Pete Cornelius & the DeVilles est 1999, have released 7 full length albums, toured relentlessly, both national & international. Featured at some of Australia’s most prestige festivals, including Byron Bay’s Bluesfest, The Great Southern Blues Festival, Blues on Broadbeach, Thredbo Blues Festival, The Australian Blues Festival, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Southern Roots, and more. Pete also spent 3 months living in Chicago 2007. There he played many gigs at clubs such as Buddy Guy’s "Legends”, Rosa’s Lounge, Kingston Mines, Blues on Halsted, and also performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, The Taste of Chicago and many other festivals and clubs in the surrounding states...

    Australian Pete Cornelius recorded these songs in Byron Bay with his three piece band. The De Villes are Phil Wilson on bass and Matt Neil on drums. Guitar led blues-rock, played with finesse is the formula we expect from across the Tasman and that's exactly what you get form Cornelius and the De Villes.
    Pete Cornelius wrote most of the songs on the album and does all the vocals. They are good songs fir the most part and not all rockers. "Billfish Bay" is a thoughtful piece with picked guitar and slide, and in praise of fishing, in the bay of the title. "Running in the Red", by contrast is a crunchy guitar piece with a hook, about a 57' - Chevvie or Holden we are not told! "Youth in Asia" is a slow, overdrive 12 bar. More of a contrast is "Asher's Room", low instrumental with Cornelius' overdubbed piano adding simple big chords behind a mournful minor keyed progression on guitar that slowly builds to a climax.
    "Rock n Roll" is a funky blues about the usual blues subjects, money women and jobs. "Cherry Bomb" is a shuffle that drives and has a neat variation on the usual 3 chord form, with a nod towards Texas. "Stairway to Hell" keeps the Texas style and continues the driving theme. "Goin' Down" is a showcase for Cornelius' slide playing over a riff reminiscent of Clapton's Crossroads. "Albatross" is probably a homage and stays close to the Peter Green original, and is, naturally, beautiful.
    The DeVilles have gone through a few different phases in the past 11 years. Originally a hard hitting Texas blues band, playing tunes from the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. But have now settled into a new groove. Pete’s song writing, singing and guitar playing have evolved into something that can’t quite be described or put under genre titles, but still remain comfortable in the Blues / Roots camp. ~ blues.co.nz