Phoenix nights a hit for the Fast Camels
Band get to jam with guitar hero
Rutherglen rockers the Fast Camels have returned from their Stateside trip– and a jam with one of their heroes.
The local lads finally made it to America earlier this month, 11 years after a proposed trip fell apart at the last minute. However the five-piece band made it over to the USA this time, playing several shows throughout the California area and in Phoenix, Arizona. Singer Drew Sturgeon told the Reformer it was a dream come true to gig there, especially as former Love guitarist Johnny Echols joined them onstage in Santa Monica, playing a couple of Love classics and the Camels’ own track Privately Insane. Drew said: “It was absolutely brilliant. “Playing with Johnny was a huge highlight – we played four songs and we were a bit starstruck at getting that chance. “He was so cool though, just strolling on and playing – he did an absolutely incredible solo.” The guys from Love Revisited (Echols current band) were there watching too. “To be honest, all the gigs were highlights. We got a good reaction each night and we’d been practicing really hard before going out there.
“We just travelled around and met some lovely people. We recorded a radio show in Phoenix, as they’ve been playing our music since the first album.
“That was another great moment travelling across the desert, and getting to do that.”
The band made sure to see some landmarks while out there.
Drew added: “We did all the places our heroes played like the Troubadour and Whiskey A Go Go venues, we saw the Joshua Tree and went up to Golden Gate Park, where the hippie movement in the 1960s congregated.
“The only big challenge was the heat – it was roasting in LA and Phoenix.
“It was definitely a bucket list thing for the band to do though, and I’m really pleased that we have done it.”
The band were first supposed to travel to California in 2007, only for their then bassist to quit at the last minute, causing their travel plans to fall apart.
Since then the band have been through several line-up changes while releasing four albums.
They are now working on a fifth record for 2019.