RAW
GALLAGHER @ the BOOT & SHOE Ackworth twixt Wakefield
and Doncaster. Sun. 13th Dec 2001. Reproduced
by kind permission of Blues Matters Magazine.
I had heard of the Boot and Shoe and the quality of
the Bands there on Sunday afternoons from one of my
workmates. I was attracted to this particular Sundays
fare simply by the name of the band, which was Raw Gallagher.
As Rory Gallagher is my all time favourite Rock/Blues
performer, I couldn’t ignore the prospect of an
afternoon of Rory’s music and Theakston’s
Cool Cask Bitter! So enter Steve White, Barnsley’s
own Rory Gallagher Tribute Artist.
I entered the Boot and Shoe public
house at 15:15 hours Greenwich meantime to the strains
of "Shadowplay". However it was just the soundcheck!
At this point I thought I would be in for an afternoon
of mediocre "pub band" quality music, not
that there is anything wrong with pub quality music
and I would have enjoyed it anyway. However, we were
to be surprised by the quality of this band. Although
it was a tribute band, they produced exceptionally high
quality music. Rory himself would have been proud of
them.
The set kicked off with Messin With
The Kid. Steve White, resplendent in his obligatory
checked shirt and his Sunburst finish Fender Stratocaster,
really looked the part. Steve’s American Tech
2 amp certainly sounded the part too! Continuing into
Continental Op featuring some excellent slide playing,
it soon became apparent the Band were very well appreciated.
I Aint No Saint made me realise how authentic the sound
was. Steve White’s voice seemed just right. Yes
tonight Mathew...I’m going to be Rory Gallagher!
Shadowplay, an old favourite of mine, was brilliant!
The solo in this song had that inherent Irish feel to
it which epitomises Rory’s playing. Steve White
had captured it to a tee, throwing in some harmonics
for free!
Another favourite, this time Million
Miles Away saw yet more great playing, Steve overcoming
tuning problems valiantly. The rhythm section of John
on Tama Drums and the most excellent Ron on custom-made
bass were beyond reproach throughout this gig and particularly
on this song.
The band then played Bad Penny superbly
well before the rhythm section temporarily retired and
Steve donned his Ibanez acoustic He proceeded to treat
us to a two-song finger-picking treat. Out on the Western
Plain was first up and was a great authentic version.
If I had have closed my eyes it really could have been
Rory back with us in The Boot and Shoe. Pistol Slapper
Blues was to follow with the same precision. Very enjoyable
indeed!
The band took a well-earned rest before
the second set. Hot Coals, that marathon and hugely
enjoyable number eased us in to this set and I heard
a little voice in my head prompting me to dig in to
my vinyl collection to play this song at home! I must
update my Rory collection to CD!
Follow Me showcased the tightness of
the band. Ron Stephenson is a superb bass player and
he followed the lead as Gerry McAvoy would have done
with Rory! It just got better as the afternoon went
on.
If there were enough trees in the world
to make the paper required to document this gig, I would
rave on forever. The set included brilliant renditions
of Tattooed Lady, A fantastic Bullfrog Blues, Calling
Card, and Last Time. The list goes on! Steve White has
learned his trade well in his 49 years. Surrounded by
Ron and John, the band brought back the authentic Rory
Gallagher sound for all to enjoy. Rory Gallagher has
been sorely missed by his fans since his untimely death.
We are so very fortunate to hear Raw Gallagher for one
and Barrie Barnes as another tribute to the Great Irish
Bluesman. When the music is played as well as this,
Rory’s work can live on forever for the pleasure
of we mere mortals. Long may this be!...
Steve Lally
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