Review and photographs by Robin Jones
I could not help but wonder how this gig was going to turn out. Live music is still suffering the post covid effect and a lot of people are having to be careful with their spending, but it was encouraging to see a full house for a Blues gig in Brisbane. By the time Charlie came on there were only a very few seats not taken and with standing tickets also being sold there was a large and appreciative crowd.
Local Blues musicians also out in force including Shade Hadie, The Walters, Simon Worlo and Jordon Rodios to name a few.
Local supports have been used on the tour and for Brisbane it was singer / Guitarist, Dana Gehrman, performing as a duo with Danny Widdicombe. Dana’s roots, americana and 70’s west coast sound, got a warm reception and Dana’s and Danny’s guitar playing fitted well together.
Charlie’s four-piece band, consisting of Kid Andersen on Guitar, June Core on Drums and Randy Bermudes on Bass and came on to a rapturous reception. Drawing on nearly sixty years of material, Charlie played favourites from his first LP, Stand Back, Here comes Charley Musselwhite’s South side band, such as Stranger in a Strange land and Sonny Boy Williamson’s Help me, as well as songs from his latter and recent LP’s .
There was a real chemistry between Charlie and his band, with Charlie signalling when he wanted Guitarist Kid Anderson to take solos and with no egos on display Kid was signalled to take his fourth solo in one of the songs, giving a virtuoso performance with a classic blues tones. I will have to check out more of Kid Andersons work.
Charlie recorded “Stand Back” when he was twenty two and is now eighty so he had a lot of stories to tell relating to the blues greats, such as when Sonny Boy had multiple drinks lined up in front of him at a gig and assured Charlie that he would not have a problem finishing them by himself.
On more than one occasion, Charlie mentioned that he had been told the Tivoli had a Million-dollar dance floor and that it was a pity it was covered in chairs. It would have been nice to have had a standing / dancing area in front of the stage but even with chairs right up against the stage, Charlie still created an electric atmosphere and let’s hope we have the pleasure of being able to see him again soon.
