The Blues Band
Blackheath Halls December 18 2011

Their first album cratered selling but a handful of copies, the band even reduced into producing themselves. 32 years on and some 20 albums later, the Blues Band - Paul Jones (vocals / harmonica), Tom McGuinness (lead guitarist), Gary Fletcher (bass), Dave Kelly (slide guitarist) and drummer, Rob Townsend - are surely now regarded as one of Britain’s best-loved bands.

Their music – an eclectically odd combination of country, jazz and blues – has to be seen in a world of its own; “The music industry doesn’t bother us and we don’t bother them”, their oft-quoted theme. But if the genre is in question then their ability is not, all capable musicians with distinguished careers.

Jones is best known, actor, broadcaster and lead vocalist with 60s group Manfred Mann. He still seeks the limelight and stands centre stage but his timing is excellent and his vocals still strong. His rendition of his own song, “Suddenly I Like It”, was excellent, lyrical and tender, notwithstanding failed efforts to get the audience to join in. His manipulation of the harmonica – no tinny toy in his hands – was quite spectacular from the purity of his tone to the breadth of his range. But Blues Band the group is much more than just Jones, each of the band members (unusually) taking turns at the mic; McGuinness’s (also Manfred Mann) gentle tones, Kelly’s forceful energy and Fletcher’s rhythmic pitch. But if their vocals are strong their playing is better, the key reason they have lasted so long. Townsend’s rhythm at the back of the stage, Kelly’s facility on the bottleneck guitar, Fletcher’s flexibility with finger and thumb.

After a banal introduction and some inane repartee (somebody should really tell them), things finally got going with a crowd-pleasing mixture of classic old favourites – What you Wanted and Going Home – and more recent material - Living with the Blues and You are True - from their new album, A Few Short Lines. But at the end of each song, repartee – largely consisting of interminable requests to purchase the new album – reappeared, destroying what momentum the group had managed to build, an inexcusable mistake for an experienced group.

However, most of their loyal audience simply enjoyed what they heard, cheering and shouting before the end of each song, Blind Alfred Reed’s “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live”, the highlight of the night.

An evening for fans. 6/10. Oh, and a Happy New Year!



Dick Morgan
December 2011