Gig Review
Michael Roach
Saturday, 22 September 2007:
It had been a long time since Michael played Bluesnights – the last time being as part of a duo with another Bluesnights favourite, harmonica player Ian Briggs.
It was very nice to hear a performance from this charming, affable man, who also happens to be a very knowledgeable historian of the Blues.
Michael started off with a gentle groove of Mississippi John Hurt, with wonderful melodic picking that one could listen to all night. A steady stream of Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Jordan, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Blind Boy Fuller followed, all featuring easygoing rhythms. One really fantastic part of the first set was when Michael began demonstrating some very old childhood games based around rhythmic clapping, body slapping and chanting. During this impromptu lesson in blues history he revealed that some American songs are actually old English sea shanties dating from the 1500s.
"Nursery Rhyme Blues" brought in the audience participation where we called out rhymes and he segued them into a song. This was "call and response" writ large – and great fun!
Photo credit: Paul Martin.
... continued
The second set had an excellent mixture of Delta, RnB, Soul and Negro Spirituals, either played on National Steel or his other amplified Martin acoustic guitar with its beautiful tone. "Casey Jones", "Little Red Rooster", "CC Rider", and "John Henry" all followed each other, some accompanied by slide.
The most poignant high point came when Michael Roach played Skip James’s "Cypress Grove". The emotion was palpable. "Brownsville Blues" also hit the spot with its insistent rhythm.
A very full programme of excellent material all presented with pride and pleasure, leaving the sizeable audience all quite satisfied. A very enjoyable evening and a cracking start to another Bluesnights season.
Review by: Lewis A Harris.
© Bluesnights. The Dorset Blues Society.
22 September 2007.
