It's been raining all day. Got caught in it in town but managed to dodge the showers and cycle the four miles back to Merlin's without getting too wet. Talk around the table at the Bio Cafe from Conny, Rustan Alan and Annika was about the up and coming gig. Al had recently found out that Narada Michael Walden was on drums and that had filled him with acute excitement and a struggle to sing (intune) any one of Narada Michael's hits from the eighties. I was also interested to see Jason Rebello on keyboards and yet another female bassist in the band. But the clouds gathered and, after consulting his smartphone Conny informed us that the rainy weather was set for the evening. Jeff Beck outside in the tree garden suddenly took on a new significance. Still what is it they say ' there is no bad weather, just bad clothing.' What a pity then I had ejected the rainjacket sensibly placed in my luggage by Trish just before I left home.
Merlin had bought a ticket for son Leo, himself a keen 19 year old guitarist, as well as himself and we were soon on the way to the designated meeting place in the middle of the city, a restaurant where a pre gig dinner would be eaten. Unusually, the vegetarian option on the otherwise good looking menu was rank. Luckily I had in the day partaken of a LEFIN BREAKFAST and for those familiar with the fare provided on these occasions, you will understand that even at 6 in the evening I was still not hungry.
Earlier in the day I had again met Conny, who had been with us on the last Goteborg gig, Jo Bonamassa last October. He came up from the seaside town of Varby and for those who don't know Conny he is a booze expert, or rather, he knows what he likes! This time he brought with him 6 bottles of Innis and Gunn Oak Rum Aged Bitter ABV 7.4%. This is an exeptionally unusual and pleasant beer from Scotland.http://www.innisandgunn.com/thebeer_newproducts.htm and whilst quaffing it, I made a mental note to ask Doug at The Old Sun in Halington to include it at one of his beer festivals.
We were soon all turning up at the Treegarden complete with umbrellas for the gig. There were quite a lot of umbrellas in evidence and we managed to form a 'tortoise' of them in the style of the Roman Army. Although they tended to use shields rather than umbrellas I would imagine. As usual there was the unfortunate support band who received a smattering of polite applause from the audience and a hundred or so thoughts of 'get off!' it brought me to wonder if I had EVER seen a support band that was any good at a big gig. But of course I have. In 1968 Cream played at The Albert Hall supported by first an unknown band called Yes and then Rory Gallagher's Taste. Then of course there was Stan Clarke at The Hammersmith Odeon in 1979 supported by Phil Collin's Brand X. Yes I did say Phil Collins. Jazz rock enhusiasts check out their back catalogue. But here in the Tree Garden whoever they were this time were on a hiding to nothing, and they were crap.
But then it stands to reason that you wouldn't want a band better than you are are going on before you would you?. It happened to me once, at Eddies Bar in Luton. The Cheats were supported by a really stonking funk band complete with brass section who really got the audience moving. At the end of their set they were encoured but could not comply because the headline band were due on. Us. We took to the stage and immediately launched into our set. What a pity Chris Brookes our lead guitarist and definitely the worse for wear, played the opening chords to a song he thought we were playing. Still it's happened to the best. Witness Monterey. Main headline band The Who took a look at the bill and saw who was on before them......The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Townshend had seen Jimi in a club in London and was so impressed he refused to let The Experience go on before The Who. The rest is history and the toss of a coin.
Anyhow, what of Jeff Beck? Jeff took to the stage and played a fantastic set. Jeff still looks as he did when I first saw him years ago in a pub in Peckham, He's 67 next week! He looks as if he could slot right into a band such as The Rolling Stones. He even looks like a Ronnie Wood or Keith Richard. I do believe that some years ago he was asked to join The Stones because of his look. I mean, what about the guitar playing? Forget the looks. Jeff is a pure guitar maestro. From day one album one his guitar has torn up his rivals and spat them out helpless. No-one plays like him with his imagination, personal technique and style. His white Strat was rocked and twisted all night, notes wrung out (get it) from it as if it were being subjected to the ultimate in guitar torture, but what a player. The rest of the band did their part too, although the bassist was not a patch on his previous Tal Wakenfield. Highlights were a splendid version of Little Wing and Scatterbrain and also the fact that no-one shouted out for 'Hi Ho Silver Lining!'
As we left the gig and walked up the rain spattered street, there was a queue of cute young girls and hopeful blokes forming outside the Tree Garden. I asked Leo what they were there for. He informed me they were waiting for the late night club to open. When I enquired why a virile young man of 19 was walking in the opposite direction with two old gits he replied, 'naaaa they play crap music in there'. Next gig for Leo and his dad? Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. Good old Merlin.
As we left the gig and walked up the rain spattered street, there was a queue of cute young girls and hopeful blokes forming outside the Tree Garden. I asked Leo what they were there for. He informed me they were waiting for the late night club to open. When I enquired why a virile young man of 19 was walking in the opposite direction with two old gits he replied, 'naaaa they play crap music in there'. Next gig for Leo and his dad? Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. Good old Merlin.
Check out some great pictures from the gig by clicking this link to Rustan's blog. (he's got a better camera than me) and some video as well.
