Tenby Blues Festival – Day 1 – Rock Solid
Snatch It Back Photo©Nigel Summerley
As Muddy Waters once observed: “The blues had a baby and they named it rock ‘n’ roll.” And last night’s set by Welsh band Snatch It Back at the opening of the Tenby Blues Festival certainly made that point very clearly.
Their harmonica-driven, no-nonsense, solid playlist started off in familiar blues territory with affectionate nods to Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson but turned increasingly to shades of rockabilly and finally unashamed rock ‘n’ roll. And the dancers down the front at the De Valence Pavilion were extremely happy with that.
It’s difficult to know what Muddy would have made of Erja Lyytinen whose high-octane rock had a blues content that was perhaps not always apparent. But I like to think he would have been won over, as I was, by her full-on passion and her truly phenomenal guitar playing.
Her voice is as powerful and compelling as her high-speed shredding and there were points in her set, particularly when she was playing some wonderful slide work, that she made me think of Rory Gallagher – crossed with Pat Benatar.
Her music is a long, long way from the traditional blues, but she and her superlative rhythm section proved irresistible.
After the show I asked her if she knew of Gallagher and her face lit up… not only did she admire the legendary Irish blues-rocker but she said she wished she could have met him. “I think he had a big heart,” she said. I told her I’d interviewed him back in the day and that she was right. Rory would definitely have approved of Erja… and Erja, too, definitely has a big heart.
Erja Lyytinen Photo©Aline Whitaker
For those who wanted their blues downhome authentic and full of guts, warmth and humanity, the bill was completed by Nothing In Rambling, the remarkable duo formed by guitarist Andy Twyman and singer Sister Susie.
Twyman’s guitar is as strong and as rhythmic as a four-piece band and Susie’s vocals are showstoppingly affecting. Her acapella rendition of Soul Of A Man proved yet again that she can hold a stage and an audience with her voice alone.
Tenby Blues Festival continues today and Sunday – full details and tickets: www.tenbyblues.co.uk.
Nothing In Rambling Photo©Nigel Summerley
