin and Scott Walker through to Northern Soul and the Smiths, each of which this can be heard in the songs on his new EP – a preview is available here. Above all else and as his lyrics and song titles testify, Mr Gary C is a good guy with romantic ideals and an artist who displays the talent and determination to build on his reputation as a great live performer.
Three cheers for the underdog indeed!