07 March 2007 (gig)
08 March 2007
To say that I was looking forward to this gig with a mixture of huge expectation and abject fear wouldn’t be overplaying the case. The five members of the British Blues Quintet have all been either heroes of mine or involved with bands that I have followed over ^$'&* years and they were either going to prove that they still have it all or that I should go back and listen to the vinyl and remember the days of yore rather than try to recreate them today. In the event what I found was five consummate performers, playing mainly for the fun and 'to boost our pensions’ and who know each others capabilities and limitations and are happy to play as peers with 200 years of blues history between them.
Opening as a four piece of Zoot Money on keys and vocals, Colin Hodgkinson on Bass and vocals, Colin Allen on Drums and Miller Anderson on Guitar and vocals they played gently but intensely, building to Miller Andersons 'Fog on the Highway’ which gave the whole band the chance to stretch a little. At this point Maggie Bell strode out and the audience seemed to prick their ears a little more. She looked shorter than memory had it and less 'svelte’ but the voice; there never was anyone who could deliver a song with the power and commitment that she possessed and the signs were that she hasn’t lost any significant part of it. The band closed the first half on a monster version of Free’s 'Wishing Well’ with stunning guitar from Miller, belting vocals from Bell and Zoot giving the full Hammond sound.
The second half was much like the first, with each band member getting a track or two to show off their talents and the most electric moments coming when all five were on stage and working as a team. They finished with a rambunctious version of the Staple Singers classic 'Respect Yourself’ and I was amazed to hear the warmth of applause from the audience; genuine reverence for 5 old friends.
