Durham Blues/Rock Jam-boree 29-3-13

Not to be confused with the Durham Blues Festival, coming up in June. Held in a quiet little corner of County Durham, Mainsforth, it was anything but a “quiet” event. Three Blues/Rock maestros tearing it up for the Bank Holiday and almost 200 people in to enjoy it.

First up was Co. Durham lad, Mitch Laddie; Mitch should need no introduction though recently his stock seems to be slipping back for some inexplicable reason. No need to worry about his opening placement on this bill, the event was more of a triple-header. Mitch kicked it off in grand style, with his epic Time Is Running Away. and for the next 55 minutes, he just blazed, peaking with his monster take on Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues. Mitch laid off a bit from the more rootsy blues he’s been playing (and carrying very well) of late, and turned up the “funk” a bit; brought to mind the quote about Ritchi Blackmore by Bumps Blackwell -” I had to stop, blink my eyes and go back and take a close look at the cat. He was playing some black blues that’d make some black stand up and take notice”. Mitch has, and is on the same song-sheet as Gary Clark Jr.

Speaking of Jr’s, finally we got to see Ron Sayer up in these parts, in his own right; first time since backing Oli a couple of years ago. So we change from a fiery prodigy to true craftsman; Ron’s delivery of bespoke material is seemless as it is riviting. From the crisp I Ain’t Leaving and (almost contradictory) Don’t Make Me Stay to the latin tinged funk of Manana to the rockin’ out of Piece Of Me and Right All the Time, Ron showed not only is he a songsmith of some class, but more than able to lay it down with the best of them. Then, he brings out his secret weapon; Charlotte Joyce. Don’t think this lady just provides backing vocals and keyboard colour; this lady has a voice, a Beth Hart of a voice, and knows how to use it. The net effect is like finding your Aston Martin has been turbo charged. And that’s not all, the “engine” for the night’s show was provided by the ubiquitous Wayne Proctor on drums, and a very familiar face, not dissimilar to Ron’s on bass. Backing like that, has to be testament to the man up front.

Finally, that got local hero Russ Tippins up on stage, with his Electric Band; electric by name, electric by nature and not “eclectic” as Russ tends to be, solo. Opening with some frantic, fiery picking, Russ dived into 2 new tracks with a Allman’s feel as he’s a new album due out next month; and sounding pretty good, even the title track, Combustion. True to form, you can take the guy out the Led Zep tribute band, but not the Led Zep out the guy, Russ dived into The Lemon Song, showing not only can he manage the Page licks, he can also hit the Plant notes. Not to be outdone, Ian Halford on drums was giving it planty of “thrutch” at the back, and John Dawson was playing the bass like a rhythm guitar. Little Josephine and Electrickery were reminders of Russ’s debut album before he hit with another new track; Poncho, a Texas boogie with a hook reminicent from an old, old, Shadows number, before leaving everyone Dazed And Confused.

With three guitarists of this calibre, and encore jam was a foregone conclusion and while spontaneous, great fun. It started off as Voodoo Chile, but became almost a series of triples, one taking a lead run, the second taking that and putting his twist on it before the 3rd did the same and take it back to the start. Sounds complicated, but sounded great and by the looks on Russ, Ron and Mitch faces looked fun; 15 minutes of pscyhedelic blues to round off a great night.