It’s remarkable to take stock of 2018 and realise just how many amazing blues albums have already surfaced. Among the very best of them is Danny Bryant’s raw and emotional ‘revelation’, an album born of turmoil and yet possessed of the stately beauty that we’ve come to expect over the years. This alone would be reason to head over to Derby, but there’s more. Support comes from the Canadian treasure Steve Hill. A one-man blues rock band, Steve Hill is a supremely talented musician whose rare ability to nail a groove is second only to his searing guitar skills. A Juno Award-winning artist, his presence on the bill raises the profile of the night from highly recommended to essential, and so it is with no little excitement that we descend upon Derby’s Flowerpot.
A lovely venue, this was our first experience of the Flowerpot and it does not disappoint. The place comprises a large, friendly pub that is all the better for the huge variety of real ale they have on tap, with the venue set to one side. One of those old-school locations, it’s well-maintained and has fantastic sound (a fact alluded to by Danny during his set), separate bar and toilets as well as a black-backed stage that is surprisingly easy to see from wherever you are in the room. It fills up nicely over the course of the evening, but doesn’t feel too crowded, and there’s a decent space set aside for merch, which is a bonus. In short, the Flowerpot is the perfect venue for this kind of event and, from the banter, it’s clear that many of the audience are regular attendees at Danny’s events.
Kicking off the evening, Steve Hill ambles on stage with little warning of the rock ‘n’ blues tsunami he’s about to unleash. His album, ‘solo recordings volume 3’ was released late last year to considerable acclaim, whilst a live album (released on this very day) simply demonstrates that it is skill, not studio trickery, that is Steve’s stock in trade. His performance… well, his performance is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. With a modified drum kit featuring a kick-snare, a kick drum and a collection of cymbals, Steve is able to lay down a fearsome foundation for his gritty blues rock whilst a special pick up feeds the signal from the low strings through an octave pedal to provide the bass. You wouldn’t think one man could lay down so much noise, but, from the moment that ‘Rhythm all over’ detonates like a concussion grenade, Steve has the audience enthralled. With a sound that recalls AC/DC at their bluesiest, Steve is a very spontaneous artist who howls with joy as he nails each riff, and watching his unconventional manner of playing (finger picking so as to get both solos and the meaty low-end in) is fascinating. It’s a cracking set, featuring the very cream of the live album, including ‘go on’, ‘the collector’, ‘the ballad of Johnny Wabo’, ‘Dangerous’ and an absolutely blistering take on ‘Voodoo Child (slight return)’ that sees Steve wring the most dizzyingly wonderful sounds out of his long-suffering guitar. By the time he’s finished the audience, initially sat around the edge of the venue like teenagers at their first disco, have crowded forward, craning their heads to catch every moment and loudly demanding more. If you haven’t yet seen Steve, check out his live album (available now via Manhaton Records) and get yourself out there – it’s an experience not to be missed. 9
Danny Bryant is at the peak of his not inconsiderable powers. Over some sixteen years as a recording artist, he has honed his skills to a razor-point and the result is ‘revelation’, an album that is about as essential as the blues gets. With a cracking band in tow, featuring Alex Philips on bass, Dave Raeburn on drums and the incomparable Stevie Watts on keyboards, Danny Bryant is on a mission and it’s clear from the astonishingly loud roar that greets his arrival that the audience are right there with him. Playing a lengthy, dynamic set, Danny gives us monstrous workouts like ‘Sister decline’ (from the new album), poignant moments, such as a soaring ‘painkiller’ which, despite a brief fit of the giggles, reaches a searing climax that brings out the inner-air-guitarist in half the audience. Somewhere in between, we get a quiet, acoustic rendition of ‘someday the rains will fall’, delivered by just Danny and Stevie, and a monumental ‘prisoner of the blues’, the latter extending to the stars and back.
Throughout it all, the interplay between the members is just magical, Danny frequently happy to step back as Stevie lays waste to his keyboards. Everyone gets their moment to shine individually and there’s no ego at all – just four musicians, comfortable in each other’s company, sharing a passion for the blues and their wild-enthusiasm inspires a similar response in the audience. As a result, the atmosphere in the room is friendly and joyful, Danny’s between song raps spontaneous and heartfelt rather than road-worn and rehearsed, and it’s one of the most intimate gigs we’ve attended in some time. 10
There are times when it’s easy to be cynical about the state of the music industry. It is sometimes hard to sift through the noise and find the music that matters. However, for those who care to look, there’s a thriving blues scene just waiting to be found and tours like this, featuring two amazing artists, are enough to restore anyone’s faith that passion and integrity is still at the core of those playing their hearts out on the live circuit every night. Watching these two bands and sharing the experience with a vocal and enthusiastic crowd remains an experience unlike any other, and to witness Danny and Steve playing for their lives in this particular venue feels like a privilege that will last long in the memory.
