After
many years I finally got the chance to see Jeff
Beck live. The front row was great; it is like being up close for a guitar
lesson you don’t want to miss. The support act Colin Macleod was refreshing; he is like electrified traditional
music. Jeff arrived on stage with quiet reserve, launching into his organic
gritty blues licks. The song “Nadia”,
showed Jeff’s mimicry of a Indian vocal on guitar, it was an amazing sight to
behold; it’s not about speed it’s about control, Jeff has complete control of
the guitar. “Cause We Ended as Lovers”
was a sublime performance; Jeff has evolved the song since its recording on Blow by Blow in 1975. “Superstition” was a pleasant surprise
along with “You Shook Me” and nice
cover of Hendrix’s song “Little Wing”.
Certain times in the gig the background was similar to the “Red Room” from the
cult TV show Twin Peaks; it suited the concert giving it a strange vibe. His
current line-up was excellent with Vinnie
Colaiuta on drums, Rondha Smith
on bass, Jimmy Hall on vocals and Vanessa Freebairn-Smith on cello. Jeff Beck is a man of few words, not
one for idle banter, his focus is on the guitar and his music. After seeing him
live I have only one thought, I really need to put more work into the guitar.
Stuart Ritchie
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