Marsden Blues Festival

Now I love the blues. Ever since hearing Taj Mahal and Fleetwood Mac singles in the sixties, progressing on to Canned Heat. Recently, inspired by Richard Johnston, I've explored the pre-war blues and wonder why I didn't before.
But sometimes I get bored by all the blues bands around at present. Most have a good guitarist, who has learnt to play licks like the famous guitarists from Clapton on. There is a bassist who is steady and a competent drummer. Sometimes there is another guitar, maybe even a harp player to create some different sounds. They've obviously listened to all the same music - Bluesbreakers, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Hendrix, Ten Years After ... then maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn ... but nothing much else. The result is a regurgitation of forty year old standards with slight variations in the guitar licks combined with attempts to exactly reproduce some of the more famous solos. Well rehearsed, but often lacking passion. It is often a recipe for a disappointing musical experience IMHO.

I went to see some of the free events at Marsden Jazz Festival. We saw 2 bands on Friday night & 2 on Saturday night. I know the blues helped create jazz, but it does seem to be strange. I guess blues bands will play for a lot less than a jazz band. Maybe I should pay to get into the main events! However, in general, I like blues better than jazz.

The 3 blues bands we saw were all very good, but the above criticism applied to them all. That's not quite fair, cos there we did get some soul, passion and feeling in the music we heard. Which is what I, for one, look for in music more than anything else.

Joshua Blue in particular displayed great feeling, tinged with more than a little tongue in cheek theatricality. Cliff Campbell (aka Joshua Blue) is a great showman and surely that isn't a bad thing? Although he is more of a frontman and singer than a guitarist, or perhaps because of that, for me his guitar solos knocked spots off anything else we've heard this weekend. He really knows how to phrase his guitar licks so it sounds as if he is saying something meaningful. He makes his guitar talk and what he is saying is pure emotion. His lead guitarist is technically much better and played some lovely stuff, but didn't get near the passion that Cliff wrung out of the music. Local legend Mark Layton-Bennett contributed great percussion as usual and looked to be enjoying himself. The bass and lead player are fairly new to the band & aren't listed on their web site - which could do with some work! They both turned in great performances as well. They had the packed audience baying for more and it wasn't till well after midnight that we got out.

Previously I'd caught a bit of Backwater Blues. Again, not quite fair to lump them into the general criticism of the modern genre as the lead guitarist & singer played some quite original solos, deeply exploring bent notes and overtones. His singing was powerful and up to the job. I would go and see them again, but found myself thinking "how many times have I heard this" before very long.

As I walked into the Carriage House to hear Tat, I was disappointed to hear, for the third time in less than 24 hours, the strains of "Black Magic Woman". Great song, but so overplayed. Again the band was very competent, but not very original. The best thing about them was that they played a couple of notches under the pain threshold in volume terms, which was very refreshing. I was getting tired, maybe I would have found more in them if I had more energy.

Caught a bit of the Stevie Williams trio in the Riverhead - a soul band on bar stools! I like that too. Stevie on bass and vocals, and a couple of guys on electro-acoustic guitar and drums - Jon Kenzie & Eryl Roberts are listed on Stevie's MySpace page. The guitarist seemed to take the lead vocal slot. They sounded great, particularly on Stevie Wonder and James Brown covers. Ended up out on the street listening to them as best we could, since it was so crowded inside. Another good night in Marsden!

5 days of music around Huddersfield

Saturday 19th September
Flaming Biscuits at Marsden Socialist Club

Guitar anthem band playing quite a lot of more modern rock numbers (like Valerie). Good. Got the audience dancing and singing along.

Sunday 20th September
Graham Robinson at The Puzzle

After some foolery from Ron Evans and Andy Macdonald (aka Dead Grateful!), the blues & ragtime specialist came up with a great set. Check him out at his website. Due to double booking, he only got one set, making way for a band we didn't stop to see due to the lateness of the hour & Monday on the way.

Monday 21st September
Adrian Byron Burns at The Head of Steam

Yes, it's that man again. Only the best living guitarist/vocalist I've ever heard live. Check him out on his MySpace page. He put a lot into Hendrixology (his Henrix medley), including some jazz standards. The rest of the set was good, but I got the impression he wasn't about to bust a gut for just 20 people in the HoS!

Tuesday 22nd September
Richard S Johnston, Maia and Hey Zeus! at The Media Centre

Rich did a cracking short opening set that had everyone excited. Maybe he is starting to get the recognition he deserves? Check him out at his MySpace page, if you haven't heard him yet. Old school blues like it should be - & more.
Maia were great. Original songs with crafted and slightly unusual lyrics, rhythms, melodies and harmonies. Every aspect of their music is original, but yet approachable and pleasant on the ear. Really good to hear them again. They also have a MySpace page.

I felt a bit sorry for 'The Zeus!'. They were good, with original songs with guitars & vocals - but sounded very ordinary after Maia.

Wednesday 23rd September
Music night - at The Sportsman

Dire news - The Shoulder of Mutton (Lockwood) is closed and now up for sale! Luckily the Wednesday Music Night has survived and transfered its affections to The Sportsman in Huddersfield town centre. Do come down to listen, sing or play.

Harry Rowland and Sam Dyson at The Red Lion

Went along to the Red Lion having been told they were good. They are very good. Very tight bass, guitar, singing & harmonies. Good taste in music, perhaps could have done with more blues for my taste! Harry has quite a good range of expression in his voice and did some bluesier phrases well. I'd like to hear them try some John Martyn / Danny Thompson covers.
I noted down most of the songs we heard:

Ain't no sunshine
Wait in Vain
From Claire to here
Come together
New England
Black Magic Woman
3 Worlds?*
Cinnamon Girl
Oh Well
Do it again
Wild wild wood?*
Local Boy (in the photograph)
Message in a Bottle
Sailing to Philadelphia
Jumpin Jack Flash
Mrs Robinson
Old Love?*
Garden of Grace?*
Lookin out for love
Runaway (The Calling)
Wish you were here
You can't always get what you want
Layla
Precious Time
I think it's gonna rain?
More than words?

? - not sure of title
* - their own composition?

Seasick Steve at The O2 Academy, Leeds; Tuesday 27th January 2009

Steve isn't the greatest guitarist or even the greatest singer, but he has a great feel for the old time blues and plays straight from the heart. He has soul, in the wider sense of the word. He connects with the audience and shows genuine appreciation that we're listening to him. He also writes good original songs, but in the country blues tradition, kept simple.
He played with a Swedish drummer, Dan, who gave wonderfully sensitive, yet enthusiastic, support on the kit and a young guy (Steve's son?) on percussion and occasionally second guitar. The washboard sounded particularly effective on some of Steve's numbers.

Steve said Dan was the only drummer he's been able to play with - I can well believe it; he has to be really good to follow Steve's varying tempo. Good to see them grooving together & communicating through the music.
A full house really enjoyed the evening. Good on ya Seasick Steve, strangely a modern hero.

The Fabulous Laggards at Plug n Play, Reading, 25th October 2008

This was a private party - Ian Macdonald's birthday bash. A great night out, including live music from The Richard Johnston Blues Experience (see elsewhere in this blog) and The Fabulous Laggards.

TFL are usually a 4 piece, but were augmented by an extra guitarist for the night. They impressed with their high energy and tight rock sound. I liked the range of their covers, from older classics like 'River Deep, Mountain High' to more modern rock/indie.
Plug n Play is a practice space, cum recording studio, cum club in Reading. Good place for a party, even if the beer selection was limited. I think they had a decent bitter in bottles tho. My memory is somewhat hazy on some points at this distance in time, but I wanted to give a mention to this talented band.

Adrian Ingram's Jazz Dogs at The Sair - Sunday 18th January 2009

Jazz with 4 guitars and an acoustic bass in the wonderfully unique Sair. Definitely a good afternoon. The range of Linfit beers is reduced to Gold Medal and Linfit bitter, but what beers! Wonderfully bitter and juicy. The jazz was maybe more mellow - Autumn Leaves, Is you is, deed I do, Ain't Misbehavin' ... Adrian, Ian & another guitarist I don't know trading lead runs with Pete Wraith providing steady rhythm and some crooning.
Good stuff. I definitely drank too much Gold Medal. I would have had more but it ran out before then end!

Richard Johnston & Friends at Coffeevolution 16th January 2009

Well, I must blog this! The talented slide guitarist and blues exponent plays an all too rare gig in Huddersfield. And at a cool coffee bar which also sells alcohol - see Coffeevolution on wikimapia! Good combination. See Rich's MySpace. Not to be confused with the American Richard Johnston, also a slide blues player, who also has a MySpace page (& some videos up on YouTube).

A wide range of blues was played with gusto & gutso ... all styles from Robert Johnson to C W Stoneking ... from Elmore James to Rory Galagher. I might add a song list later ...

A good time was had by all. Well I enjoyed it.

I feel I should admit that I had some small part in it, playing guitar and singing on some numbers, lest I end up being hounded by the press for dishonest blogging. (No this won't happen, since no one reads this anyway!).

Adrian Byron Burns at The Puzzle Hall - 9 January 2009

How come I'd never heard of Adrian Byron Burns until last year when he came to Huddersfield's Bar 1:22 to play a gig? He is a great musician, playing scorching guitar grooves combined with a warm and unique voice. Not signed to a major label, he puts out his music himself, so publicity is limited to his gigs I suppose.

Check out Adrian's web site & MySpace page at www.myspace.com/adrianbyronburns

He also defies categorisation - someone once said of him "too blues to be jazz, too rock to be blues, too folk to be rock, too jazz to be folk, too good to be ignored.........", with which I heartily concur, although perhaps jazz predominates.

He opened his set with a Neil Young cover of all things - 'When you dance'. The first of three I think on the night. Apparently he once played support on a Neil Young tour many years ago and seems to have a fondness for his songs. So have I, but IMHO they aren't best suited to his bluesy, jazzy, soulful style.

He followed it with a favourite of mine - "Blind Willie McTell", by Bob Dylan. This was a wonderful interpretation and homage to both Willie & Bob.

Taking out his sonorous baritone guitar, he laid out a great "Born Under a Bad Sign", perhaps owing more to the Albert King's Stax original than to the more famous Cream interpretation. Also played with this instrument was a dazzling "Every Breath You Take", somehow taking in some quotes from "Yesterday" along the way.

Back on the smaller acoustic he did his impressive medley "Hendrixology", taking in many of Jimi's greatest songs and lead phrases.

I really loved "Key to the Highway", with which he closed the first set, which was warmly appreciated by the audience. None of his own songs in that half, but I think there were three in the second set, however I only recognised the catchy "Massa John".

Other highlights were an impassioned cover of Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken" and his Beatles medley, titled "Beatlesology" - of course. A great version of "Ain't no sunshine".

More Neil Young covers - "Only Love (Can Break Your Heart)" (with bits of "Heart of Gold" woven in) and later "Down by the River". The encore was George Harrison's "While my guitar gently weeps", although it was so jazzed up, I had to ask him afterwards what it was! Not only a great musician, he is a warm and friendly guy. But a crazy jazz player who will never make the big time! Probably all for the best.

The Puzzle Hall (Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2QG) is a great pub which has just re-opened under new management. Luckily they're continuing the tradition of good live music there - check out the MySpace page - www.myspace.com/thepuzzlehalllive

Motel California - Shepley Cricket Club - 30 December 2008

Motel California is, of course, an Eagles tribute band. Newly formed and not at all bad.
An enjoyable set. The vocal harmonies are a challenge, but considering this was their first gig, were pretty good. As usual with a rock band with loud drummer and guitars turned up to be heard above that, the vocals didn't always come across strongly enough.
On lead guitar is Simon Le Geyt, who plays with no less than 5 local bands - see his site.
Shepley Cricket Club always seem to get good bands for their end of month gigs. They are usually on the last Friday of the month, but changed just for December. The room is small and usually packed and they sell Elland brewery's Bargee, so a good atmosphere is almost guaranteed.