Gig Review
Bad Influence
Saturday, 14 June 2008:
It was a fitting end to the Bluesnight's 2007/08 season with a superb concert by Bad Influence.
Made up of Harry James (drums), Pete Stroud (bass/vocals), Richard Hayes (lead guitar) and fronted by Val Cowell on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, this band is loud, very tight and can they rock! Equally they can slow it down and deliver a poignant ballad. A large percentage of their concert featured their own compositions. "Fly" is a driving rocker but "One Way Love" has a nice country rock feel to it.
Val's voice has more than a hint of Janis Joplin to it and she did a lovely job on Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind".
Throughout the evening Richard played very good slide and the chops, especially on "Messing With The Kid", were excellent. Pete on the bass was given the opportunity to display his skills on several solos. "Talk to me baby" was very, very good! Harry's drumming is very solid and tied in tightly with Pete.
Note: Click thumbnail to view full artist image.
Photo credit: Paul Martin.
... continued
"Mercury Blues" took us off on a Boogie journey, but Bad Influence can do the funky numbers too and "Standing On Shaky Ground" was particularly soulful. The band's final number was Tom Petty's "Running Down A Dream" and that was fantastic. They still obliged us with an encore of "Please Stop Messing Around".
The audience enjoyed a superb evening by a professional outfit who strutted their stuff and, more importantly, delivered the goods. I would like Val to consider featuring Big Mama Thornton's "Ball and Chain"; she certainly has the voice for it. I can highly recommend this band for a great night out.
Review by: Lewis A Harris.
© Bluesnights. The Dorset Blues Society.
14 June 2008.
