GIGS IN JULY 2006

LANHYDROCK HOUSE, LOSTWITHIEL (15TH JULY)




"ROCK MEETS THE BLUES IN THE PARK" -
THE BUCKET BOYS, EVEN NINE, THE ERROL LINTON BLUES VIBE, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA & DR.JOHN

(Reviewed by Patrick Mcdonagh)

Lanhydrock Blues

When I first heard that such a legend as Dr John was playing right here in Cornwall, I couldn`t believe my luck, and frankly expected a sell out. No such luck for Lanhydrock, apparently ticket sales were well down on last year`s sell out for a Queen tribute band. Hang your heads in shame Cornwall gig goers. Another incongrous element to this whole gig was the presence of many families with young children enjoying themselves with abandon. I dont object in any way to that, but it`s just not what I would expect to see at a Dr John gig. I was looking forward to all the lived in hang dog faces, gently swaying in time to the music, as a distincly middle eastern perfume wafted from jazz cigarettes through the audience. No such luck, all the hippies I saw there seemed to have done very well for themselves in the interim between the 70`s and now. It was an audience of 4x4 drivers, some of whom seemed to stare very disapprovingly at the one brave soul who did spark one up.

The day kicked off with the Bucket boys very much on form. I liked this band on a bigger stage than they normally take to and the double bass player was a fantastic addition to their sound. They cracked through some old favourites from their set, and I was particularly pleased when Richard Worthy paid tribute to Al Hodge before a rip roaring version of `guitar man`I suspect a lot of tributes were paid to the man at many gigs that weekend, and rightly so. The Bucket Boys are a very talented bunch who have an eclectic mix of country swing/blues that brings out the best in Steve Turner and Tim Renwick on guitar and they were the ideal start to the day.

Next up were a young Cornish band Even Nine. The lead singer stated that "we are the rock element of the blues meets rock at Lanydrock today" and I thought hang on to your ego son, you`re on the same bill as The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Dr John both of whom have achieved a considerable amount of fame. But then I reasoned that to stand out in front of a Marshall stack you need something of an ego to start with. This band were interesting in the sense that they are very much used to performing, have perfected their sound and style to a point, but at the same time are very much in the formative stages of a career. They belted out their set with energy, and I do like to see a band enjoy themselves on a stage. It will be interesting to see what happens to this band, but they can definitely be satisfied that they are carrying the rock torch forward.

Then we were treated to a band from from London, The Errol Linton Blues Vibe who struck up their set with a Chicago Blues sound so authentic that I honestly thought they were from America, and believe me in the world of musicians that is a huge compliment. For all it`s percieved faults in this world, no one can deny the contribution to music and the arts America has made, and this band were living proof of that. They worked so hard at their set, that they had the audience onside within two numbers, and they occassionally lapsed into a kind of complimentary half time reggae theme that worked beautifully. I cannot think of one bad thing to say about this band. if you like your blues, and you`re in London anytime make sure you catch this bunch, and especially watch out for their piano player who tops off their sound with a barrelhouse roll that sometimes almost made me feel faint.

The Blind Boys of Alabama came to Cornwall 2yrs ago, but what the heck it`s good to have them back. They are definitely a gospel outfit but that`s no hinderance to any audience who is lucky enough to hear something we dont get down here very often. A real American band from the Southern States, who have won four Grammy awards for there work thus far. Their version of `Slow Train Coming` was particularly warm and rich in it`s sound and sentiment. And they really do believe. They preceded it with `Lord knows it`s good enough for me` from their latest CD which I have to say was plugged more times by the Blind Boys than any CD at any gig ever. Keep trying to fleece the taxman boys. And then............

Dr John is something you don`t see often either, a true bona fide legend from New Orleans, the third ward to be precise, and he started off in that low key kind of New Orleans way. `I want some Voodoo`, and `I only want to know about Love` set the scene perfectly as the sun went down over the horizon, softly highlighting the skull on the piano. And then it was simply sitting back and enjoying the musical ride. His backing band were as good as you would expect him to have, i.e. top drawer and I have to say that the drummer and the bass player were, in musical parlence, tighter than a monkey`s nuts. As they were all from New Orleans also we were treated to a sound undiluted, pure, and straight from the horses mouth. If you dont know Dr John; you should. If you know Dr John, you know what I mean. He didn`t short change the crowd on time either, doing a respectable 80-90 minutes, and after all he isn`t as young as he was. Time however has failed to diminish his talent in any way, and I can only hope that some of the young of today will discover and appreciate this remarkable, complex artist, whose place in the annals of musical fame is already assured.

PRINCESS PAVILION, FALMOUTH (26TH JULY)

UFO

(Txt review by Jake Cornish Riviera)

Unbelievably...

Fucking...

`Orrible!

THE QUEENSHEAD, ST.AUSTELL (22ND JULY)

RUDI`S MESSAGE

(Reviewed by Jocky Slingback)

Well there I be on a Saturday night wandering round Snozzle looking for a good time, (and that can take some wandering, I can tell e!), when I stumbles across the loud music end of whats left of the town and so I continues my wanderings up the steps into that fine old coaching inn The Queenshead, to find out wozzon. One pint of that new fangled Oirish cider and I see what all the fuss is about - it`s them ska boys, Rudi`s Message giving it some welly.
I loves a bit of ska meself; it reminds me of me youth club days with the Dazzling Darren Disco and rave ups we used to have down on the beach at Gorran where the music sent our young pulses racing as we frollocked in the breakers with the young ladies of the village. So hearing that skanking beat again, brought it all back to me and I must admit, there were the odd tear that might`ve fell in me pint, (Hey there! I spiked me own pint!), but it were tears of joy as the band put on such a great performance.
Rudi`s Message is a top ska band, but not only are they great musicians, (you really couldn`t tell it wasn`t the original artists), but they make an effort to perform, making an evening spent in their company more than just a gig - these chaps entertain and made I just want to bounce up and down.
I`m sorry for spilling me pint of cider on the folks near to me, but the rock steady beat just takes me and I`m away, and I said I`d buy you a drink to make it up to you anyways, and it`s not my fault you didn`t like cider, I does.
Rudi`s Message play a wide selection of the cream of ska stuff from the likes of Madness, The Specials, Bad Manners and all those other sharp dressed chaps from the two-tone world and there`s no let up, once they start it`s non-stop dancing or death!
Anyway, special mention must go to the rarely-seen-in-a-pub, brass `section` of Duncan Disorderly (and his trombone) - what a guy! Mind, don`t stand too close to him when he gets going, I reckon that bit of brass skat me pint right outta me hands that time.
Here`s a good way to tell if a band`s worth seeing; check your feet the morning after, if they hurt - it was a great band and mine were steaming on Sunday. Lovely.
The Queens is putting on some damn fine local bands at the moment, you should get out at the weekends and see the quality of talent that`s on show in there... and if you do, don`t mind me and me cider ok? (...oh and watchout for that last pint.)

BUNTERS BAR, TRURO (6TH JULY)







TOM MOUNSEY, RUARRI JOSEPH AND THE NOEL PRIOR BAND

Thursday night at Bunters in the middle of Truro and the middle of the summer had something for everyone - some electric and acoustic blues, some singer/songwriters and something new for the faithful.

Tom Mounsey, straight outta Newquay and previously rave-reviewed at the first High Rollers gig, took confidently to the stage with his semi-acoustic and played his enthusiastic bottlenecked heart out to a rapidly growing, and frequently jigging, crowd. His voice was much stronger than at the High Rollers and the sound balance throughout the night was excellent for all the artists, which allowed the audience to really hear the emotion in his voice as the blues came down from the heavens. Tom`s stomping rhythms held the audience in time and soon he was swapping guitars for his steel national to slide some pure Muddy Waters our way.
It was an excellent start to the evening`s proceedings and Tom made a load of new fans in the city audience.

Next in line came Ruarri Joseph, (also from Newquay), with his acoustic guitar and rucksack of quickly sold CDs, to the stage. To start with, Ruarri stands apart from the crowd because he chats to them between his songs with a relaxed attitude. There is a touch of Loudon Wainright in his manner and style, with humour, (not comedy), at the heart of his music.
...And so much tapping of feet and grinning took place amongst the audience whilst he shared some of his view of life with us. Tales of publife, London exile and impending fatherhood went down a treat. The last song he played, written for his unborn, (at the time), daughter was so touching and delicate that the applause was loud and long on his departure. `Song for Finn` recalled the tenderness of Paul Weller`s most affected acoustic tunes to his own children, (`Sweetpea` etc.), and was a fitting finale for an superior performance.

So we come to the final band of the night; the unspeakably fantastic and unbelievably still unsigned, Noel Prior Band!
Truro`s own dream team - wowing gatherings of folk wherever they play from their recent Janice Long Show BBC Radio 2 session to this August`s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. But tonight was a special occasion, as the band has just grown into a four piece with the inclusion of Toby Seth on backing vocals and piano and tonight was The Noel Prior BIG Band`s first performance.
Joining the powerhouse rhythm section of The Liam Jolly drum experience and The Rob Carter bass masterclass, must have been daunting for the new boy, but Toby fitted in quickly with only the one early shoe being flung from the audience.
The cheering crowd were quickly singing along to the familiar tunes and welcoming the new lad with a baptism of joy. Noel`s new found backing singer has allowed him to widen the vocal range and bring more depth to the songs, which in turn highlights different levels within them.
The band even gave us some amazing new material, with a promise of another classic album by the end of the year, which can only take them further in their inevitable rising career.

This is the best of days in Cornwall - we have world class talent in our midst and you`ll be able to tell them that you were there when it happened if you get out and see these top musicians now.

(Photos by One Word Wombat, (this week`s word - `ennui`!))

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