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.