Topic: Girlpower and Oli
Just came home from one of these shows after which you can´t even think of sleeping ...
After missing the Bluescaravan 09 in January due to exams, I finally had the chance to see Joanne Shaw Taylor, Oli Brown and Erja Lytinnen tonight - that was easily the best concert I have seen this year so far - these three youngsters even outplayed Bryan Lee, who put on an awesome show last Friday at the same Festival.
The three of them won the audience over in a heartbeat with their first song together and as soon as Joanne started playing her set I felt like my mouth fell open and didn´t close again until she was finished. This girl is a Hurricane! She looks so sweet at first and you just don´t expect that storm of Bluesrock coming out of her ... man, she can play - and her voice is spot on. She became my new Bluesrock-Heroine instantly. If this girl plays a show anywhere near you, go see her. That´s an order. 
Oli Brown followed and had to match up to high expectations, because I had heard so many good things about him and seen all these videos from Tripsy and Duncan - and he really DID match up to these expectations. I honestly can´t believe that he only picked up the guitar 6 years ago, that´s incredible. His playing was great, a bit of Blues, a bit of Funk, a bit of Rock - and all wrapped up in Oli´s own style. The crowd went nuts while he played "Open road" and "Black Betty" ...
After a short pause Erja Lytinnen came on stage and looked a bit pale in comparison at first - despite her shiny sparkling guitars. But she did get better during her set - played some really rocking Slide solos during a Blues version of "Satisfaction". Had I seen her alone I would have loved the show, but in comparison to Joanne and Oli her playing was just a wee bit more "standard" ... but kudos for doing the whole show in high heels. 
They finished the show by playing some songs together ("Never make your move too soon" and "Pack it up" among others) and had to come back for two long encores, because the audience just wouldn´t let them go ... and rightfully so!
I bought Oli´s and Joanne´s albums and when I shortly talked to them after the show, Joanne asked me about my Joe-shirt and so I suggested that the two of them should play a duet together sometime - she told me to put a word in for her. So Joe - consider this, she´s a kick-a** girl.
Eva
But I´m sure that I´m going to follow Jo´s and Oli´s carrer from now on, whilst I don´t think I´ll keep track of Erja´s work. Btw - Joanne said she´ll be back to Germany in October, I´ll be there for sure - maybe we´re going to meet at one of her shows!
. I haven't seen the Blues Caravan thing but it sounds like a lot of fun for performers and audience alike. 
