Duanne Eddy 28/5/2012

It's always dangerous to see a hero, especially when he is 74 years old. I needn't have worried. Duanne is still a great guitar player and playing in front of a classy band and most importantly with a sax player with lots of rock and roll in him, the gig delivered. The only previous time I saw Duanne was about 20 years ago and even then that was a come-back for a guitar player that made his name in the fifties and early sixties. However a recent recording in the UK 'Road Trip' had given hime some profile and I guess that was what lead to the recent tours. He played a number of tracks from the recent album and all the famous songs from the archive. Second track in was 'Movin' and Groovin'' and to hear that seminal recording, that kickstarted the Beachboys, played live, was powerful. A number of classic Eddy songs followed interspersed with an occasional track from the new album. The classics included 'Yep', 'The Lonely One', 'Shazam' -all played with full-on Eddy guitar, full-on rocking sax and great back up from the band. He then brought on two girl singers to deliver 'Play me like you play that guitar' and of course 'Guitar Man'. Being the first piece of vinyl that I fully purchased myself , from choice to taking the money in the shop, makes it powerful stuff to hear live. He then played '3:30 Blues' a track which for me always demonstrated that Eddy is a fine musician beyond the 'Twang' shorthand. Towards the end Richard Hawley (whose band this was bar Paul Porrey on sax) joined in and having a third guitar to add to Eddy and the excellent Shez Sheridan upped the tempo again. A rip roaring 'Primeval' from the new album was followed by a vocal track that was a tribute to Lee Hazelwood 'Still is the Night'. 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Peter Gunn' finished the set, iconic stuff but played for real. A couple of tracks of encore , finishing with 'Hard Times' and Duanne ambled off stage. This was an unexpected gem of a gig.

Elvis Costello 15/5/2012

It has been a couple of years since I last saw Elvis and that was a solo gig. This time he was fronting a four piece which actually was only one person different to the first time I saw him in 1980. It goes without saying they were a tight band. The tour featured some audience participation as people were selected to go on stage and revolve a big wheel that selected a song or song theme by chance. In fact, given that Elvis started with four songs, nudged the wheel several times and finished with an encore of old favourites, the random element was not quite as strong as he was making it out to be. As ever with Elvis we got a quality gig. Two hours fifty minutes of pretty much non-stop music (apart from the wheel-spinning business that is). The absolute stand-out song for me was 'I want you' - great song, brilliant vocals, outstanding guitar playing - but it was all good. In the main set I particularly enjoyed 'Bedlam' and 'Rockinghorse Road' and 'Jimmy standing in the rain' but the long encore was full of Costello classics which were also great. 'Shipbuilding' is an immense song and it was sandwiched by 'Oliver's Army' and 'Watching the Detectives'. 'I don't want to go to Chelsea' and 'What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding?' closed the gig. It's always worth making the effort for a Costello gig.

Trembling Bells/Bonnie Prince Billy 3/5/2012

I had seen Trembling Bells supporting Bonnie Prince Billy before but now they are collaborating with him as vocalist along with normal vocal lead, Lavinia Blackwell. Trinity Centre in Bristol was a new venue for me but I shan't be going back. Apart from a typical problem of such venues of audience chatter there was also the ridiculous process of searching customers before they enter. This is a folk gig.......... The support was not really as advertised, Muldoon's Picnic, but two members of same augmented by members of the Trembling Bells. The set was acapello harmony singing of songs from around the world and through the ages. I didn't really take to this set save for a Bulgarian children's song that had a bit of energy about it. For the first hour or so the main set was mainly new stuff and the sound was dense and compelling with Lavinia pretty much full time on the keyboards and some great drumming from Alex Neilsen. I love Bonnie Prince Billy's vocals even though his voice is not that spectacular and it goes without saying that Lavinia's singing is brilliant. The two combined beautifully. After a stirring version of 'I made a date(with an open vein)' the music seemed to become less dense and there were some tracks more of a vocal + backing style. 'New Years Eve's The Lonliest Night of the Year' was memorable and I particularly enjoyed the Merle Haggard cover and 'Love is a Velvet Noose'. All in all an excellent gig with a lot of new material which I enjoyed despite the venue.