Albert Lee - 29/5/2019

An opportunity to see a great guitarist in our local theatre in Monmouth was not to be missed. We saw Albert Lee a couple of years ago in Bristol and this was a pretty similar gig in terms of the set list. The band was different but I didn't catch their names. The keyboards man was excellent and he fitted with Albert's Guitar playing very well with some fast and rocky keyboards. He played a Carl Perkins track 'Restless' early on and that was the first time he slipped into one of his distinctive, fast and rhythmic solos that are his trademark. He has a fluidity that is rarely equalled, maybe when Mick Taylor was at his pomp and playing blues solos, maybe Knopfler (in a different way) - who we are seeing tonight as it happens. He also respectfully names the songwriter before each track and sometimes mentions his connection to said songwriter (Albert's resume is astonishing). There were a couple of Gram Parson's tracks and 'Luxury Liner was one highlight of the gig with amazing playing by Albert on an extended solo and some good soloing from the keyboards man. Albert Lee is a great stage presence as well with no ego on show although he was clearly a little bit resentful that he had been sacked by Eric Clapton and let off a few notes from 'Layla' by way of musical comment. There was a couple of Rodney Crowell covers, an Everley brothers cover, 'Highwayman' from Jimmy Webb, some Crickets covers (including 'Well All Right) and a great version of 'Tear Stained Letter' that might even have Richard Thompson listening with envy at the guitar picking. And of course there was 'Country Boy' - absolutely outstanding. The encore included a Glen Campbell cover at the keyboards following by a couple of trademark guitar songs to finish, the last song being 'Tear it Up' - which he had.

Manic Street Preachers - 15/5/2019

The support act, singer songwriter Gwenno plus guitar/bass/drums was a new first for me - the first Cornish language set I have been at. Well actually I think the first few songs were in Welsh but she is clearly bilingual as the last few were definitely in Cornish. She was good, plenty of attitude and a nice voice. Not sure what the songs were about...... The Manics were touring their 1998 album, 'This is my truth, tell me yours' and it is not an album I have although I do know a number of the tracks on it. They just launched straight into it and for the first hour or so played pretty much the whole album. There were two rhythm guitarists backing up James Dean Bradley on guitar and a keyboards player to augment, Nicky Wire on Bass and Sean Moore on Drums. They are a good combo of anthemic, gritty and political and JDB is a very fine singer and guitarist. He did just one track without the band (except for the keyboards) which was 'Born a Girl' and that was particularly welcome as the sound was a little muddy up to that point. JDB's guitar was generally low key until they played 'Black Dog on My Shoulder' and from then on he laid down some beautiful solos and rhythm guitar on pretty much every track, notably on 'Prologue to History'. The last song in the album section was of course 'If you tolerate this then your children will be next' which got a suitable audience response for such a great song. They continued playing other songs from the catalogue with JDB continuing great guitar playing. I particularly like 'Motorcycle Emptiness' but it was ll good stuff. Last track as on previous gigs was 'design for Life' and then they were gone. It's great they are the local band for us now and I note that the album was recorded in our local Rockfield Studios. They are a great home band to have.

Carmina - 11/5/2019

This was my fourth time for seeing Carmina; two members for the first gig, three for the second, four for the third and therefore of course five band members for this one. This gig was my suggestion for the Village Hall and it went down very well. The band was Pippa Marland (vocals and sax etc), Rob King (guitar), Paul Bradley (guitar), Geoff Castle (Keyboards) and on Double bass The band kicked off with 'Bird of Paradise' as usual and played mainly their own songs with a few covers thrown in. The covers were all excellent choices, 'Into the mystic' (Van Morrison), 'Killing the Blues' (popularised by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant), Graceland (Paul Simon) and as an encore song a superb version of 'Heroes' (Bowie). This last song was a slower, less poppy version of this classic track and was a great finish to the gig. Near the end of the set Carmina did a great 'mash up' of 'Shenandoah' and another song that worked really well and had full-on audience participation for the chorus. Of the band's own songs I particularly enjoyed 'Landmarks' which had a great sense of place for those who know Bristol and'Lord Franklin',and 'Song for Pepper' but the gig was class from start to finish. To get such musicians to a village hall is startling.

Ron Block & Tony Furtado - 7/5/2019

Another interesting gig opportunity presented itself when I spotted that Ron Block (of Union Station fame) was playing in a Unitarian Chapel in Kendal on the same day we were staying 10 miles away in Sedbergh. I managed to obtain a few of the very last tickets for this sold out gig organised by American Roots in Cumbria. It was amazing. Ron Block is of course an outstanding guitar and banjo player and it turns out that Tony Furtado is ditto. Having the two of them duetting for most of the time was incredible. It reminded me of listening to Jerry Garcia and David Grisman where you have two superb musicians relaxed and acoustic and playing the music they love. Certainly Ron looked the picture of relaxation whereas when playing with Union Station he seems much more uptight. The opening song 'Raleigh and Spencer' saw them both on guitar and was a beautiful country blues style song with slide guitar from Tony and intricate playing from both. The general pattern was for one of them to play banjo whilst the other played guitar. There were also a number of solo songs. Each of them played intricate chords and solos and it was just a joy to listen to such consumate musicians playing together. Tracks I noted included the old americana classic 'Peggy o', a banjo version of the Beatles' song 'I Will', a brilliant version of the Woody Guthrie song 'It takes a worried man'. Many of the songs were written by the guys themselves including '65 Mustang Blues,, 'Mollie Catherine Carter', 'Hogan's House of Boogie'(Ron Block) and 'Can't Lie Down', 'Star' and 'Broken Bell' (Tony Furtado) and they basically took the vocals on their own songs. Ron also wrote a beautiful hymn-like song which could almost make you get religion. They encored unplugged and unmiked and did a beautiful Woody Guthrie song 'I ain't got no home'. What a great and surprising gig.