Arriving at
the second night of the Ardrossan Music Experience, local keyboard whizz made
good Ian Parker is on stage. Having made
a musical career playing with the likes of the Tom Robinson Band, Clannad and
The Hollies, Kilwinning-born represents the sense of possibility that’s
inherent in the event. And you have to
say that someone who can flit between ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’, ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s
My Brother’, and an ELP style version of ‘The Sabre Dance’, with a variety of
keyboards and samples clearly demonstrates all sorts of musical possibilities.
The heart
of the evening from a blues perspective though, is Edinburgh band The Holy
Ghosts, who kick off their set with ‘Twist Of The Knife’, copping a fair old
whack of ‘Brown Sugar’ in a way that typifies their Stones influences. With regular lead vocalist Jacky Sandison
laid low by glandular fever, lead guitarist Jon Mackenzie has a decent stab at
a Jagger-esque vocal, and indeed does a sterling job on the vocal front
throughout.
The Holy Ghosts - pretty in pink |
There’s a
country rock-cum-blues vibe to much of their set, exemplified by ‘Ride On
Baby’, with its southern rock feel, occasionally recalling the likes of Skynyrd
and the Black Crowes. With several songs
in this vein there’s a danger of things becoming a bit samey, though ‘Staring
Down The Barrel’ is leavened with harp from keyboard player Andy Barbour, whose
rock’n’roll piano on ‘We Were Kings’ turns it into one of their stronger songs.
Mackenzie
serves up some nicely twangy lead guitar along the way, peaking with the strong
riff and slide on ‘Little Kickstarter’ where he has an ‘up on the drum riser’
moment. Combining ringing chords a la
‘Jumping Jack Flash’ with kick ass drums from Angus Ross, it’s the best example
of their Stones-in-country-mode sound.
The
highlight though, is ‘Hounds Come To Call’, which opens quietly with reflective
piano over a shaker, before bringing together moody slide guitar with a bass
figure from Billy Kay that echoes ‘Come Together’. It’s grittier and dirtier than anything
that’s gone before, an extended keyboard spot with a Doors feel giving way to a
crescendo of powerhouse drumming and riffing, and a wailing guitar solo. If that shows what they could be capable of,
‘Ol’ Snake Hips’ gets back to basics in ‘Johnny B. Goode’ gone a bit wonky
fashion, bringing the crowd to their feet.
Things cool
down for a bit after that, as the educational side of the experience is brought
to the fore. Having been coached by J.J.
Gilmour, once of The Silencers, a group of local high school kids get up to
perform a song of their own, and do themselves credit, especially with the
vocal harmonies from a couple of the girls.
Tom Hingley
follows, once of the Inspiral Carpets, with a set that sounds less Madchester
than The Jam recreated. With a powerful
rhythm section behind him, he sets his enthusiastic bark of a voice against
tense, jagged riffs, featuring some interesting chords and spikiness, but all
in all a little goes a long way.
To these
old ears the same is true of The Dunwells, a young Leeds four piece who also
sport impressive bass and drums, but in the service of an energetic but ultimately
rather tame set of indie-style stuff.
But then their target audience ain’t my generation, and the younger
crowd seem to be happy enough as they bring the night to a close.
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