See, you know I ain’t gonna bullshit you, too hungover for that. To hell with advertorials; we’re the review equivalent of Catchphrase, we don’t abide by them here, we say what we see. Be warned, being I’ve bunked the morning off work, you’ve got me to cast my punitive opinion the Birdmens night at Long Street Blues Club, our usual Long Street reporter and part of the furniture there, Andy, I’ve demoted to photographer just for this occasion.….
Of course, it’s nice to return to any venue I’ve not poked my bulbous snout into for a while, and yeah, I was tipped off by the one band guitarist, Dave Doherty, there would be no holding back at this here gig, but nah, no money changed hands for me to plug it, other than they’d be space on the dancefloor for me to shake my scraggly rump, obscuring the view of members of the blues appreciation society that is Devizes’ Long Street Blues Club. Which I did so, cos the Birdmens gig was everything they said it would be, and a little bit more.
We could ask for Howlin Wolf meets Jimi Hendrix, but a Birdmens in the hand is worth two in the bush; when isn’t Long Street Blues Club a safe bet? For crying out loud, that town councillor is bring Errol Linton to town next occasion, 4th June: is Liz Debbie McGee, cos that’s magic?!
In fair exchange for said honesty, if you did attend, you’ll know where I’m coming from; it was simply a sublime night. Birdmens was a lockdown project, a potential supergroup trapped indoors with nought else but to produce a beguiling album, but, quite clearly by last night’s performance, aching to get out and play together, despite various collaborations in the past, in this new official guise; I get that.
Something of an exclusive then; they came, saw, kicked into touch the most blinding set of authentic sixties-fashioned swampy delta blues to have ever graced my widening eardrums, and left the spellbound Devizes’ blues aficionados to trek onto Holland for the Moulin Blues Ospel festival, their only other date to erm, date; show offs!
Long Street signifies everything crucial to punching a Devizes pushpin into the global blues map. Yet rather than hosting an established name as usual, the Birdsmen gig was a risk, if a bulletin wasn’t spread of its legendary line-up. Anyone with a slight acquaintance of the local blues scene will know any one of these musicians could give a breath-taking performance solo, armed with just a xylophone. Absent off the Birdmens roster were guitarist Joel Fisk, keyboardist Bob Fridzema and Giles King on harmonica. The remaining crew of lead & rhythm guitarists, Ian Siegal, Jon Amor, and Dave Doherty, with bassist Rob Barry and Jonny Henderson pushing the keys was more than plentiful.
With more pizazz than 007, Ian Siegal is the spark and definitive frontman, he is to UK blues as Ray Winstone is to UK gangster movies; just naturally fits like a glove. Though fronting was divided between him and Jon Amor, who needs no introduction. I’m supposing its professionalism and comradeship which allows them to slot into routine so superlatively, rather than time to perfect this live act, which they’ve not really had much of.
They started as is their album, with “Cat Drugged Up,” and must have featured most of the eleven tracks with a finale of the funkiest “Diggin’ That Rut.” With time spare for Jon take centre-stage for his magnum opus “Juggernaut,” and his Costello-esque “Red Telephone,” and for Ian to hold a mellowed homage to classic blues in the key of The Whispers’ You Never Miss Your Water, executed akin to Otis Redding, I swear on my cat’s life. It was at this point Ian unnecessarily excused himself elucidating his two broken ribs, but no one was complaining. It was an enraptured show from start to finish; upbeat when it needed to be, emotive and precisely accomplished.
Inexcusably, I’ve got that eighties Elton John song stuck in my head this morning, I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues; no guessing about it, Reg, Devizes had itself a night to remember. Based on this, if Dave Doherty recommended a flower pressing workshop, I’d attend without question.
But none of this occurred before Tom Harris donned his blues Stetson in support of this memorable gig. Something unique about our Tom, his wailing vocals, just as his smiley face could’ve been the work of Harvey Ball. He’s supported at Long Street annually at least, for a decade. He rinsed his original compositions in style, with a self-penned scatological festival-toilet blues song, followed by a gritty version of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sounds of Silence, hinting at his extreme metal band Kinasis, yet not straying from appeasing the blues aficionados; we like Tom.
Long Street Blues Club yet again pulled off a blinder; yeah, there’s dynasties of dedicated blues obsessives, regulars there with the habit of inspecting as if it was opera, but it’s far from cliquey, most welcoming to newcomers, and when a band like Birdmens thrust some life into it, it goes off.
Trending…..
Ooh La La Ya Beaux Gris Gris in Devizes!
Ben Niamor A triumphant album release party last night for one of the hottest, rapidly growing talents in the blues/rock scene; Beaux Gris Gris &…
Illingworth & George Wilding Crowned in Bishops Cannings
Must confess, I’m envious of the good folk of Bishops Cannings, perched here on a bench in an idyllic beer garden with spring sunshine setting,…
REVIEW – Peter Knight’s Gigspanner @ Pound Arts Centre, Corsham – Friday 3rd May 2024
A Knight To Remember Andy Fawthrop Gigspanner are in the middle of their UK Spring Tour 2024, and the Pound in Corsham has become one of…
Labour Party Could Change Star Wars Day to ‘Sci-Fi’ Day so to Not Offend Trekkies
If the Labour Party wins this next general election, they could change the name of Star Wars Day to ‘Sci-Fi’ Day so as not to…
Swindon Families to Unite in Memory of Innocent Children Killed in Conflict
A group of local women and their families are gathering together to lay a huge installation of children’s clothes outside the office of Justin Tomlinson…
The Brand New Heavies to Play The Cheese and Grain in November
Debuting in 1990, The Brand New Heavies may not be so new any longer, but they’re still heavy, funky acid jazz pioneers and they’re on…
“The Incident Room” at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath, May 1st-4th.
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams I was born in 1962. In 1975 I was 13 years old, in my second year at secondary school.By…
James and the Cold Gun, Lucky Number Seven, Nobody’s Dad, The Real Cheesemakers at The Pump, Trowbridge
Brian Yeates Images: Greg Stoner This was the first time I’d heard about the Pump, and realised it did not refer to the popular local…
Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st-7th May 2024
Beltane, May Day, or just plain bank holiday Monday; whatever you whatchamacallit, it’s the first day of May, and there’s lots to do in the…
From Kerouac to Hagrid – Jinder at the Queens Head, Box April 28th 2024
by Ian Diddamsimages from Jinder facebook It has somehow been a few years since I last saw Jinder – or Phil Jinder Dewhurst – play…
One thought on “Bird is the Word; Birdmens at Long Street Blues Club”