| |
Whiskyfun
Home
(Current
entries)
Concert
Review
Index
(All Reviews
Since 2004)
Leave
feedback
 |
Copyright
Nick Morgan and crew
|
|
|
Concert
Review by Nick Morgan |
|
 |
ALAN
GLEN AND SONNY BLACK, THE ANIMALS
Ealing Blues Festival, July 23, 2005 by
Kate Kavanagh |
| Editor's
note: Nick Morgan, our regular reviewer
is currently "sailing up shit creek" in
the Hebrides without a diesel engine and praying
that two big mermaids will turn up shortly to tow
them to the nearest dry land, failing that... sing
"We've gotta get out of this place" and
wait for the Oban lifeboat. Thank God, Kate, our
official concert photographer, agreed to write a
few lines about these various Animals (not the mermaids)
for us. |
| Runnin’
down the avenue (Gunnersbury Ave., that is), I observed
with relief for Alan Glen’s sake that Mister
Blue Sky was living here today for another great
celebration of British blues. Ace ex-Yardbirds harmonica
player and his tremendous guitarist pal, Sonny Black,
need not have worried earlier about weather and
consequent turnout for their fine acoustic set in
the beautiful park surroundings. I did note that
Alan had roped in the whole of his lovely enthusiastic
family, Jackie and the boys, to boost audience numbers
and/or as “roadies” – bless them
all! |
 Alan
Glen |
| A
splendid “tour de force” of blues harp,
slide and picking and just generally great guitars
from the guys took us through Slim Harpo’s
(via Rolling Stones) “I’m A King Bee”,
G. L. Crockett’s (via Duster Bennett) “Man
Down There”, Jimmy Rogers’ (via The
Barcodes) “That’s Alright”, Sonny
and Brownie’s “Hoedown”, Sonny
Boy Williamson’s “Byebye Bird”
(check out SBW with the Yardbirds, live at the Crawdaddy
some decades back, on CD). Indeed, there were plenty
of Crawdaddies and Mummies around at today’s
gig! |
 |
|
|
So
it was good. To the extent that it deserved a
commemoration (see pic). Great T-shirt, merci
Serge, and not bad whisky, either! So busy dramming
were they that they almost missed the next bit…
Having spent a day at London Zoo earlier this
week, I thought I would be able to understand
something of evolution. But not in the case of
these Animals! The number of name and lineup changes
over the years would require a Darwinian understanding
of the British R and B species. |
Put
simply, today’s gang of four were formed by
original “Animals” drummer John Steel.
Around him were grouped Pete Barton on bass and
vocals, Johnny “Guitar” Williamson on
lead guitar and Micky Gallagher on keyboards. Honestly,
I didn’t jump up, windmill-arm, do the splits
and chorus “WHO are you?”!!
The rest of the crowd (several hundred crammed into
a splendid tent and more standing five deep outside)
roared their appreciation for the opening number,
1964’s “Baby Let Me Take You Home”,
dedicated to “Chas” Chandler and Dave
Rowberry. Nice. Then, 1965’s “It’s
My Life” and the rest…a mix of new and,
mostly, old. “Don’t Let Me Be…”,
“I Believe”, “Bring It On Home…”,
“Don’t Bring Me Down”, etc. |
The
Animals
|
|
| But
was it her age, the absence of THE great voice,
or just her unrequited junior crush on Alan Price
(please do not mention the daft “Dancing
Bear” song) which made Nick’s recently
“idle photographer” (now known as
“Doolittle” – geddit?!) walk
away from the Animals, not talk, or grunt or squeak
or squawk with the Animals?
But back home, you can dram with the Animals,
as you loved them! So Serge, for my big men, their
fave: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
on mp3, original version, please. Merci!! - Kate
Kavanagh (text and pictures) |
Check
the index of all reviews:
Nick's Concert Reviews
|
|
|
|
|
There's nothing more down there... |
|
|
|
|
