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THE MICK DOWNS BAND are at The Bullfrog Blues Club on South Patade Pier
tonight! (Thursday 22nd June).
I can do no better than to quote from the review of a previuus Bullfrog gig
which was reported in "Blues Matters" magazine....
A more than convincing debut for the MICK DOWNS BAND at Bullfrog Blues Club,
Southsea, on Thursday 9th October.
In short, a superb gig with exceptional musicianship from the outset. The
trio contains two former members of RECONSIDER (Mick Downs and brother Tim), and
new recruit Bob Campion (drums). This latter proved to be a revelation; his
feeling, understanding, and empathy propelling the band’s playing to new levels.
The MICK DOWNS BAND started at 9pm, kicking off with a Mick Downs original
instrumental “Grand Swang”, before moving into Lowell Fulson’s “Bending like a
Willow Tree”, complete with solo in the style of the great Albert Collins.
Louis Jordan’s “Buzz Me” got a groovy makeover, with Bob Campion’s inspired
fills and touch re-defining the art of cool drumming.
“The Things That I Used To Do” featured great dynamics from keyboard and
bass, that provided the launching pad for a superb Ronnie Earl style guitar solo.
A great vocal performance on the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ “Humbugging”, led to
another Mick Downs instrumental entitled “Ronnie’s Tune”, which, although a
nod to Mr Earl, contained equal measures of Joe Louis Walker and B.B. King.
The band’s influences are wide, with the next tune a tasteful cover of Little
Charlie and The Nightcats’ “My Next Ex-Wife”. The Mick Downs Band clearly
appreciate well-crafted songs with wry, amusing lyrics. The last song of the first
set, a well-shuffled (Texas style) version of “Sick and Tired”, proved this.
One short break later, and the second set started in much the same vein as
the first, with a well-delivered instrumental – this time, the jazzy “Don’t Get
Around”, before the band tackled “She’s Into Something” which some may
remember from the Collins/Copeland/Cray Grammy-winner “Showdown”. Following this
was the only Mick Downs vocal original, and it’s a corker. Staying true to the
well-visited blues theme of women who don’t know when to stop nattering, “
Keep Your Damn Mouth Shut” holds no surprises, and confirms the Band’s
predilection for amusing, well-crafted songs.
Albert King’s “Don’t Lie to Me” was the only song in the set to have been
performed previously with Reconsider, but the stripped-down trio version was no
less impressive. Au contraire, the song suited Mick’s voice brilliantly, and
vocally the gig was going from strength to strength - as was clearly apparent
soon after, in Muddy Waters’ “I’m Ready”. A great performance all-round –
incorporating wah-wah pedal, and broken guitar string no less.
So, one guitar was sidelined, and the substitute was brought on. Mick
jokingly commented “I’ve broken one guitar, let’s set about breaking this one”, and
for the next 10 minutes he tried to do just that. For whatever reason, Buddy
Guy / SRV’s “Leave My Little Girl Alone” (the number that followed) was the
single, greatest performance of the evening. The standard of the vocals
increased and the interplay between drums and keyboard was exceptional. The band
really made this song their own from the opening bars. The vocals were assured,
the guitar-playing tasteful, yet attacking, and the drums and keyboards
constantly pushed the lead guitar as far as it would go.
For the audience, it was a real treat, with Mick going walkabout with his
radio mic, both feeding off the crowd, and the dynamics of the rhythm section.
From start to finish, an absolute blinder, resulting in the first standing
ovation of the night.
But it wasn’t over. Tim Downs got the chance to shine on the following
number, “Hard Way” – he didn’t disappoint - and they rounded off the second set
with an upbeat “Barefootin’”.
Great, great, great gig.
The band returned for a 2-song encore, tearing into Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s
“Motorhead Baby”, before concluding conclusively with another Mick Down’s
instrumental, entitled “Hipatitis B flat” (can’t remember what key it was
in...), a catchy piece with a great head (almost Anson Funderburgh-esque). The
standing ovation at the end was more than a little deserved, and I guarantee all
present were praising the gift of live music. Long may it continue.
So - in short, don't miss 'em tonight! Doors open at 8 p.m as usual. See you
there!