The Mick Taylor Band Beaverwood 9th October 2008

Beaverwood Club 9th October 2008

We had seen Mick Taylor once before on a supporting bill with John Mayall and were impressed. Now it was Pete Feenstra’s turn to host the ex-Rolling Stone – how he must hate that tag. It was a slightly chill evening and we were there a bit before the advertised 7.30 opening time to find it already open with Mr Feenstra at the door.

Unfortunately he had gone back to the Albert Lee stage plan of having it in the middle of the club. He had seriously cut down on the number of tables but we were early enough to get a couple of half decent seats. One look at the way it was set out told us that we would have to stand when the main act came on as there was quite a space in front of the stage that was bound to be occupied by those standing.

We settled down to natter to the people who took the rest of the seats around us and wait for others to turn up. Teresa’s brother was a definite no show as his band was rehearsing. As with the Stan Webb gig we were early enough to catch the support doing their sound check or at least most of them as the electric guitarist turned up after the other two had finished.

Pete and Derek arrived too late to grab any the seats around us so contented themselves with standing to the side of the stage and catching up with the others they knew who had arrived. The support came on and they were Andy Sharrocks and The Smoking Jackets
http://www.carta.co.uk/greenie/
http://www.lemonrock.com/paulgreen
They consisted of two acoustic guitarists, one of whom was Andy Sharrocks in his leather pork pie hat who did most of the singing and Paul Green on white SG Junior. Paul Green had played with various nonentity bands and had peaked with Suzi Quatro and Brian Connolly’s Sweet! Check the link to chart the life of a musician who has been around for a long time and enjoyed himself without ever hitting the big time. It’s quite interesting.

I have to say that I wasn’t over impressed with the band. The make up of two acoustics and an electric didn’t work for me. The singers deep, growly vocals seemed to be an impersonation of someone from the deep south, you know, Crawley way. Pete and I exchanged quizzical glances at the music on offer throughout their set and although the audience were appreciative (the crowd there usually are good and fair) I wasn’t at all disappointed when their last song came and went.

That al least gave us the chance to catch up a bit with Pete and Derek but we had to do it one at a time as I was fearful of losing our seats. There had been the usual jockeying around by later arrivals to get a decent spot for a good view and of course you can rely on Pete Feenstra to throw a spanner in the works.

Just before the main band came on he encouraged everyone to come onto the bit of floor in front of the band and thus ruin the view of all the people who were early and had got good seats! We realised this may well happen and just laughed. But at least our legs weren’t tired from standing through the support. Those that had put chairs there were allowed to move them to the very front and the crowd thronged behind. It meant that they were very in the face of the band on the low stage but it didn’t faze them at all.

After the interval on came the Mick Taylor Band to good applause.
http://www.micktaylor.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Taylor
http://www.maxmiddleton.com/

Mick hasn’t lost any weight since we last saw him and he is decidedly chubby. He looks exactly like he is – an ageing rock star with plenty of hair. With a belly to be proud of you do have that choice of where to hang the Les Paul. There is the under the belly and run the risk of not being able to see what you are doing, the BB King style of hang it by your hip and play sideways and at normal length or as Mick favoured just a bit above the belly for comfort.

He had a little trouble with his tuning at first but it all sorted out after the first song and it bothered him no further. He is a very consummate professional playing well within himself and with some taste and discretion. I don’t have any of his CD’s so can’t give you a run down of exactly what he played but you got the impression that a lot of the songs were really a basis for a bit of a jam. Nothing went on too long and he certainly enjoyed himself.

We ended up standing to the right of the stage, not far away but still with a good view through the heads. Just that bit back we weren’t cramped either. Teresa being little even managed to wrangle her way a bit closer (right next to the PA!).

The band themselves consisted of Mick on Les Paul, a second guitarist who also had a Les Paul but not with a Gibson logo on the headstock, oriental bass player who sat throughout & read his music off a chart, a drummer and Max Middleton on Roland electric piano. As usual I couldn’t quite get the names of the rest of the band (help!) apart from Max and the internet hasn’t been of much help.

The second guitarist and Mick complemented each other well and Mick was generous in letting him have plenty of playing time. The bass player may have been a late deputy as the original one possibly died last week. With Pete Feenstra’s announcements it is often hard to know what is fact and what is fiction! Max is a very good pianist and Mick paid him serious compliments when introducing him. Max is very big, wears a panama hat over his long hair and late 60’s sideburns. He just got on with his job.

The only 2 songs I recognised were You Shook Me and one form the Beggar’s Banquet album (the only Stones song he played). There was a bit of Dylan and that one included the Layla riff and went into All Along the Watchtower. Mick Taylor plays well within himself and is still one of the best slide guitar layers around. If he was to really put himself out the mind boggles! He played for about an hour and three quarters straight and even hugged Pete Feenstra at the end so he must have enjoyed himself as much as we did.

If you get the chance I highly recommend him for an evening of top quality guitar playing, not showy but very effective.