Biography
Bio 2- Mescalito Blues are a Duo by definition and definition only. All comparisons or preconcieved ideas on what you thought of a duo being will be quickly dispensed after seeing these guys live. Perhaps a more appropriate and fitting title for the way these boys play music in this format would be "Music without a saftey net" or "Power duo".
So if you're after great songs,great playing and a slightly different concept come and experience Mescalito Blues..... Swamp, Stompin Blues!!!! ( if you are in luck, you may even catch them performing as a Trio or even a 4 piece band)
Please take time to read my HISTORY-
Gavin Doniger has been on the east coast music scene since picking up a guitar and hitting the road back in 1998. Releasing his debut EP “Spav- Jean, Pool, Junkie’ that same year. With the 1st single “Emotions” featuring in the surf film “In the Meantime”. Since then he has toured continuously throughout Australia, and the world, collecting more foreign stamps in his passport than many bona fide diplomats.
It is Doniger’s love for the open road that inspires his music, and this is especially true for his main project, Mescalito Blues, which consists of Doniger and any number of talented musicians that Doniger discovers in his travels.
Fast building a reputation for blazing live shows that resonate with audiences from all walks of life.
In 2005 Mescalito Blues released its debut album “Dos Cerveza” and backed it up with extensive tours.
While most musicians take a break after injuring themselves, Doniger chose to draw a line under his current work and got creative–releasing “The Wounded Hand Recordings” in 2006; an extremely raw, swamp-stompin’-blues creation which has become a favourite amongst fans.
Doniger chose to take a sabbatical in early 2007 to play solo through the U.S., where he bounced around famous locales such as Hollywood and Seattle before soaking up the sights and sounds of Nashville for a further three months. The experience left him invigorated.
Extensive touring throughout Australia and Europe in 2008/09. Working on new material and subsequent tours marked a definite change in Doniger’s musical vocabulary: the swamp stompin’ blues was still there–but rawer and dirtier.
Finally, in late 2009, Mescalito Blues recorded some of the tracks they had been playing live now for nearly two years. The 6-track LP “Let the Sunshine Grow” subsequently received wide acclaim and encouraging radio play for its title track, and track “Love Love” featuring on “Root n All’ on Triple J. In mid-2010 Doniger took his Mescalito Blues across the UK, playing at Saltash Summer Music Festival performing with good friend and known luthier Tom Anfield. Other Doniger tour spots included Barbican Plymouth, Half-Moon London and solo shows at The Union in Saltash. More touring followed in New York City, playing at Arelene’s Grocery, followed by a small West Coast tour through Hollywood, San Francisco. and Portland Oregon
In March 2011 two of Doniger’s tracks, “Talkin’ About” and “Point Taken” were included in the soundtrack for Professional Surfer Dean ‘Dingo’ Morrison’s DVD “A Dingo’s Tale”. Around this time Doniger begun recording new demo tracks in his Gold Coast studio for both Solo and Mescalito releases.
2012 through 2014 saw Gavin doing annual Summer Tour’s through Europe and Scandonavia, performing in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Spain and France. With a Solo Album release Tomorrow/Today in 2013.
2016/17 were big years for Gavin Doniger and his Mescalito Blues band. Shows and tours up and down the East Coast of Australia. The Airlie Beach Festival of Music and Blues on Broadbeach Festival were highlight festivals.