Backstage with Skinny Jim

Skinny Jim (Dirk Vandamme)

The guitar man Skinny Jim, originally influenced by T-bone Walker and BB-King, has played together with Honky Tonk Joey for over ten years, taking us back to the late 80's. As musicians, the two of them share the same dream...

"We have the same vision, music has to be good swing!
It feels good to swing!"

Jim beams, lighting up the entire bar with his whole hearted smile. But, suddenly, his face takes on a more serious, deeply passionate expression as he continues:

"We want to tell people that swing is fun. Our game is to entertain, but it's no circus. Our style of music is little known, it's hard to describe. It's not black, nor white. It's not Blues or Rock 'n' Roll. We make a lot of noise but it has to be balanced, kind of in a 'jazzie' way."

Skinny Jim strikes a false note on a gig in Paris, much to the dismay of the Smoky Midnight Gang, but it's all part
of the show and the crowd loves it!

When Jim talks about "jazz" the other members of the band crack up laughing and reveal that Jim, on another tour in another country, fell asleep while the rest of the guys were chilling out listening to some jazz... not enough swing to keep Jim awake?

"The important thing," Jim continues, "is to introduce people to our style of music. I believe in it and all the time I hear people from the audience say things like 'I've never heard this music before, I love it!' People become converted to swing when they hear us play, that means everything to me."

Jim, happy as can be, carries that sweet swing in his soul wherever he goes, but he will stop if he has to go to Japan.
"I've never been in an aeroplane and I won't go on a boat across the sea either..."

Back to the Castle

Joey's Boogie Band
Smoky Midnight Gang