Gaels aiming to blow up a storm
6th March 1991 “Caithness Courier”

Batten down the hatches – Thurso-based blues-rock band Howlin’ Gaels are about to sweep across the Highlands. The four-piece outfit– singer Donnie Williamson, bassist Billy Wares, guitarist Alex McIntosh and drummer Marty Sutherland-– were due to start blowing up a storm recently in Features but bad luck, in the shape of burnt gear, put paid to that.
“There was a fire in my house,” explains Billy. “Luckily no-one was hurt but the band’s equipment suffered badly. The drums were slightly damaged, but the worst hit were the speaker cabinets. We’re pretty sickened by it.”

Donnie says: “We’re not going to be held back by a problem like this. We’ve been approached by an agent about doing gigs down South and we’re determined to get there.”

The boys have been playing in various local bands for years but only got together in February 1990. Marty joined in the summer, and Howlin’ Gaels was born. A few gigs last year, with a Hogmanay bash at the Forss base, was enough to convince them that the blend was right, and they’ve been practising hard ever since.

“The mix of upbeat blues music by the likes of B.B King, Johnny Winter, Hendrix and Blues ‘n’ Trouble, along with our own numbers, seem to go down well,” says Alex, who adds: “We’d have been playing a lot before now but for the lack of venues for our style of stuff around the North.”

I caught up with the Gaels at the Newmarket’s Blue Monday jam and they really are great. Kilted wildman Donnie’s raunchy voice and demonic harmonica, Alex’s solid rhythm and blinding solos and Billy and Marty banging away like a barn door in a hurricane combine to make one of the tightest and bounciest bands I’ve ever seen in a long time. They really deserve to get out and play more often without the hassle of spontaneous combustion!
Both Donnie and Billy are freelance musicians as well “If anyone needs a bass-player or a harmonica-playing singer for a while get in touch,” says Billy.

” Yeah, we need the cash to replace all the burnt bits,” quips Donnie.

So if you want a visual and musical feast that the Howlin’ Gaels have to offer, along with that atmospheric scorched smell, watch out for them in your neighbourhood soon. They’re well worth watching.

Bry Dods