Raw blues from John Mayall
By
NEVIN TOPP
John Mayall, the venerable British blues musician, and his four-piece group provided a taste of blues in the raw, at the Christchurch Town Hall auditorium last evening. The blues was raw for two reasons: the group had to perform by trial and error, as it had no time for a sound check after delay in arriving in Christchurch by air from Sydney; and John Mayall seemed to be trying to make the most of summer, as he was dressed only in white shorts, round which hung a belt and holster, the latter containing a blues “harp” (harmonica), r In spite of the handicaps of air travel, Mayall and his band put on a good, basic show. At times the rhythm section of Kevin McCormick, on bass, and Soko Richardson, on drums, steamed like a locomotive.
The show was little more than an hour long, but there was plenty of time to absorb the different styles of blues. Mayall played early traditional classics, such as “Room To Move,” but showed that his latest compositions, for instance “Rock •N’ Roll Kitchen,” were just as good. ' . , Mayall’s girlfriend, backing vocalist, and percussionist, Maggie Parker, showed that she was not just a pretty face when she fronted up on guitar for'“Ready To’ Love.” The lead guitarist. James Quill-Smithr played some good licks alongside the old master. Short and sweet, but no complaints'. ...,1
Johri- Mayalk and; his four-piece backing gtoup had no problem getting through customs at Christchurch Ain port' last evening, said the tour director, Mr G- C... Atkinson. ■ ' ■ /• </ • : / : / Mayall and his' band were at the Christchurch ’ Town Hall to give a concert at 9.55 p.m. 45 minutes after landing at the> airport. Both customs and Air New Zealand had smoothed the Way for the musicians to get to. the concert, which had, been scheduled to start at' 8.30 ; p.m. / However, because of the Qantas strike. yesterday afternoon’s Sydney - Christchurch j Air New Zealand flight; was expected to be delayed;;, and this had meant the concert had to be resheduled, for 10 p.m. , ..The Air New Zealand flight had been further delayed .an hour and a half because of a mechanical fault at Sydriey, Mr Atkinson said;?-:- 1 ' it ■■■
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Bibliographic details
Press, 26 February 1981, Page 4
Word Count
374Raw blues from John Mayall Press, 26 February 1981, Page 4
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