Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Boys

Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Boys were formed in 2008 and started gigging in their stompin’ ground around ‘The Potteries’ Stoke-On-Trent in May 2009. So why ‘Cry Baby and The Hoochie Coochie Boys?', starting with The Hoochie Coochie Boys, the band has been heavily influenced by the Chicago Blues sound, as well as a British influence from Nine Below Zero & Dr. Feelgood, and Hoochie Coochie Boys is a nod to the great Muddy Waters. Rob Wilkinson under pins the band with old time harmonica playing and a wailing tone, hence the Cry Baby. On the drive home from yet another cracking Nine Below Zero gig, Rob and Graham Sells (Mr.G) were inspired up to put together a band that could combine the 50’s Chicago R&B sound with high energy British Blues. During the summer of 2008 the dust settled and The Hoochie Coochie Boys line-up was completed. Rob Wilkinson (Harmonica & Vocals), Graham Sells (Vocals & Guitar), Vince Cutcliffe (Lead Guitar), Trevor Pinson (Bass), Johnny ‘Fingers’ Davies (Keyboards), Andy Carr (Drums). Over the years the band, as most bands do, have changed the line-up. Several keyboard changes over the 5 years with the position now ably filled by "The Reverend" Mark Hargreaves. In 2013 Graham moved to Brazil and the band reduced to a 5-piece outfit. Shortly afterwards Trevor called time on his 6 years with the band. The bass position was filled by local bass legend Chris Bevington. The band feeds off live gigs and whilst we’ve all been around the block a few times, we ensure that we deliver a highly energized performance by limiting gigs to one or two a month, in that way we hit the stage bursting. One venue recently described us as a ‘Dance Floor Rhythm and Blues Band’ yeh that pretty much say’s it all. The band recorded their first EP ‘Salt Glazed Blues – EP’ at Tremolo Studios in Stoke-On-Trent, mainly to help promote the band and encourage pubs and clubs to book gigs. The EP includes two original numbers written by Graham Sells; ‘Don’t Lie To Me Baby’, a riff driven blues rocker, highlighting the harp and organ, followed by a slow burner, ‘Ain’t Nothing But The Blues’, which plays homage to the likes of BB King, Howlin Wolf. Elmore James and again Muddy Waters. We are really settled into our skin now and 2015 is already looking busy with around 12 gigs and 3 blues festivals already confirmed. As we only target to play around 20 gigs a year, we're almost "full" - blues 'em 'til we lose 'em... 5 piece rhythm and blues outfit, based in and around the Potteries, which is made up of six distinct towns: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton - collectively known as "THE POTTERIES".