Tinariwen 31/10/09

This was a last minute outing - in the end it seemed a lost opportunity to stay in in front of the fire with Tinariwen playing just an hour away at Warwick Arts Centre. They were supported by Two Man Ting a local duo who I only saw for their last track. Tinariwen's line up varies quite a bit - last time I had seen them in a hybrid band featuring three members of Tinariwen playing with members of Tunng (a UK folky-type band). On this occasion they had brought no women singers, and I missed the ululation which is a trade mark for me of Tinariwen. They were also missing founder and frontman Ibrahim who was ill apparently. Because they tend to play with one person taking lead guitar and vocals on a track and the rest supporting him they are in a position to cover such a loss better than most bands. Abdallah and Hassan took most of the leads with a younger guy who's name I am unsure of also taking a few tracks. As usual the desert groove lifts the spirits and unties a few knots in the brain. Perhaps this was not their finest groove but well worth the drive.