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!

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