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These are my thoughts on the gigs at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club which meets every Thursday at the Belvedere, Hardings Thanks go to Chris Patching for the photos. Storm Warning – 22nd May 2008 A sadly small audience greeted the headliners at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club this week and those who were not there missed yet another excellent night as Storm Warning, a band that warrants being far higher in the musical firmament than they are, made a welcome return visit. Storm Warning, by their own admission, defies categorisation being neither a straight blues band nor a pure rock band. I suppose that, loosely, you could call them blues rock but even that does not really cover it. The hell with categorisation, they are very, very good. After listening to their new CD and to their excellent set at the Club which featured quite a few songs from the CD, I feel I can justifiably describe them as one of the most original and inventive bands on the circuit at present. We were treated to a wonderful set full of variety featuring some excellent covers and loads of the band’s excellent original material, featuring wonderfully imaginative lyrics delivered with passion and panache by Son Maxwell, great guitar from Bob Moore whose playing was beautiful to listen to, ranging from rock solid and rocking to dreamy, ethereal gorgeousness and superb keyboards from Ian Salisbury, a vastly underrated musician. The rhythm section of Derek White on bass, dazzling with some smashing bass breaks and drummer Roger Willis, never too much never too little and always spot-on. So a band that is a delight to listen to and who responded with warmth and vigour to the reception from the audience. With festival appearances around Europe, a Paul Jones show session broadcast earlier this year and a new CD, ‘Something Real’ due for a June release, Storm Warning are definitely a band to catch. The Mick Pini Band – 15th May 2008 There are good nights and then there are some really great nights and then there are nights like this Thursday just gone at the Crawdaddy. With someone as experienced and talented as Mick Pini and his excellent band, the expectations of the audience were, justifiably, high and Mick did not disappoint, his smoking vocals matched only by his red-hot guitar playing which ran the whole gamut from a barely glowing ember to a wild, raging bushfire. Mick has such control and such passion and a sound that is unique, giving justification to Eric Clapton’s acclamation that Mick is the ‘legitimate successor to Peter Green’ and legendary producer, Mike Vernon who described him as ‘having the energy and attack that made Freddie King one of the greats. There are too few great guitarists working the European scene. Sure there are many good ones, but only a few have the potential to make a mark in a way Peter Green did many years ago.” Mick certainly made such a mark Thursday night and also brought along a friend who raised the bar even further. Sat quietly at the side of the stage, a Texan guitarist friend of Mick’s joined him on stage for a handful of numbers and blew away an audience whose jaws were already brushing the carpet. Unrecognisable without his trademark Panama style hat, Sherman Robertson (for it was he!) dominated the stage as he and Mick Pini, two utterly different types of guitarist, played up a storm together, both clearly highly respectful of the other’s talent and stature and both thoroughly enjoying themselves. Blues Revue described Thursday May 15th was, I am sure, one of those evenings which will endure in the memories of everyone who attended the Crawdaddy. We were treated to a truly memorable musical event with a unique combination of talent that produced something very special indeed. Mention must also be made of Mick’s excellent band, lead from the keyboards by the superb Jules Grudgings (also a regular sideman for DANNY BRYANT’S REDEYE BAND – Thursday 24th April 2008 It is always good to catch up with an artist that you have seen a number of times over the years and whose career you have followed and so it was with Danny Bryant at the Club on Thursday. He was celebrating 10 years on the circuit and promoting his 6th CD, the very well received ‘Black and White’. I believe I first saw him play some 6 or 7 years ago and each time I have seen him since he has simply got better, improving like a fine wine! As ever, Thursday saw him attract a good sized and very enthusiastic audience who would have had him play on all night if they could! The Danny I saw on Thursday was a long way from the young man I recall from way back. He has a strong stage presence, is relaxed and very comfortable playing to and with the audience. His playing now features a great deal more texture and variety, it was wonderful to hear him play a couple of acoustic numbers, particularly the solo title track from his latest CD. Danny’s guitar playing is very exciting and still shows signs of his influences, particularly Walter Trout, but I would far rather listen to and watch Danny! Whether his guitar is raging and spitting fire or it is singing like the sweetest and most delicate songbird, his playing is measured and controlled, the tone always appropriate as he runs the whole range in one number as exemplified in one of my favourites, his excellent cover of Dylan’s ‘Girl from the North Country’ which is just gorgeous. Danny’s vocal delivery compliments his guitar playing and he is the master of the emotion dripping and passion filled rock blues ballad, many of which are his own compositions and which demonstrate a good way with words. But he also plays blues standards with a feel that displays most clearly where his roots are. On the basis of Thursday’s gig it is easy to see why Danny is so popular and packs them in clubs and venues throughout JERIMIAH MARQUES & THE BLUE ACES – 17th April 2008 Jerimiah and his great band played a glorious set and for me they could have gone on all night, as could Jerimiah! Keyboard maestro Pete Nash told me afterwards that we were lucky getting Jerimiah to stop as he was all fired up and really enjoying himself as, quite plainly, were the good sized audience. It is difficult to understand why a band like this does not enjoy a much higher profile than it does, certainly they deserve it. Jerimiah has charisma by the bucketload and thrives picking up on the audience’s vibes. He commented on the fact that the Crawdaddy is not a dancing venue but even so he was getting a great vibe from the, mainly, seated patrons. Treating us to his own great versions of classics such as ‘This Is Hip and ‘Smokestack Lightning’, Jerimiah made well-known songs live as if they were new! And when he treated us to a segment of ‘Jamaican Blues’ as he so aptly described it, we were transported to a sunny Mention must be made of the Blue Aces, a superbly tight outfit as at home with the contrapuntal rhythms of Jamaican roots & rock steady as they were with the glorious 50s style For me, this was one of the best evenings I have spent at the Crawdaddy, certainly for a very long time, and I will savour it until the next time that my path crosses with that of Jerimiah Marques & the Blue Aces. And so another Thursday night at the Crawdaddy and another excellent band. Split Whiskers are regulars at the Club, and for good reason! They don’t just play great music but they entertain. We saw the singer become the drummer, play keyboards & guitar, we saw the drummer become the singer, we saw the bass player become the guitar player, we saw the guitar player become the bass player, we saw the keyboard player play the accordion, but not before he had answered a call of nature and we saw the harp player sing and play his weird & wonderful electronic saw! And, in amongst a load of great blues standards, we were treated to an impromptu version of Cameo’s ‘Word Up’, a song I never thought I would hear at a blues club and to a drummer telling us the touching wartime story of ‘Sarah’! Confused? Well you should have been there! The sad news from the evening was that Jon ‘ We will certainly miss him, as I am sure will his fellow band members; he is blessed with a superb blues singing voice, some feel he is the best we have had at the Crawdaddy for real raw blues. Wherever you stand on that, he and the rest of the band, are very good and really entertained, quickly abandoning their set list, so much so that at one stage one member was heard to say, somewhat plaintively, can’t we get back to what we have rehearsed!!! Adios Jon and Buena suerte! DANI WILDE – 3rd April 2008 What a great gig to come back to after two weeks away from the Club! Dani Wilde certainly more than lived up to the hype and the glowing reports from the likes of Paul Jones & Tim Aves. Her assured stage presence and the power and authority with which she delivered her material belied her tender years and the 90 minutes or so she was on stage could, for most of us in the near capacity audience, have continued far longer late into the night. Dani was playing her first ever gig in With a fine four piece band, including her younger brother Will on harmonica, backing her, Dani also delighted the enthralled audience with solo renditions of great numbers such as Mr Hooker’s ‘I’m In The Mood’ by the end of which so was just about everyone in the room! We were also treated to a beautiful take on a Shemekia Copeland number, the title of which I did not catch, was sensational. In a more Country blues style was the excellent ‘Slow Coach’ and her own, very frank ‘Red Blooded Girl’. As Dani admitted, many of the numbers she treated us to were either about ‘useless men’, present company excepted, or about feeling horny, as so frankly shown with her own composition, ‘Red Blooded Woman’ and there were surely few in the audience who would not have responded to her invitation to ‘Rock Me Baby’! Dani has a very passionate delivery and her voice oozes emotion and feeling imbuing many of her lyrics with a passion that bordered on incendiary. Her feel for and understanding of the music she was playing far exceeds her years and suggests that she has a long and successful career ahead of her and that the only way is up! Mention must also be made of her younger brother who not only showed himself as a very able harmonica player but also, at Dani’s urging, treated us to a couple of songs which showed that he has a fine rich voice as well. A really great evening and I am delighted to have caught this oh so talented young lady so soon after her bursting upon the scene. I am sure we will hear much more of her. BIG JOE LOUIS & HIS BLUES KINGS – 13th March 2008
And what a treat it was! I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a set that was so relaxed and laid back but so tight as well. With Big Joe on vocals and guitar, There is no doubt that he is a very talented and fine singer and guitarist and he was backed by three top class musicians who complimented him superbly. Big Joe has a great charisma on stage and holds his audience in thrall. The many calls for more at the end of his set were enthusiastic and extremely well deserved. THE BLUES PACK – 6th March 2008
You know I felt that last Thursday at the Club was going to be a bit special and boy was I right! Although, unfortunately, Bill Hurley was not able to appear, we were treated to an absolutely stonking evening with the Blues Pack featuring the great, although very different, voices of Paul opened proceedings with a couple of stormers which suited his powerful soul blues style and quickly whipped up the temperature in the Club and then introduced the completely contrasting Earl Green, a man blessed with a voice which flows over the audience like the finest silken cloth and has a richness that is a joy to hear. After a few numbers he was joined by Paul and then it was John’s turn, his wonderful bass/baritone plumbing depths reminiscent of a certain Paul Robeson as well as flying up with the gods. The contrasting vocal styles and material worked superbly particularly so in the duet with Earl & Paul on the classic ‘6345789’ and Paul and Smiggy on ‘I’m in a Dangerous Mood’. Soul classics like Paul’s wonderful take on ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ alongside his own composition ‘ Weekend Bluesman’ offering a wonderful variety of material. Special mention must be made of the superb musicians forming the backing band with Ed Spevok on drums, Rob Millis on keyboards, (shame we did not hear a little bit more of his gorgeous Hammond) Al MacLean on bass and backing vocals and THE ELEVATORS – 28th February 2008
After a pause for reflection following the tragic death of their vocalist and lead guitar player, John Whippy in 2006, original members With vocalist and guitarist Fran Galpin and guitarist and vocalist Paul Rawson now fronting the band, the Elevators are as accomplished as ever playing a wonderfully varied set list with a passion and feel that can only be described as delicious! In Fran they have found a singer who has a most unusual voice for the blues, one that works very well indeed and imbues the lyrics with a richness that positively glows. Paul is a joy to listen to, managing to re-create that wonderful 60s guitar sound so beloved of those of us who lived through that time. At times you could have closed your eyes and thought that it was Mr Greenbaum up on stage! He also plays gorgeous slide guitar, no more beautifully demonstrated than on the band’s take on Dylan’s “You’re A Big Girl Now“ from the “Blood on the Floor” album and given a wonderful slow and deliciously moody workout that raised the hairs on the back of the neck. I learned after the set that they almost thought they should not include the number!!! Whilst the name is the same, this reincarnation of the Elevators does not seek to replicate the band of two years ago. Rather, they have, most successfully, embraced their two new members and gained a harder edge that is so effective. It was an emotional evening at the Crawdaddy, both on and off stage, and it was a really great pleasure to, once again, welcome the very fine band that is the Elevators to the Club. We hope they will return soon. THE JIVES – 7th February 2008 Jeff Chapman & Al e Bye have long been associated with the Crawdaddy having appeared many times with bands such as Jeff Chapman’s Roosters, the AM5 and Hair of the Dog but in my opinion, the Jives is the medium in which they are most relaxed and enjoy themselves the most. This was very evident on Thursday last as they romped through a wonderfully varied set list which included numbers by Add to the music the lovely explanations and introductions to the songs, such as Jeff describing one number as one they heard the “top harmonica player in Norway” play at a Belgian Club and so they wrote down the words and have been playing it since, and the fact that the guys so clearly really enjoy themselves, which adds even further to the audience’s enjoyment and you have a cracking evening’s entertainment. KRISSY MATTHEWS BAND - Thursday 31st January 2008 A debut visit to the Club by the Krissy Matthews Band, a trio fronted by 15 year old Krissy, a young man who has been creating quite a stir and garnering praise from many talented and well-respected musicians. He has also travelled and played extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Scandinavia appearing with and/or supporting the likes of John Mayall, Ana Popovic and Jeff Healey to name but a few. That he is a very talented and able guitarist is undeniable, indeed, for someone of his tender age, he can display a skill and passion which is way beyond his years. There can be little doubt that by the time he reaches his 20s, with the experience and maturity this will bring, he will be a truly awesome player. But, yes you knew there was a but, didn’t you? There is a problem. Krissy is not a singer I am afraid. I first saw Krissy when he shared the stage with the Heaters and Dr Feelgood at the Blues at Tring Festival a couple of years ago. At that time his voice had not broken and, a result, the vocals seemed slightly strange but one perhaps made allowances. In my review of that event which was published in Blues Matters! I wrote; ‘it has to be said that singing is not Krissy’s greatest strength!” I also expressed the opinion that ‘the band could do with a singer rather than relying upon Krissy’. Sadly, Thursday did nothing to change that opinion. I will say no more and wish Krissy every success and hope that he makes me eat my words! ROY METTE & THE HEATERS – 24th January 2008 Take one very fine singer/songwriter/guitarist and put him on stage with four very experienced and underrated musicians and you have the perfect recipe for a cracking evening. And that was just what we were treated to on Thursday 24th January when the wonderfully talented Roy Mette visited the Club and was joined for part of his set by his old friends the Heaters to treat us to a foretaste of their set this Saturday at the Butlins Festival of Rock and Blues at Skegness where Roy & the guys are appearing on the Blues Matters! Stage promoting Joined by Paul, Paul and Paul of the Heaters plus Dave Milligan depping on bass, Roy and the guys launched into an hour or so of original material from the CD which very clearly demonstrated the variety of Roy’s material, his undoubted skills and those of the Heaters, special mention particularly of some really beautiful guitar playing from THE GROOVE DOCTORS – 17th January 2008 What a great band the Groove doctors are! Anyone who was at the Crawdaddy on Thursday will, I am sure, heartily endorse this opinion, they were on fire with Tim Ainslie playing his heart out and showing, once again what a great guitarist he is and one that, like the band, is seriously under recognised. Luke Arnold, as ever, wringing every ounce of emotion from both vocals and harmonica, lovely to see and hear him playing a chromatic harmonica on some numbers. The prowling Fergie Fulton, rock solid on a bass that bears the scars of many days (and nights) on the road, his face frequently wreathed in a big smile. And John Butters on drums, never overdoing it but underpinning everything so superbly. A great night with a great band who entertained to the full. The guys tell me they are hoping to tour the US again later this year so I am sure we all wish them well and we eagerly await their new CD. NIGEL BAGGE BAND WITH EDDIE ARMER – 10th January 2008 Second week of the new season at the Crawdaddy and another superb gig as we welcomed back the excellent Nigel & Eddie opened with three lovely acoustic numbers including the ethereal and haunting gem that is ‘Golden Girl’ featuring Eddie on his rich sounding golden chromatic harmonica on which he produces a tone that, if you could bottle it, would be considered a premier cru! Gorgeous! he band, which for this gig comprised the inventive and eternally cheerful ‘Cheeky’ Tunbridge on bass and the understated but simply superb Eddie Collins on drums, joined Nigel & Eddie for a wonderfully varied set that included audience requested favourites such as the steamingly swampy John Fogerty great, ‘110 Degrees’, so hot we had to put the aircon on, and the incredibly catchy ‘Lincoln Town’ as well as a new number by Sherman Robertson and a great version of Sonny Landreth’s hypnotically rhythmic ‘Congo Square’ which was introduced by an absolutely mesmerising, virtuoso drum ‘solo’ by Eddie which, I and many in the audience, felt was possibly the best we had heard. It was truly special. Not to be outdone, Cheeky later got down’n’funky with a lovely bass break that displayed his great feeling for his instrument as well as his talent and skill. Eddie’s harmonica playing has none of the ‘dirtyness’ of the traditional This is a band that is most definitely from the less is more school and fine proponents of the Peter Green philosophy that suggests that it is the notes that you don’t play that are more important than those that you do play! A joy to catch live and one that I hope will continue to be regular visitors to the Club. Thanks must also go to Johnny H, in Chris Jones’ absence, for handling both sound and lights so ably (many compliments from audience & musicians alike) on a night when one set of lights decided to blow up and my radio microphone unit refused to play HAIR OF THE DOG – January 3rd 2008 And so it came to pass that after a month in the wilderness, wandering aimlessly without purpose and without their weekly infusion of Blues, the faithful gathered at the venue known as the New Crawdaddy Blues Club to slake their thirst and to revitalise themselves with a big dollop of Hair of the Dog. Yes last Thursday the Club kicked off the 2008 season in fine style with Thursday evenings are going to be a bit quiet in December with the Crawdaddy closed for Christmas and so it was entirely appropriate that we had a bit of a party this Thursday when we welcomed the long time Club favourite, the inimitable and unique
JJ recently recorded a live CD which, he tells me, has turned out pretty well and it is sure to prove very popular as a record of a man whose live performances are not only musically exciting but also very entertaining! Next time you see JJ ask him how Hotpoint changed his life! The CD will also be a great record of JJ’s top line band who aid and abet the good Doctor in ensuring maximum benefit from a high dosage of rhythm & blues. Timmy Moore on guitar shone, as ever, yet again demonstrating great skill combined with a passion and feel for the material which few of his contemporaries can match. The keyboards skills of another prodigiously talented youngster, Paul Jobson who also sang a number whilst And that rhythm section! Ed Collins on drums makes it seem all so effortless but produces wonderful rhythmical variety which drives the band along and Bad Influence – New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay – 15th November 2007
Guy Tortora Band – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – Billericay – 8th November 2007 Those who braved the rather stormy weather and gridlocked traffic in the Southend area and were at the Club this Thursday will know that we welcomed back, after too long an absence, the unique talent that is Guy Tortora with his fine band. Guy has recently finished recording a new CD, ‘Living On Credit’, which is currently being mastered prior to a January 2008 release and we were treated to some tracks from the CD including the title track, which Guy wrote more than a year ago but which has a particular relevance currently and no doubt struck chords with the audience, as well as a great version of Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’ and the wryly amusing ‘White Boy Blues’. Guy has a great way with lyrics and his set featured a number of his own compositions, some taken from his earlier CDs including ‘Jefferson Drive’, as well as some original covers of jug band and gospel material alongside the storming set closer, a wonderful take on ‘Honky Tonk Woman’ which had the audience joining in with gusto! A great evening’s entertainment from Guy and his talented band, the highly individual and wonderfully expressive Janos Bajtala playing a new Korg keyboard to great effect, Big Andy Roberts playing a beautiful big red bass with great sensitivity and depth and drummer Adam Roman who, whilst quietly keeping things together, occasionally let rip with some exciting breaks. Can’t wait for the new CD! Mention must be made of the Heaters who opened the evening. With Paul Dean sunning himself in Split Whiskers – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – Thursday 1st November 2007 And so to the start of the final month of gigs in the 2007 New Crawdaddy season and an eagerly awaited return of Another excellent opening set from the Heaters, about whom we rarely comment which is wrong. Week in week out, as the house band, they play their socks off and hardly a week goes by without at least one of the musicians from the headline act commenting upon how good these guys are and how they just keep getting better. Their set list always contains a nice variety of material with covers of artists both familiar and not so. As children of the 60’s, there is usually at least one Peter Green and this may sit alongside songs from Taj Mahal, Robert Johnson, Gary Moore, Mark Michael, Eric Bibb, Robert Cray, Big Joe Williams, Robert Parker or T-Bone Walker to name but a handful! Throw in, every so often, the band’s beautiful contribution to the Essex Delta Blues CD Vol ll A-Z, ‘Not the Only Fool’ a gorgeous song written by the band’s singer/guitarist
Incredible Blues Puppies – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – Thursday 25th October 2007 A disappointingly small audience greeted our visitors on Thursday 25th as the Incredible Blues Puppies played a fine set which saw numbers written by On drums is Dino Coccia who, along with Alan, is familiar to many at the Crawdaddy from his visits with the Barcodes. Dino is, for me, an amazing drummer and very much of the ‘less is more’ school. He lays down great patterns and rhythms but he never seems to play more than is right – viz the excellent solo in ‘Stone Fox Chase’. Finally, making his very first appearance with the Puppies was Greek bass player, Lakis Economou, a man who comes from a mainly jazz background but who played some great bass lines and fitted in with the band really well. If we had not been told it would have been impossible to guess that this was his first outing as Blues Puppy! I could have listened to these guys all night and those who did not attend missed a really great evening of original style Blues & real r’n’b delivered with skill, panache and some education provided by Alan’s song introductions. Our thanks go to the Puppies for a great evening. The Incredible Blues Puppies are in the studio this coming week starting to record a new CD for Note Records and we were treated to some tracks which will be included on the CD. Look out for it when it is released, it should be a cracker! And catch the band live if you can, you will not be disappointed! Nicky
Nicky is celebrating his 60th birthday this year and also the release of his 7th CD, the excellent ‘Hog on a Log’, so this gig was part of his celebratory and CD launch tour. We were honoured that Nicky asked to play the Club as this, in itself, is a fine tribute to the reputation that the Crawdaddy has built. From the opening of his set with the band arriving on stage to the strains of a pre-recorded a capella rendition of ‘He’s the Man’, we were treated to a superb demonstration of why Nicky is known as the Voice with a great mix of material from the new CD as well as standards from the likes of Howling Wolf. Nicky’s voice really is something else and quite unique with a range that defies belief. With him were the Blues Corporation featuring two wunderkind guitarist in Timmy Moore, Nicky’s son, on
Ian Parker - New Crawdaddy Blues Club - 11th October 2007
It would be hard to top last Thursday’s Crawdaddy gig as it really was one of the best at the Club for a good while and the best way to get back into the swing after my holiday. Ian Parker has been a regular visitor to the Club ever since he disbanded Parker’s Alibi and I have been fortunate enough to see him quite a few times since then. He has grown hugely over the last few years and is now the possessor of a voice with a tonal quality, richness, power and subtlety that must be the envy of many a performer. His phrasing, his passion, the emotion with which both his vocals and guitar playing are imbued, rolls over the audience, captivating them. Playing a number of tracks from his deservedly critically acclaimed new studio CD, ‘Where I Belong’ as well as number of blues favourites, we were treated to an evening of music and playing of the highest standard, one which most of us wished would not end. Ian’s extensive touring both on his own and with the Blues Caravan has clearly given him greater confidence and honed his undoubted abilities. If he is playing nearby do not miss one of the finest acts on the circuit today. If you do, you will have missed something very special. 13th October 2007
The Lonnigans – the New Crawdaddy Blues Club – 23rd August 2007 The New Crawdaddy Blues Club is one of For me, the evening was everything I hoped it would be and for the best part of 90 minutes Connie, Donny, Johnnie, Laurie, Ronnie and Wally entertained a good sized and enthusiastic audience with great songs from the days of yore when we were but lads & lasses! Classics skiffle numbers such as ‘Lost John’, ‘ The evening was enlivened even more with guest appearances from Keith? (apologies if I got the name wrong) on washboard, yours truly on vocals (as much a surprise to me as it was to the audience!!) and the excellent Dusty Lonnigan, John Dunsterville, who runs Dusty’s Blues Club in High Wycombe, on mandolin & vocals. John is a very fine guitarist and back in the 70’s he was guitarist with Rick Wakeman’s band. As anticipated this was an absolutely cracking evening with a group of very talented musicians who love their music and whose enjoyment is very infectious enthusing the audience. Good time music at its very best. Long live skiffle and hurry back the Lonnigans!!
Ashwyn Smyth - 26th August 2007
“That’s the best evening I have had at the Club for a long time!” So said one of the New Crawdaddy regulars as we cleared up after what was a really stonking evening with Lightnin’ Willie & the Poorboys. I am so pleased that we finally managed to get Willie to visit the Club, I have read so many great reviews and enjoyed listening to his CDs as well as hearing tracks on Johnnie Walker & Bob Harris’ shows on Radio 2 that I was really looking forward to seeing him live. And what a live performer! With an excellent band featuring the superb harp talents of Giles King plus a cracking rhythm section comprising Groove Doctor Fergie Fullerton on bass and the rock steady Tony Burt on drums, Willie treated us to a power packed, rocking set featuring many favourites, including the ideal set opener, ‘Couldn’t Do Nothing’ (hear the track at http://www.movinmusic.co.uk/lightnin_willie_poorboys/lwpsounds.htm) as well as featuring some tracks from his as yet unreleased new CD. Playing his lovely Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan limited edition Strat, Willie was on fire setting a scorching pace and delighting a large and enthusiastic audience with his great guitar playing and his wonderfully rich Texan voice which is so suited to the material he plays. Given that it was the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ birthday, Willie paid his own tribute including an Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup song, ‘That’s All Right Mama’ in his set. Willie is a great showman and loves to get amongst the audience even ending up with the whole band leaving the stage and playing gathered around the sound desk with Willie’s rich un-amplified voice still easily heard above the instruments. Great stuff! For me, Willie exceeded all expectations and I heartily concur with the Club regular, this was certainly one of the best evenings we have had at the Club.
Ashwyn Smyth - 18th August 2007 The Wildcards – New Crawadaddy Blues Club – 9th August 2007 How do they do it I hear you asking? Week after week, great musicians and great entertainment. Yes another super Thursday at the Crawdaddy with our good friends the Wildcards who were on top form. Our thanks also go to 50% of the Freeze and 50% of the Wildcards for a smashing opening set (and for the PA!) with some fine guitar plus some cool harmonica and good vocals from Richie Lane & John Stokes backed by Al Wallis on bass & Kevin Crowe on drums. And so to the main event, a rip roaring high energy, hugely varied set featuring some old favourites such as ‘Mellow Down Easy’, ‘Long Way From St Louis’, Look What You Done To Me’, ‘Happy Hour’ and the superbly intricate and skilfully delivered gem that is Duke Ellington’s ‘Caravan’ plus we were treated to a taste of the soon to be released CD including a wonderfully original rendition of ‘St James Infirmary Blues’ which the band were playing for the very first time live. With Vince Lee on vocals and guitar and Blues Revue summed the band up when they described them as “essentially part Nick Curran, part Red Devils….. that is, true jump & blues sounds played with capital letter Attitude and tons of talent”. I would add to that description “and a whole lot of Wildcards magic!” It was truly a sensational evening and gigs like that are going to be something which I am really going to miss when I move to
Ashwyn Smyth - 11th August 2007 The Lonnigans, The Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks – 23rd June 2007 On an evening when at Glastonbury, music fans were knee deep in mud and getting soaked, it was a pleasure to be in the dry at this lovely venue enjoying some real quality good time music. Openers were an excellent husband & wife duo, Ty & Ayesha who delighted the audience with a fine set of covers of songs by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Crosby Stills & Nash featuring lovely close harmonies. Their set had a relaxed freshness to it which was most appealing and which was the perfect antidote to so much of the live music that I see which is somewhat in your face. With the rain lashing down outside the theatre, they filled the auditorium with their own brand of glorious sunshine, setting the stage for the evening’s main act, renowned skiffle band, The Lonnigans.
Eddie’s harmonica playing is, for me, amongst the best around with such a wonderful tone, Steve is blessed with a great baritone voice and a very nice guitar style, John’s trombone added some great ‘dirty’ texture to some of the numbers and Tara’s vocals were delicious, she has a wonderful voice that is as at home belting out a rocking number as it is singing a soft and tender one such as the delicious ‘Kisses Sweeter Than Wine’, apparently the first public performance of the song by the band. And what a band this is. From the opening chords of ‘Good Morning Blues’ to the rousing encore chosen by the audience, ‘Rock Island Line’ this was music that makes your soul soar and defies you not to enjoy. The benefit of having 5 singers is that the changes are constantly being rung with some great opportunities for gorgeous harmonies. An added bonus at this gig was the participation of two young members of the audience, one of whom, a young man called Joe who must have been all of 9 years old, knew all the words of ‘Rock Island Line’ and has it on his i-pod! The end result was an evening of great toe tapping and uplifting entertainment that was an educational experience as well as the members of the Lonnigans are very knowledgeable and provided background to the songs they were singing, many of which seemed to emanate from Leadbelly! For great musicianship, great entertainment and great fun, catch the Lonnigans, you’ll not regret it! Ashwyn Smyth – July 2007 – www.digitalblues.co.uk
Geoff Achison & the After missing what were, by all accounts, two tip top gigs, I was really looking forward to catching Geoff Achison again, playing for the first time at the Club and he fully justified me re-arranging my holidays! A disappointingly small audience were treated to more than two hours of Aussie magic from Geoff whose energetic and power packed performance totally belied the fact that he had literally only arrived in the UK a few hours earlier after two days spent travelling from his new home in Atlanta, GA which saw him spending two nights hunkered down at airports in Washington & Montreal as a result of travel disruption caused by severe storms which swept the Eastern seaboard of the US & Canada. Arriving at the Club he was reunited with his fabulous UK Souldiggers backing band whom he had not seen for the best part of 12 months and their only rehearsal was a couple of numbers done at the sound check. Geoff opened with a solo set featuring a number of songs from his most recent ‘Acho Solo’ CD including a most unusual take on Lennon & McCartney’s ‘We Can Work It Out’ and an autobiographical song about his time making plastic windscreen washer bottles for cars called ‘Apparatus’, each displaying his amazing guitar technique which enables him to produce most evocative sounds that enhance the performance. Then he invited the Souldiggers on stage to join him. What a band! The unique and mighty presence that is Geoff and the guys tore into a quartet of band numbers and not once was there a hint of their lack of rehearsal, save when Dave suggested playing a number as ‘we have not played that for a long time’ and Geoff rejoined with ‘ we haven’t played anything for a long time!!’ A brief break and then Geoff was back on stage for another acoustic song before the band joined him once again and off they went on a rip-roaring roller coaster ride of brilliant guitar licks, many traded with Paul on keyboards, and great vocals. This truly was an awesome evening and for me lived up in every possible respect to what I was hoping for after having caught Geoff some years ago at the Ashwyn Smyth – 22nd June 2007 As predicted, this was a cracking evening with There was a wonderful melding of genres and styles with the jazz roots of Tim, Joe & Graham contrasting and complementing the blues of Martin, Roy & Steve. Playing a set list which cover many decades including, as it did, songs by the like of Jimmy Rogers, R L Burnside, Ray Charles & Sleepy John Estes, Martin, as ever, put his own touch on numbers which ranged from the well known to the unusual, all to great effect. I know that I always seem to be saying what a great evening we had, but its true, this was yet another smashing evening at the Crawdaddy and our thanks go to Martin and the band for such great entertainment and musicianship. You certainly would not have thought that this line up had never played together before! Ashwyn Smyth - 27th May 2007 Little Toby Walker – The Ship Theatre, A visit to the wonderful Ship Theatre is becoming a bit of an annual event for me and, as always, this was an immensely pleasurable evening. Opening were Bagge & Armer, a wonderful duo featuring the guitar and smoky vocals of With a set which included a great version of ‘Statesboro Blues’, the beautiful and haunting ‘Golden Girl’ featuring some ethereal harp from Eddie and the rocking ensemble piece, a cracking version of the incredibly catchy ‘Lincoln Town’, this was a great opener which left the audience eager for the main event. Little Toby Walker is quite simply one of the finest finger picking guitarists to come out the US in recent years and he has deservedly won over audiences both here in the UK, and back home, with his wonderfully entertaining mix of anecdotes from his travels mixed with a great variety of music featuring his own highly original material and highly original covers of artists who he has encountered during his career and travels. Amidst all the laughter, there is a very serious side as Toby subtly and without preaching exposes the hardship of early African Americans recounting uncomfortable tales of experiences told to him by those involved. Tonight, Toby was on top form treating us to a first set with many songs taken from his new and acclaimed CD, ‘Just Rolled In’ including the excellent ‘I’m Going to Try Some of That’, Oreo cookie anyone, and the glorious ’Sundance Rag’, an instrumental that shows off his dazzling guitar wizardry. The second set saw him taking photos of the audience and abandoning his set list to accommodate requests from audience members which included a fine Rev Gary Davis instrumental, the song with which so many of us of a certain age can identify, ‘Things I Used to Do All Night’ and his wonderfully evocative railroad trip featuring Toby and a harmonica and his wonderful ability to paint a picture with sounds and actions. Once again, a truly memorable evening with this wonderful entertainer and musician who just gets better every time I see him. Hurry back Toby! Primo Blues – New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay, Essex CM11 2ED – Thursday 4th April 2007 We had a precursor to Summer this last Thursday when Primo Blues played a storming set at the Club and raised the temperature to tropical levels with a fantastic mix of rock, blues, funk, reggae and all points in between. Many bands might be compromised if they received a call shortly before a gig to say their singer was unable to make it. Not so Primo Blues! They now have three other singers! It is self-evident why Sam has won so many awards. His drumming is so tight and exciting and yet he makes it seem effortless. TJ plays guitar beautifully, his style somewhat unorthodox but very effective and his vocals cross a variety of styles. Spy on bass is spot on, whether playing funk, reggae, rock or anything else. He also has a great soulful voice which brings me on to keyboard player Paul Jobson. His instrumental skills are superb and, as I am aware from a previous gig, he is also no mean drummer. However, for the first time we were treated to a Paul Jobson vocal and he proves that he has a very good voice, very soulful and strong and with quite a range. It was a revelation and very exciting and showed yet another side to his prodigious talent. The band’s material ran the whole gamut with Labi Siffre songs sitting alongside reggae, rock and all sorts. In closing Sam commented that it may not be Blues as is it commonly understood but it is based in the Blues. And damn fine it was too. Ashwyn Smyth – 9th April 2007 Earl Green & the Right Time – New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay, Essex - Thursday 1st March 2007 So, did you see the lunar eclipse? It looked pretty good from where I was and not a little spooky. Also pretty darn good were Earl Green & the Right Time last Thursday. I told you it would be good but I reckon it was better than good! As Earl pointed out, his last visit to the Club was with Paul Lamb & the Kingsnakes and was when we were up at We were treated to a truly memorable evening with a band that was first class and with every one having a really good time and enjoying themselves. The sound was crisp, at a comfortable level and you could hear every one of the five talented musicians on stage. Earl's voice is simply superb, soulful, rich and he is blessed with quite a range. The Right Time was an unknown quantity and complemented Earl perfectly. Les Back on slide guitar played some beautiful breaks and the interplay between him & Ron (sorry did not get his surname) was a joy to hear. Two very god but very different guitarists creating an excellent whole! On bass was Jim (I think) Connell who was solid as a rock but not averse to some nice bass runs which added excellently to the mix. Special mention must go to Terry Maskell on drums, a dep for the night as the band's regular sticks man was ill. The material was all new to him as was playing with the guys but he fitted in superbly and once again amazed me and the audience how these excellent musicians can just jell the way they do. If you get a chance to catch Earl Green & the Right time do so, you will be in for a real treat. I look forward to Earl's new CD which he will be recording soon. Ashwyn Smyth - 4th March 2007 - An edited version of this review also appeared in Blues in Britain Eric Bibb – The Brentwood Centre, 9th October 2006
The fourth gig on the UK leg of Eric Bibb’s promotional tour for his excellent new CD, ‘Diamond Days’ saw the caravan roll into Brentwood, his only appearance in the county that, for a little while, was a regular haunt. The man himself took to a stage on which there were no less than 7 acoustic guitars of different shapes and sizes, a drum kit consisting of a single side drum, a hihat and a cymbal and a double bass and for the best part of an hour & a half held his audience mesmerised.
Special mention also must go to the support act, a lovely young lady from Yorkshire called Hayley Hutchinson whose wonderful voice and lovely songs and lyrics enchanted the audience and lead to substantial CD sales in the interval. Well worth catching this songbird! To be honest, I was by no means convinced that the laid back acoustic style of American troubadour, Eric Bibb, and the cavernous Brentwood Centre would be a successful marriage but, all credit to both the centre management and to Eric’s soundman; the ambience was of a dive club somewhere in the backstreets, albeit with a large stage and lighting rig! It is easy to become blasé when one attends loads of gigs, but this one really was something special. As my wife said afterwards, – “Probably the best gig I have ever been to”. Nuff said! Also published in Blues Matters!
Festival of Blues – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – Sunday 1st October 2006
A brilliant day with some really superb performances saw just over £1,000 raised for the Little Havens Children’s Hospice. An enormous thank you must go to everyone involved, the bands & artists who gave their time to appear, the Crawdaddy Crew who worked so hard on what was a very long and tiring day to pull it all together, Chris J, Chris P, Johnny H, Steve Savage, Paul Dean, Paul Milligan, Paul Reynolds, Denise & Leslie, Anna Marie plus anyone else that I have forgotten, and the staff & management of the Belvedere who kept us fed & watered as well as providing the venue without charge. The day kicked off with Bad Hair Day who, as ever, produced a rollicking set and whose very obvious enjoyment was very infectious and was a perfect start to proceedings. Over on the acoustic stage, it was great to welcome back Tim Aves in fine solo form with vocals that have all the menace of Howling Wolf and guitar picking the like of which we do not see when he is with the ‘Dillos.
A debut next on the main stage with the relatively recently formed Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’, a smashing band which sees the old firm of Ray Marquis on drums & Bernie Brewster on bass, Gary Howard on keys, Chris Pearson on guitar and John Smythe on harp & vocals. They produced an excellent set which had the audience moving and actually saw some dancing! Thanks Rosie! They are certainly a band to watch who are building quite a reputation; recently they supported Otis Grand at the Spitz in London. The Heaters were up next and, as always, produced a cracking set full of variety and drew some very favourable comment from musicians in the audience who had not seen them for a while. Paul Milligan’s vocals & guitar are outstanding whilst, in their now four piece incarnation, it is lovely to hear more of Paul Dean’s keyboards. Chris Patching, bass, and paul Reynolds, drums, anchor the whole thing and we even saw, or rather heard, a bass solos, none too common I can assure you! Next on the acoustic stage was Roy Mette, a man without whom no Essex Festival of Blues would be complete. Roy’s music defies any categorisation other than to describe it as original, superb and thought provoking. Whether he is playing one of his own originals or his own individual take of a well known number, Roy’s performance is always powerful and stunning. Just so today! On the main stage we welcomed a first appearance by the Untouchables, a band describing themselves as hailing from the Lea Valley Delta playing Chicago Blues – “how it used to be!” Featuring Keith Parker, voted third most popular harmonica player in the most recent Digital Blues Awards, on vocals & harp, Pete Ellison on vocals & an array of vintage guitars, Paul Green on stand up bass and Malcolm Buckland on drums, the band turned in a stonking set which again shook off any audience lethargy and had them rocking in the aisles! I am sure we will see these guys again soon, they were excellent.
Since then I had heard many good reports and so we were delighted when he agreed to play the Festival. Playing an acoustic guitar across his lap with a slide as well as a regular acoustic, he produced a bewitching set which left many an audience member asking “Who is this guy!?” and even now they are still talking about him! His CD’s flew off the shelf, so much so he had to fetch additional supplies! Martin Harley is definitely a name to watch and I am sure we will hear much more of him. Hopefully we will see him at the Club 2007. Absolutely knockout! And so, to the headline act and, indeed, the very first act that was booked for the Festival, the superb Roadhouse. The last time they played the Crawdaddy was in late 2005 at what was the final gig with the line-up that included Lorna Reilly & Jules Fothergill, now part of funkydory who you can see at the Club on Thursday November 9th. With two superb female singers, Mandie G and the amazing 19 years old Susie D, plus new guitarist Drew Barron, this was our first chance to catch this “new” line-up which has been creating quite a stir, and with good cause. Gary Boner plus his long term rhythm section of Bill Hobley on bass and Roger Hunt on drums turned in a storming final set featuring a number of tracks from the band’s latest Blues Matters! CD, the superb ‘Broken Land’ as well as tracks from previous CDs. All in all they treated the audience to a fine rocking set that gave the lady vocalists every chance to shine as well as treating all the guitar nuts to some great duelling guitars as Gary & Drew jousted with their instruments. A superb finale to an excellent day which was marred by but one thing – why did so few people turn up? £10.00 to see 10 acts over a 10 hour period, and yet quite a bit less than a hundred paying customers passed through the doors. I simply do not understand it and it is poor recompense to the artists and to the team that worked so hard and long to put it all together. photos courtesy of Chris Patching 10th October 2006
The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang Tour – Twickenham – Sunday 20th August 2006
I am not often lucky – I’ve been doing the Lottery since it started and am still having to come to work! So it was something of a coup to be offered 4 tickets to the Rolling Stones at Twickenham and to take my wife and a client guest with her other half. Stadium rock concerts are always special affairs even though the artists are often little more than specks in the distance and seeing the Stones at Twickenham Rugby Ground was always going to be somewhat different to the only other time I saw them, back in 1963 at my local youth club just before they hit the big time! (Status Quo played the same venue a month later!) If I am honest, I was prepared to be disappointed. After all, the remaining original members of the band are all over 60 and I have seen far too many aging ‘stars’ from the ‘60s who just don’t seem able to accept that it is high time they called it a day! The buzz at Twickenham was incredible and there was a great air of anticipation on an evening that was warm without the stifling heat we had experienced earlier in the summer. Openers Feeder are, I am told, a popular band but indifferent sound and tedious material made their set something of an ordeal and left one wondering “why bother”? On a weekly basis, I see bands which make Feeder seem very ordinary and would have entertained the crowd a great deal more!
The next two hours flew past as we were treated to an excellent mix of the old songs we all know & love – ‘Honky Tonk Women’, ‘Start Me Up’, ‘Ruby Tuesday’, ‘Brown Sugar’ (accompanied by a fifty foot high computer generated topless lady cavorting pole dancer style with the Eifel Tower and other well-known landmarks), ‘Get Off My Cloud’ and ‘It’s Only Rock & Roll’. Oh how we sang along, tens of thousands of voices united, telling the World – “I know it’s only rock & roll but I like it, yes I do!!” Highlights for me were a fabulous version of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ which had the crowd woo-wooing as soon as Charlie started beating out the rhythm and featured Mick in tails looking just like a voodoo priest cavorting about the stage as he does so well and ‘Midnight Rambler’ which saw the band gathered around Charlie’s drum kit and Mick reminding us of the band’s roots four decades and more ago in the ‘60s British blues boom playing some tasty blues harp. As ever the show was full of theatricality, hell the Stones have to go one better than last time! So, as the band played ‘Miss You’ a sizeable chunk of the stage onto which the band and their backing singers etc. had gathered detached itself from the main stage and set off, apparently gliding on air, some 200 yards down the pitch into the midst of the audience sat on the pitch itself. Cue even more audience hysteria! Special mention must be made of band’s long term backing singer, Grammy winner Lisa Fischer, a lady blessed with a superb voice who has sung with many of the greats including Tina Turner from whom she obviously learned her dancing! She & Mick duetted on Ray Charles’ late 50’s hit, ‘Night Time is the Right Time’ and her performance was electric bringing the audience, those who were still sitting, to their feet!
Just as the evening had highlights, so there were lowlights. Whether it was to give Sir Mick’s recently recovered from laryngitis voice a rest or whether it was to give Keef a chance, the couple of numbers where he took over vocal duties for a couple of numbers were, for me the nadir of the evening, although I will long remember the precursor to them which saw him, or rather his image on the video screen, approach the microphone and, theatrically, pull a ciggie from a packet, light it and gratefully draw the smoke down. Cue some artistic camera work of Keef’s head wreathed in cigarette smoke before he flicked the ciggie away and was passed a guitar and started playing, his face wreathed in smiles beneath a colourful bandana wrapped around his head – hiding the scars perhaps? Also less than scintillating were the tracks from their most recent CD, songs which lacked the catchiness or attraction of the oldies and certainly did not leave me eager to buy the CD. The evening climaxed, all too soon, with a throw everything at it version of the classic ‘Satisfaction’ accompanied by fireworks, 30 foot plumes of flame and the 63 year old Mr Jagger running repeatedly from the extreme edges of stage right to extreme stage left, more than the full width of the pitch! Where does he get the energy?! Remember, this was after a gig that was already more than two hours long. And so, as we made our way from the stadium revelling in the memories of a very special evening we pondered whether the next time the Stones play An unforgettable evening, a great experience and still snatches of Rolling Stones’ songs haunt my thoughts. It may only be rock & roll but the Stones weave a spell that is most potent. There are those who scoff at them still performing live, but they give value and entertain, more than can be said about the majority of today’s chart acts. Where will Feeder be in 40 years? Photos courtesy of Marc Charlton. An edited version of this review appeared in Cover Note published by Heath Lambert Limited
Beat Roots, The Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon, Essex – 21st July 2006
I had heard much of Ian but had never seen him live so it was with eager anticipation that sat, quietly steaming in the heat & humidity which an excellent opening set from the Swamp Cats, with their guest Tim Aves, only served to intensify, their choice of numbers from the likes of Tony Joe White enhancing the deep & dirty Delta feel. Ian took the stage with nothing more than a pint of Guinness and a slightly beaten up resonator guitar and proceeded to deliver a set which was raunchy, dirty, wonderful, authentic, entertaining, stunning and awesome – a set of blues ancient & modern centred around those topics which were the subjects of so much of the early Blues – sex, women, sex & booze! Ian was sometimes Howling Wolf, sometimes Johnny Cash, sometimes Tom Waits, even on one occasion Wolfman Jack, but always enthralling, always superb, always Ian Siegal. Struggling to keep his metal bodied guitar in tune in the heat, he abandoned it and used Dave ‘Werewolf’ Richardson’s electro-acoustic, delighting in the ability this gave him to produce different sounds so that one number was accompanied by some finger pickin’ banjo, another by a wonderfully full, almost 12 string sound. Fuelled by double Jack Daniels’ on the rocks provided by the audience in an attempt to ensure that more Guinness would result in nature’s call being all too strong, Ian’s superb voice plunged the depths and soared to the night sky above Maldon, his audience in the palm of his hand, lapping up his anecdotes and the wry observations which linked the songs. All too soon it was finale time which saw Ian joined by the Swamp Cats & Mr Tim Aves for a rousing encore.
photos courtesy of Jenni Miller
Tring Blues Festival – 10th – 12th March 2006 The annual slog around the M25 through the Friday rush hour does not get any better but having learned from previous years, I was in plenty of time to catch the first of the three acts on the bill tonight. The Chrissy Matthews Band were an unknown quantity although I had heard reports of a 13 year-old guitar prodigy so I was intrigued. With the diminutive figure of Chrissy up front, dad Keith on bass and Lee Maloney (apologies if name wrong) on drums, the trio format seemed promising as they opened with the instrumental, “Stepping Out”. Nice, although not astounding guitar but hey he is only 13 and so it should not have been a surprise when Chrissy spoke and one heard a child’s voice. Next up was a song which Chrissy informed us he had written “a couple of years ago”! and was from his CD “Influences”. This was to be the first of a number of original songs which included “School Day Blues”, in the classic blues style which saw Chrissy adding harmonica playing to his cv, and a song dedicated to Robert Johnson – “Blues for Robert” – as Chrissy said, “You can still have the blues, even if you come from Bicester!” It was strange hearing the songs being delivered in an unbroken voice (although it is heading that way) and it has to be said that singing is not Chrissy’s greatest strength! Grimacing and gurning his way through the guitar solos, Chrissy provoked a good response from the already sizeable audience including a good contingent from Bicester but it has to be said he did not do it for me. Yes, for his age, he is a good guitarist and if he sticks with it and gets good guidance and learns from it, there is no doubt he could become very good indeed. But for now he is what he is, a good, if very young guitarist, and, in my opinion, the band could do with a singer rather than relying upon Chrissy.
The by now close to capacity audience quickly warmed to their fine interpretation of very varied material and basked in the lovely guitar playing of Chris R & Paul M whose fine vocals more than did justice to the material. With numbers such as Peter Green’s “Merry go round”, Freddie King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign”, Mayall’s “Long Grey Mare” & “You Know It Ain’t Right”, the set built to a wonderful climax with a stunningly lovely “Still Got The Blues”, the all too often murdered Gary Moore song, to which Paul M’s voice and guitar more than justice with the most beautiful measured delivery and guitar playing. The tempo picked up with “Sweet Home Chicago” which had the audience singing along heartily and Paul M & the two Chris’s all taking the vocals, and a finale which saw Mayall’s “Looking Back” blend into the band’s traditional closing number, a superb and creative version of “Baby Please Don’t Go”, done Them style but with a glorious middle section which sees Paul & Chris playing off each other most effectively. This was the Heaters in the most relaxed mood I had seen them, really going for it and playing better than I think I have ever heard them. The audience quickly took the band to their hearts and would willingly have had more if time had allowed. Headliners for Friday were the band known as Dr Feelgood and my first ever gig by the band whose name is synonymous with Thames Delta Blues and who are held is such high reverence by their legions of fans, many of whom are probably going to want my blood after they read this! First of all may I say that the Feelgood’s set was packed with many of the great numbers which are theirs alone whether originals such as “Milk & Alcohol”, covers such as “Date Bait” or classics such as Mickey Jupp’s “Down at the Doctors” or Wilson Pickett’s “99 and a half Just Won’t Do”. There was guitarist Steve Walwyn’s original composition “Instinct To Survive” which was followed by a beautiful slow blues, “Down At The Jetty”, a number which saw the vocalist and harp player Robert Kane leave the stage as Steve broke into a wonderful guitar solo before drummer Kevin Morris and bassist Phil Mitchell also departed leaving Steve holding the stage and mesmerising with a drawn out guitar solo which ended in rapturous applause from the audience, so much so that Steve started up again at which point the stage lights failed plunging the place into darknesss. With only the house lights on, Steve continued and in true “the show must go on” style the other band members came back on stage and launched into more numbers which, like many they played in this set, can be found on their most recent live DVD. Their encore, when it came, was introduced as Dr Feelgood’s tribute to John Lee Hooker, “Mad man Blues” which morphed into the classic harp workout that is “Stone Fox Chase” which became “Bonie Maronie” and “Tequila”, a combination of tunes which I had last heard when Nine Below Zero played Tring last year! The Feelgoods were undoubtedly very good, very professional, very slick and great entertainment and left the audience baying for more. Their performance was supercharged with energy and they played many old favourites very well indeed. But I was left with this nagging little thought. Are Dr Feelgood today the ultimate tribute band? Discuss!!!! Saturday at Tring is a day of two parts and, as in previous years, Saturday lunchtime was reserved for the annual blues jam hosted as ever by the excellent Robin Bibi. The session was opened by a very fine set from Robin & his band and then the stage was opened to jammers who were put into line-ups by Robin which produced some interesting combinations. Age was no bar and amongst those who strutted their stuff were Nick White, the 11 year old son of the festival organiser, Derek White. The evening saw a mixed bill, one of the great features of Tring, and opened with the first of two sets from the former Stray guitarist, the inimitable Del Bromham. Playing on a small side stage, Del’s sets combined some great acoustic and slide playing with plenty of banter between songs which included Big Bill Broonzy’s “Careless Love”, “Devil’s Highway”, the title track from his CD, and John Lee Hooker’s “In The Mood”. Opening on the main stage were the ever popular Roadhouse, a band who have a superb new CD out on the Blues Matters! Label and who have undergone some fairly significant changes in their line-up in the last six months or so which have seen the arrival of two brilliant new singers, Mandi G and Fiona McElroy and a new guitarist, Drew Barron, a man who is creating quite a stir! Unfortunately, Drew was not able to be with Roadhouse for this gig as he was recovering from an accident (get well soon Drew!) and he was replaced for tonight by the excellent Danny Gwillim. In addition to the regular Roadhouser’s Gary Boner on guitar & vocals, Bill Hobley on bass and Roger Hunt on drums, tonight saw a special guest added to the line-up, Swiss sax player Fred Schmidt And what a set they delivered despite their allotted 40 minutes flying by too quickly. Very well received was “White Water”, a really rocking track from the new CD as well as the opener, “Blues Highway” and the wonderfully bluesy “Slip Away” whilst Mandi excelled with a gorgeous cover of the classic “Help Me”. I think these guys just get better all the time and so did the audience judging by the queue to buy their CD’s afterwards. Another short set from Del filled the gap whilst the main stage was readied for a band I had been eagerly awaiting, Big Dez, all the way from Paris (France) via Austin (Texas)! With Phil Fernandez on vocal & guitar, Bala Pradal on organ and piano, Marc Schaeller playing some fine harp and an excellent rhythm section in Lamine Guerfi on bass and Stephane Minana on drums. The gauntlet was thrown down right from the start as the band played a selection of tracks from their most recent CD “Night After Night” kicking off with “#2” followed by “Junk Tour”, “Beautician Blues” and the oh so funky “Suspicion”, a selection which served to demonstrate the band’s breadth of skill and material. Big Dez (Phil) is a frontman who commands the stage and is a smiling larger than life musician who plays some wonderful blues licks paying homage to Albert Collins and Albert King along the way. Unlike so many “frontmen” Dez really connects with and draws in the audience and the band really rocked the theatre as their set continued with tracks from “Sail on Blues” the band’s previous CD including “Lets Have Some Fun” and, the high spot for me, a great take on “One Way Ticket” which saw Big Dez teasing the audience by playing an oh so quiet guitar solo which hushed the audience before suddenly whacking up the volume and then quietening down. The audience were enraptured and hung on his every note as Dez played them like a game fish which he had hooked but did not want to land yet! Particular mention must also be made of Bala’s excellent piano & organ solos. At the end of their set, the audience would not let them go and so they returned for a well received, (& deserved) encore with the title track of their latest CD. Topping Saturday night’s bill were the incomparable Paul Lamb & the King Snakes, a band with a fabulous reputation whose most recent reincarnation I had not previously seen. The long term triumvirate of Paul on harp & vocals, the superb Sonny Below on drums and the hugely energetic Rod Demick on stand-up bass and vocals have been joined by superb vocalist Chad Strentz who also plays rhythm guitar, and was with the band through most of the ‘90’s, and the stunning Raul de Pedro Marinero on guitar. With an excellent new CD recently released, the set list pleasingly included a number of tracks from it including the lively title track “I’m On a Roll”, “Far Far Away” and Paul’s very different take on the classic “Baby Please Don’t Go”. The King Snakes can always be relied upon to offer a varied bill of fare and tonight was no different with the gorgeous slow blues, “The Things I Used to Do”, an excellent “Midnight Hour” and a wonderful Paul Lamb tribute to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, the aptly titled “Get Down Song” which sees the audience being coerced into getting down on the floor following the band’s lead. Did I say that King Snakes’ gigs are always highly entertaining? The set drew to a close with a great medley of “CC Rider” & “Catfish” and “She’s Crazy”, a perennial live favourite. Amidst great roars for an encore, the band returned to the stage for a blistering encore with “Got My Mojo Working”, a number just made for Paul & his great band Sunday is traditionally a more laid back day and so the daylight hours saw the wonderful Papa George playing a solo before leading an acoustic guitar workshop. Del Bromham gave an electric guitar demo whilst Storm Warning’s superb singer & harmonica player, Son Maxwell, lead several harmonica workshops. Visitor from the USA, the fabulous Little Toby Walker gave a guitar demonstration and held a question and answer session about his unique playing style. Sunday evening continued with two excellent acoustic sets with local guitarist David Bristow opening playing mainly his own material in what one member of the audience succinctly defined as a pre war blues style augmented by collarless shirt and braces of the period”! However, the song that stood out for me was a glorious version of “What a Wonderful World”, a song forever associated with Louis Armstrong. The climax of Sunday, and for many, of the whole weekend, was a simply superb set from the stunning Little Toby Walker, nearing the end of his brief UK tour promoting his CD, “Toby Walker plays well with others”. The set opened with Toby appearing on stage and, clapping his hands and singing gospel style, getting the audience to join in to get things off to a great start.
The lyrics of the songs Toby performs are frequently both amusing and thought provoking, particular examples being “100 Real Good Reasons To Sing The Blues” (from the new CD), “What I Used To Do All Night”, a song that hits home with your reviewer, and “Weak Willed & Easily Led” which saw Toby encouraging the audience to join in the chorus. Toby’s instrumental prowess is always evident and he blew a mean harp on the very entertaining “Train to Memphis” but when he gets picking on the likes of “Hacksaw Rag/Cinncinnati Flow Rag”, two numbers which effortlessly morph together, the auditorium is filled with the sound of jaws thudding to the floor as Toby’s fingers fly. Contrast this with the achingly beautiful arrangement of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, played Toby style during which you could have heard a pin drop. Needless to say, this penultimate gig on his all to short UK tour left the audience utterly captivated and knocked out by a performer who just gets better every time I see him. Congratulations go to organiser Derek White and his team for all the hard work and, no doubt, sleepless nights which went into making this yet another great week-end at Tring and an excellent start to 2006’s festivals. March 2006 A heavily edited version of this review was published in Blues Matters! Photos courtesy of Denise Milligan & Alison White
The SPIKEdrivers, the Swamp Cats & Friends – Beat Roots, Blue Boar Hotel, Silver Street, Maldon Essex - May 26th, 2006 My first visit to this new monthly session and a wonderful time was had by all! Set in the Elizabethan splendour of a 15th Century coaching inn, the Swamp Cats are bringing to Maldon some very fine roots performers as well as playing a set themselves. Set in an upstairs room with exposed beams, candlesticks and, forming the backdrop to the stage, an ornately carved piece which immediately put me in mind of the wardrobe through whose doors the entrance to Narnia is to be found! Tonight saw Dave & the boys joined by a superb violin player, Jonathan Potts whose tone was superb (violins do not always amplify very well) and his playing a dream. Also gracing the stage was Mr Tim Aves on harp for a couple of numbers. The band did not stick solely to blues but rather demonstrated their breadth of experience and talent by including some country and Irish numbers. They even strayed into SPIKEdrivers land with one song, so much so that Constance grabbed her washboard and the guys on stage! Constance, Ben & Maurice, the SPIKEdrivers took the stage to play to what must have been a close to capacity audience, sure of a good response as fans had travelled from far and wide to be here. As ever, they did not disappoint playing a set filled with their own quirky originals as well as plenty of covers, all given the SPIKEdrivers unique treatment. At the exhortation of Constance, Tim joined the band to play on a couple Alas their allotted time slipped by all too quickly and as a finale, we were treated to the entire company, crammed into a maze of leads, lights, amps, pedals, drum kit and other paraphernalia playing a rousing version of JJ Cale’s great song, ‘Call Me The Breeze’, a wonderful way to round off a superb evening. The excellent and eclectic music added to good food and some fine real ales, including Farmers which is brewed on the premises, make this new venture a great night out and bodes very well for the future. Congratulations and thanks to all involved, definitely a Friday night out to put on the calendar.
Storm Warning – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – 4th May 2006
Stuart ‘Son’ Maxwell has a great voice that really does justice to the material and also plays a mean harp, none more so that when he picked up his 12 hole C Marine Band harp on the wonderfully moody ‘Whisky Blues’. Another slow blues was the glorious ‘Nothin But Smoke’, a wonderful song of betrayal which saw Stuart using echo on his harp microphone to great vocal effect. Storm Warning is blessed with an excellent guitarist in Bob ‘Mad Dog’ Moore, a man who is not given to flashy displays of digital dexterity but rather lets his guitar sing beautifully. Keyboard player, Ian Salisbury alternates between piano & Hammond to great effect breaking into passionate solos such as in “Talk to Your Daughter” which saw Stuart and Derek (White the bass player) clapping along and formation dancing go-go girl style! Having mentioned every other member of the band it would be victimisation not to give a credit to Roger Willis on drums whose playing was always spot on for the number, whether it was a laid back jazzy beat or full on rocking mayhem such as the wonderfully evocative ‘Ballad of 64’. Two encores were called for, the first being a great instrumental and the second being the gorgeous ‘She Moves Me’, one of my favourites. A cracking evening with this excellent band who are well worth catching if they play near you.
The Receeders Reunion - Bar Lambs - 7th April 2006
The much loved Receeders played their "Annual Reunion" gig with a line up including Nick Bell, Chris Taylor & Paul Thomas at Bar Lambs in Westcliff on the Friday before last. And it was a cracker.
SWAMP FEVER AT BEAT ROOTS - Friday 24th March 2006 THE SWAMP CATS, DAVID HUGHES, HELEN WATSON The Blue Boar oozes ancient history from every woodworm hole; there are priceless thrones just lying around, suits of armour, and a huge old Narnian wardrobe as a backdrop to the band that was touchingly held together by gaffer tape in true muso style. You've just got to see it (and hear it) to believe it. The next gig on Friday April 21st will be El Mondo Combo a Django/Jazz/Blues trio and one of the hottest new acts on the circuit. The line-up includes Tony Farinha (Werewolves of London) and Neil Mercer on guitars with Andy Maslin on upright bass. Rumour has it, The Spike Drivers, Ian Siegal and Los Tres Armadillos are soon to follow. So watch this space and book early. Tickets are available on the night but get in early to avoid disappointment. It was packed on the first night, and the audiences aren't likely to get any smaller. For more info email swampcats@toucansurf.com Nick Skeens. 27th March 2006
Bad Town Blues – CD Launch at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay, Essex – 23rd February 2006
The band comprises five experienced and talented musicians, three of whom supply the CD’s original material. Guitarist/ singer Clive Mulcahy, keyboard/Hammond player/singer Ray Bartrip (another Digital Blues Award winner) and Adam Norton, harp player. With the superbly tight and understated rhythm section of Jamie Lawrence on bass (he also created the CD sleeve’s great front cover image) and Reg Patton on drums. Kicking off with “Rock Solid”, the CD’s opening track, a fine up tempo rocking number featuring composer Clive’s excellent guitar, some great dirty harp from Adam and quivering Hammond from Ray, it was quickly clear how far the band has come since their first CD “Down in the Alley” and signalled we were in for an evening of something different. “Quit Jivin’ Me”, a fine funky number took us to brace of Ray’s songs, the lovely “Your Cheatin’ Ways” which has a wonderful jazzy swing to it with a great bass line and the crowd pleasing “Butcher’s Daughter”, a real piano driven treat. Next, a surprise as the band broke into Clive’s laid back Caribbean flavoured number, “Skinny Brown Next up was “Something’s Wrong”, a delicious slow Blues introduced by Clive with the words “We were a Blues band once weren’t we?” On the basis of this number, they still are, great guitar, lovely harp, raspy and dirty chromatic harp and gravely vocals, what more could you ask? It was back on the loud pedal with Ray’s rollicking boogie woogie a la Chas & Dave (meant nicely!) “All Dressed Up” followed by the insanely catchy gospel flavoured instrumental “Sue’s Blues”. The CD’s title track saw more lovely blistering guitar from Clive whilst “Next Thing You Know” had Ray playing both keyboards & Hammond at the same time to great The eponymous “Bad Town Blues “described by Clive as having a “Speedy Gonzalez intro”, another great instrumental, “The Code” building from a real moody opening saw the band introduced one by one and playing solos and then it was “Ramona Had A Baby” and they had done it, 15 tracks and over 75 minutes of music!. A quick encore, “Highway 61 Revisited” and it was all over. Conclusion: Get the CD, its great & see the band live - such variety, such skill and such fun. Nothing bad about these Blues. photos - Digital Blues (c) 2006 5th March 2006
The Sonny Black Band – PhoenixFM Blues Nights at Pam’s Bar – 10th February 2006 The second of this short series of gigs saw a return to Pam’s Bar after many years’ absence of the incomparable Sonny Black with his superb band which comprised Peter Catlin on guitar, Stuart Marshall on drums and Henk Leerink on bass and what an evening they treated us to. From solo acoustic finger picking numbers by or in the style of some of the great early artists such as Magic Slim, Blind Blake, Bill Broonzy and the like to his own varied compositions, this was a masterclass in superb musicianship, delicate phrasing and touch with wonderful anecdotes or explanations between numbers. Sonny takes well-known numbers and makes them sound brand new and his material crosses many frontiers as he moves effortlessly from the deepest Delta to fringes of jazz by way of Latin rhythms, shuffles & the British blues of the likes of Peter Green (particularly notable was the band’s version of “Albatross”). It was all there and had the audience, made up of a fair number who did not know Sonny’s work or reputation and others, including a number of musicians, who were familiar with his work but who could not get enough of this man’s understated but oh so skilful playing. All in all it was a fantastic evening with a vibe that was very special. Sonny’s band seemed instinctively to know what was coming next and they were so together and tight, in a wonderfully relaxed way. With skill & talent of this sort on show it was a crying shame that so few people attended but that seems the way of it at the moment. If Sonny is playing near you, whether in solo, duo or full band format, do yourself a favour, go see him and enjoy something very special and unique. 12th February 2006 The Incredible Blues Puppies – PhoenixFM Blues Nights at Pam’s Bar, Brentwood – 3rd February 2006 The Incredible Blues Puppies is a new name for many but I doubt that will be the case for long. Playing the first of the PhoenixFM Blues Nights at this well known and loved venue, the Puppies delighted their audience, virtually all of whom were seeing them for the first time. The band’s line up comprises four seasoned and highly experienced musicians whose CVs read like a veritable roll of honour. With Alan Glen on guitar harp & vocals, John O’Reilly on vocals & guitar, Jim Mercer on vocals, standup bass & bass guitar and Dino Coccia on drums, these are four musicians who gel superbly, who take it in turns to introduce songs, often adding a bit of history or a personal recollection and who clearly really enjoy playing together. Playing a great and very varied mix of material, they featured original numbers taken from their excellent CD, “Puppy Fat” such as Dino’s wryly humorous song, “& Years Too Late”and the wonderfully rocking Nine Below Zero number, “ Another Kinda Love” written by Alan and the rest of NBZ when he was with the band. There was Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen”, T Bone Walker’s “T Bone Jumps Again”, Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied” and a show stopping “Stone Fox Chase” (the Old Grey Whistle Test theme) which included a stonking drum solo from Dino. Reminiscences of Peter Green, Duster Bennett and other great names from the recent and not so recent history of the Blues, the Puppies not only entertained but also made the music live. Their consummate musicianship shone through with Alan & John’s very different guitar playing styles blending superbly, John playing a number of beautiful solos, never flashy, always skilful, Alan’s picking often understated but very much in the groove. Jim’s bull fiddle added a depth that an electric bass just cannot achieve and yet, w hen he picked the guitar, it was always right in the mix. Dino’s drumming has that effortless quality that only the best possess and his two solos dazzled whilst his ensemble playing was rock solid and always spot-on, Alan’s harp playing was the best I have heard from him and he emphasised just what an underrated player he is on this instrument. And he plays guitar and he sings and he writes! No wonder he gets to play with so many great names! I am not sure that musicians of this experience and skill can describe themselves as Puppies, but Blues they play and Incredible they are. Make sure you catch them soon! 5th February 2006 The Nigel Bagge Band with Eddie Armer – New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay – Thursday 2nd February 2006
The audience at this New Crawdaddy Blues Club session were treated to a set which was kicked off by Nigel Bagge & Eddie Armer in acoustic duo mode playing some wonderful numbers featuring Nigel’s smoking vocals & beautiful guitar picking accompanied by Eddie’s stunning harmonica playing. He gets a tone which is simply superb and, whether playing diatonic or chromatic, he is wonderful to listen to, caressing one’s ears like silk. Nigel’s cv is a magnum opus of great names - founder member of the Blues Corporation, front man for the Mighty 45’s, he also plays with the Desperate Dan Band & Duck Soup and has worked with Peter Green, Chris Farlow and many more. Eddie was formerly the frontman of the Lonnigans and harp player with the late Carlo Little whilst his recording credits include work with Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, the late Long John Baldry, Odetta and Pete Seeger. Nigel had behind him a fabulous band which, as well as Eddie, comprised the prodigiously talented Paul “Dave” Jobson on keyboards, the excellent Grant “Cheeky” Tunbridge on bass and the very fine Ed Collins on drums. What a combination! Launching into a full electric set, we were treated to some great covers done Nigel Bagge style including a sweltering and steaming version of the John Fogerty song “110 In The Shade”, an absolutely gorgeous “Blues As Blues Can Get” and an incredibly catchy country blues, "Lincoln Town", all of which appear on Nigel’s most recent CD “The Chinese Handbag Thief” as well as some excellent original compositions. This was a session of prodigious talent, great passion, huge enjoyment and put quite simply and by general consensus, one of the best gigs we have had at the new Crawdaddy and boy we have had a few crackers! If you have not seen Nigel, Eddie & the band, put that right very promptly. These guys are a far too well kept secret. No D-notice is going to stop me telling all and sundry! 5th February 2006 For the first time in four years, Boogaloo’s famed festival returned to the Maltings, a wonderful complex by the river in Farnham and host to the ever-popular Cellar Bar Blues Club on Thursday evenings. My first visit to the Maltings got off to a somewhat inauspicious start as my journey around the M25 from Essex took close to 3 hours as I had to leave the motorway at junction 6 and use the back roads due to a couple of vehicle fires which closed the motorway between junctions 9 & 10. Thank goodness for my TomTom Go sat-nav! Every car should have one! Cue the Nightflies great track "(Staying Alive) On the M25"! As a result I missed the opening set from the Mustangs and only arrived in the middle of what was a stunningly hot set from relative newcomers funkydory. This is definitely a band to catch, they were on fire with the fine, powerful voice of Lorna handling original material, standards such as "Stormy Monday" and material from the likes of Stevie Wonder with equal aplomb. Meanwhile, the boys in the band had a ball, particularly on an instrumental number the title of which I missed, which saw a veritable duel between guitarists Jules & Marc. What a start to the day, I was so enthralled that I completely missed John Crampton’s first appearance of the day when he opened in the vast Great Hall playing amid continuously ringing fire alarm bells, of which more later, a minor inconvenience which he later told me he coped with by telling the sound man to "just turn it all up!" The Boogaloo Blues Festival presents one with agonising choices as for much of the day there is music on four stages at once so one either has to choose one band or act at a time or dip in & out. As a typical Gemini, I chose the latter! So it was that I caught our own Mr. Tim Aves opening the acoustic stage, where he was also MC and sound man, with a good selection of covers, including Mickey Jupp’s "Standing at the Crossroads Again", and at least one original number not heard since Jane English joined the Armadillos, dedicated to a girl called Jane! The acoustic stage was in the Dance Studio and so boasted a full height mirror all down one side of the room, great for the narcissistic, but not for those of us who would rather forget what we look like! A good sized and appreciative audience caught Tim’s set. And so to the famed Cellar Bar where Mo’ Indigo’s Harry Lang was MC, resplendent in true MC style, to catch a bit of the set from Hucklebuck, the excellent band led by Sam Hare! One of a number of firsts for me as this is a band about which I had heard much but never seen. Besides the very talented Sam, the band also contains the renowned Giles King on harp, Jamie Lawrence on bass (familiar to us as bassist with Bad Town Blues) and the inimitable Mimi Hajime on drums. The rather little that I heard of the band’s set sounded pretty damn good to me with Sam’s great voice (the first of a number to be heard today) well suited to the material and Giles’ harp playing every bit as good as I had been lead to expect, although a crammed Cellar Bar made seeing anything a bit difficult. To give an idea of the sort of choices facing Festival goers, whilst Hucklebuck were playing so were Ben Waters, The Guv’nors, John Crampton and Steve & Stevie Smith! I popped in to see the Guv’nors who I had seen before and then went upstairs to sample Ben Waters, someone of whom I had, again, heard so much but never seen. Am I glad to have rectified that omission! Accompanied by saxophonist Clive Ashley, Ben was the consummate entertainer, dazzling with his keyboard wizardry, regaling his audience with stories, often slightly ribald and punctuating the set with hints of my favourite Cornish comedian, Jethro, the Wurzels and even Benny Hill in a particularly original and very amusing take on "No Particular Place to Go". The classic "Duelling Banjos" became an intriguing bout between piano & sax and, at one stage, Ben was joined on stage by a friend and fellow ivory tinkler, Mark Smith as we were treated to four hands rather than two with the player crossing arms, changing position and, all the time, the keyboard threatening to fall off the speaker upon which it sat! Down in the catering area, all was not well. Remember the earlier mention of the fire alarms? It appeared that the system was unable to cope with bacon being cooked – bacon rolls were much in demand amongst Festival goers and mention must be made of the very good food which was on offer. However, the alarms having being set off, attempts to silence them were unsuccessful so Ben’s set was punctuated by an intermittent combination of klaxons and bells which Ben & Ashley took in their stride, even incorporating them in their act. Down in the Great Hall, and boy it is great and huge, the Guv’nors were playing through the same interruptions and treating those who had ventured here to their unique take on the Blues which includes rapping from both Bob Hokum as in his election manifesto song, "All Work & No Play" and Mick Hutchings who could give M&M (is that how you say it?!) a run for his money! The Guv'nors are not to everyone’s taste but their fusion of funk with Blues and Latin rhythms and huge percussion workouts is, for me, highly entertaining, very complex in many respects and very skilfully done. One of Bob’s closing comments as he exhorted people to buy a copy of the band’s most recent CD was that the money raised would enable them to take their own fire alarms to every gig! Meanwhile, Steve Smith (Blue Thunder) & Stevie Smith (Ruthless Blues) gave what I understand was an excellent duo performance on the acoustic stage which was followed by Robin Bibi who delighted the audience with a solo set. Sonny Black followed and was so popular that I could not even get into the Dance Studio to catch him. Meanwhile in the Cellar Bar, the Slim Line Papas were entertaining a packed room with their set which ranged from swing to blues to jump jive and beyond. A trio featuring Pete O’Brien, a very active stand-up bass player and the band’s frontman in every respect, Egly Lucas on guitar, harp & vocals and Sam Saunders on drums. The trio certainly had the place rocking but I had appointments with Will Killeen and Nicky Moore! From the moment that I caught a few seconds of Mr Moore’s soundcheck I knew this was going to be a set not to be missed, what a voice but first it was upstairs to catch a bit of Sam Hare & Giles King in acoustic mood and then to the Barley Room for Will Killeen. I first saw Will about five years ago at a Brentwood Blues Festival and was blown away by his guitar picking. I said at the time that listening to him you would swear that he had more than 8 fingers & two thumbs or that there were two of him. Playing a harp in a rack, and picking that guitar like no-one else he was, as ever, superb. He was joined for some numbers by a lady on an African drum, never did catch her name, but it was most effective. A quick stop at the Great Hall for a few minutes of Nicki Moore and then to the dance room for the final acoustic set from the Hokum Band lead by Bob Hokum and featuring most of the guys seen early in the Guv’nors, a set which went down very well, punctuated as ever by Mr Hokum’s acerbic humour. As the last act on the acoustic stage they were even able to satisfy audience calls for an encore. Decisions were becoming even more difficult because Nicky Moore’s Blues Corporation were in the Great Hall, Station House were in the Cellar Bar and John Crampton was in the Barley Room. And so it was that I caught one number here, one number there and another number there! John Crampton I have seen a number of times but not that recently. It is always a pleasure to be involved in a John Crampton set, and involved you cannot help but be involved, his power and drive is such that you find yourself being driven along with the music, sometimes way in excess of the speed limit! John featured a number of tunes from his excellent new CD, "Summer Rain" as well as old favourites such as "Baby Please Don’t Go" and the ethereally haunting "Raven". Great to see him again. I had heard so much about Nicky Moore’s Blues Corporation but never seen or heard them so was eager to put this right, especially after catching Nicky checking the vocals in the sound check by singing a single note which he seemed to hold for ever and which was pure and clear and set the hairs on my neck tingling! The parts of the set which I caught really were something rather special with Nicky’s vocals being certainly amongst the very best I have heard, the man has a stunning voice which covers 3 & a half octaves and which he uses to such great effect, never for one moment sounding strained or stretched. Shame he appeared to be far from content with the venue but then the support band, the Fire Alarm, were loath to leave him alone! It was really hard to leave the Great Hall to catch the other artists that I wanted to see included amongst which were Station House, another band of whom I had heard so much. With the ubiquitous Sam Kelly on drums and the imposing figure of Root Jackson up front this is a wonderful unit. Paul Jobson on keys & Dave Clark on bass were just two of the very recognisable faces that were on stage but I must confess that I was confused by the fact that there were more people on stage than I expected! I think that TJ Johnson & Winston Delandro were the two guitarists who between them played up a storm and I believe that Spy was also there adding to the percussion. Whatever, this is definitely a band that you should catch if you have not done so already. The combination of many years playing the Blues and that unique and captivating Caribbean influence created a stunning fusion that had the packed Cellar Bar steaming and rocking and grooving like there was no tomorrow and the band’s obvious enjoyment was infectious. You would have to go a long way before you will find such a tight and talented outfit playing such a great mix of material with such skill and joy and with such class! A brief stop for some nourishment and then to the Barley Room for a first chance to see the Robin Bibi Band, another outfit of whom I had heard so much. The advertising material describes Robin’s material as Blue thrash therapy so I was prepared for something of an all rocking assault from the word go. However, as if to confound this, Robin and his two fellow musicians on bass & drums, opened their set with a number that included bass & drum solos as well as some gorgeous quiet and spiritual guitar playing and built steadily to a strong and powerful climax. Robin is clearly a superb guitarist as well as a good vocalist playing both original material as well as that from a wide range of artists including a nice bit of Hendrix. Robin also has a showman streak as displayed by his walkabout guitar solo which saw him in the audience, on tables and chairs, much to the delight of the audience. Although I did not catch all of his set, what I did see made me want to see more! In the Cellar Bar, the fabulous Blue Thunder were playing and again it was difficult to get near the place so keen were the audience to catch this superb band fronted by another man blessed with a stunning voice, Paul Williams. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Blue Thunder this year but I know that each time I see them they are even better than the last and this was no exception. Combining excellent covers with much original material from Paul, the band were on fine form indeed. And so it was off the Great Hall once again to catch another band new to me, Ruthless Blues. What can I say but wow! This four-piece outfit were absolutely superb with the charismatic Stevie Smith up front on vocals and harp, striding around the stage, taking pictures of the audience on a camera phone, indulging in great repartee with the audience and having a ball. I have to say that I was totally hooked and despite the fact that there were acts elsewhere that I wanted to see, here was where I had to be. The energy, the spirit of fun, great performance, much good humour, audience participation and the realisation that this was a band that only gigs very rarely, meant that I stayed until the end of the band’s set and an encore with a great version of "Gloria". The band have just released an excellent live CD recorded at the last ever Torrington gig – "it’s a ******* Starbucks now for God’s sake" – Stevie Smith which is not only a great record of a great band but also something of an historic recording. Only three acts left, but three crackers to round off a day of crackers! First to kick off were the ever popular Connie Lush & her superb band Blues Shouter who were in the Great Hall, a huge room which, nonetheless, was very well populated, a tribute to this multi-award winning diva. For the first time, in my experience, the band were joined by a keyboard player who brought added a layer and certainly was a worthwhile augmentation to the trio of drums, guitar & bass to which I am accustomed. Connie & the boys were on great form and the keyboard player staring out into the audience reminded me so much of Ron Mael, the keyboard playing brother who was half of the seventies group Sparks! OK so he did not have the Chaplinesque moustache but………. Closing in the Barley Room was the Sonny Black Band and I was determined to catch some of this. I have to own up to being utterly in awe of Sonny. When he played solo at the Digital BluesFest recently, his first appearance in Essex can you believe, someone said that he looked like a teacher and certainly some of the stories he tells or explanations he gives between numbers do offer a form of education. But it is with his playing that he really speaks and tonight was no exception. Sat on his amp with his band of three behind, this set was nirvana for me. It is no wonder that he has won so many awards, his guitar skill is awesome but it is that additional element be it passion, feel, brilliance, caring or whatever, his music lives and makes you feel at peace. OK so you have guessed, I thought this was one of the Festival standouts but then that is just my opinion. Shame that the guys who talked through much of the set felt that other’s enjoyment of the music was not as important as very loud conversation which continued despite requests from members of the audience to shut up! I could not tarry as the final act of the day was already playing in the Cellar Bar and what a sensational way to bring things to a close. Trafficker have been through some personnel changes and are now firmly established as a superb, tightly knit and very talented trio with the inimitable Tommy Allen on guitar & vocals, Colossus Barry Pethers, brilliant on bass and Craig Bacon rock solid on drums. The band were using this gig to give a preview of many of the tracks on their brand new CD which was available for the first time at the Maltings and any fears that they might have had as to how this would be received must have been allayed by the reception they received. The Cellar Bar was packed with music lovers who simply could not get enough of these guys. Most of the numbers from the new CD ("Fade to Black") may not be to the taste of Blues purists but then they would kill the Blues if they had their way. Trafficker have always been blues/rock veering towards rock and that, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for their popularity, they are able to cross-over. As well as their playing skills, Tommy is a very able songwriter and every CD shows the advances he is making in this area. Combine this with the great talent that was on display here at the Maltings and you have a truly awesome band. I believe that many of the audience would have had Tommy & the boys playing all night if they could. But alas we had to head home and reflect upon a superb day of music which was very well organised and staged in an excellent venue which must be the envy of just about anyone who puts on live music. Congratulations go to Monica & her team from Boogaloo, to Harry Lang, Big Boy Bloater, Tim Aves & Bob Hokum, our MC’s for the day, to the soundmen (and ladies) and to all of the Maltings folk who looked after us all so well and helped make it such a great day. Roll on next year! (C) Digital Blues - 17th November 2005 "Diggin the Blues by the Roots" – The SPIKEdrivers – Littlecote House
The workshop, adapted from something which they have been doing in schools for a while, traces the history of the blues from the origins in West Africa through development in the Southern states of the USA and looks at how it has influenced the popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Using recorded audio samples from archive recordings as well as playing live material themselves, the band demonstrated the widely different rhythms and structures as well as looking at the origins of the instruments used, particularly highlighting how much early material was performed using objects of an everyday nature found around the house. This was, however, no "lecture", there were plenty of opportunities for audience involvement which culminated in the SPIKEdrivers being joined by Tim, Rob & Paul – Los Tres Armadillos – whilst Maurice handed out various percussion instruments to the audience and we all became part of the band, performing one of the longest versions of "Hip Shake" ever which left most of us with stinging, red palms but aglow with pleasure. Constance, Ben & Maurice took turns to look at particular aspects of the subject, to demonstrate points they were making and to educate all in the audience without us ever feeling we were being educated. If learning had been like this when I was at school, my life could have taken a very different course! The students, for that is what we had become, were enthralled as we were treated to tracks from the band’s excellent recent CD, "Ain’t It Real" as well as covers of some of the great names from the history of blues such as Robert Johnson. This workshop was the talk of Littlecote for all who attended and the general response was that people would love to see it again and what a good idea it would be to bring it to other venues, something I would urge all venues to consider as I am sure that audiences will respond positively and get a great deal out of such an event. Constance, Ben & Maurice are a unique trio of musicians whose love and enthusiasm for and enjoyment of their music is most infectious and embraces their audience. I reckon this should be on the national curriculum, not just for GCSE students but for all of us! Congratulations to Monica of Boogaloo for including the SPIKEdrivers in the weekend and thank you to the band for making this Sunday rather special. For more information about the SPIKEdrivers workshops and educational activities visit the relevant page on their website at www.spikedrivers.co.uk (c) October 2005
Bad Hair Day – The Clubhouse Blues Bar, Grays – Thursday 18th August 2005 A relatively new line up has come around on the scene by the name of Bad Hair Day and they played one of their first gigs at the Clubhouse went down a storm. The line up of John Edmonds and Steve King sharing vocals, Steve also plays bass, John sharing lead/rhythm guitars with Tony Myers and a wonderfully laid back Roger Woods on drums, really works. The style of music is a real pleasure to listen to. You have the mix of Albert Collins, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf,(the Stones in disguise!), a bit of swing and funk. There were none of the usual SRV and Hendrix standard covers, which comes as a bit of pleasant relief. The gig was real laid back with a very appreciative audience . Loads of on stage banter, which is what you expect with Mr King. The talent of both guitar players is very underrated. Both John and Tony are very good. One lefty and one right handed. Steve on bass, who I might add is also a very good Tokai telecaster man. Roger on drums has been around on the circuit for a number of years. All these guys have been playing together in one format or another, but you would have seen them all at the Hot Hob jam every Tuesday at Pam’s Bar in Brentwood, at one time or another. The band play a real blinding interpretation of Hoochie Coochie man. No other guys could play it in the same vein. The gig ended with two encore's and rapturous applause from the audience. A band to go and see with out a doubt, and one for the future. I am sure the Clubhouse will be rebooking them. A very pleasurable gig. Pete Shep
Jerimiah Marques & the Blue Aces – Blues at the Farm – Saturday 9th July 2005 A hot Summer afternoon and I’m indoors, in the dark, eagerly waiting for the band to start. Must be Blues at the Farm, the ever popular Saturday afternoon Essex Blues den. Today’s band is the wonderful Jerimiah Marques & the Blue Aces, a seriously underrated band that plays the most delicious blues & roots music. Things get under way a little late as Jerimiah is taking a tour of Essex trying to find the Club but soon the Blue Aces strike up with a jaunty harp lead instrumental that sees arguably the UK’s top harp player, West Weston, share the spotlight with Pete “Sonny” Nash on keyboards, Lewis Fielding on guitar and dep drummer Colin Gilbert, who we were told had come out of semi-retirement to play this gig in place of regular Mike Thorne.
Jerimiah produces his trademark stool and sits, legs wrapped around an African drum as the band launch into a couple of trademark Caribbean numbers which reflect British Guyanan born Jerimiah’s roots and demonstrate the breadth of the band’s musical skills. The first set continues with some more standards including a very fine “Hoochie Coochie Man” and concludes with the band leaving the stage to allow Jerimiah to give us “an extra number to make up for being late” as he launches into a wonderful spiritual, sung unaccompanied, save for various percussion effects from the audience. Set two opens with some tingling slide guitar from Pete Nash who accompanies Jerimiah on both vocals & harp with West and Colin joining in as the number builds to a climax and we are off again, this time with a few dancers gyrating around the fringes! A beautifully slow & moody “Sail On” features some gorgeous ringing guitar from Lewis before the tempo is upped again for a sequence of great numbers such as “Rock Me Baby” and an audience requested piano led romp, “Jellyroll” and a dedication to Marina, a member of the audience who was celebrating her birthday. A couple more reggae numbers which have the audience joining in include the Toots & the Maytals’ classic, “Bam Bam”.
I stopped taking notes at this stage, I was having too much of a ball! Sweaty, exhausted and thoroughly chilled, I came away from this excellent gig even more convinced that this is a band which deserves far more exposure. They are the real thing, a view shared by a number of people in the business whose opinions I respect and value. They rave about this band and audiences wherever they play are blown away by the intensity and power of their 50’s style Chicago Blues and their authentic and exciting roots reggae numbers. Jerimiah is mesmerising, equally at home in both genres and a man whose energy and sheer presence seems to increase as the set progresses and he becomes almost possessed by the music. If you have seen this band, you will know what I mean, if you have not then put that omission right, very soon. You will realise you have been missing something very special indeed. photos courtesy of Alan Harvey (c)2005
Blue Thunder New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay – 2nd June 2005 There is a relatively new band on the block called Blue Thunder who, if there is any justice in this world, are going to be very much talked about in the next year or so. I first caught them at a Boogaloo Blues Weekend in May at Gunton Hall and, along with the capacity audience, was mightily impressed. Fronted by former Juicy Lucy & Bluesbreakers’ vocalist Paul Williams, surely one of the finest blues vocalists around in the UK, the band members are Steve Smith (Mighty 45’s, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts) on guitar and jokes, Pete Stroud (Papa George & Peter Green to name but two of many) and Roy Shipston (Earthband & Peter Green) on keyboards. Dep drummer for the evening in place of Roger Jones was the Swampcat’s very own Tim Bale, playing with the band completely unrehearsed and, boy, did he do a great job! As regular houseband, the Heaters, were unable to play due to the sudden admission to hospital of their singer Paul M, Blue Thunder agreed to play two sets and kicked the evening off with some gorgeous picking from Steve playing a Dobro with a minimal backing from Pete on fretless acoustic bass and Tim on drums. They were joined by singer Paul also playing an acoustic guitar and Roy for a medley of Robert Johnson songs including the classics “Come On In My Kitchen” and “Terraplane Blues”. Paul’s voice is wonderful. It has a great blues sound to it and he is also blessed with the ability to let it soar. A delight to listen to and well suited to the wide range of material that is found in the band’s set list. During the course of this evening we were treated to a great variety including fine versions of the Animal’s favourite, “Don’t Let Be Misunderstood” and a glorious “Gin House”, a number which was released a while back featuring Paul when he sang with Zoot Money. Paul also writes fine original material and standouts for me were “Whose Been Talking”, the smoky and moody “Live With My Blues” and the excellent “Circle of Light”. What a way to celebrate my birthday, a great debut at the Club by a band you have simply got to see if they play near you! Look out for the name Blue Thunder, I cannot wait to see them again! Big Gilson and the Wolf with Rio Dynamite - Pam's Bar, Brentwood, Friday 13th May - by Henry Gee Maybe it was the inauspicious date that kept people at home, but those select few who put aside their black cat bones to get to Pam's Bar were in for a treat. Some years ago, Wolf Anderson, that genial blues shouter from Dover (and a regular at the Hot Hob jam on Tuesdays at Pam's), teamed up with Big Gilson, the number one blues guitarist from Brazil, and his pin-sharp band Rio Dynamite. This was a rare appearance to catch them together, on a three-week UK tour. Now, it's a strange thing, but it took one Englishman and four Brazilians to capture the sound of Chicago Blues like I'd never heard it since I saw Junior Wells and his band back in the Windy City on my first ever US trip in 1992. Big Gilson plays a lively slide guitar, either on his much-weathered strat or his resonator, and the whole effect is pure Muddy Waters or Howling Wolf. But there's more -- echoes of swing, boogie and even surf creep in. Highlights included the deep, deep reverb of Messiah -- and Gilson's 'Tropical Feeling Blues' -- followed immediately by Wolf's own blues about being stuck in Dover with the snow falling outside. For those who missed it .... come back soon, Big Gilson! Henry Gee
Colin John Band with special guest Michael Hill – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – 17th March 2005 Any visit to the Crawdaddy by Colin John is always going to be one not to miss but with the added ingredient of Michael Hill then this is a dish which becomes essential. And so it was this particular Thursday evening. A fine opening set from resident band the Heaters who really are well worth catching if you have not seen them for a while, set the stage for the main event. The slight disappointment that Michael & Colin were not going to treat us to any acoustic numbers from their superb 2004 CD, “Acousticland Lady”, was soon dispelled as they launched into their first number, a driving and pulsating version of “Are You Ready For The Blues” which gave Michael the opportunity to dazzle with some fine slide playing whilst Colin used his great FX pedals to stunning effect creating a multitude of different sounds. The tempo slowed dramatically for a glorious slow & moody blues, “Soul is Doing Time”, which Michael dedicated to the innocent in the audience (I could not see any candidates!). As Michael suggested in his introduction to the next number, the blues is about telling stories and his strong political beliefs were very much on show as he castigated George Dubya for the war in Iraq (Bush comes in for more criticism in Michael’s track “By George” on his most recent release “Black Gold & Goddesses Bold”) The song “Black Gold” which also appears in a very different arrangement as “O.I.L.” on “Acousticland Lady” points to the root cause of the US invasion of Iraq and contains such great lines as “I worry ‘bout ecology/But drive around in an SUV” and “We can fee people near & far/But their freedom won’t start my car”! This arrangement of the song is really funky and again featured some great guitar work from both Michael & Colin. Next up was a smashing cut from Colin’s most recent release “Voodoo Surfing From the Beachland” Next up was another driving powerhouse of a song which was prefaced by Michael Hill inviting the audience, particularly the ladies, to free themselves of inhibitions and rip their clothes off! The song, he said, was about satisfying your women and that the men in the audience should listen carefully, a comment met with many a knowing nod from the ladies in the audience! The song, “Undercover” spoke of the joys and pleasures of oral sex and certainly should be one that is included on any CD called “Blues to Seduce your Lady”! Now there’s a compilation it could be fun to put together, especially the research! Much to our amazement we were heading to the final numbers and were treated to a wonderful number the title of which I did not catch but which started out very sotto voce and turned right down with Colin playing some guitar which I described in my notes as “orgasmic”, (was I still “Undercover”!?) and built superbly, yes, to climax with Jeff playing a three string bass as he managed to snap one! Glorious stuff indeed! A final encore which again featured great guitar work from Colin & Michael as well as further stunning solos from Chris & Jeff and it was all over. As Johnny H who does the light said to me, “I could have gone on listening to that all night!” and certainly there was a reluctance on the part of many of the audience to go home, so unwilling were they to break the spell which Colin, Michael, Chris & Jeff had cast. Thank you guys, hurry back soon and next time give us some acoustic magic too and we will be your slaves for all time!!!
photo (c) 2005 by Chris Jones
Martin McNeill Bottleneck Blues – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – 3rd March 2005  A first chance to catch Martin McNeill 2005 style proved to be one of the most enjoyable gigs of the year so far. The master of the bottleneck guitar now fronts a four piece, Martin McNeill’s Bottleneck Blues and what a great line-up this is with Martin on guitar, vocals and rack harp, the superb Roy Webber on drums, a man whose immaculate playing on a very sparse kit is a total compliment to Martin’s own style and is absolutely spot on. On bull fiddle was Roger Curphey, one of the UK’s finest double bass players coming from a strong jazz background who again brought another dimension to the set with his wonderfully fluid playing, including the odd solo or two which were pure magic. On keyboards was Tim Huskisson, another jazz stalwart last seen with Julia Quinn & the Tony Sandeman band at Pam’s Bar. Tim is no stranger to the blues having played in Martin’s previous band as well as playing with Phil Burdett’s Band to name but two. Again, his playing complimented the material and his fellow musicians perfectly. The ensemble effect was excellent. Martin had promised “a mix of old-style acoustic and electric blues...with a slightly jazzy feel” and no-one could complain that he did not deliver. Intermingling well known numbers with less common ones, the set included the Little Walter/Willie Dixon classic, “My Babe”, the wonderful traditional “Rock Me” and “Red Hot Mama” and a great combination of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right” and Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “Kokomo Blues” as well as the Albert King original popularised by Taj Mahal & the Blues Brothers “She Caught the Katy” and the Allman Brothers classic which I remember Taj Mahal doing back in the 60’s, “Statesboro Blues”. The set was rounded off with a wonderful version of the classic “On The Road Again” which featured Roger bowing his bass (how often do you get that in a Blues band?) to great effect creating a wonderful underscore to what was going on elsewhere. I loved it!. For a well deserved encore, we were treated to the ever popular Elmore James’ classic, “Dust My Broom”. Musical Spectacular in aid of Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund – Brentwood Centre – 5th March 2005 As someone who has arranged and run a couple of festivals, I know how much work and energy goes into organising such events. Roy Hands & Keith Ball took on a huge task when they decided to put on this benefit event. With a fully staffed 1,900 seat venue, full professional sound, light and stage crews plus 11 bands and barely eight weeks to bring it together, I know they worked late into the night, many nights in succession to pull it all together. It was, therefore, a real shame that not more people turned out for the event with the musicians, stage crew and organisers almost outnumbering the audience! As a couple of avid blues fans from Kent who are regulars at such events said to me “what is wrong with the people of Essex that they don’t turn out to support great events like this featuring so many good bands?” What indeed? There was certainly something on offer for everyone. The afternoon opened with a superb set from the Escorts, a trio featuring top class musicians from Slade & Mud who treated us to a great selection of sixties covers and kicked things off in fine style. First of the local bands were the Zoltans, the popular Southend based seven piece steeped in the repertoire of Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris and Rent Party. A band at their best performing live in front of an audience, they were in top form and served to signal that we were in for a very varied day. Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band were next and, as ever, Danny enthralled with his sensitive and varied guitar playing with a set that included a selection of numbers from his most recent Blues Matters! CD, “Covering Their Tracks” and culminating with a lovely Hendrix cover. In complete contrast was Richard Dobney’s Blues Engine, a fine band lead by the man who runs the Hot Hob Jam at Pam’s Bar. The five piece which includes sax and Hammond organ, was augmented by special guests, the Soul Sistas, a vocal trio whose members took the lead on a number of great songs. With a set comprised mainly of covers but with the odd original number, Richard’s band entertained as they always do and their set was over all too quickly. Reflecting the variety of the bill were the next band, a relatively new foursome called Jook Joint whose members were dressed in a style which gave a hint of the music that was to come. Featuring Cliff Jarman on harp and occasional vocals, John Carter on vocals and keyboards, Stuart Pannaman on vocals & stand-up bass and Paul Morgan on guitar (great to see him back on stage) the guys played a great mix of real down-home blues and boogie, definitely a band to catch and a very original sound. The Groove Doctors were next and, as ever, produced a cracking set brimming with energy, skill and great musicianship that was a great introduction to the Doctors for the many in the audience to whom they were unknown. Playing the first of two charity gigs in a day, they demonstrated once again that there is noone quite like the Groove Doctors and reinforced my opinion that they should be more popular and successful than they are. Ray Bartrip, Hammond player with Richard Dobney, returned to the stage with his main band, Bad Town Blues and, to the delight of this onlooker, decided to play the organ rather than piano as he usually does with this band. Bad Town Blues are currently working on a new CD which is scheduled for a June/July (ish) release and they previewed some of the material from it in their set to great effect. Bringing the “Blues” part of the bill to a close was the Doghouse Rhythm & Blues Band, lead by Kevin Webb and featuring Keith Ball, who took a break from compere duties, on drums and Andy Bostock on bass. This was the second time I had caught this great trio recently and they really are on top form playing a set which was very varied and most ably demonstrated Kevin’s talents as singer, songwriter and guitarist. A storming set and a great way to round off the “Essex” section of the day. The Rubettes who took the stage next, were never particular favourites of mine but I know that there were a number of people in the audience who had come to see the Rubettes and only the Rubettes. Their short set featured most of their hits as well a selection of other material and they looked resplendent in white suits, shirts, ties and hats, just like the old days! The Beat, who were the penultimate act, brought to the Brentwood Centre that great combination of energy and rhythm that is ska with a set which raced along at full throttle and defied even the weariest of us to stand still. Yet another example of the fantastic variety of style and genre that Roy & Keith had pulled in to the bill. Topping the bill and eagerly awaited was Keith’s father, Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen whose hour long set flew by all too quickly. With Kenny whose playing and singing is still top class was his long term trombonist John Bennett as well as Andy Cooper on clarinet who also shared vocal duties delivering some great “novelty” renditions! Special guest on drums was the amazing Eric Delaney, now 80 years of age and still drumming up an absolute storm. This was a fabulous set to round off the day and it flew by so fast. I am sure that Roy & Keith must have had moments when they wondered whether it was worth it, take it from me guys it was. A fantastically varied bill, top class sound and lights (a big thank you to all the technical crews who were always helpful, always doing their utmost to meet the musicians’ wishes, cope with extremely tight changeovers and generally make sure the event was a success) a great venue (another big thank you to Jenny & her team at the Brentwood Centre for everything they did to ensure the day was a success) and a lot of people giving of their time and efforts for free all in a great cause. What a pity it was that the people who should have made the event such a success, the paying public, chose to ignore what is likely to be the biggest, most varied and most talented line-up in Essex this year. Normally, one would simply say it was their loss but on this occasion those whom the Red Cross are seeking to help as they try to regain some semblance of normality after the devastating tsunami on Boxing Day last year also lost out because the event was not able to raise the sort of funds which it had been hoped would be raised. The words of those ladies from Kent continue to haunt me and leave me wondering what the answer is.
Guy Tortora Band – New Crawdaddy Club – 24th February 2005 A gig by GT is never one to be missed and this return visit to the Crawdaddy was no exception, in fact the pleasure was increased by the fact that we were treated to two sets, the Heaters not being available to support on this occasion. The first set opened with Guy sitting onstage alone playing a few numbers solo including the excellent “I Need a Car” taken from his first CD before gradually being joined by band members Andy Cleveland on first percussion then bass (depping for regular, Brendan Canty, who was recovering from hospitalisation), Neil Littman on drums, and finally, after a short delay because he was busy talking to yours truly when he should have been on stage, keyboard player Janos Bajtala! The set continued with a fine selection of tracks from Guy’s most recent CD, the superb “Jefferson Drive”, including the wonderfully quirky “Two Fried Eggs”, introduced with a link worthy of Alan Partridge as Guy asked Janos what he had had for breakfast! Guy is, in my opinion, unique, whether he is playing his own highly original material such as the aforementioned “Two Fried Eggs”, the almost Latin style “No Substitute”, the bluesy “My Town” or “Soul Mate” which saw another demonstration of Guy’s beautiful slide guitar or one of his totally individual takes on standards such as “Crossroads”, “Sweet Home Chicago” or “ Walking the Dog”. His band is one of those which is made up of individually highly talented and experienced musicians who gel superbly. Even Andy fitted perfectly, no surprise really, I suppose, in that he has played on both Guy’s CD’s and been covering for Brendan for a while. Andy & Janos also play regularly together in the Blues Engineers. photo of Guy Tortora by Alan Harvey at Digital BluesFest 2004 Instrumentally, during the course of the evening we were treated to some great picking and slide guitar from Guy, some wonderful work from Janos on keyboards and some delicious bass breaks from Andy. Neil’s drumming ran the gamut of styles, always perfectly in tune with both the mood and style of the number being performed and saw him using brushes, timpani mallets or what are, to me, just drumsticks but to Brendan may be a 7A or an 8B etc! All done to great effect. The Guy Tortora Band is building a fine and well deserved reputation for themselves and are booked all over the UK and into Europe. They will also be recording a session for the Radio 2 Paul Jones Show in April which should bring them to an even wider audience. If they play near you, forget anything else and get along to see them. You will have a great night and want to take a CD home with you!
Richard Dobney’s Blues Engine – Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar – February 26th, 2005 It was appropriate that the last gig in this very successful short series should feature the man whose hard work and enthusiasm had made the series work. Richard Dobney is a regular at Pam’s Bar where he leads the highly successful Hot Hob Jam every Tuesday, an evening which attracts high quality players from near and far. His band, Blues Engine, is formed of four very talented and experienced musicians, all regular jammers and the pedigree shows. With Richard on guitar and vocals (what a great voice he has, a deep baritone which can be menacing and delicious at the same time), Chigwell Fats, Mr Ray Bartrip on his gorgeous Hammond, Julia Austin, a lady with great sax appeal who injects a positively jazz vibe on occasions, “Little” Stevie King, erstwhile lead guitarist and vocalist with Too Close For Comfort now playing up a storm on bass and on skins the rock solid Dave Cutmore. For this gig, the band were joined by special guests Laura Udal, Carly Carpenter and Millie Wilson-Muir, collectively know as the Soul Sistas. And what an excellent evening we had from the opener, “Born Under A Bad Sign” all the way through to the encore, “The Pusher”. A great range of material stretching across the blues & r’n’b spectrum with numbers such as “T-Bone Shuffle”, “Thrill Is Gone”, “Route 66” and “Crosscut Saw” sitting alongside “Rescue Me”, “Gimme Some Loving”, “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Green Onions/Help Me” (well with a gorgeous Hammond in the band you have to don’t you!) The Blues Engine’s wealth of experience and talent shows through in the effortless way they handle the varied material in their sets and the presence on stage of the Sould Sista enhanced this. Staring a little diffidently (poor Laura was suffering with a very heavy cold) with “Rescue Me”, they soon got into their stride and in the second set Laura showed what a wonderful bluesshouter voice she has in “Chain of Fools” whilst Millie delivered a powerfully soul dripping version of “Rock Me Baby” and Carly introduced us to a great “Son of A Preacher Man”. So, all in all an excellent evening with the stage at Pam’s Bar looking positively crowded at times! A fine way to round of this run and big thanks to Richard for both the Blues Engine sets and for the Stormy Fridays series and to Pam & Mike at the Essex Arms for their support of live music and particularly the Blues. There will be another series of Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar later in the year and Digital Blues will bring you the details!
Doghouse Rhythm & Blues Band – New Crawdaddy Blues Club – 17th February 2005 Sightings of Doghouse are fairly rare these days and so it was with considerable anticipation that I looked forward to their Crawdaddy gig. Now a three piece, Doghouse is fronted by the unmistakable Kevin Webb, a man who has great stage presence as well as oodles of talent as a guitarist, singer & songwriter. On drums is the unique Keith Ball, a man of apparently boundless energy & enthusiasm whilst on bass is the impassive Andy Bostock who is rock solid at all times. This trio was on great form, as good as I have seen them and treated the audience to a smashing set full of variety mixing Kevin’s original material with cover both well known and not so familiar. The variety was demonstrated by the inclusion of such numbers as Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” and the excellent jump number “Jumpin East of Java” together with gorgeous Webb originals such as the searingly beautiful “Rivers of Whisky” which featured one of a number of great harp solos from guest Cliff Jarman, harp player with Doghouse in a former incarnation and now with Jook Joint, and the equally passionate and rich “Fool’s Paradise“, two numbers that I particularly like . As ever, Kevin & the guys produced a really varied set ranging from slow blues to rock’n’roll, all done with the energy and skill that is so much a part of Doghouse. The large and enthusiastic audience, a tribute to the work the band had done to push the gig – would that more bands worked at promoting their own gigs the way Doghouse do - revelled in the sights and sounds of the band obviously having a really good time. It is so good to see real enjoyment in performance. Here’s hoping that the band start playing a few more gigs and that they find time to get into a studio to record some more material. Thanks Doghouse, it was a great way to spend a Thursday, or any other, evening.
Chris Johnson Band – Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar, Brentwood – Friday 19th February 2005 The penultimate gig in the first Stormy Fridays series served to underline what they were all about as the Chris Johnson Band played what was only their second gig ever. Chris who hails from Billericay, is something of a well kept secret, not through any fault of his, and he was certainly a revelation to the good sized audience at Pam’s treating us to two sets of great electric Blues, Clapton style. Now I am not one to knock Clapton, unlike many other Blues lovers, and I am certainly not going to knock a young man who is so clearly heavily influenced by Slowhand. Chris captures beautifully the Clapton era when the man was acknowledged as being at his peak, his guitar playing is a joy to hear and watch and had the many guitarists in the audience enthralled. A member of Chris’s band described themselves as “a Clapton tribute band in all but name!” Maybe he was right but for me, they much more than a tribute band. With Chris taking guitar & vocals, Les Miller on bass and backing vocals, Dave Cutmore on drums and the inimitable Henry Gee on keyboards and backing vocals, it was hard to believe that this was only the band’s second outing. They covered a huge part of Clapton’s portfolio including cuts from his Bluesbreakers days, Cream, Derek & the Dominos (how often do you hear anybody play the long version of “Layla”?) right up to his most recent offering “Me & Mr Johnson”, now there’s a coincidence! This was cracking entertainment from a very good band fronted by an excellent young guitar slinger of whom I am sure we will hear more. The publicity said that this evening’s band featured “one of the most dynamic & exciting young Blues & rock guitarists around”, it was not wrong!
Julia Quinn & the Tony Sandeman Band – Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar, Brentwood - 12th February 2005 The fifth in the Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar series promoted by Dirty River Promotions in association with Digital Blues featured something a bit different. Julia Quinn and Tony Sandeman are well known names on the jazz circuit but this was their first appearance in the area at a Blues venue. What the audience were treated to was a great mix of material ranging from Hendrix through Blues standards such as “Stormy Monday”, the Beatles, Joni Mitchell & Stevie Wonder to jazz standards such as Duke Ellington’s wonderful “Prelude to a Kiss”. As a mere onlooker, it is interesting to note how different the musical slant is. The jazz approach is far cleaner and precise and, for some, lacks the gut-wrenching passion so loved by Blues audiences. There was little of the ball-breaking, down & dirty Blues ethic but there was, instead, stunning virtuosity from an ensemble who were clearly, individually, highly talented. Julia is blessed with the most wonderful voice that was most adept at handling all the material whether it called out for power by the lungful or sweet and gentle vocal honey. Her take on “Stormy Monday” was definitely a standout performance of this often overworked number. Tony Sandeman’s guitar playing was, put quite simply, awesome and when he let rip, very bluesy! His dexterity on the frets was something to behold and it is no wonder that there are frequently a number of other guitarists in the audience at his gigs whose chins drop further and further as the evening progresses. Tony’s band comprised three stalwarts of the local scene, one of whom is fairly familiar to the local bluesers through his appearances with the Martin McNeill Band. I speak of keyboard wizard, Tim Huskisson, who was in superb form and whose fingers certainly did the talking. On five string bass was Andy Staples and his playing was again very much in a jazz style and included a beautiful solo which demonstrated, once again, the versatility and range of a bass guitar in the right hands, with which Andy is definitely blessed. Over the last 8 years Andy has amassed an impressive CV with appearances on Top of the Pops, Blue Peter and The James Whale Show as well as tours with many shows and top artists. On drums, standing in , was Pete Riley who had just returned from touring the US and who includes in his credits a stint teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music and playing with Republica for 3 years. Despite his dep status, Pete’s drumming was perfect, never too much but never too little. All in all this was a very different gig for the venue and although not to everyone’s taste, it was an excellent evening from a lovely and talented lady backed by a top class band. Thank you Julia and thank you to the Tony Sandeman Band. I had a ball!
Bill Hurley sings up a storm at Pam's Bar Derrin Naundorf – New Crawdaddy Blues Club, Billericay, Essex – 27th January 2005 A sadly small audience at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club were treated to stunning evening of Aussie guitar picking as Derrin Naundorf held the audience spellbound with his virtuosity. With the resident band, the Heaters taking an evening off, the Jives (Jeff Chapman & Al E Bye) were the opening act with a fine set of good old r’n’b ranging from Chuck Berry to Mickey Jupp which served to reinforce what a good duo format this is. It works so well and has a definite individuality which is most appealing and entertaining.
Now endorsed by Yamaha, Derrin was playing an acoustic guitar with stereo pick-ups through the Club’s PA and boy did it sound good! Derrin commended John & Keith, the Club’s sound team who really did get it spot on. His fingers flew as he punctuated many numbers with his trademark percussive tapping of his guitar body and foot stomping and at times it appeared that he was bending his guitar as well as the notes he is playing, Says something for the guitars he plays that they stand up to this treatment!
Having recently received a copy of the Suffolk based Groove Doctors’ excellent new CD “Highlife”, I was eagerly looking forward to this gig. I had not seen them for a long time - what an omission! I had heard good reports of recent gigs and boy were they on superb form! What a band! They played for just over two hours non-stop, virtually all original material, with much amusing banter between songs and above all looked as if they were really enjoying themselves.
Rockin’ Armadillos – Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar, The Essex Arms, Brentwood – 14th January 2005 How good it is in amongst all the woe about venues closing to hear of a new venture, albeit at an established venue. This Friday saw the first Dirty River Promotions/Digital Blues joint venture Stormy Fridays @ Pam’s Bar gigs and what a first night it was. 85 odd people (some of them very odd!!) through the door for two storming sets from the multi Digital Blues Award winning Rockin’ Armadillos, their first gig of 2005.
Mr Tim Aves was his usual roaring, rampaging bundle of energy giving his all and delivering the material as only he can whether he be singing, harping or playing mean and oh so dirty slide guitar. And amidst all this testosterone, the wonderful Miss Jane English, a teacher of French who imbues every number with an astonishing combination of English reserve, Texas pzazz and, damn it, downright sexiness! The enthusiastic audience included the wonderful Bill Hurley of Inmates fame and what a treat when he was called up on stage by Tim to join the band for the first (of two) encores! Wow what a voice and stage presence this man has! Playing a great mixture of the numbers Armadillo audiences know and love (including one of my favourites “Bricks & Mortar”, an Aves/Barry composition) and new material some of which will find its way onto the band’s eagerly awaited forthcoming CD, the Armadillos confirmed, once again, why they are such a popular band whose reputation is deservedly spreading ever further and who are gigging further afield all the time. If they play near you then this is a band you should not miss, you will only kick yourself if you do! Stormy Fridays at Pam’s Bar, the place to be Friday evenings!
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They say that every cloud has a silver lining but I reckon that the cloud that represented the enforced cancellation of the Wildcards Crawdaddy gig this Thursday just passed had a positively platinum lining. After much frantic e-mailing and phoning by Paul Dean to try to book a replacement act of a similarly high standard, a caller out of the blue asked if he was still looking for a band for Thursday night? The mystery caller was none other than Big Joe Louis and so it was that this last Thursday the Club audience basked in the magic of Big Joe Louis & his Blues Kings making their debut appearance.
Opening his set dressed in an old style Boy Scout’s hat and a burnished gold/bronze coloured satin look dressing gown more usually seen around the shoulders of a boxer or a pole dancer between dances, JJ also treated us to his renowned Union Jack suit, all thanks to his wardrobe mistress, water wallah, roadie and general factotum, the long suffering Mrs JJ!
And so, the antepenultimate Crawdaddy gig of 2007 was, as I expected, an absolute cracker. Bad Influence area band I have had the pleasure of seeing a number of times and also of introducing at one of the excellent Boogaloo Blues Week-ends so it was a particular thrill to have them playing at the Crawdaddy on Thursday. And if I may say, sounding as good as I have heard! Val Cowell – vocals and rhythm guitar - has the most wonderful voice, so powerful, yet so modulated, you never feel she is forcing it and she is always in control. For me she deserves to be considered up there with the likes of Dana Gillespie and Connie Lush and if there were any justice she would be winning awards! Thursday saw her singing a wonderful variety of material, both originals and covers and it was a truly memorable evening. The boys in the band were superb with Richard Hayes on slide guitar absolutely mesmerising and playing all sorts of styles including a really 
James sat, almost out of view, behind a huge drum kit and played brilliantly, never missing a beat and providing great backing vocals. “Depping” on bass was none other than the renowned Chas Cronk, long time bass player with the Strawbs and you would not have known he was not a permanent member of the band. All in all a really wonderful evening and I for one hope Bad Influence return to the Club soon.
Split Whiskers, five musicians and a drummer, are a band who set out to entertain with a set list on Thursday that offered material as varied as songs from Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Muddy Waters. The band’s main singer, John Stanford, has one of the finest blues voices around which he combines with great delivery whilst guitarist Johnny Wright is as at home on acoustic as he is on electric and, as he showed on Thursday, has a fine singing voice as well as playing a mena bass guitar. However, he was obviously not playing at full speed as he did not break any strings!! This is a band where versatility seems to be a feature for, as well bass guitarist Brad Marriner also featured on vocals and played lead guitar for a beautifully moody slow number whilst keyboard wizard James Doherty, delighted with some superb playing as well as a couple of great cuts featuring him on accordion. I mentioned at the top that Split Whiskesr are entertaining and much of this hinges around the excellent byplay and badinage between the band members including resident wit, fine singer and harp player, Gilby J Fletcher. 
I am very conscious that I always seem to start these newsletters with a comment along the lines of ‘another great evening at the Club’! Problem is, how else do I describe the standard and quality of the gigs that take place each Thursday at the Crawdaddy. 
electric guitar and Daniel J Kyle, suffering from man flu, on acoustic guitar. The effect was glorious with Timmy playing some great solos and reinforcing what a talented player he is (catch him again on November 22nd with 
Formed in 1994, the Lonnigans are, today, the foremost purveyors of the unique musical style which shaped the childhood of many a baby boomer and influenced so much what we hear today. With regular front lady and tea-chest bass player Connie Lonnigan stuck in .jpg)
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With fellow American Larry Crockett on drums and the superb Danny Thompson on double bass, Eric treated the enthusiastic audience, many of whom had travelled some distance to catch this gig, to a set that saw him playing classics from the likes of Odetta to his fine and very thoughtful and thought provoking originals. Up tempo celebrations such as the glorious ‘Mandela Is Free’ which Eric dedicated to a schoolboy named Genuine whom he had met recently at a schools gig in Florida mixed effortlessly with the title track from ‘Diamond Days’, the wonderful ‘In My Father’s House’, an oft recorded song and one which is particularly close to Eric’s heart, with ‘Destiny Blues’, another excellent track from the most recent CD, each song linked to the next by a bit of history, a tale of inspiration, an expression of pleasure, always adding to the ambience and serving to produce a wonderfully rounded evening.
Back on the main stage a debut performance by Mess of Blues whose blues fiddle intrigued and then back to the acoustic stage for a return visit by the superb Nigel Bagge & Eddie Armer, a duo that is simply magical. Nigel’s guitar picking and smoking vocals combine so well with Eddie’s harmonica playing, he produces the most wonderful tone, particularly on chromatic. Some acoustic problems lead to Nigel borrowing Chris Pearson’s beautiful electric guitar and we were treated to a set that I described as “nectar to the ears”. .jpg)
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Despite panic all around when, just 10 minutes before he was due on stage, he had not arrived, Martin Harley took the acoustic stage fresh from a 3 hour marathon on the M25 from Woking! And for the next 40 minutes his stunning guitar playing and vocals were accompanied by the regular thump of chins hitting the floor. Guy Tortora had originally drawn my attention to Martin having played with him at the Spitz. 
The stage for this event was a huge six or seven storey structure with wings that stretched the whole width of the pitch area and was dominated by a massive video screen in the centre. About five minutes late, this stage burst into life with brilliant sequenced lighting displays and video projection creating the most wonderful effect as a backdrop to Mick, Keef, Charlie & Ronnie opening their show, “back where they started in Twickenham in Richmond”, in explosive fashion with Jumping Jack Flash and the stadium erupted! We were all there for a good time and we were going to have one!
And so, on a Friday night that felt as if I was in the tropics rather than Essex, it was off to the monthly Beat Roots gig at the Blue Boar in Maldon. Not only is the room in which these gigs are held Elizabethan, it is dominated by a Lion Witch & the Wardrobe style wardrobe which forms the back drop to the “stage” and there is also some superb real ale for sale, much of which is brewed on the premises. Add to this Dengie Delta Blues at their finest with resident band the Swamp Cats and a different guest each month and you have a near perfect way to spend a Friday evening. For July, they ramped things up to a new level with a fantastic set from the incomparable Ian Siegal.
The first night was a bit of an Essex invasion as next up were the Heaters, the Southend based band who run the New Crawdaddy Blues Club in Billericay where they also play each week. To say I am, therefore, familiar with them is something of an understatement! I had seen them just the night before! But from the word go, this was a different band to the one I know. The Heaters comprises five musicians who have played for many years and have loads of experience and not a little talent. With Paul (Dean) on keyboards, Paul (Milligan) on vocals and guitar, Paul (Reynolds) on drums, Chris (Rose) on guitar, harp and vocals and Chris (Patching) on bass their repertoire contains a wide variety of covers encompassing the likes of Robert Johnson, Gary Moore, Peter Green, John Mayall, T-Bone Walker & Eric Bibb (all of whom were represented tonight) to name a few. 
Toby is such a wonderful live performer, he links his songs with great anecdotes or explanations, effortlessly mixing his own original material with great covers, blending humour with pathos, dazzling guitar picking with great vocals and tonight was no exception.
On what was the hottest day of 2006 (so far) it was great to sit in the air-conditioned comfort of the New Crawdaddy and enjoy a band who, in the relatively short time they have been together have taken many a festival by storm, have played throughout the UK and ventured into Europe, have recently recorded a session for Paul Jones Radio 2 show and produced an excellent CD. Storm Warning, just get better every time I see them and tonight was no exception. With a lovely varied set list which included original material as well as numbers written by Peter Green, JB Lenoir, Robben Ford, there was something for just about everyone.
Essex based Bad Town Blues’ new CD, “Oblivion Road” was launched at the Crawdaddy which the readers and listeners of Digital Blues on PhoenixFM, the area’s local radio station, recently voted their favourite venue. 
Girl”, followed by the first of several excellent instrumentals, Adam’s wonderfully evocative and sometimes psychedelic “Supernatural Ball” featuring some lovely harp, more fine guitar and some real 60s style Hammond. 
effect and lead straight into “It Ain’t Easy to Please Me”, an Adam composition which opens with a glorious driving harp riff and has a great shuffling beat.
Isn’t life wonderful? You go to lots of gigs, some of which are great, some not so and then, seemingly out of the blue, a band creeps up and blows your socks off! Just so Nigel & his band of merry men on a bitter February Thursday in Essex. 
Those attending the Boogaloo Promotions Premier Blues Weekend at Littlecote House in late October were treated to a rather special extra on the Sunday as the SPIKEdrivers presented this very well received workshop. Despite it being a lovely day outside and the fact that it was lunchtime, a good-sized audience gathered for what described as being "not just for musicians but for all who have an interest in blues and its origins".
Jerimiah takes the stage with the words “Another crash landing from Jerimiah Marques” and launches into a great version of “Born Lover” followed by “This Is Hip”, the title track of the band’s most recent CD, and a wonderful moody take on “Smokestack Lightning”. Each number serves to reinforce what a cracking outfit this is and how talented and skilful the individual members are. 
It was very satisfying that, on the strength of this gig, the guys were able to bag a slot at short notice at the New Crawdaddy. Despite being an unknown quantity for the vast majority of the audience, a fair sized crowd was present and was treated to an evening that offered a great mix of modern & older style Blues including top class covers and original material from this exciting band whose line-up boasts a wealth of experience and talent.
a live recording made at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, Colin’s hometown. The track was “Hoodoo Voodoo”, a funky guitarfest to end all funky guitarfests which also gave us the first solos from Colin’s superb UK rhythm section comprising Chris Page on drums and the on stage menacing Jeff Walker whose bass playing is awesome and is accompanied by grimaces which would put the fear of God up a bunch of haka performing Maoris!
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