Evergreen rock n roller Joe Brown took tonight’s packed house in Blackpool on a trip through the ages with a great show packed with hits old and new, backed by a superb set of musicians who really know their stuff!
It was show of two distinct halves – the first relaxed, informal starting off with a bit of skiffle, then country, blues, ballads and even a 1930s Hawaiian tune. The second half more rocky with many of Joe’s own hits as well as songs penned by other song writers that Joe admires.
Over the course of the evening, we had some George Harrison, some Bob Dylan, a bit of Chas n Dave, McGuinness Flint , a new arrangement of Ram Jam’s “Black Betty”, some Elvis and a brand new song that Joe recently co-wrote for the mandolin called “Tickle My Heart”
Joe Brown is such a versatile musician that, over the course of the night, he switched regularly from one guitar to another. acoustic, electric – a replica of Eddie Cochran’s famous Gretsch – a mandolin, ukulele, he even plucked and bowed on a fiddle in a new rockabilly arrangement of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I am looking For” .
Joe’s son Pete has definitely followed in his father’s footsteps and mastered the art of the guitar, also switching seamlessly from one to another, with slide guitar and mandolin thrown in for good measure. He also sang a few songs, including “Hopeless” by Crosby Stills Nash and Young and “My Wildest Dream” by Nick Lowe”.
While appreciating the varied fare on offer it was obvious that Joe’s own hits were what the public had come to hear He rocked his way through “Darktown Strutters Ball” which had been his first hit single back in 1960, “Sea Of Heartbreak”, “Picture of You” (his sole number one – from 1962 ) “That’s What Love Will Do” and “Henry the Eighth” and new composition, co written with son Pete, called “You Ain’t Too Old To Rock n Roll”, about the perils of ageing!
This really was a super show – enjoyable from start to finish with something for everybody – whether you like the songs of the 50s and 60s, the blues, the country or the more modern heavier guitar number s, Joe Brown had the audience transfixed throughout with his one liners and funny stories between songs as well as his outstanding vocal and musical skills.
The Joe Brown tour continues around the country until the end of May, check out dates and venues here: http://www.flyingmusic.com/our-shows/joe-brown/tour-dates/
