Reviews / Grooves, jams and funky bass at blues festival
THE ELEVENTH Shetland Blues Festival woke up this morning and turned its lamp down low on Saturday night at Mareel, writes Patrick Mainland.
Hull-based acoustic bluesman Half Deaf Clatch opened the show armed only with a resonator guitar and a wooden stompbox, and his rootsy sound proved popular.
A very impressive player alternating between deft fingerpicking and intoxicating slide guitar, his on-the-spot choices of songs were a treat. The steady, booming pulse of his simple percussion and his coarse, brooding vocals complemented his obvious six-string skills.
Described as “quite possibly the best solo slide/stomp acoustic blues musician in the UK”, he played tunes off his old and new releases, with ‘I’m No Superman’ proving to be a highlight with its memorable refrain. A couple of Robert Johnson covers, including ‘Stones In My Passway’, were up-tempo and captivating.
His stripped-down style had its limitations but the forcefulness of his guitar attack came across as compelling and forthright.
Next up were local blues-rock quartet Sore Finger, whose tight, groovy blend of shuffle and funky numbers got people up on their feet. The solid rhythms of drummer Archer Kemp drove the band along nicely, while frontman Victor Sandison engaged well with the sellout crowd.
They played a storming set including covers of artists like Magic Slim and Stevie Wonder and, for a band who only play sporadically due to other commitments, were very well rehearsed and together. Hopefully there will be more appearances from them soon.
Closing the night’s proceedings was the charismatic Bob Malone from Los Angeles, accompanied by guitar, bass and drums backing. Hopping between the grand piano and Rhodes keyboard, he showed that while he is a fantastically technically accomplished player, he fully knows the meaning of showmanship as well.
Pounding away at the piano keys, he channelled the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis as the band played through their mix of boogie-woogie anthems with the occasional slower ballad in between. The Rhodes was well used too, especially in newer tunes off his latest release, ‘Mojo EP’, which leaned more towards a groovier sound.
‘I’m Not Fine’ and the extended jam of ‘Rage And Cigarettes’ were particular highlights. The bass was funky, the guitar solos were fluid, and the backing vocals, provided by the excellent drummer, added a little extra something to their high-energy set.
A true virtuoso and crowd-pleaser, Malone clearly relished the chance to play in these isles to an enthusiastic turnout, midway through a UK tour. After his band left the stage he returned for the encore, finishing on a melancholy note with the solo ballad ‘Paris’, again from his latest EP.
Based on the night’s offerings it is hoped this festival will continue to bring up the hottest names in blues music both sides of the Atlantic, and it looked like many who turned up on the night would be heading to the next day’s events.
Patrick Mainland
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