Guitar Hero
Last night I went to see Steve Wynn play at the City Screen Basement Bar. I’ve seen him play a solo acoustic set before (supporting Willard Grant Conspiracy) but this time he had a band with him - at least a guitarist/keyboard player and a bass (upright!). No drums but I don’t now where he would have got them in anyway. They were supported by the seemingly ever present (in York at least) Boss Caine who played a decent acoustic opening set.
Steve Wynn played a great set and gave his guitar a serious bit of stick. The atmosphere was very good (I’ve never been to a gig in the Basement Bar before) and the music excelled. All three were extremely talented musicians and this was emphasised with one of the encore songs which they said they had never played together before. It was interesting because the bassist didn’t join in to start with, instead watching the guitar and mandolin players carefully for a little while to get the chords and then playing his part beautifully and seemingly flawlessly. I was sat looking at the bassist - I love an upright and especially when there’s a bit of bowing action - and there was a little voice in my head telling me I’ve seen him before. I worked out he must have been with Robert Fisher and this was confirmed when we had a little chat after the gig.
It was a good mix of old and new stuff (there’s an album out in a month or so) and it was finished with the excellent amphetamine. This is an excellent track whether played acoustically, as last night and seen previously, or as is it is in all its electric glory as on the album Static Transmission.
Top night!
He is coming back over in ‘the fall’ with a full band and I really hope he comes to York or Leeds!