Robben Ford Discussion

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

When an artist as talented as Eric Bibb opens a show, it raises the bar for those who follow. It's not a competition, but I think everyone on stage works to match or exceed the standard set by the opener -- and that's what the audience expects as well. Eric Bibb's opening set was fantastic. His warmth and charisma made the Touhill Center, which seats about 1600, feel a lot more intimate than my first impression of the hall.

Eric opened the show with six wonderful tunes that clearly demonstrated his superb playing and gorgeous vocals. They were the same six songs BlueRunner talked about in his post after the Lancaster show: Stagger Lee, Tell Riley (tribute to BB King), Connected (from his "Friends" album), Goin' Down Slow, Ship Called Love (title track from his newest cd) and I Heard the Angels Sing. Robben Ford joined Eric onstage for the last song of Eric's solo set.

After a lot of applause, The Bluesbreakers -- Buddy Whittington, Joe Yuele and Hank Van Sickle -- joined Robben onstage and went right into Over My Head and Help the Poor. Robben announced it was the first night The Bluesbreakers had performed Help the Poor on this tour. These two songs were a lot fuller sounding with Robben and Buddy on guitar. They were played with a driving bluesy beat. Buddy played the first solo on the next song, Cannonball Shuffle, and Robben took the second solo. Both solos were styled similar to the cd recording.

Robben's vocals on The Way You Treated Me were wonderful as well as his long soloing on this tune. The solo was sort of abstract, in a blues-rock fusion way. In singing, he also seemed to hold onto the ending notes longer and when his voice filled the hall, it sounded great !

It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace) was presented with a slow, brushed-drum feel. Robben also seemed to improvise with different chord progressions than I've heard on this song before, using more chords and smaller intervals as he moved up and down the neck. Robben and The Bluesbreakers finished the set with my favorite tune, Lovin' Cup.

After an intermission, The Bluesbreakers returned to the stage with a Billy Gibbons tune, Just Got Back From Baby's. Buddy Whittington introduced John Mayall, and John came running out, with the energy of a little schoolboy, and graciously welcomed fans to the Rockin' Blues Revue. John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers went into Road Dogs, the title track to their newest cd. John sang and played harp, front and center, then he moved behind the keyboard and played both instruments at the same, without any head gear. John Mayall is a multitasking genius!

Next song, Chaos in the Neighborhood included beautiful soloing by Buddy Whittington. Buddy is a great player! On his new antiwar song, To Heal the Pain, John Mayall played one of his homemade Squires. This is a standard Squire guitar that he has cut down to about the size of the pick guard, painted and decorated. The guitar sounded like an electric ukulele -- very cool ! To Heal the Pain is a politically charged tune with lyrics addressing the Bush administration and our current state of affairs. I think it's one of Mayall's best new songs. Also, his use of harmonics draws me deeper into this tune and serves a cue to listen up for the lyrics.

John Mayall's harp playing was outstanding on Burned Bridges -- it was one of the highlights of the set. The next song was a birthday tribute to 96-year-old St. Louis Bluesman Henry Townsend, a much admired multi-instrumentalist and one of the few blues legends still residing in St. Louis. With Mayall at the keyboards, Buddy Whittington burst into a remarkable medley that might have included a guitar riff for every year that Harry played. It was a long and amazing ride through American music history. Each riff was just short enough that it made me spend the next 30 seconds trying hard to remember the title of the song I just heard, while listening to a new riff ! Familiar song riffs from Hendrix, The Beatles, Freddy King, SRV, Clapton, and many more, collided in my mind with I've Been Working on the Railroad... I could've used a second intermission after this runaway jam. Buddy pulled off this rapid fire succession of riffs with incredible ease. Great fun !

Another special treat, John Mayall called Robben back on stage for Have you Heard, a wonderful tune from Mayall's 1966 debut album with the Bluesbreaker, "Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton." This song featured beautiful interplay between Robben's guitar and John's harp and keyboards. Robben's fills and soloing were amazing. I hadn't heard this album with Clapton in a long while, but I don't think I could've enjoyed this song any more than I did this night. This is a wonderful song and I bet it was a thrill for everyone playing onstage as well.

Eric Bibb came back on stage for a final song, Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down, from his 1997 debut album, "Good Stuff." With Mayall on harp, Robben and The Bluesbreakers in tow, Bibb moved us all a little closer to heaven with this stunning gospel blues tune. The applause did not stop until John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers came out for one final song, A St. Louis version of Room to Move. It included killer harp and Mayall's vocal jazz improvisation -- he imitates the sounds of instruments with his voice.

John Mayall has brought together this very talented group of artists to learn and perform each other songs as well as add a little touch of their own. The Rockin' Blues Revue is a wonderful show, don't miss it !!!
_________________
Travelling by train of thought

[JackD]

Fantastic and very descriptive review! I'm going to the show on Saturday night and have 3rd row!

[JohnnyZ]

RW, that has got to be one of the best-written reviews ever posted in here. I'm more psyched than ever to see this show (in 3 weeks)!
_________________
Soul on Eleven

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Thanks guys !
_________________
Travelling by train of thought

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I bought a DVD from John Mayall at the show and I finally watched it last night. It's titled "Cookin' Down Under" and it was recorded live at The Basement Club in Syndey, Australia, in 2003. It's a great concert featuring the same Bluesbreakers as on the current tour, plus an additional organ player. This is part of John Mayall's Private Stash collection and it is sold only at his concerts and on his website. He'll also autograph it for you !
_________________
Travelling by train of thought

[JohnnyZ]

Thanks for the heads up, RW. I'll be looking for it, especially since I did like their show that I saw at the Wachusett Mtn Blues Fest this past September.

Any other goodies for sale?
_________________
Soul on Eleven

[roadwarriorfortheblues]