Koko Taylor

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 8

Koko Taylor

Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine, supported by the Red Hot Blues Band, presented by Blue Smoke Productions at the Carlton Hotel, August 15, 8 p.m. Reviewed by Philip Norman. I must be getting old. Once upon a time, the act of wading knee-deep through the fumes of Barcardi and beer was in itself a source of pleasure. A good time was not a good time unless one was propped up by a crush of fellow humans. Music had to be loud. One could boogie only after at least one bodily organ was coaxed into sympathetic vibration by the insistent pulse of a kick drum. For the music to sing, one’s ears had to ring. All this being the case, I suppose I ought to have experienced warm flushes of nostalgia throughout Koko Taylor’s performance at the Carlton Hotel last evening. Alas, I did not. When I accepted this reviewing assignment, the performance was scheduled for the Town Hall Auditorium. I was looking forward to the opportunity of assessing the sound of Koko Taylor, advertised as “The Queen of the Blues,” and her “Blues Machine” backing band. With the transferral to the pub setting, such an opportunity was tost. Indeed, I

would not blame patrons who had booked auditorium seats for considering the new venue as an unacceptable substitute.

Instead of comfortable seating, there was standing room only for all but a few. A view of the stage and performers was achieved only with considerable muscular contortion.

The worst aspect of the new setting, though, was that the music at most times had to be auditioned through a filter of shouted conversation. Under such circumstances, beyond observing that the bass guitar and kick drum kept remarkably well in time with each other, it was impossible to make an assessment of the performance. I shall have to buy a record to find out what it was I missed.

The background noise and body crush was considerably less distracting during the performance of the warm-up act, the Red Hot Blues Band. This Christchurch group put forth a sound that was both colourful and exuberant. If the rhythm section was at times a little loose, this was compensated for by some lively saxophone and blues harp solos. Helen Mulholland, the band’s female vocalist, in particular offered some expressive solo®.