Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

Mines A Triple G & T 25/01/15

Sunday the 25^th and it was going to be an interesting day, 3 Gigs and Travel between each, such is the heady life of an unpaid, unemployed reviewer; sadly as I sit behind the wheel, the other G&T has to wait.

On the menu was The Prince Of Wales in Ledbury for Maz Mitrenko, the lovely Chantel McGregor in The Tythe Barn, Bishops Cleeve, and finally, the relaxed atmosphere in the company of Mumbo Jumbo, appearing in the barn at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton.

I new of Maz Mitrenko, but had never caught one of his gigs, the opportunity to join the blues crowd at that mecca of music and bread making, The Prince Of Wales, could not be missed. Maz along with Phil Brittle on skins and Pete Vickers on base, were about ready to start as we eased in. The first chord struck, like a very short fuse to a stick of dynamite, striking up a bit of Freddy King and ‘Going Down’. Straight off, you know you are in for an electric blues set, passionately played by artists of the highest calibre. This is territory, that, had the Mississippi flowed North to the great lakes, and through Chicago, it would have been the perfect marriage. I like and appreciate the roots from the Delta, the extremities of hedonistic rock guitar tugging at the blues, I’m not so sure about. Maz and his band, hit the right note, with songs from Rory Gallagher, and of course, Hendrix. Taking his guitar riffs far enough, but leaving room to appreciate the base rhythm from Pete and the beat of Phil’s timpani to come over. Phil Brittle has been around awhile, a journeyman drummer? No, he’s a bit more than that, a gypsy, dancing across the skins as he tickles and crashes the cymbals, absorbing to watch; the music etched into his facial expression.

‘Hold Onto Your Blues’, seems very appropriate, and its pure Maz, loud and raw, a slice of Rory grit, the sandwich is completed by the slow, beautifully presented, ‘Darkness’……at the heart of the blues, superb guitar, soulful base from Pete, and Phil is lost in that inky blue sky. BBKing’s ‘Thrill Has Gone’, so switche over to more Rory, and another from Maz, with ‘Drifter’. The band close for a break; but not before a stunning ‘Hey Joe’, rarely bettered I suspect.

The show continued, bits of Rory and Hendrix, were again interspersed with songs from Maz himself, then a quick turn up country for a fabulous, ‘Copperhead Road’. Maz continued with his own, ‘Misty Mountain Blue’, dripping with the honeyed notes from his guitar. We neared the end, more stunning stuff, Robin Trowers, ‘Bridge Of Sighs’, and just as I was racing away for Chantel, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, followed me down the street. Without doubt, I will be looking out for Maz again in the near future.

Hit the road, and a race (all at legal speeds!) down the M50, through Tewkesbury and to the lovely setting of The Tythe Barn, a gem, hidden away in Bishops Cleeve. Sweet talking my way through, I found Chantel in her dressing room, not long before the stage would beckon, its true the band and my wife were also there, but what the hell. Chantel was Miss February in my music calendar, and I exchanged a copy for her signature across mine. I would have loved to have stayed for the show, its a truly unique setting and the stage looked great, but duty called, and I had promised to be at The Fleece, so back to the road.

The Fleece Inn is unusual, in that it is owned by The National Trust, but functions as the ancient hostelry of yore. Some great ales and excellent food are part of the package, and their Halloumi and Mushroom Burger, is arguably the best around. So, having grabbed my one allotted ½ pint, a dark porter, and ordered a burger, it was into the cosy barn to find Mumbo Jumbo, already into their stride.

Stride is the wrong word, they sit, at ease, with their set of comfortable ‘folk’ songs, and country blues. Its all a rather cosy, happy go lucky, gig which suits the surroundings admirably. Plenty of humour accompanies songs, mostly taken, from ‘The Life Of Riley’, you could imagine George Formby grabbing his uke and joining in. Stepping through the door, ‘Your Gonna Regret It’, struck up, a portent of things to come? not really. The sound was set nicely, Chris sat with an acoustic bass guitar, across his knees, Oliver, colourfully dressed as ever, sat astride a cajon, trumpet to hand, a wash board at his feet, thimbles and kazoo would not be far away. Phil, is behind his keyboard, looking a little sombre, but you know there’s a smile there somewhere, waiting to come out. Phil’s next on vocals, and a wonderful bit of old Bessie Smith blues, ‘Send Me To The Electric Chair’, a bit grim to be a crowd pleaser, but hell it was good! Oliver at his gritty best, gave us, ‘Those Frail Few’, inspired by the veterans of D Day and launched back on Remembrance Day itself. A break was called, but not before Chris, in cheery mode, started looking for a ‘Bald Spot’, Phil, picked up the ending and echoed it through to a fade out, I wonder why?

Oliver opened after the break, in full ‘Joe Cocker’ (r.i.p.) mode, ‘The Letter’, superbly performed as ever. Another ‘new song slipped in, after a bit of debate, ‘Later Some How’, the consensus was, it worked ok, nobody left the building, ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’! All together for ‘Three Cool Cats’, made to measure, and delightfully delivered, in a cool way of course. Time was moving on, Billy Joe Shaver’s ‘Black Rose’, was heard, but the devil made them do it. The uke was in Chris’s hands, Oliver clutched his kazoo, Phil, still hovered over his keyboard, the result was a glorious, ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’, a rousing, foot stomping, crowd pleasing finish to the evening; but not quite. The ‘Rocket’, song was taken out and dusted off, the boys, threw themselves in and lit the touch paper, which sort of takes me back full circle to Maz striking up.

It has been an interesting evening from the raw electric blues of Maz Mitrenko right round to the soft padded, eclectic cell, of Mumbo Jumbo, they had nicely brought me down, as they rocketed off, for my late drive home,. I have not forgotten Chantel, signed & sealed, thanks.

Words & Photos Graham Munn