YOU'VE HEARD of press
reviews being done from the bar. Well, Rory Gallagher's triumphant
first
gig on his return from the States could have come from the radio.
Radio Birmingham took the concert live from the Belfry, Sutton
Coldfield, but the relayed version can't have done justice to the
atmosphere: You'd think he'd been away for more than five months and
was a rare live performer judging by his enthusiastic reception.
And his band, of course; Gerry McAvoy, as strong as ever on bass
and
new drummer, Rod de’Ath, and piano player Louis Martin. Lou Martin was
a revelation. Rory had always been a bit of the complete one man show,
but when you see this band, you wonder how he
ever stood up before. A tremendous blues/boogie pianist. . not only
does Lou excel in his own part, he brings another dimension from Rory's
guitar as well.
The boys in the rhythm section are really tight too, after so
many gigs in the USA. So there's no question that because the line-up
is new to this country there are any rough edges.
Material, until the tour and new album in January, is vintage
Gallagher: "Messing With The Kid", "Laundromat", "Used To Be" and the
acoustic and slide guitar pieces as usual.
But the sound, if essentially similar, is extended and developed.
Like
"Should've Learned My Lesson" - the slow blues bringing the piano to
the fore with a stunning, tripping solo which brought a mean
expression of effort to Rory's face as he pitched his guitar against
it. Rory's always had one of the best live acts, but this is something
else again.
HOWARD FIELDING
This article
comes from the December 23, 1972 issue of SOUNDS background
is a mutated version of the photo with the article reformatted by roryfan
