Saturday May 15 at 8 pm, tickets $10. A special concert presented by The Tribal Gallery: Two Men from Earth — John Dickie (mandolin, harmonica, vocals) and Steve Hunter (piano, vocals) — an indigo rich blend 
of boogie, stride, country blues, and poignant ballads €“ all drawn from the southern U.S. blues experience with a marked €˜N€™awlins€™ vibe. Their new cd Walkin€™ To New Orleans — 13 songs, arranged and played as you€™ve never heard them before €“ Walkin€™ down a ragged road, really feelin€™ the blues. https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/TwoMenFromEarth
There€™s a whole world of music rooted in this planet we call earth €“ blues, boogie, swing, jazz, rock and roll… put it all together and it€™s the embodiment of roots music. Two Men from Earth has been living, breathing, playing, crooning, wailing and recording its rich abundance for countless revolutions. John Dickie (one man), Steve Hunter (one other man) and pals play the best €“ and with the best , including Jeff Healey, Sylvia Tyson, Etta James, Amy Sky, Jack DeKeyser, Neville Brothers and James Cotton. The band transcends musical boundaries, transporting listeners and live audiences with down-to-earth connections and out-of-this-world talent. One man, two men, or eight, Two Men from Earth will turn you on your ear.
In the words of Steve Hunter, €œin the musical blues space of these songs, join us on this ragged gravel road, walking south to the Crescent City, suspended in the footsteps of those who blazed the way before us€.
Review by John Valenteyn, Toronto Blues Society, December 2009 of
Two Men from Earth: Walkin’ to New Orleans:
The Two Men are John Dickie and Steve Hunter. John, of course, is the singer for the Mississippi Hippies & the Cameo Blues Band among his more recent credits but Steve’s is a less familiar name. To our musical theatre community, however, he is very well known, being Colm Wilkinson’s music director and playing piano & conducting almost every major production coming through town. He also plays in a jazz trio and has a disc of Scott Joplin songs called Muskoka Solace. Perhaps because of this background, his piano playing is positively orchestral & beautifully (and forwardly) recorded. John responds with some of his finest singing on disc. Indeed, it’s difficult to think of another singer who could hold his own with this keyboard onslaught. Just listen to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “It’ll Be Me” to hear a battle royal. The winner is all of us. We are winners in other respects as well. The reduction to voice & piano has resulted in some startling arrangements for some well-known songs: Robbie Robertson’s “Rag Mama Rag” gets some boogie woogie & ragtime accompaniment, Fats Domino’s “I’m Ready” gets a Professor Longhair treatment and there’s “Goodnight Irene”a la James Booker. Sleepy John Estes’ “Leavin’ Trunk Blues” has John on mandolin & harp and a unique piano part — no bass. The poignant, and updated, version of “Louisiana 1927” & “Corinna Corinna” slow the pace down wonderfully. From the opening “Roll ‘Em Pete” on, this is a boogie woogie & barrelhouse lovers treat. John has lived with many of these songs for most of his career and he is Hunter’s match in every song. It’s clear that these two masters have spent a great deal of time with these performances. They’ve also been doing this in public and in private for a number of years. You’ll hear that every time you go back to this wonderful disc.
