11 May 2011 (gig)
15 May 2011
Ian Siegal is normally seen with his band and his brand of Blues has set him aside from the majority of British Bluesmen through the variety and intensity of his playing as well as a voice that could only be smoothed by applying acid to his vocal chords – he has been voted number 1 British Blues vocalist in the past, is nominated again this year and is also nominated as British band of the year.
On this occasion the audience were treated to just Ian and his guitars and his short set was absolutely electrifying.
Sitting for the whole set he featured Blues, country and country Blues as well as some classics by Mississippi John Hurt and Robert Johnson but to my ear the best number was his version of Guy Clarks ‘Always Trust Your Cape’. His version of the slave song ‘O Mary Don’t You Weep’ was all the better for just having a single voice and guitar.
Ian Siegal has no respect for the Blues ‘establishment’ – the Blues Nazis as he calls them – and is as happy playing country as he is playing Blues. He is probably the most charismatic and committed player we have in Britain today and as far as I’m concerned, if he keeps playing music like this he can call me any name he wants.
The main event at Dingwalls was the return of North Mississippi Allstars – the first time in the UK since the death of the Dickinson brothers father Jim Dickinson and I was a little surprised not to see the big figure of Chris Chew on bass. In the end the two brothers played a brilliant set culled from all of the eras of the band and stripped down to just the two of them it was exhilarating music with no hint of a safety net.
‘Let IT Roll’, ‘Shake It On Down’, ‘Poor Black Betty’ all played with real intensity and some superb guitar from Luther while Cody’s drumming was as loose and skittish as ever. The brothers obviously feel completely comfortable with each other’s playing and they don’t so much play a number as inhabit it – there is something organic and alive about the North Mississippi Allstars when they are in this kind of mood.
A terrific evening made all the better by seeing Dingwalls packed out for a Blues night.
