Great British R&B Festival Colne August 26th 2013. Chris Farlowe, Climax Blues Band, The Pretty Things, and Wilko Johnson
Marie and I spent the bank holiday Monday afternoon at the Great British R&B Festival, which is held each year in Colne, Lancashire. Yesterday afternoon’s line-up was particularly strong, featuring Chris Farlowe, Climax Blues Band, The Pretty Things, and Wilko Johnson on the International Stage which is in the Municipal Hall on the main street.
The Norman Beaker Band opened the proceedings at 2pm. Or rather the proceedings were actually opened by the crazy compare, wearing a fluorescent suit and hat. The guy did a great job on introducing the bands, changing his suit and hat throughout the day, getting more and emore outrageous as the day went on. Norman and the guys played a couple of songs before they were joined by Chris Farlowe. It’s a few years since I saw Chris. His voice was as soulful as ever, and the years haven’t diminished his energy or style. They played a set of favourites including Stormy Monday Blues; Tough on you, Tough on me; The Small Faces’ hit All or Nothing, and Handbags and Gladrags. They closed with (of course) his big hit Out of Time. The guy remains a master of R&B. Pure class and a great way to start the day.
Next up was The Climax Blues Band. Now if its a few years since I saw Chris, it’s even longer since I saw these guys in concert. In fact I think the last time I saw them was probably I the mid 70s. The line-up has changed many times over the years, with no-one remaining from the early days of the band. The current band continues the Climax traditional of recreating an authentic Chicago blues sound. We slipped out for something to eat,but got back in time to catch the end of their set, including their hit single Couldn’t Get It Right. 
The Pretty Things are a big favourite of mine, and they never let me down. The current line-up of the band features originals Phil May on vocals, tambourine and maracas, and Dick Taylor on guitar, along with long standing Pretty Frank Holland on guitar and mouth organ. They started the set with a couple of old R&B tunes, and the classic Cries From the Midnight Circus. Phil then explained that, although it was a blues festival, they had to play something from their classic album S F Sorrow. So next up was S F Sorrow is Born and She Says Good Morning. The three front men then switched to acoustic mode to sing a couple of old blues: Come on in my Kitchen, and Little Red Rooster, featuring some excellent slide guitar from Dick, growling vocals from Phil and great blues harp courtesy of Frank. These guy know how to sing the blues, and they just held the place spellbound. Then it was back to their old rock roots for Mona, and Midnight to Six Man. Great stuff. The Pretty Things were swiftly followed by the great Wilko Johnson. Wilko’s situation has been well documented, and his recent appearances have apparently all been joyous celebrations of his music and legend. Thankfully Wilko is still able to play and, in his own words: ‘It seems that I am still being spared the final onslaught of my terminal cancer. As the memory of the Farewell Tour recedes I am feeling again the desire to get up on stage and do my thing while health allows – so it is that I have decided to make some festival appearances during during the summer’. 
He had asked specially to play at the festival, having done so several times in the past, and everyone present yesterday was delighted to see him. First Wilko was presented with an award for British Blues legend, he then started his set with the Feelgood’s song All Through the City, and also included the Feelgood classics Going Back Home, Roxette, Back in the Night and She Does It Right. The crowd clearly love the guy, and it was a very emotional show, with Wilko strutting his stuff back and forth across the stage, chopping away at his telecaster with those familiar riffs. Its many years since I’ve seen Wilko in concert and I felt privileged to have the opportunity to do so once more. I must also mention Norman Watt-Roy whose bass playing was simply stunning. Again, its many years since I’ve seen Norman perform, probably since I he was with Ian Drury and the Blockheads. The encore was a very emotional Bye Bye Johnny, with everyone waving Bye Bye to Wilko. The crowd were on their feet for a full 5 or 10 minutes after he finished, giving him a real standing ovation. Strong stuff.
We left after Wilko’s set, and drove back up north to pick Laura up and then return home.
Posts Tagged ‘blues’
27 Aug
Great British R&B Festival Colne August 26th 2013. Chris Farlowe, Climax Blues Band, The Pretty Things, and Wilko Johnson
1 Aug
Jethro Tull Acoustic Middlesbrough Town Hall 2007
Jethro Tull Acoustic Middlesbrough Town Hall 2007
In 2007 Jethro Tull released “The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull” which included some of the band’s best known acoustic tracks from 1969 onward. To promote the album the band toured an acoustic show, which called at Middlesbrough Town Hall. 
The line-up of Tull for this tour was Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, David Goodier, John O’Hara and James Duncan Anderson. They were accompanied by special guest Violinist Anna Phoebe. Setlist: Some Day The Sun Wont Shine For You; Living In The Past; The Water Carrier; Gypsy; Katerina’s Theme; Jack In The Green; The Donkey And The Drum; Thick As A Brick; Birnam Wood To Dunsinane; Fat Man; Bouree. INTERVAL. 99 Lives; Dun Ringill; Pastime With Good Company; Steal; Aqualung; America; My God; Beside Myself / Rocks On The Road / Budapest; Locomotive Breath. The folkier side of Tull was never my favourite in the late 70s and early 80s, but I grew to like it as time passed. I certainly enjoyed this gig, which presented the softer, acoustic side of the band.
31 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 2004 and 2006
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 2004 and 2006
I saw Jethro Tull at the City Hall in 2004 and 2006. Tull were involved in quite a number of projects during these years. In 2003 they released The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, which consisted of a collection of traditional Christmas songs, along with some Christmas songs written by Jethro Tull. The album was a big success and their best selling release since the 1987 Crest of a Knave.
The set for the 2004 concert included quite a few Christmas songs as a result, as well as some great old favourites like Beggars Farm and Nothing Is Easy, taking us right back to the very early days of the band. The setlist for the 2004 Newcastle concert (I got the list from a bootleg which was recorded at this gig): Aqua-Intro; Living In The Past; Nothing Is Easy; Beggar’s Farm; Eurology; A Christmas Song; Farm on the Freeway; Pavane; Weathercock; A Week of Moments; Mother Goose; Misére; Songs From The Wood; Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die; Heavy Horses; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Flying Dutchman; My God; Holly Herald; Aqualung; Wind Up; Locomotive Breath; Protect and Survive; Cheerio. 
Both shows were great Tull fun. I went along with Norm and Will and we all enjoyed seeing the old guys again.
In 2005 Ian Anderson released a live double album and DVD called Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull. In addition, a DVD recorded live at the Isle of Wight 1970 and a live album called Aqualung Live (recorded in 2004) were both released in 2005. There were also further line-up changes in 2006 with bassist Jon Noyce leaving to be replaced by David Goodier, and keyboardist Giddings leaving to be replaced by John O’Hara. The 2006 tour was billed as the Aqualung tour, and Tull played that lp in its entirety. Setlist: Life Is A Long Song, Skating Away…, Living In The Past, Slipstream, Up To Me, Griminelli’s Lament¹, Aurora³, Wond’ring Aloud, Mo’z Art, Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose, She Is Like The Swallow, Bourée. Interval. Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody, Kashmir (incl. Whole Lotta Love), Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43, Morris Minus, Flying Dutchman (intro)/My God, Budapest, Aqualung, Wind-Up, Locomotive Breath, Protect And Survive, Cheerio. Tull were accompanied by electric violinist Lucia Micarelli for this tour, and she also fronted the band herself for a couple of songs notably covers of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Zeppelin’s Kashmir. Electric violinists featured alongside Ian on a couple of Tull tours around this period. The 2006 concert was a sell out, proving that the band retained their popularity, and that they still have a loyal fan base.
30 Jul
Jethro Tull York Barbican 2001
Jethro Tull York Barbican 2001
My interest in Jethro Tull had been revived by the great show that I attended at Newcastle City Hall in 1999. I was therefore quite disappointed when their 2001 outing missed out Newcastle, so I persuaded Marie to come and see them with me in York, which was the nearest show on the tour. The concert was held at the York Barbican centre which was a sports complex and also used for concerts. This was the first time that I’d visited the Barbican. I did go with David to see Steve Winwood there a couple of years later. The Barbican has recently been refurbished, and it reopened a couple of years ago as an entertainment centre, which plays host to lots of concerts. I need to find a reason to visit again 🙂 
Tull were on grand form as usual, and I enjoyed the show, although there were quite a few songs which were unfamiliar to me. Looking at the setlist today, I understand why. At least four of the songs were Ian Anderson solo tracks (Ian had released three solo albums by 2001). Even Marie (sort of) enjoyed her Tull outing, although we had a (friendly) argument about Ian’s flute solos. When he started a solo he would press a foot pedal. Marie was convinced that the solo was on tape, and that Ian was switching the tape on with the pedal. I was equally convinced (and remain so to this day) that there was no such use of tapes at all, and that the pedal was merely an effects pedal. Setlist: Aqualung; My Sunday Feeling; Cross-Eyed Mary; Roots to Branches; Jack-in-the-Green; Thick as a Brick; Sweet Dream; Beside Myself; Hunt by Numbers; Bourée; The Water Carrier (Ian Anderson song); The Habanero Reel (Ian Anderson song); Set-Aside (Ian Anderson song); Pibroch (Cap in Hand) (Instrumental); A New Day Yesterday; In the Grip of Stronger Stuff (Ian Anderson song); Budapest; Mayhem Jig; Aqualung; Locomotive Breath; Living in the Past; Protect and Survive (Instrumental); Cheerio
28 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1999
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1999
It was another 9 years before I saw Jethro Tull again. By this time the line-up had changed a little (again) to: Ian Anderson (flute, vocals), Martin Barre (guitar), Andrew Giddings (keyboards), Jonathan Noyce (bass), and Doane Perry (drums). They had just released the album J-Tull Dot Com. The new material displayed Eastern and world music influences, but as usual the concert featured a mix of Tull material from throughout their career. 
I’d lost touch with Jethro Tull up to this point, but this concert reminded me how great they were (and still are), and how much I had enjoyed their music. It was great to see Ian Anderson and Martin Barre in particular. Ian was ever the showman, although his voice was not as strong as it had been. Martin’s guitar playing and quiet presence were as excellent as always. And they played classics like Living in the Past, Witches Promise and Fat Man. Great stuff. I was hooked again, and started to attend Tull concerts more regularly from that point onward. Setlist: Steel Monkey; For a Thousand Mothers; Serenade to a Cuckoo; Spiral; Witches Promise; Nothing Is Easy; Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square; Fat Man; AWOL; A New Day Yesterday; Nellie the Revenge; Dot Com; Boris Dancing; Hunting Girl; Hunt by Numbers; Flying Dutchman; My God (with flute solo); Passion Jig; Locomotive Breath; Aquadiddley; Aqualung; Living in the Past; Dogs in the Midwinter; The Dambusters March; Cheerio
27 Jul
Jethro Tull Sunderland Empire 1990
Jethro Tull Sunderland Empire 1990
I went with a group of mates to this gig, some 19 years since we first saw Jethro Tull at the same venue. The late 80s and early 90s saw Tull return to rock and the blues for the albums Crest of a Knave (1987), Rock Island (1989), and Catfish Rising (1991). The one thing that sticks in my mind about this gig is Ian coming on stage with a massive search light which he then proceeded to shine at all of us. Looking back at the set list for the concert (of which live recordings exist) reminds me that Tull played some great old favourites that night; including Living In The Past and Love Story (that song is still a big favourite of mine). There was no support act for this show. 
Thanks to Doug for the great picture, which he took at this concert.
Setlist: Intro: Tanz, Wond’ring Aloud, Steel Monkey, Thick As A Brick, Living In The Past, Rock Island, Nellie The Revenge (inst.), Cheap Day Return/Nursie, Mother Goose/Jack-A-Lynn, Love Story, Serenade To A Cuckoo, A Christmas Song, Budapest, Strange Avenues, Kissing Willie, Pine Martin’s Jig/Drowsy Maggie, Dun Ringill, Jack-In-The-Green, Said She Was A Dancer, My God (including flute solo, Bourée), Pussy Willow/Pibroch (instrumental), Another Christmas Song, Farm On The Freeway, Too Old To Rock’N’Roll, Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Fylingdale Flyer (instrumental), Cheerio.
26 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1984
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1984
Jethro Tull returned to Newcastle City Hall in September 1984. The tour was to promote their new album Under Wraps. This new release introduced an 80s electronic/synth-pop sound, to a mixed reaction from fans and critics. The concert was, however, a big success, with quite a long set drawing from many of Tull’s albums (by 1984 they had released 15 albums!). Tull also played a couple of track from Ian Anderson’s solo album Walk Into Light, which was released in 1983. 
Under Wraps #1; Locomotive Breath (Instrumental intro); Hunting Girl; Under Wraps #1; Later, That Same Evening; Nobody’s Car; Apogee; Thick as a Brick; Level Pegging; Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day; Pussy Willow; Clasp; Living in the Past; Serenade to a Cuckoo; Fat Man; Fly by Night; Made in England; 
European Legacy; Black Sunday; Aqualung; Locomotive Breath; Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die; Different Germany; Thick as a Brick (reprise).
Thanks to Doug for the picture which was taken at the City Hall at Tull’s visit in 1982. The band at this point consisted of Ian Anderson (flute, vocals and part-time detective for this tour concept), Martin Barre (guitar), Dave Pegg (bass), Peter-John Vettese (keyboards) and new man Doane Perry (drums). The programme consists of photos of the band members, depicting Ian Anderson as a super-sleuth (the subject matter of the songs on Under Wraps is heavily influenced by Ian’s love of espionage fiction), and lyrics from some of the songs which were performed during the concerts.
25 Jul
Bruce Springsteen Leeds First Direct Arena 24 July 2013
Bruce Springsteen Leeds Direct Arena 24 July 20
Unbelievable show by Bruce last night in Leeds. Leeds First Direct Arena is a brand new purpose-buily 13,500 seater arena sited right in the centre of Leeds. Last night was the first concert at the venue, although the official opening night is reserved for Elton John in September (or the Kaiser Chiefs! There has been some controversy and bad feeling as to who the actual opener is). The venue has an intimate feel about it, and reminded me of a much larger version of the Odeon and other types of cinema that I went to when I was a kid. There was a lot of anticipation for this gig. Indoor arena shows are rare events for The Boos these days, so fans travelled from all over the work for this concert. 
Tickets sold out in a few minutes and were selling for around £500 each on secondary sites, although prices from the many touts outside the venue were reportedly around £150 a pop. Bruce certainly lived up to the hype. He came on stage shortly before 8pm and played until after 11pm. The show featured lots of requests, taken from the sign waving fans down in the pit, some of whom had been queueing outside the venue for several days to secure a place down the front. Bruce put his heart and soul into the performance, thanking the fans, and naming individuals in the pit who have attended throughout the European tour. At one point he crowd surfed across the hands of fans down the front and later in the show he pulled a whole family (mum, dad, and 5 or 6 daughters) up on to stage to dance with him. The set was a mix of Bruce favourites and some lesser known tracks, delving far back into this catalogue. He played a great version of Credence’s Bad Moon Rising. Another highlight for me was Because the Night. The sound was very clear and loud. He showed us last night just what a rock show can be like. Its going to be a long time before any future visitor to the new arena tops it. Just incredible. 
I was lucky enough to witness Bruce’s first UK show at Hammersmith in 1975, and saw him a couple of times after that, at Newcastle City Hall and St James Park Newcastle. I then lost interest in him, and didn’t pick up on him again until around 10 years ago. Since then I’ve seen him at London O2, Dublin Point, Hampden Park, and Sunderland Stadium of Light. Last night was the best I’ve seen him since those early shows at Hammersmith and the City Hall, and I’m hooked again. Setlist: Roulette; My Love Will Not Let You Down; No Surrender; Something in the Night; American Skin (41 Shots); The Promised Land; Hungry Heart; Local Hero; Gotta Get That Feeling; Bad Moon Rising; Thundercrack; Wrecking Ball; Death to My Hometown; This Depression; Because the Night; Darlington County; Shackled and Drawn; Waitin’ on a Sunny Day; The Rising; Land of Hope and Dreams. Encore: Secret Garden; Atlantic City; Badlands; Born to Run; Dancing in the Dark; Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out; Shout. Encore 2: If I Should Fall Behind; Thunder Road.
24 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1982
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1982
The Broadsword and the Beast tour
The next time I saw Jethro Tull was in 1982 at Newcastle City Hall. They had just released The Broadsword and the Beast which was their 14th studio album. The line-up of Tull at the time was: Ian Anderson on vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, crazy dance and cocked leg; Martin Barre on wondrous electric guitars; Dave Pegg (ex-Fairport and friendly folkie) on bass guitar; Peter Vettese on keyboards; and Gerry Conway on drums. There was no support act, and the ticket made sure that we knew: “Please note. No support Jethro Tull on Stage 8pm prompt”. This was quite a theatrical show with lots of props and the band wearing medieval clothing. The set was a mix of old and new, with quite a few acoustic songs. I was still concerned about the folk influence at this stage, but enjoyed the show, as always. 
Setlist: Clasp, Hunting Girl, Fallen On Hard Times, Pussy Willow, Broadsword, Jack-In-The-Green, Seal Driver, Heavy Horses, Weathercock/Fire At Midnight/Flute Solo (including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Bourée)/Sweet Dream, Flying Colours, Songs From The Wood, Watching Me Watching You, The Swirling Pit, Pibroch, Beastie, Too Old To Rock’N’Roll…, Aqualung, Minstrel In The Gallery, Locomotive Breath/Black Sunday, Cheerio
Thanks to Doug for the picture, which he took at this gig, showing Martin Barre in his best gear.
A bootleg recording of the Newcastle gig exists, often entitled “The Beastie of Newcastle”.
“Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding. Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman.
Bless with a hard heart those who surround me. Bless the women and children who firm our hands.
Put our backs to the north wind. Hold fast by the river.
Sweet memories to drive us on for the motherland”
(The Broadsword and the Best, Ian Anderson, 1982)
22 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1977
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1977
In 1977 Jethro Tull released Songs from the Wood, which was their tenth studio album, and the first of a trio of folk rock albums, the others being Heavy Horses. Of course, folk influences had always been apparent in Jethro Tull’s music, but on Songs from the Wood, they came to the fore. At the time I couldn’t quite get away with this change of style. I much preferred the rockier, blues-oriented side of Tull. Looking back this album and Heavy Horses were two of their best, and the 1977 tour was also excellent. There were also some line-up changes in the Tull fold. David Palmer, who had worked with the band from the early days as their orchestral arranger, joined as a full-time member of keyboards, and John Glascock joined on bass. Glascock was familiar to me, as I had seen him play alongside Stan Webb in Chicken Shack at some great gigs in the early 70s. 
The programme tells me that the support act for the 1977 tour was Leo Kottke, but I have no recollection of seeing him play that night. However, I do remember seeing Leo play at the Cambridge folk festival a couple of years earlier. He is a great acoustic guitarist who plays some amazing slide guitar on tracks like Vaseline Machine Gun. As you would expect, Tull’s set included a few songs from Songs from the Wood, along with old favourites. At the time I was very unsure about the new acoustic tracks, but songs like Jack-in-the-Green and Songs from the Wood stand up against some of Tull’s best. Setlist: Wond’ring Aloud; Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day; Jack-in-the-Green; Thick as a Brick; Songs from the Wood; Conundrum; To Cry You a Song; A New Day Yesterday (with flute solo including Bouree); Velvet Green; Hunting Girl; Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die; Beethoven’s 9th; Minstrel in the Gallery; Aqualung; Wind Up; Back-Door Angels. Encore: Locomotive Breath
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