Review by Nigel Foster.
Images by Ken Jackson
Anyone still in any doubt as to why last week The Tuesday Night Music Club scooped up the venue of the year at the UK Blues Awards you should have been at the gigs over the last 3 weeks, each of which in its own way was sensational. Jack J Hutchinson, Matt Pearce And The Mutiny served up a real double header, last week The Thomas Heppell Band showed what a blues power trio can do and tonight Will Wilde and his band have demonstrated a different style of authentic blues.
Will and his band stepped onto the stage oozing cool and confidence. Will with long flaxen hair, dressed in black and wearing the trademark Harmonica belt and his 4 blues brothers stylishly attired. They showed they are a visual as well as a musical band.
Of course it is really about the music and the band’s triple shot opening salvo was a thundering expression of intent. Wild Man, Don’t Play With Fire and Learn How To Love featured strident rhythms and grooves from bass man Russell Carr and drummer Steve Rushton, Ben Maxwell’s hands danced across the keyboard and Bobby Harrison chopped surging rhythm guitar, these sonics creating the platform for Will’s scorching harmonica lead breaks and his rough hewn vocal.
Stole My Love’s identity was revealed as a real slow blues burner. Low drum and bass grooves nestled under floating key strokes while Bobby sent down clipped lead breaks all punctuated by Will’s rich rasped vocal and his screaming harmonica solo.
Will then introduced the title track of his acclaimed new album Blues Is Still Alive and he shared with us his introduction to the blues and that blues giant Walter Trout is a major love of Will’s and he described his delight at being able to record the track with the living legend.
What the quintet then unleashed with the song was truly epic as it developed into a sprawling soundscape. Deep and rich swathes of sounds from drums, bass and keys and Bobby managed to capture Walter’s trademark bluesy fretwork, taut, expressive and pure. Will carried the wave with a fiery vocal and equally powerful harmonica solo.
Trouble Of That Girl was a throbbing blues rocker with the 5 piece locking tight together to send down hot fiery blues licks.
A swamp blues masterpiece cover of Hoochie Coochie Man brought the opening set to a riotous close. Dirty low slung engine room grooves undulated underneath the sweeping keys flurries while Bobby hammered out a nagging repeating riff all wrapped around Will’s growled vocal.
The second set opened in similar vein to the first with vivid interpretations of Broken Dream Blues and Don’t Trust Me. These cuts had a swing to them built on coursing rhythms, fluid bright keys and an edgy vocal spliced with bold Harminica patterns.
I Believe I’m In Love featured thundering choppy grooves, clipped rhythms and honky tonk style piano that created an atmosphere and feel of real swing that gave off a feelgood vibe. Will embellishing it all with an urgent imploring vocal.
The band closed the set in explosive style with a writhing punch and counter punch cover of Canned Heat’s On The Road Again. Wilde is the name and this was an expanded piece of unadulterated wildness. Russell Carr fired off deep thick surging bass lines in a smothering bass solo. Steve Rushton played the marching drums adding power and thickness to the sound. Ben’s keyboard solo was complex and multi layered but never over indulgent. Bobby showed that when he cut the rhythm guitar shackles he could shred with power and precision creating a virulent guitar solo with slashed notes failing from the frets, hands joined at the base of the guitar.
A standing ovation was deserved and led to an encore, the piece of melancholy mood music found in Gary Moore’s Parisienne Walkways. It was so unique to see and hear Gary’s clean beautiful solo fill the air, Will’s features changed clearly showing the passion and emotion required to perform this classic.
No surprise that a full house rose to its feet.
Richard and Rosalind thank you for what you continue to do for the scene. And thank you to Will and the band for this rich musical experience.
+ There are no comments
Add yours