Barewires

Went to see John Mayall last night in a speakeasy kind of blues club in Scouseland. The roof was held up with factory metal pillars, and it had the feeling of a 'sweat shop' in more ways than one. I hate to think what it was like before the public smoking ban came into force!

Mayall is not on my bucket list, but having been introduced to him in the sixties by the Blues from laurel Canyon album, I had always wanted to see him live. He is 75 years old now and looks a bit like Rolf Harris with a pony tail! He banged out a few tunes with his band Rocky Athos and Joe Yuele among others. These guys were probably hoping to be spotted like many of the previous Bluesbreakers were.

Eric Clapton, who along with Jack Bruce, left Mayall to for Cream, referred to him as a musical university. He spawned Fleetwood Mac, with Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green and John McVie all being ex- Bluesbreakers, and also Colosseum, from whence came Hiseman, Reeves and Heckstall-Smith. Other names such as Jeff Beck and Mick Taylor also studied at the university of Mayall, before graduating and moving on. Clapton, Taylor and Beck did back Mayall at his 2003 Liverpool concert to celebrate his 50th year in the business.

The set last night was OK although it was a bit like standing in somebodies front room as four guys jammed away together, before turning round and saying 'oh, sorry I did not see you come in'

Andy Sharrocks and the Smoking Jackets were the support act last night, which gives a brief insight into blues concert hierarchies, as Mayall himself had just finished supporting the 83 year old BB King on his short tour of the UK.