Steve Earle 14/10/15

The support was the same as last time we saw Steve a few years ago - The Mastersons aka Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore. She has a compelling voice and he plays a mean guitar so an enjoyable set before they come back on stage as part of Steve Earle's band which also includes long-time drummer Kelly Looney and bassist Will Rigby. Steve opened with some stuff from his latest album which very delightfully is in the country blues ouevre starting with 'Baby, Baby, Baby' and then 'You're the best Lover' and 'Baby's Just as Mean as Me'. He then started mixing in some classics which of course got the (surprisingly small) audience to their metaphorical feet. 'Goodbye', 'My Old Friend the blues' 'Guitar Town, and 'Copperhead Road' were all in there and each fitted nicely into the mood for the evening - relaxed but compelling country blues from a master musician. All the while Chris Masterson played an excellent lead guitar but I have to say I love the guitar playing of Steve Earle even when he is in the background - it is beautifully judged and subtle. Of course he and indeed Eleanor Whitmore also played various mandolins and other stringed instruments to great effect on tracks such as 'Copperhead Road'. The gig really hit the heights for me in the final two songs of the main set - first the best track on the new album (King of the Blues) and then straight into 'Hey Joe'. It is one of my favourite songs of all time and I might cavil at anyone but Hendrix playing it but Steve and the band did a great job on producing their own distinctive version. After that the encore was a little bit of an anticlimax although entertaining in that I wasn't expecting a Donovan song! A superb display of craftmanship and emotive power - where was the audience?