Gig Review
The Spikedrivers
Saturday, 6 February 2010:
A very welcome return by the Spikedrivers after a two-year hiatus! Just about to celebrate ten years together, they strutted their stuff for a capacity audience and turned in a magnificent performance! It was essentially a show of two halves. The first quite gentle and laidback and the second much more full on!
The trio, comprised of Ben Tyzak guitar/vocals, Constance Redgrave bass/vocals and Maurice McElroy drums/percussion/vocals, started the first set with an a capella gospel piece; lovely to listen to. They then did an excellent rendition of the classic “John Henry”, slow, smouldering and intense. On Robert Johnson's “Kind Hearted Woman” the arrangement was tight with nice phrasing and the interplay between Ben's voice and slide was perfect! One of their own compositions “Easy Money In Hard Times” hit the nail right on the head concerning the current financial crisis. They got a good toe tapper going with the Rev'd Robert Wilkins' “Prodigal Son”; the guitar licks were simply great! They rounded the set off with Mississippi Fred McDowell's “You Got To Move” which had a very sustained rhythm.
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Photo credit: Paul Martin.
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For the second set, a good start with Robert Johnson's “Stop Breaking Down”. In itself this is quite a plaintive song and the Spikedrivers brought out the raw emotion of this piece. They turned on the good times with Big Bill Broonzey's “Whose Muddy Shoes Are These?”; a great rollicking jig - a long number with flowing guitar solos. To change the mood yet again they played JJ Cale's “Clyde Plays Electric Bass”. Very well done!
Then, a truly awesome rendition of Willie Dixon's “Little Red Rooster”! They followed this with one of their own compositions, a fast paced, up-tempo version of “Soul Searching Blues”. It is one of those songs where one just has to join in and sing along! On “Ghost Train” they had a super syncopated rhythm and bass lines and tight drumming. Bringing the evening to a close, the penultimate number was Elmore James's “Dust My Broom”. For this, they gave quite an upbeat raucous arrangement, but with Ben pulling out an exquisite slide solo. Now to finish off in style, they launched into an extended version of J L Hooker's “Hip Shake Baby”. Nothing beats a full tilt boogie played with passion and panache. It was fabulous!
A fantastic evening's entertainment! Judging by the effusive comments made by members of the audience as they filed out thanking the band, everybody else thought so too!
Review by: Lewis A Harris.
© Bluesnights. The Dorset Blues Society.
6 February 2010.
