Topic: Glenn Hughes
When the it became clear the BCC train wasn't going to run with Joe anymore I hoped, and even stated in a post that I thought the perfect choice for the guitar role, if they could continue, would be Doug Aldrich.
On his latest tour and last night in Knust Hamburg I got my wish, up close and personal.
The portents always looked good for this tour. As a 3 piece you have to have 3 musicians that can kick serious a$$. Glenn's talent on Bass is often undersung so seeing is believing. He has the chops and of course, 'that voice' is simply amazing. It is Glenn's show, so I went in accepting that he would parade his full range of vocal gymnastics. Live with it, get past it and just enjoy that he can DO this stuff. Sure, I could do without his Mariah Carey multiple octave histrionics at the end of a stunning version of 'Mistreated', but that aside, for a geezer in his '60's, that has been there and done it all to excess, his performance was/is a masterclass in rock music presentation.
Yes, the preening and posing are all there, but he has earned the right and walked the walk to do it his way - nuff said.
Doug is, without doubt, one of the finest guitarists of this genre of music there will ever be. He makes it look so effortless, but then that is the hallmark of the master musician. The hours of endless practice combined with a god given talent have honed to his performance to perfection. I couldn't say over the almost 2 hours if he played a bum note, but then he played about a million. Yes, he can shred to oblivion, but if you play with Glenn then the song comes first so Doug's playing served to enhance the material. Delightfull fills whilst cranking the riffs and never overstaying his welcome in the context of the song.
Pontus Engburg is a drummer from the Lee Kerslake mould. No frills, power and purpose. His job it to lay down solid basis for the other two to do there thing. This he does with a Nordic zeal and relish. Being his neighbour as he was growing up must have been a nightmare.......
Songwise, Glenn is packing a career spanning set. Purple Mk 3 stuff, Trapeze (as a tribute to the late Mel Galley), his solo career (Soul Mover amongst others). The BCC stuff sounds great, even though the sound desk upped the bass a bit too much for the last 3 songs. 'one Last Soul' and 'Black Country' were obvious highlights. He closed, as expected with 'Burn' which was fair enough given that he had set the place alight already (figuratively speaking).
All in all, master craftsmen at work. Catch in the UK and Stateside next year if you can. This is the way it used to be...........and for Glenn, still is.
PS
Support act Jared James Nicholls is well worthy of mention. No frills full on rock boogie. The approach, playing, hair and teeth(!) struck me as a young Ted Nugent hitting the boards, but without the lunacy and loincloth! Respect mate!