If there was ever a reason needed to cut a trip short and travel back to Macclesfield from foreign climes then it would have to be a very serious one to beat a concert from Ian Siegal. I would have happily walked the 800 mile journey barefoot to witness the performance from him last Tuesday night at the Cabin. Conventional methods sufficed without a hitch and I was back late Tuesday afternoon in plenty of time.
This would be Ian’s third visit to Macc (all at Cabin 5150) and the previous two were hardwired into the memories of those who witnessed them. He has the affect of creating lifetime allegiance from audience members from their very first experience. He certainly did where I was concerned. Even in the role of promoter it is sometimes not possible to attend a gig in person for whatever reason but where this man is concerned I am as much a consumer (fan) as anyone there. I doubt I could ever get enough of him live. With only six solo performances in the UK scheduled from Ian for the rest of this year, it was imperative to be back for this.
He did not disappoint. In fact he paid the effort of the journey back in spades. It was for me and many audience members spoken to afterwards, the best they had ever seen from him, which is a massive statement once you know the level he performs at.
The song choice was inspired as ever with many original compositions woven together with traditional blues and gospel tunes and a splash of country and folk/blues. Whatever he chooses to sing be it original compositions or pieces from the past by favourite artists such as Leadbelly or Charlie Patton he totally makes them his own.
He is an accomplished raconteur and there is never an opportunity missed to tell a tale or pay homage to another performer, writer or old friend. With a devilish sense of humour laced into these tales the audience tends to laugh a lot. I can liken him only to Ry Cooder – there are many similarities. In over 45 years of listening to and collecting blues, apart from the originals that inspired them, no-one has affected me quite like Cooder and Siegal, his heir. They are both ‘musicologists’ trawling the same archives for gems to revive, reinterpret and preserve. A classic example of this has to be Siegal’s version of the Sunday school favourite Mary Don’t You Weep. I recall singing this as a child in Sunday school and it was always a popular hand clappy singalong. My goodness it bears only similarities to Ian’s stunning delivery which turns it into pure high octane Gospel, fantastic.
They are both amazing guitarists both acoustic and electric, Cooder being acknowledged as one of the finest slide players ever, with Siegal right behind him. They are both fine, quirky, characterful vocalists. Siegal for me is one of the very best vocal interpreters and performers of blues and related roots genres in the world today. He also edges it as a composer as well. I am far from alone with this opinion, in recent years he has picked up international nominations and awards aplenty for these skills.
He mischievously denies he is a ‘blues’ singer and feigns puzzlement as to why he continuously picks up awards for such. He says he is a country singer. All of which is true and false. He is a fantastic blues singer and plays more blues that he admits to. He is also a superb country singer and he is a master writer in both genres.
The simple truth is he has a gift that allows him to sing, write and play whatever he chooses and he makes it your favourite genre for the duration. He opened the show with Silver Spurs an original country song, moved seamlessly into Mary Don’t You Weep (trad), gospel, and on with Mortal Coil Shuffle an original blues, and that’s how he went on.
Finally they are both collaborators and work with many artists and bands from across the globe in many styles.
Last Tuesday however for whatever reasons (he cited the venue made him feel good) Ian raised his game and played a blinder, every song a gem. In an array of music so fine I still managed to find a favourite with a song with a Mexican flavour about a fighting cock, Gallo del Ciello. What a song! What a folk tale. It is thankfully featured on his new live album Man & Guitar. Although not officially released (May 12) he had copies with him for the tour. Played it five times so far and every time Gallo del Ciello moves me to tears. Daft. It is so powerful. It it can sometimes be the easy option to release a live album, but Ian needs no such options. He is a prolific writer and even with a live schedule like his (insane), he visits the studio regularly and almost always has something in the pipeline. When you are as good as Ian is in live performance it is no surprise that he has been pestered for years for a live release. The chance last year at the London Bluesfest was an opportunity gifted on a plate.
It was recorded by the BBC at the Royal Albert Hall and if it doesn’t net Ian further awards I will eat my copy of it. This combined review of concert and album was an obvious thing to do as at the show we were treated to the album’s content live plus a load more besides. To be able then to take home a slice of the show was a bonus too good to miss.
It is a privilege to work with artists as good as Ian. The show was a joy from start to finish The album? Well the album (Man & Guitar) is Ian Siegal solo, live. Five stars are not enough, never could be.
Bluefunkster
(Bluefunkster is the Music Correspondent for the Macclesfield Express and the promoter at Bluefunk Rhythm and Blues Club. which is dedicated to bringing the very best live music of all genres to its area of operation.)
bluefunkster 