Welcome to the feature where we ask musicians or bands five really tough questions about music! Today we speak to the Lee O’Nell Blue Gang. They have spent the summer performing in France and opening for Ana Popovic. In July they are opening for the Cinelli Brothers in France! Be sure to check out their music here but lets get started asking them some tough questions.

What is the hardest lyric you have ever had to write and why? 

Gipsy BACUET: Well, as the lyrics writer of Lee O’Nell Blues Gang, I cannot say that some lyrics are hard to write. As we work in symbiosis with Lionel WERNERT, (the leader, composer and guitarist of the band and also my « husband ») it’s quite easy to write. Sometimes words came first and that the easiest way to me. But sometimes, the music came first, Lionel gives me the frame of the future song, and asks me to write. So , in this case, I just have to listen again and again to let myself be influenced and carried in the universe that emanates from it… and the words come. 

And even if the stories I write are generally based upon my own experience, like other authors do, the feelings are universal, and that is the magical of a song: everybody can someday recognize himself in it…

What is the weirdest gift or compliment a fan has given you? 

Lionel WERNERT: Haha, generally fans are very kind and friendly. They know our universe and share it too. But the weirdest things we can hear at the end of the shows can be : Why don’t you sing a song of such artist during your concert ?  This is a thing that make me wonder ! Why some people who come to see a band want them to play something other than their own music ? Or when you cover a song, they allow themselves to ask you why you didn’t chose another song than this one because they prefer the other one ! 

Gipsy: Of course this kind of thing happens in France, we have to be precise. Then xe played in Belgium for example this never happens, and we think that in other countries it’s the same, but in France and especially when you are a french band, public allows itself this kind of unpleasant remarks because they are convinced that they have all the rights just because you are French.  That is may be  a bad description of our French audience, but unfortunately that’s the way it is…

“… I pay attention during the creation phase to this live aspect, and I always want to record every song in live while we are in the studio…”

 Who is the best band or musician you have had the pleasure to share the stage with? 

Lionel: So far I can say that it was and still is with my friend Fred Chapellier , but very soon we will share the stage with Ana Popovic and I think that will be such a great moment !

What one of your songs has been the most difficult to rehearse for a live audience? 

Lionel: None. Really there is none. When I composed our 2 albums I think , I build the songs to be played on stage, so any of our songs are difficult to rehearse. I pay attention during the creation phase to this live aspect, and I always want to record every song in live while we are in the studio. Of course during the recording sessions, I allow myself to add some guitars, and Gipsy adds some background vocals, but every song is composed to be played on stage with or without background vocals for example. The songs are made in a live spirit .

“…generally fans are very kind and friendly. They know our universe and share it too...”

Dream Collaboration and why ? 

Gipsy: As some of you may know it, I had the chance and the honor that on « Just need a prayer », (which is the last song of our second album « This is us » released in 2022, September) our friend Jade Macrae who is a fabulous Australian soul singer and also background vocalist with Joe Bonamassa , accepted to work with me. She added some few corrections on my lyrics, so we hope that someday Joe Bonamassa could listen our music.

Lionel: Yes, it was fantastic to collaborate with Jade, and personally I would love to collaborate with Eric Gales who is for me a fabulous guitar player with such knowledge , technic and feeling …