From www.bobtjeblues.com
Egypt - "Midnight Sun": Full cd - UK
Op het eerste zicht een keurig verzorgde cd met een leuk boekje in combinatie met een evenzo prima verzorgde website en een goed gevulde agenda. We vinden een totaal ± 45 min muziek verdeeld over 8 nummers waarvan 3 covers en 6 eigen werk. Drie heren die mij bij het eerste nummer direct duidelijk maken dat het om regelrechte rock gaat. Zanger/gitarist en componist Eric Chipulina drukt zijn stempel op het geheel. Met een rauwe geforceerde stem en heel veel gitaar geweld bepaald hij de sound van de band. Het is met name in het algemeen kort thema werk waarop gezongen wordt met daarna ellelange gitaar solo's. Het begint met de titelsong 'Midnight Sun'. Dit nummer voldoet meteen aan de hiervoor omschreven indruk. Eric heeft als gitarist veel in huis maar zit met elke solo meteen in de hoge regionen te soleren. Met een opbouw en climax werking in zijn solo´s zou het al aangenamer kunnen worden. Voor de 2 langzamere nummers '12.01' en ´Worried Life Blues' geldt eigenlijk hetzelfde. Je moet technisch veel in je mars hebben om zoveel gitaarsolo´s boeiend te houden en dat doet het voor mij niet. Ondanks de covers van Johnny Winter en John Lee Hooker, respectievelijk 'Mean Town Blues' en 'Worried Life Blues' staat deze cd vol rock/hardrock achtige muziek met eenvoudig bas en drumwerk. Wel weten ze samen binnen hun eigen muzikaal concept eenheid te creëren. Wie van recht toe recht aan rock houdt met veel gitaargeweld moet zeker eens gaan kijken en luisteren naar Egypt.
Recensent - Chris Janssen: bluesplayer@hetnet.nl
Info: Midnight Sun / Blues Matters / BMRCD200310
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Gary Hilton
Lowestoft Journal
Interview with Alan Fish, Ex Groundhogs, currently front man to Rock/ Blues outfit Egypt.
Living in the heart of Broadland, Alan Fish has been bassist/vocalist for East Anglia blues rock outfit Egypt since 1987, but it is as a long time member of the legendary Groundhogs that gives Alan his greatest claim to fame. Fronted by guitarist Tony McPhee, Groundhogs gained a reputation in the 70’s for delivering hard hitting blues with a raw rock edge. Alan has kept in contact with Tony since the band’s original split and has played with and supported Tony and the re-formed Groundhogs on many occasions.
Today, Egypt are a three-piece comprising of Pete Correa on drums and the incredible Eric Chipulina on guitar/ vocals, both ex-Groundhog members.
Alan Fish is a modest, mild mannered person has spent all of his working life as a hard working musician, enduring all the ups and downs that constant gigging, recording and the general survival in the often wacky world of rock produces. His personality and memory have not fallen foul to the influences that the rock industry has subjected him to over the years, and as you would expect, has some fascinating stories to tell; crazy parties with the Who, in addition to countless madcap antics that life on the road in an often wild lifestyle can produce. Prior to his appearance in the Triangle Tavern next Thursday, I thought I would find out a little more about this man’s intriguing background.
Q. You have been a professional musician for more than 44 years. How did you start in the music business and who were your early influences?
A. My father was a trumpeter and my mother was a pianist so music was in my blood. I formed a school skiffle band at 12. I listened to the guitar sound of The Shadows, The Tornadoes and those type of bands. I once went to the Orford Cellar in Norwich to see Jeff Beck, with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart and I was totally impressed and amazed at the things that Jeff did with his guitar. The techniques he was using and the sounds he created became a strong influence to where I went after that.
Q. You have played all over the world with and supporting countless bands. What is you most memorable gig?
A. The big festivals were always great; Reading, Isle of Wight 1970 and Stonehenge supporting Hawkwind in 77. In 1996 I played with Tony McPhee) at Thetford to a handful of people and the flew to Nurenburg the next day in front of an audience of over 30,000 which was fantastic, but my personal special memory was Singapore in 1966 supporting The Beatles and The Stones with Freddie and the Dreamers, The Kinks and Manfred Mann also on the line-up.
Q. The Egypt set mainly comprises of a few Groundhogs oldies, Cherry Red possibly being the most famous, the odd cover and a lot of strong Egypt originals.
Where do you get ideas for new material after a lifetime of experiences? A Normally I start off with the words, often influenced by concepts taken from poetry, and I guess Shakespeare still inspires me. Once we’ve got the lyrics together, we all work on the music.
Q. What are you plans for the future?
A. Well we have a European tour lined up and possibly the States and a many festivals as we can get to. New material will always be in development.
Q.You have travelled and lived all over the world. Why have you decided to settle in Broadland?
A. My parents still live in Norwich and I see East Anglia as one of the last bastions of unspoilt territory, a place where I can escape all the stresses of gigging and recording.
Q. Is there anything that still you wish to achieve musically?
A. I would like Egypt to get more recognition as a band and that would be in the way of a big “Thank you” to all the loyal fans who have followed and supported us over the years.
Well Alan, I sincerely hope you achieve that. You certainly have put in the hard work and dedication to deserve that. You have some great stories to tell and I hope we can talk again sometime, In the meantime I will look forward to seeing yourself and Eric performing in the Triangle Tavern next Thursday.
Gary Hilton
Home
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From Lynn News (late 2003)
Thanks to Emma Cooney at Lynn News.
THE PAGE has traced Mercury Prize nominees and much-hyped spandex wearing seventies-style rockers THE DARKNESS back to Norfolk blues outfit EGYPT. The rock and blues trio, well-known in the area, were mentioned in a recent article in The Independent about Lowestoft lads The Darkness. In it a former member of BIFF! - a band that featured Justin Hawkins, singer and lead guitarist of The Darkness reminisced about the days before the band's celebrity status sky-rocketed. The Biff! member took us back to the days when Justin played a gig with Egypt in 1991. He said: The evening had been a complete disaster from beginning to end, Chasing a never to materialise support slot with an older local band called Egypt - who boasted members from legendary seventies blues-rock outfit, THE GROUNDHOGS - we had schlepped across East Anglia in the hope that driving a trio of greying rockers to a pub gig in North Norfolk, and loaning them our gear, might somehow further our quest for a record deal and subsequent world domination. In fact the band had simply ignored us all night, got pissed and then made us drive them home without even paying for our diesel. Now it is two in the morning, we are miles from home and the van just won't start. And it's a school night, quite literally. Biff!'s junior guitar player Justin Hawkins suddenly pipes up from the darkness. "I've got my maths GCSE tomorrow and I'm never going to pass it now." Prompted by The Page, Egypt bassist Alan Fish (57) recalled his blurred recollections of the occasion. A polite sounding man, he remembers the night playing a bikers club in Southrepps, between North Walsham and Cromer, differently. said: "It was a tremendous night, people still talk about it. Those biker doos are really, really good. We weren't that horrible. We were a bit concerned because the equipment hadn't turned up. I think the van broke down on the way from London. Everybody went through that kind of apprenticeship. Not that we were deliberately out to get our own back." Remembering the free drinks after the gig he added: "I don't think anyone was in the state to drive." Not realising he had played with the main ingredient of the mighty Darkness, until The Page pointed it out, he watched TV the other day and recognised Justin's face. He's impressed with the band's retro sound, calling it an antidote to bland boy bands who have dominated the charts for so long. He's even bought their album. "It's great to see retro rock and someone advancing the cause of rock" Alan burst in to laughter as he admitted he'd managed to forge a career in music for 40 years. He started out in the skiffle days and played through the punk era. "I think it's come full circle again. Bands like The Darkness, Feeder, Ocean Colour Scene - even Metallica - are playing the more basic stuff. It's turned full circle - from electronica to bands that actually play instruments and are producing heavier stuff again." Rubbing shoulders with Justin Hawkins was not Alan's only brush with fame. At the pinnacle of his career with The Groundhogs, he played to crowds of 40,000 in Nuremberg, Germany, and three fields full of people at Reading and Donnington festivals. The day before playing Reading, the band had played to 50 people in a Thetford pub. "It was a cinderella existence" said Alan. While in Singapore in the 60s - his dad was in the RAF - he forged a career in music playing in bands that supported THE ROLLING STONES, THE WHO and THE BEATLES, all stopping off on their way to tour Australia. "The Beatles had released Please Please Me and My Generation was in the charts for The Who." he said. He also played with THE KINKS, MANFRED MAN and FREDDY AND THE DREAMERS in bands soaked in 60s psychedelia with names such as The Toadstalls. He even toured with CHUCK BERRY for a while. He dropped into the conversation he'd just played with Ken Hensley from Uriah Heep in Spain and is still mates with Dire Straits' drummer. He joined The Groundhogs back in the UK in the 70s. "It's good to look back and see what I've done. It's been an interesting life". Egypt formed late 1987 by Alan and Eric Chipulina on guitar/vocals. Drummer Peter Correa joined the band in 1991, the year the trio played a gig with BIFF! The band play mainly originals and "heavied up" blues standards, throwing in 60s/70s blues and rock covers, including some from The Groundhogs. Alan cites his influences as FREE, JOHN ENTWHISTLE and LED ZEPPELIN. The band gig four of five times a week and will embark on a lengthy tour next year to promote their third album Midnight Sun, due out next month. The last album Preserving the Dead was released several years ago with a small indie label. International label Blues Matters is interested in Egypt's impending release and Alan's confident it could be the start of a breakthrough, leading to bigger and better things once more. "It's looking good," he said, adding: "It's about time.
Comment from Egypt:
Alan remembers the gig because he remembers everything, Eric remembers nothing at all, & Peter remembers talking to the bass player who wasn't even there!
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Comment about Alan Fish in this excerpt from an interview with Ray Phillips (drummer with Budgie/Tredegar) from Sabre Dance (Budgie & related bands fanzine)
AT: I actually think the 1st Tredegar album is something realy special. How good do you think that '86 line-up was? In terms of musicianship & ability, was that the high point?
RP: What I see as a high point in a band is when you're working with the right guys. Like for instance, Tony, he was great to work with. When we were on stage and anything went wrong, we'd lock together and we bring it back to where it should be. Alan Fish was a good bass player, so I'd have to say Alan Fish, Tony Bourge, Ian Hornsby was the best line-up, a cracking line-up.
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Review from www.rockofthenorth.co.uk
Egypt Impress 28/4/07
Norfolk band Egypt completely rocked the Crimea Tavern in Castleford on Saturday night with two perfectly played sets. This band have such high quality probably due to their pedigree being ex members of Dumpys Rusty Nuts and The (legendary) Groundhogs with Tony Mc Phee. With numbers from Howling Wolf, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Groundhogs and their own brilliant compositions, the band had the house dancing from the first number. After only three numbers landlord Jim Duggan said to me "What a band Steve, what a band!" Jim's right, they are a awesome band playing power trio material as powerfully as is possible. Three great musicians as tight as a drum put some of the so called top bands to shame. The band played The Boot and Shoe on Sunday afternoon. One RotN contributor told me he felt privileged to see the band!
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From Highlands FM in Australia
Egypt's latest power packed Blues laced album is a credit to its three musicians. Midnight Sun has all the right ingredients to turn an avid Blues fan into an even more avid one. The standards are there, Mean Town Blues (Johnny Winter), Worried Life Blues (John Lee Hooker)as well as others self composed by the band themselves. There is, however, something different about this album; sure, the usual angst riven songs are there with tales of whiskey, love lost and things mechanical but there is also concern for the planet. Yes! Eco Blues raises its head on 'Down on the Farm'; listen to it, learn from it and do something about it. This is an album for now and the musical interplay between Eric, Alan and Peter has to be heard to be believed. There is NO showmanship on this album, no lengthy gratuitous solos, just plain well constructed and inter-played blues. These are musos at their best and just loving it."
Tony Bates
100.7 Highlands FM
Australia
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Egypt
Midnight Sun *****
Blues Matters BMRCD 200310
From the opening bars of this excellent album it's action all the way,full of mean riffs, furious slide guitar and lively percussion from the trio of ex-Groundhog members. Their music is hard to define - just when you think it's heavy rock, they launch into a blues number. But not just any old blues. This blues is mean and passionate, full of great guitar work ranging from rock through to pure blues and back again. To pick the best from such outstanding music is almost impossible, but those that just have the edge have to be the Hendrix-like 12.01, the old Johnny Winter number Mean Town Blues and Worried Life Blues. This is Heavy rock blues at it's best - which must be dynamite live. But they don't play blues like this this side of the Atlantic! Egypt does.
Linda Barrington-Smith
EDP August 20, 2004
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Review from Tubbys Blues Club newsletter
Related link - www.tubbysblues.co.uk
Gig date - 3rd August 2007
The Egypt Blues Band were great with hard hitting blues/rock rhythms. Eric Chipulina on the lead guitar was absolutely brilliant. He produces amazing sounds from his guitar bereft of all effects except a wow wow pedal. He is a true genius and not for nothing is rated one of the best guitarists in Europe, on top of this he has a great blues voice too.Alan Fish ]Bass] and Peter Correa [Drums] provide a really tight rhythm section which allows Eric to flower on his guitar solos.
Otis Mack
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Review from www.rockofthenorth.com
Gig date - 2/11/04
The tremendous Blues Matters Records band Egypt called in to Charisma at Hoyland, near Barnsley on Tuesday night bristling from a successful tour of Scotland. The tight power trio, an evolution of Dumpy's Rusty Nuts and The Groundhogs played a brilliant set of old and new songs to a very appreciative gathering of music fans. Here's a picture of the band with Rock of the North's beer tester, Steve. (photo)
Charisma is a very nice venue, one we will return to in the near future. Can't wait to see Egypt back in the North, they're an excellent band of talented musicians. Their latest CD, Midnight Sun is an excellent offering too....we bought one ourselves and is the current play of the week in the Bluesmobile.
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Product: Egypt - Midnight Sun
From: Chris Simmonds
Date: Friday 08 October, 2004
Heavy blues rock trio Egypt - from deepest Suffolk - may not be a name many of you know but if you are a Groundhogs fan then you will know of all the band members.
Guitarist Eric Chipulina and drummer Peter Correa were `Hogs through much of the 1990s, although Eric was on bass then, and bassist Alan Fish has been in various carnations of Tony McPhee`s bands going back almost 30 years. All three of them were together in a 4-piece line up of the `Hogs in and around 93/94 following McPhee`s stroke.
This release, on blues magazine Blues Matters! label features 9 tracks with covers of Johnny Winters, John Lee Hooker and Janis Joplin songs book ended by three Egypt originals either side.
The opening title track is a particularly impressive mid-pace rocker and it doesn`t take long for Chipulina to get his wah wah out. 12.01 has a slow, languid build up and there is an obvious Groundhogs feel and influence throughout, both in the original songs (all written by Chipulina) and in the covers of Mean Town Blues and Worried Life Blues. Eric`s vocal phrasing is taken straight from his former boss and imitation, they say, is the greatest form of flattery.
The final two tracks here, Down On The Farm and Boneshaker, are 100% class. So, not a bad effort at all, and if you take the best of the tracks from here and the prospect of some old Groundhogs chestnuts thrown in, it should make for an exciting live show. You`ll get your chance to find out when the band come to Scotland in late October.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]
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Review of gig @ Woodcutter, Hartlepool, Durham, UK - Fri 20th Mar 2009
http://www.thewoodcutterhartlepool.co.uk/
tommy wormald (@thomas.wormald2@ntlworld.com)
Subject: value for money
In these credit crunching times we are all looking for value for money and last fridays band [EGYPT]will take a bit of beating in that category
3 veterans of the music industry who have seen it all before, all former members of the Groundhogs knocked us socks off for almost 2 and a half hours of extremely enjoyable blues/rock and could put some younger bands to shame for sheer determination and effort,cant put into print what time this band finished for legal reasons but suffice to say no band has played later than Egypt
Playing a mixture of their own stuff and interspersed with Groundhogs material split part2 and 4 and cherry red and more eveyone who stayed the pace went home happy and contented and to me thats what LIVE music is all about - ENJOYMENT
Will have to get these boys to start a bit earlier next time and there will be a next time believe me,meanwhile - ENJOY
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Excerpt of a review of Skegness Rock & Blues Festival 2006 in the Leicester Mercury
..........Then appeared a band I had not seen yet, but heard much about. Egypt were the loudest, yet most wonderful blues-rock band you could come across. Eric Chipulina is the lead guitarist and vocalist. Formed in 1987, you could tell the performance was quite effortless for them. And no, it wasn’t another band called Little Egypt!.............
Steve England
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From It's only Rock & Roll (Derby gig guide)
Im HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY
Why?
PETER CORREA on Drums
ERIC CHIPULINA on Guitar
ALAN FISH on Bass & Vocals
That’s why
Yes all you guys out there who know good music recognise the names!
EGYPT are a trio of ex GROUNDHOGS bluesmen who have wore out several T-Shirts, Their show at the GROOM was a kick in the arse reminder that all is not lost in Derby (No disrespect to the FLOWERPOT who always put great effort into their choice of artists)
These guys put on a show that can only described as awesome, They drew fans from Mansfield to Milton Keynes to the venue and certainly made their journey worthwhile, Here we have true Musos who love their music and take the audience on the ride with them,
Chatting to the guys later on lifted my weary Derby heart to a height it had not reached for long time, If you ever get chance to read this article Alan, Thanks for restoring my faith in the “non stadium” bands, This was a performance that I will long remember.
Mystery Man
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Review from Hope Tavern, Holton le Moor, Lincs (Newsletter)
Gig on Sun 9th Jan 2005
Hi , Thanks for the good turnout for EGYPT on Sunday. What a great start to the new year. This trio just oozed experience but managed to perform with the energy as if they were just starting out. Probably the best set of musicians we’ve had and quite honestly, it’s going to be hard to follow!!!– but I’ll try!! We were treated to a fantastic afternoon of great blues/rock ( although “Progressive Blues” attributed to the Grounhogs seemed to a be good of describing their music) playing original numbers from their CD and classics from Led Zepplin to Hendrix, John Lee Hooker to Robert Johnson in their own unique style – just how we like it. The solo set by Eric Chipulina was as good a version of Robert Johnson music as I’ve heard, his voice and guitar carrying the music to a tee - I reckon the man himself would have been chuffed! Eric is a marvellous guitarist and certainly made the best use of his Gibson Les Paul in ways you had to see and hear to believe, driven by simply the best rhythm pair we’ve had at the Tavern. Alan Fish showing great talent and experience and Peter Correa kept the trio as tight as a drum. I particularly liked “Just a Little Bit” and Hooker’s “Worried Life Blues” which showed all three at their best. They’ll be back!!!!!
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From La Hora Del Blues, blues radio show website based in Barcelona
Egypt “Midnight Sun”. Blues Matters! 2004.
Undoubtely this British trio have the particular sound characteristic of old r&b british Groundhogs. Apart from the time gap, The Egypt have got a much more powerful flamming sound than their predecessors with a harder rocking punch of approaching music. If you like demolishing hard electrifying rock-blues, your are now facing a cd that will certainly captivate you from the beginning to the end. Good distorted guitar riffs all with an excellent tone, together with blunt electric bass patterns and powerful drums beat, complete a totally satisfactory record.
Rating - VERY GOOD.
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From Lynn News (March 2004)
Thanks to Karen Patient at Lynn News.
WHATEVER preconceptions you have of a blues and rock club, Elme Hall Hotel’s Sunday afternoon gigs blow them clear out of the water. Far from my idea of a smokey room, filled with intimidatingly knowledgeable regulars, the spacious venue has an immediately friendly atmosphere. The high ceiling, with a second tier of the audience on a balcony above the main auditorium, really allows the acoustics to soar. And the punters come from all walks of life, from those who remember 70s rock outfit THE GROUNDHOGS, to teenagers hearing the material for the first time. There is also a high contingent of families, which - depending on the energy level of the youngsters you’re perched near - stops things getting too heavy and epitomises how approachable Elme Hall is for music fans of all ages. But whatever our differences, appreciation for blues rockers EGYPT was unanimous when the three-piece took Elme Hall by storm earlier this month. Starting with an energy-fuelled version of Bo Diddley’s Before You Accuse Me, Egypt powered their way through a strong set from John Lee Hooker favourites, Groundhogs numbers, including Cherry Red, to Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile. Peter Correa was sometimes a blur behind the drumsticks, maintaining a relentless rhythm, which echoed round the room, getting into your bones and making you move. Bassist Alan and guitarist Eric Chipulina's superb instrumentals would have made vocals unnecessary, if lead singer Eric's rough and raspingly voice had not been quite so perfect that it seemed made for their material. The guys also performed their self-penned title track and Raising Cain from their new album Midnight Sun, which includes Johnnie Winter's Mean Town Blues. Delayed due to printer problems, Midnight Sun is expected out this month on the Blues Matters label. And previous albums Egypt and Preserving The Dead will be re-released with the label in advance of their UK and European tour, taking in Switzerland, Holland and Belgium. Egypt is also out on the road with the Motor Riders Association this year, performing at the Southern Crusader Treffen in Helston, Cornwall, on Friday, April 9, and at the Eastern Treffen in Stalham, Norfolk, on Friday, July 9. For a truly class act you'll have to go a long way to beat these guys, and don’t let the predominantly 70s set-list fool you - Egypt’s heyday is right now.
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From Blues Matters Magazine
EGYPT advance Cd review
UK – EGYPT
Midnight Sun, Blues Matters! Records BMRCD200310
A moody, mysterious design for this one of the latest ‘own label’ releases and one I have been looking forward to ever since the demo version came my way. Your reviewer is a sucker for the saturnine power trio sound pioneered by Robin Trower and ‘Second Phase’ Groundhogs and lo and behold we have some ex Groundhog personnel aboard in Egypt so believers in the beauty of skilfully used distortion should board now for this trip to mean riffs, impassioned vocals, relentless and lively percussion. Not to mention spiky multitoned guitar playing and ominous bass patterns, the latter courtesy of Alan Fish a mild-mannered guy who pours everything into his music. If you have to label this music we’re in BluesRock territory but these guys would rather create atmospheres than plod – witness the lost-in-the-desert vista for the ears that is “12.01” Masters of mood Roadhouse would surely approve ! Eric Chipulina’s guitar is equal parts insistent rock punch and pure Blues meanness ; whatever drummer Peter Correa picked up in his days as a Groundhog equips him to push this crew along and hold things together, snare work this side of abrasive and plenty forceful. This number must be pretty evil when played live ! “Mean Town Blues” is the old Johnny Winter vehicle and fits into the tracklisting well and one can envisage them moving further in a ‘Johnny Winter And’ direction. I for one hope so as that JW era saw him produce his best original songs and best range. Rather this than revisiting ‘Need Your Love So Bad’ and ‘It Hurts Me Too’ for the umpteenth time as too many bands seem obliged to do. None of that here and the more you listen the more it occurs that Egypt are perhaps bridging the gap between darkest Groundhogs of the ‘Thank Christ’ and ‘Who Will..’ period and the meaty popular appeal of say Bad Company. In other words your mates who ‘don’t like Blues’ might well get a kick from this ? Hard electric music without the Iron Maiden demons&devils tripe has a timeless quality when delivered well and it can move crowds too. Let’s hope Egypt get the chance to do just that. What else ? “Boneshaker” cries out for a female chorus to realise its obvious potential as a club or festival favourite. Oh and Eric is mighty fine slide player…….Pete Sargeant "
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Excerpt of Review from www.feenstra.co.uk
BLUES MATTERS NIGHT
The Boom Boom Club, Sutton Utd FC 10/10/04
Roadhouse / Egypt / The Mellotones
...........Egypt followed and cranked up the volume as they powered their way through a muscular mix of Groundhogs, John Lee Hooker and self penned material. Guitarist Eric Chipulina is a chip off the old Tony McPhee block and together with the seamless bass playing of Alan Fish and the redoubtably Peter Correa on drums, the power trio even dipped into the Hogs past for “Split” (I forget which part to be honest), and a raucous Johnny Winter “Mean Town Blues”.
Best filed under heavy rocking blues, Egypt blew away any remaining cobwebs and fully deserved their hearty applause............
...........The whole evening was nicely wrapped up with a Roadhouse/Mellotones jam, which also featured Blues Matters harp playing scribe Pete Sergeant, Alan Fish on bass and a Mellotones roadie on guitar. The only missing figure here was the powerful Eric Chipulina on guitar............
.............A great three band bill then that never let up on the energy levels, and a great time was had by all.
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Gig at The Running Horse, Nottingham
Egypt - Saturday 8 January 2005
Guitarist/singer Eric Chipulina and bassman Alan Fish started the band in 1987 and drummer Peter Correa joined them in 1991, with all three playing in Tony McPhee's Groundhogs in the mid-90s. With this pedigree their style is no surprise - straight-ahead, riff-heavy blues-rock delivered with sledge-hammer force. Subtle? Nope, but undeniably effective. I was particularly impressed with Eric's impassioned yet melodic vocals and accomplished guitar work - blistering speed but mostly keeping that bluesy edge, with dramatic use of wah-wah and controlled feedback. I liked their version of Zeppelin's "Ramble On" and a "Baby Please Don't Go" that owed a lot to Van Morrison's Them. Best of all were Eric's solo numbers after the break, a nice contrast to the relentless thunder of the power trio. If there is a criticism, it's that the backline were occasionally unresponsive to the spacious dynamics created by the guitarist and the odd passage that should have flown remained rooted to the ground. Nevertheless, a fun night!
Dave Kingsbury
www.therunninghorse.ukpub.net
