It was a dark, damp November night, but inside the Muse we had plenty to keep us warm, as the evening was lit up by two very fine acts.
Eleven29 are long-standing and well-loved friends of the Club. Rob “Floss” Davies and Dave Keast have been playing together for more years than they care to remember, and this was very apparent in the laid-back ease with which they performed. Opening their set with a great rendition of Lucinda Williams’ “Can’t let go”, they rapidly charmed the audience with their mellow “Western swing” musical style. Heartfelt country gospel blues (including classics from “O Brother Where Art Thou”) were merged with subtle elements of old-time jazz. Rob’s bass playing kept a solid rhythmic foundation, giving Dave the freedom to navigate the full length of the fretboard, picking out some impressively dextrous blues licks and jazzy solos.
Their singing was particularly impressive, with some very nice harmonising on numbers such as “Who walks in when I walk out?” and Brook Benton’s “My True Confession”.
As their set drew to a close they were joined by another long-time friend and partner-in-crime, Paul Keddle (multi-tasking tonight also as compere for the evening). Paul’s tasteful blues harmonica added most enjoyably to the mix, as they dialled up the energy for a couple of good old-time rockabilly numbers: “Seven nights to rock” and “Saved” (with appropriate hand-waving audience participation).
Duly assured of their own salvation, the audience headed off in the direction of the bar for a short break, after which it was time for the mighty Terraplanes Blues Band, welcome return visitors playing the Club for their second time.
The Terraplanes have to be one of the most professional and accomplished blues bands on the circuit at the moment. They didn’t waste a second – launching straight in to Robert Johnson’s “Malted Milk” they were immediately tight, powerful and authentically blues-drenched. It was all there – the wailing harmonica, the powerful vocals and lead guitar, and an irresistible pounding beat.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about them tonight was the joyfully good-humoured interaction between the band members – you could really tell that they were having fun playing together – something that always comes across in the warmth and energy communicated to the audience.
Launching into their own composition “Night Nurse” you became aware of the impeccable rhythmic precision between the excellent drumming of Karl Anthony and bass of Craig Shaw, both of whom played with great fluidity – a mixture of power and appropriate subtlety when required.
Craig has a remarkable way of making his delicately sophisticated bass playing look effortless – which it undoubtedly isn’t.
Then came “The Rambler” – in which the harmonica and guitar ramped the energy up to the maximum.
Eduardo Allen (surely the sharpest-dressed harmonica player in the West) is an incredible showman, with a remarkable physical presence on stage – hair flying and legs shaking as he wrings out some of the most powerfully intense blues solos you could ever wish to hear. With occasional forays onto percussion, pausing only for a sip of red wine and to re-adjust the position of the amps, he was masterful all over the stage (and off it), musically in complete control. Full marks to him also for the dazzling red suit (the white one last year was equally memorable), and an unforgettable sequined jacket.
Nick Scrase was in fine voice, gritty and soulful – and his powerful lead guitar soloing was inventive, blistering… in short, just right.
Their repertoire took enjoyable detours through Henry Thomas Texas blues (“Ballad of ragtime Texas”), Louisiana “Voodoo blues”, and at times a kind of Canned Heat boogie shuffle.
To be honest though, their second set remains something of a blur, because it was impossible not to get up and dance (along with an appreciatively uninhibited section of the audience) – rather than sitting taking notes.
One extraordinary moment stands out, however: Nick and Craig swapped roles, exchanging lead and bass guitars, with Craig taking over lead vocal duties – and the band just carried on as though nothing had changed: every bit as dynamic, every bit as tight. It’s hard to think of any other band in which the musicianship is so accomplished that they could manage that – not just for one song, but for three.
Guitars having been swapped back – and the audience still up and dancing enthusiastically – the set drew towards a close. A final gutsy encore of Folsom Prison Blues and it was all over… and for the second time the Terraplanes Blues Band had worked their magic in the Muse at Brecon. Let’s hope we see them here again before too long.
As always, many thanks to all who contributed to this excellent evening, to the Muse for their lovely venue and hospitality, and to everyone who turned out to help keep the show on the road.
https://www.theterraplanesbluesband.com
https://www.facebook.com/people/Eleven29/61572808041817
Photos by Barry Hill
Review by Jim Kerslake
