Reporting in from the Byron Bay Blues fest. For those that dont know Byron Bay on the North Coast of new Australia is the most easterly part of Australia. It's an icon on the international back packer trek. The surf was outstanding this year, the water warm and then in the afternoon it's off to the festival now in its 26th year.
We've so far seen "StPaul and the broken bones" and "vintage trouble".
St. Paul was an 8.5 out of ten. Fantastic singer, excellent voice, great horn section. Singer is standing on the speaker box, nearly fell off, nearly had a heart attack but created an excellent audience buzz.
Vintage trouble about a 7.5. 4 piece, James brown style singer, enormous energy worked the crowd right over from crowd surfing down from the mixing desk to all varieties of sways and Mexican waves. Very tight rhythm section with excellent high energy drummer and guitarist who really knew what he was doing. Singer's voice not quite as good and a certain sameness to the material with less dynamics meant some loss of marks.
3 more blues styles acts tonight and we will do other styles Sunday and Monday. Will be excellent if the rain holds off (unlikely).
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Next up was the rain dance, at least that was almost the high point of the Mick Fleetwood blues band. A good blues sound although Rick Vito voice not quite up to Peter Green's standard.
As predicted a tropical storm arrived. What wasn't so anticipated was the leak in the tent. Still at Byron that's the cue for a rain dance, no doubt followed by a mud slide. 8/10 for this band and 9/10 for the dancers.
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By band four the night is wearing, the noise I mean music starts to wear a little, the crowds have grown, the space and oxygen have shrunk. Tedeschi/Trucks didn't do it. Every American guitarist seems to think slide is the only way to play blues, a bunch of Duane Allman wannabes. Dereck Trucks is a fine guitarist and Susan Tedeschi almost a blues singer, backed by two drummers, bass, keys, a horn section and three backup singers it didn't quite cut through for me. 6/10
Only time for one song from the less serious and more fun "play for change band" but still a nice t shirt to have at home. 7.5/10
That leaves the talented but divisive Joe bonamassa, with the strategic timing of first to the car park high on the priority list. The tea and coffee tent is crowded and I almost tender two notes instead of one, but once served and sitting down it sure tastes good.
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Magic's back thanks to Joe Bonamassa. A genuine virtuoso on the guitar, I know of noone in the world playing at a higher level today. He's grown into singing and songwriting and looked the most complete I've seen him as an artist. Band included the keyboard player from the late great Stevie Ray vaughan's Double Trouble as well as some first class session musos.
There are times in a Joe solo where you feel your spirit lift at the sheer righteousness of the note and its timing. Despite the quality of the band I'm takin 0.5 marks off because the songs are not memorable, the playing brilliant an the lineup of this gig understanding 9.5/10
We've so far seen "StPaul and the broken bones" and "vintage trouble".
St. Paul was an 8.5 out of ten. Fantastic singer, excellent voice, great horn section. Singer is standing on the speaker box, nearly fell off, nearly had a heart attack but created an excellent audience buzz.
Vintage trouble about a 7.5. 4 piece, James brown style singer, enormous energy worked the crowd right over from crowd surfing down from the mixing desk to all varieties of sways and Mexican waves. Very tight rhythm section with excellent high energy drummer and guitarist who really knew what he was doing. Singer's voice not quite as good and a certain sameness to the material with less dynamics meant some loss of marks.
3 more blues styles acts tonight and we will do other styles Sunday and Monday. Will be excellent if the rain holds off (unlikely).
-------------
Next up was the rain dance, at least that was almost the high point of the Mick Fleetwood blues band. A good blues sound although Rick Vito voice not quite up to Peter Green's standard.
As predicted a tropical storm arrived. What wasn't so anticipated was the leak in the tent. Still at Byron that's the cue for a rain dance, no doubt followed by a mud slide. 8/10 for this band and 9/10 for the dancers.
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By band four the night is wearing, the noise I mean music starts to wear a little, the crowds have grown, the space and oxygen have shrunk. Tedeschi/Trucks didn't do it. Every American guitarist seems to think slide is the only way to play blues, a bunch of Duane Allman wannabes. Dereck Trucks is a fine guitarist and Susan Tedeschi almost a blues singer, backed by two drummers, bass, keys, a horn section and three backup singers it didn't quite cut through for me. 6/10
Only time for one song from the less serious and more fun "play for change band" but still a nice t shirt to have at home. 7.5/10
That leaves the talented but divisive Joe bonamassa, with the strategic timing of first to the car park high on the priority list. The tea and coffee tent is crowded and I almost tender two notes instead of one, but once served and sitting down it sure tastes good.
-----------
Magic's back thanks to Joe Bonamassa. A genuine virtuoso on the guitar, I know of noone in the world playing at a higher level today. He's grown into singing and songwriting and looked the most complete I've seen him as an artist. Band included the keyboard player from the late great Stevie Ray vaughan's Double Trouble as well as some first class session musos.
There are times in a Joe solo where you feel your spirit lift at the sheer righteousness of the note and its timing. Despite the quality of the band I'm takin 0.5 marks off because the songs are not memorable, the playing brilliant an the lineup of this gig understanding 9.5/10