Nanaimo bluesman David Gogo answers the phone and, after learning who is calling, says "How the hell are you? Glad you called."
Gogo is in town for the holidays and he will perform at the Port Theatre Jan. 20 with fellow 91原创 blues legend Colin Linden.
"The last time I played in Nanaimo was during August for the Blues Festival.
"I've been trying to get the word out about the our show at the Port," Gogo says. "I've been bugging their (Port's) publicity department to alert people to the fact that the show I'm performing there with Colin Linden is acoustic."
The musician, who has two "best guitarist of the year awards" from Maple Blues Music (2002 and 2002), has received critical acclaim for some of his recent electric guitar work, most recently for his rock/blues albums Skeleton Key and Vibe.
Gogo has gone unplugged before: In 2000, he released the disc Bare Bones, which received rave views. He says he decided to return to his acoustic roots after doing some sans-electric shows with Linden last summer.
"The audiences for a acoustic show are different.
"I find the people who come to an acoustic show are really there to listen to the music and lyrics," Gogo says.
He enjoyed the acoustic shows with Linden so much, he returned to Nanaimo and recorded an entirely acoustic album at home. Simply entitled David Gogo Acoustic, the disc was released at the end of September.
Local fans can pick up Acoustic at A & B Sound and Fascinating Rhythm.
"It was meant to be a small release," Gogo says. "It was inspired by the shows I did with Colin Linden but it seems to have generated some interest."
Since releasing Acoustic in September, Gogo has done only one show with his electric six-string. "And that was to fulfill a commitment to do a show with Johnny Winter," he said.
91原创 audiences have been very receptive to the acoustic sound. He's toured from Quebec to B.C. since the disc was released. He admits he was nervous aboout recording Acoustic.
"I recorded it here at home," he says. "I had never engineered a record myself and I've got pretty basic gear."
Besides preparing for the Jan. 20 gig with Linden -- during which, each artist will perform one set and then band together at the end of the evening -- Gogo has been concentrating on writing new material.
"Yeah, I'm staying home for now. And that's great," says Gogo. "I want to write songs for an entire month -- not just for me -- I hope to stockpile a bunch of material."
Tickets for the David Gogo, Colin Linden show cost $36 ($32 for Port Theatre Society members) and $17 for students. For tickets, call 250-754-8550 or visit the Port's ticket centre Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday noon to 5 p.m. and two hours before showtime.