Rocking the Blues at Tring 2005

Gipie Mayo - Yardbirds	The Yardbirds
Billy Boy - Harmonica player with The Yardbirds	John Idan - The Yardbirds
Dr Ika - Grapevine Blues Band	Mick Clarke Band

To ease us gently into three days of Blues, we started with Gary Fletcher, normally bass player with The Blues Band, but tonight on acoustic guitar with his son Jack on electric bass. We heard a selection of songs from "The Gary Fletcher Bootleg Album", some old Blues Band numbers and a few new songs due for release shortly on Gary's forthcoming CD. Some tracks that stood out were the '81 vintage Blues Band song "So Lonely", the nicely up tempo "Stop Messin' With My Life" and a song called "World Gone Crazy" which maybe on the next Blues Band album. All in all a very nice acoustic start to the weekend.

A swift change around on stage and we heard the opening thunder clap of Storm Warning which took us straight into the John Mayall composition "Pieces and Parts". "Dangerous Mood" followed and then the story about security checks on Eurostar - "Bullets" The tempo was building all the time and the whole band got to do some brilliant solos. Son Maxwell sings and plays harmonica, Bob Moore plays guitar, Ian Salisbury, keyboards, Derek White, Bass and Roger Willis on Drums. The set continued with a Charlie Patton style version of "Long Grey Mare", and a slow and soulful version "Whiskey Blues". The pace picked up again with a rocky blues instrumental and "New York City" had the audience up and dancing. Sonny Boy Williamson's "Don't Start Me Talkin'" left us spellbound and rocking. Again the whole band took a short solo, and left the stage to rapturous applause.

To complete our evening The Dave Kelly Band took to the stage and romped into a Clyde McPhatter version of  Ahmet Ertegun and King Curtis's "Lovey Dovey", then a soulful rendition of "Let's Talk It Over"

The band are: Dave Kelly - Guitar and vocals, Pete Emery - Guitar, Gary Fletcher - Bass Guitar and vocals and Dave's son Sam Kelly on Drums.

Some more cover versions were well executed, such as Steve Earle's "My Old Friend The Blues" and Sonny Boy Williamson's "Crazy About You Baby". Then it was a switch to acoustic guitar for "Dock Of The Bay" which was well received. We heard a number of "stories" about the Blues Band antics and one such story was followed by the track "Waiting For Bessie". A little "Hillbilly" music followed with an up tempo version of "City Of New Orleans". It was back to electric guitar for the Robert Wilkins' "New Stockyard Blues". To finish we got a rockingly good version of "Dust My Broom", but the audience weren't satisfied so we had them back for a slow and soulful "When The Blues Comes To Call" and a rousing version of "You Shook Me". A tremendous start to the festival and although tired we were set to regroup at midday on the Saturday.

The Saturday lunchtime Blues Jam, a regular feature of Rocking the Blues at Tring, had a new host, the Robin Bibi Band. After playing a very well received rocking blues set, Robin organised the jam, showing his experience with his regular blues jams. A wide range of ages (from 10 year old Nick White) and experience was drawn from the 100 strong audience.

Saturday evening started off with Australian Gwyn Ashton performing solo from the side stage. He usually fronts his own powerhouse of a band or plays Rory Gallagher numbers superbly with Band of Friends(tribute to Rory with ex Rory Gallagher band members).  His brash, no holes barred style, thumping his stomp box to keep a solid beat, kick started the evening well.  The first band on was Grapevine Blues Band featuring Dr. Ika’s amazing virtuoso guitar playing. Because their sax player Caz was in hospital, the band decided to stick mainly to standards but even so, they showed just how good they are at this type of blues. Frontman Mike Chase and the blues are a perfect match with his well run in, laid back voice and his fine harmonica playing. The band started with “T Bone Shuffle” and “Walking the Dog”, followed by a Stevie Ray style version of “Before You Accuse Me”. Just what the audience wanted to get them in the mood for a good night of rocking. This band then showed its versatility with a change to a Latin American style number “This One’s For Suzie” written by Dr Ika. Then a complete change to Voodoo Chile and into “Rolling and Tumbling” featuring a four minute solo by drummer Dave Ashcroft which went down a storm. All too soon, their set came to an end with a Grapevine personalised version of Crossroads.

After another spirited set by Gwyn Ashton, the Mick Clarke Band took to the stage and things moved up a gear with their have a good time rockin’ blues, kicking off with Mick Clarke’s “Cheap”. This is a chugging shuffle with a big riff followed by the swinging “Looking for Trouble” from the recent “Live in Luxembourg” cd. Cooling the tempo for a few minutes with a James Cotton slow blues “Love Me Or Leave Me” and back up with some rockin’ slide guitar on “London Town”, originally on Mick’s last studio cd “New Mountain”. Mick Clarke really does put his all into every show and this was no exception. He knows how to have a good time and this is infectious, spreading through the audience and his band of seasoned musicians in the shape of ex Sassafrass drummer Chris Sharley, Dave Rea on bass and Dave (ex Blodwyn Pig, Ginger Baker and loads more) Lennox on keyboards. Mick Clarke showed his appreciation of Rory Gallagher with a Rory style slide guitar version of Muddy Waters “I Wonder Who” (Rory would have definitely approved). Then all hell was let loose as Mick broke a string, changed guitar and his strap came off and his amp temporarily packed up. But you need more than this to put a good guitarist down and the Mick Clarke Band finished with a Willie Dixon fast boogie style “You Need Love” and finally the slide came out for a fast rocking version of Chuck Berry’s “Don’t You Lie To Me” – Wow and the night still hadn’t finished!

It’s fair to say that most of the crowd in the sold out auditorium had come primarily to see The Yardbirds, either as ardent fans or just curious to see how The Yardbirds 2005 compared to The Yardbirds of the sixties.

Original members, drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja held it all nicely together for present day Yardbirds to recreate a polished 60s r&b sound. The band have a superb front man in John Idan taking on the role of vocalist and bass player, sporting a fine 60s haircut    ( Jeff Beck style). He really does suit the part (apart from his American accent!). Ex Feelgood’s guitarist, Gypie Mayo recreates the sounds of the legendary guitarists who played before him. The set started with the quick paced “I’m Not Talking” and it wasn’t long before a procession of hit singles were paraded, including “For Your Love”, “Heartful Of Soul” and “Shapes of Things” - all perfectly executed. As the set and Saturday night drew to an end The Yardbirds took the audience into New Yardbirds territory with Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused. An absolutely superb night of music!

The highlight of Sunday’s Guitar and CD fair was the performance by New Yorkers Michael Hill and Colin John playing numbers from their “Acoustic Landlady” cd and acoustic versions of numbers from Michael Hill’s new cd “Black Gold And Goddesses Bold”.  Tom and Jeff (ex Sugarland Slim) demonstrated Yamaha guitars and Storm Warning’s Son Maxwell held two harmonica workshops - selling out his new book “The Complete Harmonica Player”.

Sunday evening saw us back in the Theatre with the seating for a couple of great hours in the company of Big Bill Morganfield and Ian Siegal. In fact, it was Ian who started the set off with three numbers on his 1929 National Steel guitar. We heard some classic blues songs such as "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day", "Little Red Rooster" and "Stop Breakin' Down". Big Bill came on stage and they both played electric guitars, Big Bill on Telecaster and Ian on his Jimmy Vaughan Stratocaster. We were treated to great renditions of Lonnie Mack's "Oreo Cookie Blues" and Little Walter's "I Just Keep Loving Her". All change again and both now on Steel guitars it was time for the track "Evil" from Bill's "Blues In The Blood" CD and they finished the first set with a rousing gospel tune. It was the same format for the second set. Ian opened by himself and did another gospel song, followed by Son House's "John The Revelator" and a Robert Johnson song "Hellhound On My Trail". With Bill back on stage, they stayed on Steel guitars for "Feel Like Dying" a really slow and soulful blues where they both traded solos throughout. Time to liven things up and they were off and running with Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me To Do". Two Muddy Water's songs followed "Long Distance Call" and "Rollin' Stone". We were treated to some brilliant slide solos that brought tears to the eyes. They thought they'd call it a day and finish with a song about Mules kickin' in other people's stalls, but following a rapturous applause, we coaxed them back for one of my favourite Muddy Water's songs and Rolling Stones cover - "Can't Be Satisfied". A wonderful close to a great weekend, and thanks must go to the Rocking The Blues organisers for another fabulous year and to all the staff and technicians who make it all happen on the night.

Paul Stiles - www.oxfordblues.info

Rocking the Blues at Tring is supported by the Tring Festival Company www.tringfestivalcompany.co.uk

To see what else is on at  the Court Theatre at Pendley www.courttheatre.co.uk

To read reviews of the previous two Rocking the Blues at Tring blues music festivals go to;

Rocking the Blues at Tring 2004    Rocking the Blues at Tring 2003

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