Grumpy John
3rd April 2010, 07:13 AM
I've just been to more blues shows in the last 3 days than I normally get to in a year.
31st March: Taj Mahal and Buddy Guy ant the Arts Centre (Hamer Hall). Not a great venue for blues, no atmosphere, too many men in suits and ladies in evening frocks sipping imported beer and chardonay. Taj was O.K. but a bit lacklustre I thought, Buddy was his usual energetic self doing his usual walk into the audience. Not as good as his show at the Palais last year.
1st April: John Mayall at the Prince of Wales in St.Kilda. Now this is what the blues is all about, loud music in a hot sweaty bar with people jammed shoulder to shoulder, nothing but denim. The opening act was Collard, Greens & Gravy a very talented local blues band that's been around for ~10 years now. John, as usual surrounds himself with very talented musicians. I get the feeling that he would be a bit on the boring side if he was to do a solo show, I could be wrong though (it's happened before :rolleyes:).
2nd April: Back to the Prince to see Peter Green. This guy is a living legend. After all the dramas he's had in his life he's been able to get himsel back together and puts on a great (if somewhat laid back) show. He did a brilliant version of Oh Well and of course Albatross brought the house down. I just wish I could have seen him in in the late sixties before the mind altering substances messed him up.
31st March: Taj Mahal and Buddy Guy ant the Arts Centre (Hamer Hall). Not a great venue for blues, no atmosphere, too many men in suits and ladies in evening frocks sipping imported beer and chardonay. Taj was O.K. but a bit lacklustre I thought, Buddy was his usual energetic self doing his usual walk into the audience. Not as good as his show at the Palais last year.
1st April: John Mayall at the Prince of Wales in St.Kilda. Now this is what the blues is all about, loud music in a hot sweaty bar with people jammed shoulder to shoulder, nothing but denim. The opening act was Collard, Greens & Gravy a very talented local blues band that's been around for ~10 years now. John, as usual surrounds himself with very talented musicians. I get the feeling that he would be a bit on the boring side if he was to do a solo show, I could be wrong though (it's happened before :rolleyes:).
2nd April: Back to the Prince to see Peter Green. This guy is a living legend. After all the dramas he's had in his life he's been able to get himsel back together and puts on a great (if somewhat laid back) show. He did a brilliant version of Oh Well and of course Albatross brought the house down. I just wish I could have seen him in in the late sixties before the mind altering substances messed him up.