Review by Tim Marcus with photos from Sam Conquest Photography
Tonight we’re in another of London’s small but iconic pub venues, The Water Rats in Kings Cross. The current building is now almost 150 years old, having been built back in 1878 after the original Pindar of Wakefield (as it was known back then,)which had stood on the opposite side of the road since 1517, was destroyed by fire. In more modern times it’s also said to have been patronised by both Lenin and Marx, the latter of whom is purported as having lodged in one of the upstairs rooms. In December 1962 the site was the scene of Bob Dylan’s first UK performance and more latterly it’s also played host to debut London performances by the likes of The Pogues, Katy Perry and Oasis but rest assured, there’s no dynamic pricing policy in operation this evening.
The reason for our visit here tonight is to catch blues songstress Bex Marshall as she undertakes a short UK tour however before we get to hear Bex there’s a 45 minute support slot which is filled by The Snakeoil Rattlers, a London based five piece performing their own brand of Southern tinged, Country infused Rock.
Easy enough to listen to however to my mind at least, a bit of an odd fit with what was to follow. That said, from what was said, they weren’t new to this venue and had a small but appreciative following in the room who made it clear with they enjoyed what they heard. The Snakeoil Rattlers are; – Barry ‘The Snake Oil Man’ Warren (Vocals, Guitar & Harmonica,) Kevin ‘Swamp Dawg’ O’Neill (Vocals & Lap Steel), Colin ‘Rain’ Rainey (Bass Guitar), John O’Sullivan (Guitar), and Dave Morgan (Drums).
After a short break it was time for Bex Marshall, who for some reason I cannot fathom, is an artist I’ve never seen performing live before so am very pleased to rectify that this evening. Bex, who besides being a great vocalist, is also the band’s guitar player, taking in lead, rhythm and slide, takes to the stage with the support of a three piece this evening consisting of Toby Baker on keys, Rudyard Burly on bass and Richie Stevens on drums. They kick things off with a hard hitting blues tune “Lay Down and Die”, one of the tracks from Bex’s latest album, “Fortuna”, which we’ll have heard in its entirety before the evening’s out. A much dirtier, sleazier, type of blues is next in the shape of “Dirty Water”, also from the “Fortuna” album. Bex then delivers her first cover of the night and it’s an excellent version of Etta James’s “Blues is my Business”.
We’re only three songs in, but already, the whole room, including me, is hooked on every note she sings and every note she plays, so powerful and so exquisite is the performance. She quickly returns to the “Fortuna” album for the next song, “Scrapyard Dog” before she switches to her steel slide guitar for “I Can’t Look You in the Eye”. We then get our second cover of the evening and this time it’s a wonderful delivery of the popular Bonnie Rait song, “Love Me Like A Man”.
Next, it’s a quick switch of guitars again as we’re taken back to 2008 for the title track of Bex’s “Kitchen Table” album. Following this we’re brought right back up to date with the slightly haunting opening of “5 AM”, probably may favorite track of the entire evening. The tempo then increases rapidly as we hear “Jungle” followed then by “Fortuna”, a wonderful instrumental and title track to the latest album which showcases all four musicians on the stage.
Some brief honky tonk style piano from Toby introduces us to “Table for One”, the first of three consecutive tracks from the “Fortuna” album, which conclude the main part of the set, with the others being “When it’s Gone” and “Preaching to the Choir”. And of course we get an encore and this comes in the shape of another cover, “A Piece of my Heart”, a song first recorded by Erma Franklin back in 1967. As the band take their bows and start to remove plugs and leads the small but enthusiastic crowd are crying out for “one more song!” and much to the apparent surprise of her band Bex happily complies with an interesting delivery of “House of Mercy”, the title track of her 2012 album, as her three companions, all at various states of readiness, join in as and when they can!
It’s been a wonderful performance from Bex this evening and I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to see her, for what I hope will be the first of many occasions. If you have the opportunity to see her when she’s playing near you then I highly recommend that you do.
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