Chasing the London Blues - Part II
Knackered and fried by some of the stuff that is going on at the moment, the temptation is to return to the hotel, order room service and try and make some sense from the million messages that the 2 remaining brain cells are fighting over inside my thumping heid. Alternatively one could jump on a train and chase the London Blues.
Forty five minutes later heading through Waterloo Station on my way to Tottenham Court Road underground via the Northern Line I am again experiencing the adopted anonymity of the London commuter. From experience though, I know it's a very thin veneer and there are places where like minded souls from all walks of life congregate to “get down” of an evening. One such place is “The 100 Club” in Oxford Street...100 Oxford Street to be precise and Tuesday night is Blues Night.
Come out of Totenham Court Road Tube station on the Oxford Street side and turn left. The club is a couple of hundred yards on the right hand side.
The venue has a history going back to the early 1940's and has been a mainstay in the London live music scene right up till the present day. Tuesday night is Blues night but you can pretty much catch something to suit any taste. It's a fantastic venue. Check the website for more details.
Bruce Lok
The first act was Bruce Lok and his band and this was not a typical Blues band but then what does that even mean? I'm open to diversity in all forms of the arts and it’s our responsibility as artists to experiment. I didn't recognise the first couple of numbers but that didn't matter, they were executed beautifully and when the set moved on to the Doors track, “Love Her Madly” these guys proved that they could do standards with ease as they filled the place with an authentic Doorsian groove. The crowd reacted accordingly and the dark, grungy atmosphere was perfect for this vibe. I've been a Doors fan for more years than I care to mention and this was one for the best interpretations I've heard.
This was a really refreshing set and the guys were so obviously loving it. When I spoke to the guitarist after the gig I got the feeling that there had been some last minute lineup changes but this had just served to keep them on their toes and the overall feel was quite theatrical and the sound was fantastic.
Greg Coulson
The next act on stage was Greg Coulson and I'm struggling to do this guy justice in one sentence. Jerry Lee Lewis springs to mind! As a frontman you'll struggle to see any better. Vocals, Guitar and Hammond were absolutely sublime. Unique, expressive, dynamic, thrilling would be a start to the description of the experience but it's a lot more.
Greg and the guys pull you in. The original material is superbly arranged and the completely individual accents, weird breaks and changes in tempo make it an extremely varied set...
Greg is a showman, no doubt about it. He has a has a likeable arrogance about him on stage but when you see the smiles on the guys in the band's faces you know that this is a stage act. He's a generous musician and offers everyone in the band a chance to shine but when he feels that it's his turn, holy shit, hold on to your hat man!
The appearance is young and clean cut but the act and the sound are 100% Blues with 1,000% attitude and a delivery that was absolutely flawless. I never clocked a single missed beat or misplaced note and considering the amount of movement going on this was quite a feat.
Stuart Dixon
Stuart is one of those unassuming guys that is honestly taken aback a little when people come up and compliment him...and there were plenty of those after the set. I had a quick word when he came off stage and he was a top bloke.
On stage he knew where to be, musically, and filled all the right spaces when required and was very tasteful throughout the whole gig. It's amazingly difficult to get through a gig without dropping in a section of solo that can be linked to your early guitar hero influences but I never picked up any here. Stuart has quite a unique style and a beautiful solo structuring technique that builds and builds and you feel that he could go on all night but he knows the right moment to pull it back and leaves you wanting more. Perfect!
Roger Inniss
"Full of cool"...That about sums it up. In my experience, Bass players tend to err to the side of cool but Roger Inniss emanates an aura that makes the rhythmic synapses firing off in his brain almost visible. It's hard to explain but even standing still the guy exudes groove and it's a beautiful thing to watch.
Six string bass is not the typical weapon of choice for a Blues bass player but in the right hands it can add a depth and range that expands the feel of the music to another level. It's easy to overdo it but Roger had it spot on all night. Again, another very tasteful player.
Adam Gammage
Adam's control of the intricate numbers in the set was impeccable and he led the guys beautifully through some complex stages and made it look so easy that for most of the people in the audience it probably seemed no big deal. That's how it should be but I know from experience the skill it takes and hat off to him. A fantastic performance. Again, a great player to watch and as solid as a rock to be on stage with with some really nice touches throughout.
One of the main advantages of working with a drummer like Adam is that he seems to be "always on". The lines of communication are always open and he and Roger were "locked in". Fantastic engine room.
Rebecca downes
The event tonight was a launch for Rebecca's new album..."Believe". The band were really slick and you could tell immediately each one was a time-served pro. I spoke to keys player Rick Benton before the gig and later found out the he is endorsed by Hammond UK so this gives you some idea of the standard these guys were at.
Rebecca powered through the set and engaged with the audience immediately. Another great performer who knew how to communicate with a crowd. The original material was lapped up and instantly received by the crowd which had grown considerably throughout the night. Rebecca has quite a following here and it's fantastic to see such a big crowd on a cold Tuesday night. The Blues is quite obviously still alive and kicking in the Big Smoke.
Rebecca and Steve co-write the material and I've listened to some more of their material since the gig and it is phenomenal stuff.
It's obvious also that they are all having a blast (just check the photos of Lloyd, the drummer)
I was gutted that I had to leave very early in the set as I had a train to catch back to my digs in Aldershot but it was definitely the right move to head out tonight. Three class acts. I'll try and catch up with these guys another time. Perhaps I'll be able to get an interview and try and make up for the early departure.
A quick shout out also goes to the guys from http://music.mhpstudios.co/ Great to meet you both.
..also the crazy guy...keep crazy man :-)
