Please email all reviews to - gary@swanseablues.co.uk
(Tuesday 4th September, 2007)
A Texas whirlwind blew in to the Tawe Delta Blues Club last night, in the form of Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys, playing a high-spirited show after the club's August break.Willie's wild stage get-up, complete with US Cavalry hat and billowing, scarlet neckerchief, gives him the look of an extra from a John Wayne film, who completes his eccentric wardrobe with oddments of battlefield trophies from fallen combatants.
And it's not just the togs.
Willie has an arresting mix of musical styles too.
He is a bluesman who worships at a broad church, so the spirit of Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Bob Wills and Duane Eddy put in an appearance at this starry tent-show-seance, lead by some wily work on his Fender Strat.Hailing from Arlington, Texas and now based in California, Willie's guitar-playing has the kind of swing and bounce that seems to grow wild in those sunshine states and that thrives contentedly despite the long-running fashion for million-notes-a-minute playing.
His voice echoes like a mountain valley and the Poorboys lay down a raucous foundation, with some lovely harmonica playing from Giles King.
Willie's coaxing tones were heard to full effect when he wandered among the audience while singing and playing on a couple of numbers, but he can belt with the best of them, on songs like his own 'Don't Bite The Hand'.
Tuesday's show was a reunion of old friends, with Llanelli-based performer Terry Clarke stepping up to join the band on a couple of numbers.
Terry plugged in a glam 12-string electric Gretch and added some thundering twang and some mighty crooning and wailing on the Elvis number That's All Right Mama, with which the band marks the 30th anniversary of Presley's death.
Along with Willie, Terry also revisited the Cash classic, I still Miss Someone, which he rearranged and cut in Austin ten years ago on his own Texas lament, the album Lucky.
The show came to a close with an encore of Muddy's Can't Be Satisfied, which Willie attacked with vigour on a custom-made National Resophonic, which flashed like a 50's jukebox under the stage lights.
www.myspace.com/lightninwillie
Terry Clarke's New Album - Night Drive To Birmingham (Out Now)
Kathryn Lay
Features Writer
South Wales Evening Post
01792 514 634
Kate.lay@swwp.co.uk
(Tuesday 26 June, 2007)
Songs from the Big Pink
Big George Brock muscled on stage in a marshmallow-pink three-piece suit, with a sparkling gold cape flung across his shoulders, last night at the Tawe Delta Blues Club.His manager and band looked on with the air of the cornermen and trainers that hover on the edge of the ring at a high-stakes title fight.
The 75-year-old bluesman knows those ropes, having spent some of his youth fighting hardened bruisers at medicine shows, at one point taking on a bear and knocking down Sonny Liston.
He is still a mountain of a man, who clearly enjoys the boxing-style showmanship and his act packed a knock-out punch.
The show started out in the dressing room with a rumbling baritone and a honking harmonica announcing the imminent arrival of Big George to the stage.And a night of thundering classics followed from an authentic old-time blueser from Mississippi, who channels the spirit of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.
George has played with both of them in his time and his performance last night was a gift from a fast-passing age and from the genuine article.
His compadre Bill Abel set down the kind of wily Southern guitar playing that is locked onto the tightly-coiled sound of those originators. With an arcane code of its own, it was untouched by some of the excesses of later incarnations of blues playing.
But a few numbers from Bill on his home-made cigar-box guitars and a taste of some of his slide playing that twisted and switched with the agility of a catfish shoal, left the crowd in no doubt that here was a player who could let fly in any direction just about any time he wanted.
With Chris Lomas on bass and Micky Barker on drums this was a band of music enthusiasts and scholars who punched out a fervent and jubilant love song to the blues that they revere.
Kathryn Lay
Features Writer
South Wales Evening Post
01792 514 634
Kate.lay@swwp.co.uk
(19th December 2006)
Tawe Delta Blues Club, Swansea at noon on Christmas Day the national grid experiences a massive power surge as ovens all over Britain are fired up to cook the festive bird.
I'd bet that between 9pm and 10.30pm last night a similar phenomenon was experienced.
Val Cowell, who fronts Bad Influence, throws out enough vocal wattage to power a small town - she must be plugged into an independent power supply.
The band, playing the Tawe Delta Blues Club Christmas party, worked through a flawless set of blues and rock, including Rory Gallagher's Messin' With the Kid, Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down, The Doobie Brothers' Long Train Running and Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz.
Val's is a tidal wave of a voice, with built-in bump and grind, that can take on the mantle of our greatest singers.
The band dropped the tempo for a rendition of I Would Rather Go Blind, that knocks all other versions into the bargain rack.
It says something for a guitar player when he can stand beside a pretty woman with that kind of vocal punch and still capture 60 per cent of your attention.
Richard Hayes's electric slide solo on I Would Rather Go Blind wept and swooned like a pedal steel and his playing throughout the set was a joy.
Even on rigid straight-down-the- tracks blues grooves he found space to play sweet internal melodies - sometimes abstract flickerings, rock'n'roll struts, jazz or country washes.
Surprise guest Eddie Martin gave an expert and earthy performance of pre-war blues - from Sonny Terry to Son House.
Kathryn Lay
It's a terrible modern disease to blame your parents for all of your woes in adulthood.
And I don't succumb to that level of self-pity. But I do have to take issue with the folks for their utterly terrible timing.
I was born in 1972. I bought my first album when I was seven.
It was crammed full of Hank Williams, Cash, Waylon, Ray Charles and Marty Robbins.
But aside from that early sign of discerning musical taste my young palate wasn't awakened to the best of 1970s music until it was long gone. I never saw Stevie Marriott live and Jimi Hendrix is an historical figure to me.
Thankfully though, in the barren musical landscape that is 2006, there is the occasional chance to see some awesome musicians in action. The Racing Cars played to a packed Tawe Delta Blues Club on Tuesday night, illustrating why they are one of the cornerstones of South Wales rock.
Taking the stage first as Blind Lemsip and The Sicknotes, they stoked up a short, barnstorming blues set including Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me - with chunky electric slide and scorching vocals.
Then they shifted up a gear for full set of Racing Cars numbers.
Frontman Morty fools around like an ADHD toddler who has downed a six pack of Red Bull, but his buffoonery can't obscure the fact that he has the parched, attacking vocal talents of the aforementioned Marriott, with a range that seems infinite.
Guitarist Graham Williams also seems limitless in his skills.
With mesmerising technique he finds intricate internal melodies in every song.
What with that great white R'n'B voice, Nils Lofgren-come-Dave Gilmour on guitar and a driving force that the E-Street Band would tip their hats to, the Racing Cars are impossible to pin down. stylistically.
But as Louis Armstrong said, there are two kinds of music, the good and bad.
The Racing Cars are a deluxe model.
Kathryn Lay
Photos Courtesy of Simon Pritchard (2006)
At the end of a fantastic night of entertainment Louise summed up Ian Parker perfectly ... "he gets better and better and better and better".
Ian, on his annual visit to the club, filled the Tawe Delta Blues club again with regulars and many new faces (including Rob Paskell and the guys from Cardigan who travelled over 100 miles to see the band - well done guys).
The band featured Ian Parker (Guitar and Vocals), Morg Morgan (Keyboards), Steve Amadeo (Bass) and Wayne Proctor (Drums). It was very hot and sticky but they were on top form as they played songs from the new albums Blues Caravan Pilgrimage (featuring Ian Parker, Aynsley Lister and Erja Lyytinen) and their own Whilst the Wind and Inside albums.
Everyone of the songs, played during the 2 hour set, were greeted with cheers, squeals, screams and very loud clapping. The dance floor seemed to be full all night.
Favourites such as Misfits and Fools, Funny How and Awake at Night (featuring the best guitar solo of the night) were mixed with new songs from the Blues Caravan album including the excellent Heal Me Love. Ian's encores were an acoustic version of U2's With or Without You followed by the excellent The Green Manalishi (with the two pronged crown).
The band were spot on and , in my opinion, this was the best night this year at the club.
Photo Courtesy of Simon Pritchard (2006)
EVERY man, woman or child who wants to make music should have been at the Tawe Delta Blues Club on Tuesday (13 June) to witness the awe-inspiring masterclass that is Steve Gibbons.
Looking part medicine man, part debonair, supper-club crooner, part Jamesons-for-breakfast rocker, Gibbons channels the essence of riveting performance that gave Elvis his electricity, Chuck Berry his knowing mastery and Dinah Washington her verve.
The show was more an evangelical tent-show than a gig. And with the way in which he and the band summoned up the spirits of the greats, it might have been a seance.
Classics from Ray Charles (Let's Go and Get Stoned), Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and early Elvis (Trying to Get to You), were intertwined with Gibbons's own pulsing material, which genuflects to those visionary architects of rock'n'roll.
He is a willing slave to that rock'n'roll rhythm (he named his daughter Nadine, for crying out loud).
But Gibbons is not a retro act, reliving past glories or grieving for a long-gone golden age.
He is a scholar of great music and he carries the weight of knowledge that gives him the kind of unassailable authority to slip into a Johnny Mercer song as deftly as he kicks into Dylan's Rainy Day Women No 12 and 35.
Whether draping his arms wearily on his guitar, or enacting scenes with face and hands, he links songs with a malevolent-voiced rap that would have Allen Ginsberg, Lou Reed and Bob Dylan howling and back-slapping.
The band reads his every twitch and follows him like a leopard shadowing a springbok.
To a man they play to the hilt, with discipline, precision and flair.
And much of the time they perform with grins stretched across their faces.
We were all in the presence of greatness.
A small crowd of around 50 regulars welcomed the Matt Schofield Trio on their third visit to the Tawe Delta. A mixture of bad weather, footie on the Tele, and a Pink Floyd tribute band playing down the road all, I'm sure, had an effect on the numbers. After all there aren't that many of us "old b**tards" left. Never mind, the ones who turned out were once again treated to a wonderful evening of Blues. Matt was joined as usual by Evan Jenkins (he must be welsh!) on drums, and Jonny Henderson on Keyboard, and showcased their latest studio album " Siftin thru Ashes". The two sets featured covers of classic songs of Howlin' Wolf, Albert Collins and Matt's hero, Freddie King as well as original material. Matt's guitar playing is an absolute joy. If you haven't seen the band live, please do.
I came to the Tawe Delta Club for the first time on Tuesday night having heard good things about the venue.
I was not disappointed .I had a thoroughly enjoyable night in a relaxed friendly atmosphere watching I have to say a great band. The band in question Jack the Biscuit consisted of some very accomplished musicians and a fabulous female singer. Their young keyboard player was outstanding playing with such passion and knowledge of his instrument that it was hard to believe how young he was ( only 20 I was told ) . Their usual guitarist had broken his thumb and was unable to play but were lucky enough to have a great guitarist by the name of Pete Mattheson who rose to the performance brilliantly. I cant say there was a weak member of the band and with a variety of vocals by 3 other members it led to a great nights entertainment. Their choice of numbers ranged from Etta James to BB King to Muddy Waters with some of the old classics including Stormy Monday sung with such feeling by their Female singer that it was one of the highlights of the night. Would recommend the club and certainly the band I saw to anyone. A great night had by all. Many Thanks
The previous couple of weeks had seen heavy guitar rocking blues featured at The Tawe but this night they were in for a treat of another kind. This night Kyla and band played a seductive, soulful and beguiling jazz fusion blues with the rarity factor of the flute played beautifully by Kyla herself and of course the mighty fine sax from band member Anthony Curtis Marshal. How she has matured this last year is amazing…she has moved along and has developed a stage presence that the majority of audiences warm to and admire for someone of such tender years. The voice, too, is graceful and elegant on the songs that demand such treatment but she can also turn it on, when required…she can now hold her own now with other classic British Blues divas. Another band to watch out for in the future for sure.
Got to the club in plenty of time and bumped into Chris Lomas at the bar "What the heck are you doing here?” I enquired. "Playing with Tommy and Mojo" was his terse reply and laughingly said "Don't you know I'm resident down here these days?"... "Can't be" said I - "Why you are the house band at the Blues Dragon Cardiff". Seems Chris has been once again selected to back another travelling blues hero such is the reward for being good at what you do - in Chris's book that's being a cracking good bass player. Tommy Allen does the honours with lead guitar to Chris's Bass lines and drumming is Mojo Buford's manager this trip Doug McQuinn. Collectively they gave the Tawe delta crowd a night to remember. Tommy, Chris and Doug opened up the night with a selection of fine rocking blues. Thrown together for this tour they played as though they had been together for eons. Dam fine musicians each and every one. Then on came the harp man himself Mojo. Now in his late 70's he takes a chair centre stage and nods his head to signal's he's ready to go and a couple of finger beats they went straight into it! So began an enjoyable night of Blues for the Tawe crowd. Mojo's playing may not be what it was in former years - so too his voice but nobody minded a thing about that. They came and filled the club to see a Blues legend from the stable of the great Muddy Water's band. Yes Mojo may have sung one or two songs twice over but when I'm that age - will I remember the running order or even notice any duplication or even worry about it? Just being witness to one of the old brigade of such a pedigree is what made people turn out that night. Tommy Allen gave the air guitar busters everything they wanted and more. Chris and Doug thumped and ground their way adding to the great overall sound. The dancers got up in the second half and at the end many queued up to get their CDs signed by the man himself Mojo Buford. Success all round!
For those who were there on Tuesday night to see Mr. Jones & Mr. Kelly perform I'm sure you will all agree it was one of the best gigs the club has experienced in its' 4 year run .For those who were not, you missed a treat. The musicianship, the songs and the stories were out of this world .They took turns to play solo and collaborated with such harmony, it was a joy to behold. I for one was a bit starstruck having listened to Paul Jones blues show for years and to see him and listen to him in the flesh was a delight.
The set list comprised old blues standards like Crossroads & Dust My Broom to original songs by Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, which more often than not came with a fascinating story or anecdote. They both sang and performed with their chosen instruments of harp (Paul Jones) and acoustic guitar (Dave Kelly) so wonderfully they created an amazing atmosphere which complimented the candlelit setting. Particular highlights for me were the slide guitar playing by Dave Kelly, it brought all those 20's and 30's blues artists back to life. Paul Jones sang a number of his own compositions including the unforgettable ''Noah Lewis Blues". His voice and harp playing were top notch and he can still belt them out.
All in all a fantastic evening by 2 of the most entertaining and talented british blues artists around today. I hope they come back soon .
That old expression '' third time lucky'' definetely came true on Tuesday night at the blues club ,The Vibrakings, who had to cancel 2 previous bookings due to unforseen circumstances,were in town and boy did they rock the house .
The music ,a selection of mostly up tempo,rhythmic blues with the odd slow one thrown in just to let lead guitarists Duncan Clarke and Ritchie Miller really let fly with their artisty and flare.The lead singer ,Billy Smith in his sharp red suit sang every song with great gusto and on times his voice soared over the 4 guys playing behind him.I was in the middle of the crowd and the clarity of his singing was top notch. The first set was a mixture of lesser known blues songs and the second contained some more well known songs ,such as 'knock on wood' and ''''woollie bully''A particular favourite of mine was the Jonny Lang cover ''rack 'em up'' from the album ''Lie to me''.I had better not forget to mention the tremendous rhythm section of Ritchie Miller on bassand vocals ,sporting a fine snakeskin suit and stickman Sonny boy Wiglake.
The Vibrakings were truly complete band in sound,musicianship and indeed showmanship.If they come again ,I recommend anyone to go along and see one of the most entertaining and enjoyable bands I have seen in a while,if only to see Mr. Clarke walking up and down the tables playing a lead solo ,he is my air guitar hero from now on.
The Swamp Things (Tuesday 29th April)
The Swamp things were excellent ,they played 2 sets ,the first a selection of country blues on steel slide guitar .The songs varied in tempo and kept the toes a tapping. The whole band contributed to the great sound of the deep south .The harmonica ,double bass and single side drum really played their part in every song and all four were very accomplished musicians .There were many sound effects ,percussion instuments even one song where the drummer played a washboard .All adding to the atmosphere.Incidentally the drummer wore sandals and looked like Ben Elton ( but thats just me ).The second set was an electric guitar affair with a varied selection of tracks from Johnny Cash' tremendous Fulsom Prison Blues to Ry Cooder's version of Crossroads,all topped of with an interesting but crowd pleasing encore of Fleetwood Mac's Shake your money maker and to finish the harmonica player sang for the first time ,Stray Cats ...Rock this town.
The band were very well recieved and given a rousing ovation .A lot of chat later with various people was on a similar theme ,they all agreed it was a change from the usual guitar hero stuff thats about .Although the band played a mix of styles all be it of southern American influence they didnt play formular blues but added their own interests ,influence and provided us punters with a memorable evening of whupping an a hollerin'
I personally thought they were brill !
Pete