For Daddy Long Legs, playing the blues has
nothing to do with nostalgia, or trying to recreate their blues record
collections. Rather, it’s about mashing together all the brawn of riff-based
garage rock, the soul of 60’s era rhythm and blues, and the jump and shuffle
of the West Coast and Chicago sounds to create new blues music that is about
the here-and-now. With their original material and modern sound, Daddy Long
Legs have become an enigma of the music scene, appealing to an eclectic
bunch of blues purist, rock-abillies, swing dancers, and alt-rockers alike.
Formed in 2001, Daddy Long Legs features Mike Elliott, winner of Ottawa’s
6th Annual Blues Guitar Riff-Off, on guitar and lead vocals. Elliott teamed
up with previous band mate Jeff Wagner, a drummer with clock work timing,
and the pair quickly sought the powerhouse harp skills of Chris Junior
Malleck, who had been seen sharing the stage with such blues notables as Big
Dave Maclean and the Rockin’ Highliners. The line-up was finally completed
with the addition of the infamous bassist Steve Toms, one of the founding
members of the alternative rock band The Miniatures. With live shows that
roll heavy like a steamroller, Daddy Long Legs was quickly recognized as
something special, and caught the eye, and ears, of many promoters. As a
result, in addition to steady local gigging, the band has appeared in shows
with the likes of The Fabulous
Thunderbirds, Mel Brown,
Bob Margolin,
Big Bill Morganfield and
Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater. For their
third disc, “King for a Day”, Daddy Long Legs tapped the production talents
of rising blues star Steve Marriner (Dog My Cat Records recording artist).
Released in early 2008, “King for a Day” guarantees to make newcomers to
Daddy Long Legs' music sit up and take notice.