02 February 2007 (gig)
06 February 2007
As both of these fine young Brits have an album ready to release it made absolute sense for them to share the bill on the current tour and between them they represent much of what is strongest about British blues at the moment.
After a couple of warm up numbers with both on stage Parker took his band off and left the stage to Aynsley Lister to show off the material from his spanking new album 'Upside Down’.
Considering that the new stuff has only been finished for a week or so the band hit a fine groove early on and seemed very comfortable from the off.
Lister plays hard, openhanded blues, fast, hard and loud. Memory had him playing more and longer soloes in the past but his set was well received by an excellent Friday night crowd.
When Ian Parker hit the stage he both looked and sounded totally at home with the new material that was being debuted. He played only one older number, the rest of his excellent set being made up from material from the new album 'Where I Belong’. The band grooved smoothly behind him and such highlights as 'Sweet Singing Sirens’ or 'Waste my Days’ from the new disc sounded as though the band had been playing them for years.
His playing has grown in confidence in the last year or so and the band has melded into a tight, funky outfit. They play together seamlessly and it was only fitting that the biggest cheers of the night were theirs.
All together a great way to spend a Friday night and I look forward to Ian and the band developing their set from here.
Aynsley Lister and band are also touring and it looks like I’ll have to drag myself out to see him play solo at some point this year.
In the hands of these two young blades British Blues is alive and well.
