HITMAN Storms UK

Long Island's own Hitman Blues Band has returned to Long Island after  a successful tour of the U.K. in support of their new release "Not My Circus."
The band reports that all but one show was sold out and packed. And the one that wasn't was blamed more on Covid fears than any other reason.
"The tour was wonderful - challenging, exciting, as they always are, and mostly a testament to the people in the band who made everything work under often less-than-ideal conditions," said guitarist/singer Russell "Hitman" Alexander.  "There were no roadies, no tour support, no tour buses, but they were completely dedicated to putting on the best possible show every time."
Joining Alexander on the tour were Mike Porter  on bass and backup vocals; Mike Katzman on keyboards;  UK residents Ian Salisbury on Piano  and Chris Sharley on drums; Tom Mineo on tenor sax; Eric Altarac on trumpet; Al Alpert  on trombone; and Nancy Hampton and Joanne Alexander on backup vocals.
The tour kicked off at St. Harmonicas Blues Club, London, followed by a private gig in Tring.
The troubadours followed that up with a show at the Riverside Rhythm Club in Gillingham, Kent. This was a university. Another packed house with great reception.
Stops also included Farnum Maltings, where the crowd was thinner due to Covid fear,  a sellout at Blues at the Tropic, in Ruislip, up north to  Birmingham, and Henry’s Blues House,  -- where Ozzy Osbourne played his first gig with a  blues band.  The owner of Henry's, Ozzy's former manager, wants the Hitman Blues Band to return as a featured act for the  Birmingham Jazz Festival in 2022.
Also on the tour was the  The Eel Pie Club and a trip to Scotland for a show at the Cathcart Castle Golf Club among other stops. 
"I consider myself very fortunate to be able to work with people like this, and I’m hoping to be able to continue to do so here at home," Alexander said. "The audience in the UK was fantastic, and it was particularly gratifying that we played to a large number of new people as well as our previous fans, all of whom were very kind and extremely enthusiastic.  For an original band, that is what we strive for!"