Tim Aves & Wolfpack

Have to admit straight up, this isn’t a band I would normally have gone to see, but it was Darlington R’n'B Club’s last official fling at The Garden Bar. And let’s face it, what Tim Aves doesn’t know about Blues probably isn’t worth knowing.

Many of you may remember Tim from his stints in bands like Automatic Slim and Rockin’ Armadillos, so Wolfpack already has some “pedigree”.....sorry. Not a tribute band to Howlin’ Wolf though they do a number of his songs, but more inspired by; so that gives them licence to cover anything from Sonny Boy through to ZZ Top by way of SRV and anyone else.

As well as Tim on Vocals, harmonica and guitar, the tight backline is made up by Paul Lester on drums and Rob “Tank” Barry on bass, both of whom were with Tim for many years in the Rockin’ Armadillos. Making up the quartet was Joel Fisk, best known from Hokie Joint and with a third project on the go, The Struck Bats. Have to say, through the gig, Joel’s guitar work has pushed him up a few notches on my ratings list. Being able to hear his playing more to the fore than having to force its way through Jojo’s mighty throat or Giles King’s harmonica showed how adept he actually is. His touch on slide guitar is light but effective and he had no trouble keeping it with these guys who’ve been playin’ longer than Joel’s been breathin’.

Didn’t stay the whole distance, but I can bet a friend from Sedgefield Rock n' Blues Club committee did - (scouting mission?) so he can probably fill you in more on the songs, but when they have secondary titles like “Your Funeral, My Trial”, it’s hard to keep note of them.

Mike