Andy Fairweather-Low 11/10/18

We've caught the A F-L show a few times now but he is always worth going to see when he is close by and he couldn't get much closer than the Savoy in Monmouth. This time it was with the High Riders rather than the Low Riders which basically meant it was the Low Riders quartet plus a couple more horns and a keyboard player. His shows tend to follow the same format - a mixture of stuff from his extensive back catalogue and covers of some classic songs in the various genres he dabbles in - Country Blues, Soul and Rock mainly. Much of the setlist is in reference to his history - he starts by playing 'Route 66' ('the first solo I ever learnt') and near the end of the set he played 'Peter Gunn' immediately followed by 'Apache' and then 'Hideaway'('the music I listened to when I was growing up'). These three tracks rings similar bells for me so that was a highlight. In belting out 'Peter Gunn' and also the soul stuff he is much assisted by Nick Pentelow on tenor sax who is very good but also an excellent trumpeter and completing the super horn section was a bass saxophonist. The soul section began the second set and was another highlight. I think A F-L said it was the songs Otis Redding started with when he played the Colston Hall in '66 - I am sure A F-L was there. Also much enjoyed was 'Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out', 'Hymn for my soul' and 'When Things Go Wrong' but none of it was not enjoyed. He plays guitar with a fluency and ease that arises from 50 years of playing and changes guitars, styles and sounds seamlessly. Well worth the trip out and I'll go next time as well.