Canterbury Review of Blues Band

[michelej1]

Kentish Gazette
http://www.kentishgazette.co.uk/kol0...ticle_id=50258

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Marlowe Theatre

There were grey pony tails aplenty in the packed theatre for this festival coup which really turned the clock back.

The great Mick Fleetwood is celebrating 40 years of the original Fleetwood Mac by getting back to his blues heritage, and his appearance in Canterbury was the second night of a European tour.

In a tribute to the original four-piece blues band that started it all in 1967, Fleetwood has got together with guitarist and vocalist Rick Vito, bass player Lenny Castellanos and keyboards player Mark Johnstone.

Rick Vito has a great voice, bags of energy and is a brilliant guitarist - and he played with Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1991 - so is the ideal choice to front the group while legendary drummer Fleetwood is the backbone of the outfit.

The set included Albatross, which obviously got a huge reaction from the audience, but we were really there to celebrate the blues, with tracks like Oh Well, Shake Your Moneymaker and Black Magic Woman.

There was a dedication to Peter Green, naturally, and more mysteriously to unnamed people in the audience and particularly a woman known only as “you know who you are”.

These were four great musicians, all clearly dedicated to their craft, and the audience gave them a prolonged standing ovation.

For me, though, the only downside was the usual Marlowe affliction, the sound quality.

It has become a triumph of hope over experience every time I go to see music at the Marlowe and it’s the same old story - great musicians, shame about the sound.

I’m not expecting CD quality, the rawness of live music is all part of its appeal, but I do want to be able to hear all the instruments clearly, not just a muddy mix. This time the bass was so loud my bones were vibrating and the drums sometimes drowned out the guitar and keyboards.

It might have been fine in a massive arena -presumably the band’s sound man, having been with Fleetwood for years, is more used to that - but it wasn’t great here.

But that’s just me - the grey pony tails loved every minute and I guess that’s what counts.

Debbie Neech

[Gailh]

Originally Posted by michelej1

There was a dedication to Peter Green, naturally, and more mysteriously to unnamed people in the audience and particularly a woman known only as “you know who you are”.

Debbie Neech

Christine? she lives nearby

Gail

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Gailh

Christine? she lives nearby

Gail

Yes, I think Mick said in that audio interview that Christine came out to see their show. I'm not positive he said Canterbury, but I think he did. http://www.wmgk.com/Audio/tabid/209/...6/Default.aspx

But what he didn't say when he discussed seeing her again was that he stayed at her house, so I guess that might not have materialized. Michele

[Gailh]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Yes, I think Mick said in that audio interview that Christine came out to see their show. I'm not positive he said Canterbury, but I think he did. http://www.wmgk.com/Audio/tabid/209/...6/Default.aspx

But what he didn't say when he discussed seeing her again was that he stayed at her house, so I guess that might not have materialized. Michele

It must have been Canterbury. I'm sure she would have gone to the show - she only lives 4 miles away.

Gail

[OldTimer]

You guys are spot on, it was Chris, according to the MFBB's keyboard player Mark Johnstone. I remembered nickslive had a link to Mark's blog where he chronicles the European tour, and he talked about Christine being at the Canterbury show. (Titled, "No Pressure" )

No Pressure
Canterbury.....We played at the Marlowe theater to a full house which included the lovely Christine McVie. (No pressure). She sat behind the sound board and coaxed Dennis for "more piano." We keyboardists have to stick together. I met her briefly backstage. Very charming. Peter Green was due to attend, but had family matters.. Hope to see him on this tour. After all, we are honoring his music. (no pressure).

http://johnstonezone.blogspot.com/