Muddy Waters in a knock-out concert

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33212, 30 April 1973, Page 14

Muddy Waters in a knock-out concert

Muddy Waters certainly deserves his announced honorary title of “Father of the Blues.” In a knock-out concert in the Town Hall last evening, he showed a very enthusiastic audience just! how he earned the name.

He is every inch a true Delta blues performer, from his thinning black hair down to his shiny black shoes. In fact, one would think Delta blues was his own creation.

Muddy Waters is obviously one of the few to whom the heavy rock sound of today, as well as some of the lighter stuff, owes everything. Coming from the older school of pre-war Mississippi blues singers, he is the founding father of a whole school of blues in Chicago which has been so widely

copied by white musicians. With a convincing, mellow voice, never once off key, Muddy Waters interprets the blues in his own particular way, and one gets the feeling that his songs come from the depth of his experience, so strongly are they interpreted.

His guitar picking, especially his work on the slide guitar, was really fine and was always received with the applause it deserved. It was disappointing that there was not a large number of people interested in his sound — the auditorium was only just half full but at least those that were there were converts, and truly appreciated what they came to hear.

His backing group could not have been better. When backing him, they were never too conspicuous, yet provided a steady, driving covering, and when out on' their own, each sidesman had the opportunity to show his real worth which was, in each case, really something. Special mention must be made of an incredible pianist, straw hat and all. and a very intense mouthorganist.

The first half of the concert was filled in by Brent Parlane, an Auckland singer and song writer who could have quite a promising career ahead of him. His songs all showed originality, especially in lyrics, and his stage presence was enough to hold a restive audience that really only wanted to hear the blues. A little more variety in his melodies and Parlane should go a long way. —F.P.