Frenchette moves

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 23

Frenchette moves

NEVIN TOPP

Frenchette, the Christchurch blues band, enjoy walking the fine line when they improvise in their playing, and sometimes find the best audience reaction to their songs when they do this. The band has booked three weeks of playing at the Imperial Hotel on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, beginning this week and has also secured Mondays and Tuesdays at the Gladstone Tavern for a fortnight, the final two nights being next week. However, the band may become a permanent fixture

in both hotels on those evenings, depending on what sort of crowd the band draws, according to the band's drummer, Chris McEwin. The band, drawing partly on the remnants of the Waterfront Blues band and the Beagle Boys, made its debut at the British Hotel, Lyttelton, in February, and played there for a short time in which McEwin termed a period of consolidation for the group. However, the band have been writing more original material, particularly the lead vocalist, Stephanie Nelson, and the band hopes to record at least two tracks

in eight to 10 weeks time.

Frenchette also intend to turn professional in about a month, a decision they expect will have a big impact on their music. The band has already had one line-up change. Richard Christie, the guitarist, departed, and the group are at present hunting for a new saxophone player to replace Karl Browne, who has to leave for personal reasons, much to the regret of the remaining members.

Besides McEwin, Browne, and Nelson, the remainder of the band are Arch Kuiper (guitar) and Chris Loader (bass).