Sorry gang, I'm way behind on my blogging- with all the driving, playing, cooking, navigating, soldering, phoning more driving and playing that goes on, well, let's just say I have some catching up to do. Here's an early report from our last show, the tour wrap up at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club in Essex:
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April 2nd TIM AVES/SON HENRY BAND
Every year without fail a gig is announced which on paper looks intriguing. Remember Roy Mette/Papa George/ Roland Chadwick from 2007, and the Blues Pack from 2008, well look no further than Tim Aves and Son Henry for this year’s surprise package. We had 2 bluesmen from the wilds of Essex (Tim on guitar, harmonica and Paul Lester on drums) a bluesman from the wilds of Alaska (Son Henry) and a bassist of some pedigree from the wilds of NE Scotland (Dean Stewart) who had come together to play just eight shows in South East England over the past week or so. So just how this was going to pan out was anybody's guess.
Kicking off with ‘Last to Know’ and then a low down version of Bruce Springsteen's ‘Cover Me’, it was obvious to all that tonight was going to be a bit special. This was emphasised with a scintillating version of Stevie Ray Vaughan's ‘Long Way From Home’ which featured some tasty slide work from Tim. As it was the last night of the mini tour, former Armadillo Jane English got up to sing ‘You Can Have My Husband’ (great to see you on stage again Jane) and Joel Fisk from Hokie Joint got up to jam on ‘Help Me’. A cracking version of ‘Robert J's Shoes’ and ‘Wind in Denver’ bought the main set to a close before the band came back and encored with ‘Can't be Satisfied’ and the band went walkabout through the audience. Son even tried playing slide with the candle holders on the front table. Keeping all of this in place, Paul and Dean (I know what you're thinking) played like they'd been together for years. They'd had just 3 hours rehearsal time. Remarkable.
Well, I could go on but you really had to be there. No one will forget tonight in a hurry and as far as I'm concerned this really is a contender for gig of the year.
