#netgig

    Ian Siegal 2wenty5ive Years touring reaching a Pinnacle tonight at The Convent near Stroud. Ian Siegal has been on the road for Twenty Five years, the format may change, solo, trio or the current four-piece band he delivers music that defies capturing in a box it flies with integrity, style enthralling the audience.

Ian Siegal tonight was on fire he was full of Siegal magic full of charismatic energy and the evil twisting of words fell from his lips like pure gold as blues melted into country and reform as Rock n Roll. The guitar of choice tonight was a Gibson. Opening the night was an old favourite guitar, his old Harmony as he opened with The Skinny the lead from  Joel Fisk was a fabulous introduction to this young guitarist who for this tour is stepping into the boots of Dusty Ciggar a difficult slot to fill. Tonight Joel more than stepped up to the mark fitting in and shaping his guitar to complement Ian’s guitar work and vocals. The rhythm section Dutch duo of bassist Danny Van’t Hoff and drummer Raphael Schwiddessen; who are the platform that lets Ian fly away with the songs that tonight he is playing all written or co-written. Celebrating twenty-five years tonight is all about the frontman Ian Siegal and he is enjoying every moment as we listen once again to new and old favourites.

The tunes came thick and fast as Better Than Myself, became I Am The Train an award-winning number that takes you on a journey with Siegal in total control of the music and the band whose timing punctuated the tone, shape and pace of the train journey. The collective power and intensity for an audience who is totally immersed in the music, the intensity deepened with every song and tonight’s version of Mortal Coil was simply immense.

The set was the most emotionally poignant set that I have ever witnessed, this was Ian exploring his own music full of Rock n Roll pizzazz that makes him entertaining live music that rolls with energetic tensions as the clever lyrics are spat out, and smoothed over. He is amusing, witty and his perspective on the world is cuttingly sharp. The guitar weeps on Mortal Coil, the shuffle is blues plus so much more he is described by many as the best of British Blues, but for me, he is a musician that plays bloody fine music. Every number was electric, Brandy Balloon saw another Joel special lead break, and the dueling of guitars on Butter Side Up was beautiful.

In true Ian Siegal live style we were taken off-piste as Hard Pressed morphed into a celebration of Prince’s Sign Of The Times flowing into The Revelator where John The Baptist became the Backdoor Man.  This was as ever clever works so fine with the immaculate timing that keeps the shape of the original number whilst exploring the other numbers. The encore was demanded and a solo version of The Fear ensued, a beautifully crafted number with lyrics that connects deep within your soul written with Kris Kristoffenson in mind and delivered by Ian with hints of country and the vocal depths of Johnny Cash. Closing with Falling On Down, the band ensured there was only one reaction not falling down with delight but standing up, the standing ovation was a first at The Convent and not the last for Ian Siegal on this tour.

With live music timing and stage presence creates the mood of the music turning live music into something very special and tonight every ingredient went into the mixing bowl and a superb night was created, one we will remember and talk about the night we heard Ian Siegal and his band at the Convent.

From his lead breaks, rhythm guitar, Ian Siegal 2wenty5ive Years touring reaching a Pinnacle tonight. Ian, was definitely on top form tonight, and it doesn’t come any better than this. The review of the night can be captured in a single word Brilliant!!!

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Missed the night the whole event is available to stream from The Convent Netgig – HERE

The Three CD Boxed Set celebrating Ian Siegal’s 2wnety5ive Years on the road available HERE

Friday 11th December 2015

      Tonight we had blues with a difference, Stark are definitely not orthodox – that said they produce music that is authentic and delivered with verve and passion. Stark are a great young trio from Brighton with real potential to light up the British Blues scene and way beyond crossing artificial boundaries created with a world obsessed with genres and putting music into boxes.

Jamie Francis’s guitar of choice is a resonator played like an electric the sound is both interesting and musically spot on mixing well with his vocals and the trio’s interpretations of blues classics and self-penned numbers. Ensuring the band has rhythm, and another two voices, drummer Evan Carson controls the beat and creates layers of sound with carefully selected array of sticks including mallets, rods and brushes, and bassist Joshua Franklin. Team Stark describe themselves as alternative blues, the reality being that they a have blues running through their core like a stick of Brighton Rock, they just stir the pot up creating a sound that is contemporary and refuses to be trapped behind a label. They want to be heard and judged by the sound they produce not pre-conceptions (often misguided) of Blues in Britain today.

The set was full of power opening with Dylan and closing with a free-flowing version of Whole Lotta Love. Their interpretation of Robert Johnson’s, Crossroad Blues was very much up-tempo and it really did work once again demonstrating what a classic number this oft heard blues song is. In the mix was Jeff Lang’s Copper Mine a lively number, Big Shaky a Kelly Jo Phelps number and those from the lexicon of the blues foundations such as Robert Johnson’s If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day appropriate in front of the altar at The Convent and Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Rising High Water Blues a modern and fresh re-working hitting the high water line.

Stark are more than re-shaping classics, they obviously love, understand and are knowledgeable about the blues as reflected in the self-penned numbers from their current EP Stories From The Ground. Ball and Chain certainly stands out as exceptionally good both lyrically and musically. I Will Change and Feelin’ Good again demonstrate the trio’s talent, the audience was very appreciative and this is a young band to watch out for as they can only get better and the level is high at the moment!

The slide guitar playing on Son House’s Death Letter Blues grabbed your attention proving that Stark are a band of great depth and dimension with tonal layers that build themselves around the lyrics that are the heart of blues.

For me Stark are a trio of talent creating a sound that is distinctive and blues with attitude Bluesiana for the twenty-first century; they are definitely the combining of country and urban blues with a twist of youthful arrogance. If you have missed them when they played live then I recommend catching up with them via The Convent’s Netgig service.