A step back in time at the Casino Rooms in Rochester this evening, as I joined an appreciative audience for a couple of very enjoyable hours with rock legends Wishbone Ash. This was the founder member Andy Powell’s line-up, which consists of the top class trio of bassist Bob Skeat, guitarist Mark Abrahams and drummer Windsor McGilvray.
Kicking off with instrumental In The Skin, featuring Mark on slide guitar, the band soon found top gear with a couple of late 1970s classics, You See Red and Front Page News. These were promptly followed by the kind of tracks which I imagine the majority of the crowd had come for, namely The King Will Come, Throw Down the Sword and Sometime World from the still-awesome Argus album. Great to hear the latter once more, as I am a particular fan of its superlative bass lines in the uptempo second half.
The band first became known for harmony lead guitars and Mark and Andy displayed several of these moments tonight – although I must admit I would like to have heard more of these trademarks as they are always wonderful on the ear. (Clearly the six string parts depend on the setlist on the night).
The mid-section of the evening focused on later recordings, e.g. Enigma from 2002’s Bona Fide set, before returning to the timeless Blowin’ Free and set closer Phoenix from the original foursome’s debut album. I have heard Phoenix several times in a live setting down the years and I believe this was the best interpretation yet. Windsor came into his own during the extended instrumental parts and the whole band contributed to a roof-lifting climax. The riff driven Jail Bait provided the encore and rounded off the performance on an appropriate high.
I first saw Wishbone at Bristol in October 1976. Fifty years to the month! I missed out on the earlier line-up (Andy, Martin Turner, Steve Upton and Ted Turner) but caught them many times with the second four-piece of Andy, Martin, Steve and one of my favourite guitarists, Laurie Wisefield. A memorable night at an overly-packed Marquee in Soho in October 1977 comes to mind. Phew, it was hot that night – I lost weight even though I was already stick-thin!
(The original band did come together in 1987 to release an instrumental album, Nouveau Calls, on the I.R.S. Records label as part of Miles Copeland III’s ‘No Speak’ series, which featured all-instrumental music).
The band have been a soundtrack to my life. From first hearing ‘So many things to say’ – from Wishbone Four – on Alan Freeman’s Radio 1 show in 1973 at the age of 14, to the present day. So it’s marvellous to still be able to experience such tracks played where they really come to life, on stage.
My thanks for a very pleasant evening go to not just the band, but also to Lorna, Bob’s wife, who was on merchandise duty and with whom I discussed all things Wishbone. Plus, a pleasure to catch up with Bob after the gig, and in particular to recall the elder statesman musicians in his family. His dad Bill was a fine jazz saxophonist who had a considerable following in Russia, while his uncle Len was a highly respected double bassist.
Thanks all. Good luck with the rest of the UK and the European tour that follows guys.
