Newcastle - Cluny 21-11-23
Hotly anticipated gig last night, over at the Cluny; first time in almost a decade for me catching Philip Sayce with, cherry-on-the-cake, Troy Redfern supporting. Two very different guitar-beasts, though equally intense in their delivery. And talk about a "packed house".... It may not have been quite sold out when they opened the doors, but if anymore came through while Mr Sayce was on stage, they'd have had to relocate to a bigger venue. AND that was a TUESDAY night!!!!
Getting the ball rolling was a solo Troy Redfern; not my first time catching Troy in this format, it's always a treat. He came on and really wrested the first 2 songs out the Resonator (Waiting For Your Love: Get Away) before switching to his 1932 Dobro, for Dark Religion, and don't think it's age saved it from similar treatment, he really made it bark and howl. Quick change again, this time the Silvertone for NATIVE, before finishing the string-punishing set, back on the Resonator: Where The Sun Don't Shine; Sweet Carolina; Sanctify. That gave us a well selected run through most of Troy's back-catalogue, to whet the appetites of those who hadn't seen him before.
And then the reason we were all there, the welcome and long-overdue return of Philip Sayce to these shores (and not just the "Geordie" one..). Last time I saw him was at Holmfirth, in a double header with Joanne Shaw Taylor; Joanne and Virgil MacMahon were sat in the balcony with jawbones hanging over the edge. Such was the prowess of Mr Sayce back then, and happy to report this evening, the years haven't diminished them. Nor, has it diminished the volume he plays at, though astutely, he 's brought along his own sound engineer, so while my hearing aids may have overheated (twice!), the sound was crystal clear, even at the section where the guitar volume was dropped - every strike was heard.
So, when you haven't visited for a while, dropped a new album mid-pandemic and have a new one in the wings, what do you play? Well, again, a career spanning set and rounding off with a tribute to the man, the legend that got it all rolling, Jeff Healey.
Set list: - Out of My Mind: Powerful Thing: Bitter Monday: Once: Blues Ain't Nothin' but a Good Woman on Your Mind (Don Covay cover): Standin' Round Crying (Muddy Waters cover) segue into; Aberystwyth: Beautiful: 5:55: Alchemy: Morning Star: Spanish Castle Magic (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
Encore:
As the Years Go Passing By: I'm Going Home.
Outstanding "come-back" show, and aside from the new album (The Wolves Are Calling) due in February, word is there's a lot more to follow in 2024... I know I'm "stoked"...
When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons. Why were the lemons free? What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...