GERRY McAVOY's BAND OF FRIENDS, Sugar Mama @Robin 2, Bilston 29/11/13

The story goes that Jimi Hendrix was once asked what it felt like to be the best guitarist in the world. "I don't know," he replied. "Ask Rory Gallagher."

Therefore you had better be damn sure that if you are celebrating his music, you do so with respect; there are no worries on that score. This Band of Friends is no mere tribute act. This is a band of Rory's friends. Two of them, bass player Gerry McAvoy and Drummer Ted McKenna, played with Gallagher, McAvoy toured with him for 20 years, while Sensational Alex Harvey Band’s McKenna was there from 78-81.

It also helps that they have been doing this for a couple of years - indeed RTM saw them in this very venue 12 months ago, so the act is honed to perfection.

The support band that night, as now, were Redditch based blues trio Sugar Mama. The band positively exudes youthful exuberance. They also seem to be finding their own feet slightly more than being steeped in old blues like they were last year and this is despite the blistering cover of Gallaghers "Laundromat" that they end things with. Self-penned songs like "Real Love" and "Love No Money" see them moving into territory more associated with the White Stripes or Wolfmother and if the lyrics do seem a tad naive, then surely you can forgive them that given their age. The development of Sugar Mama continues apace.

“The curfew is extended until 2am – and the bar is free after 10” so says Gerry McAvoy as he strolls out onstage to begin BoF’s set, he grins mischievously as his band launch into “Last Of The Independents” a track which sums up the maverick nature of the man who we are here to celebrate perfectly – a heavy, bluesy, yet insanely catchy tune, it is – like the hour and a half that follows - absolutely superb.

In truth it is hard to go wrong when you are playing 90 minutes of Gallagher’s songs, and any time “Bad Penny” is played it is more or less impossible not to grin insanely like some sort of lunatic.

The real skill, though is in the choice of band members. McAvoy is a natural showman, who is the nominal frontman of the group, McKenna belts the kit with gusto, but this trio was essentially going to live and die by its six stringer, the Rory role if you will, and Marcel Scherpenzeel is an inspired choice.

The Dutchman not only plays guitar like a god, he is an excellent singer. McAvoy promises that he is “the closest thing to Rory you will ever hear” and he is not wrong. “Calling Card” is a veritable freak out, while set closer “Shadow Play” is just wonderful. They are back for an encore – which like last year is “Bullfrog Blues” with as many teasing, false endings as you can possibly imagine, with the band just enjoying itself.

We will never be lucky enough to see Rory Gallagher again. Those of us that never did will forever be safe in the knowledge that thanks to a couple of his mates and a magnificent guitarist we can, just once a year, close our eyes and imagine what it would have been like.

The best blues fun of the year. 

SUGAR MAMA, The Mighty Young, Temporary @The Roadhouse, Birmingham 12/7/13

Temporary stepped in at the last moment. Answering a plea to be the opening band, the impossibly young group are evidently enjoying themselves onstage tonight. Resolutely retro, “Cold Inside” owes a debt to the Black Crowes, while “Madness Love And Fear” has a fine solo. For a band clearly in its infancy they have plenty of potential and if they learn to connect with their audience slightly better they really could do decent things. Keep your eye on them.

The Mighty Young list themselves on their Facebook page as a three piece (you suspect that Solomon Hotcoals might not be his real name) but tonight – if he exists at all -  they are one short. As everyone knows there is something inherently odd about two-piece bands. From the obvious ones like the White Stripes to newer ones like The Graveltones, they are perhaps by their very nature, outsiders.  Drummer Robb Cartin bashes away and singer/guitarist Joseph Gatsby chucks out the riffs.

The style might be a trifle limiting, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with tracks like “Goodbye Blues” or “The Science Of Love” in fact the only tiny criticism of the group is – rather like the openers – they struggle to make any connection. Again, ones to have a look at – and you suspect that they would be better with a bassist.

RTM is here tonight because we saw Sugar Mama support Gerry McAvoy last November and very good they were too. This should have played this show in January but the snow put paid to that. So the question is: was it worth the wait?

The answer, happily, is yes. By far the most polished band of the evening, the band isn’t trying to change the world. Billing themselves as “dirty, filthy, stinking rock n roll” they don’t quite get into that territory, but they are a very decent heavy blues band.

Like the other groups on show this evening Sugar Mama are very young but they are much more professional than the duo that had preceded them. They have honed some decent tunes too, “Love Nor Money” and “Bullfight Blues” are self-penned but exciting nonetheless.

In common with most bands of this type there are plenty of covers. “Louie Louie” sounds excellent, as do “All Over Now” and “Maggie’s Farm.” That said, there is a suspicion that perhaps they overdo the medleys. The band are talented, though, and finish with an entertaining version of “Money.”

An interesting rather than stunning evening, but you suspect that all three of these groups can have their say in Blues circles in years to come.

GERRY McAVOY'S BAND OF FRIENDS, Sugar Mama @Bilston Robin 2 16/11/12

Tonight had better be good. It better be good, because RTM is missing the mighty Gentlemen’s Pistols at the Asylum for it.

 If you will permit a slightly personal digression, that we are doing to this show at all is a long story, but one that revolves around the fact our partner in gig going crime for 20 odd years is the world’s biggest Rory Gallagher fan, so RTM is forsaking one of our favourite bands to see a tribute act……

Actually that is little disingenuous. This is not your average tribute act. This celebration of the work of Rory Gallagher (the man who Jimi Hendrix considered the world’s greatest guitarist) contains two of the men who were by his side in the 70s – bass man Gerry McAvoy and drummer Ted McKenna – together with Dutch bluesman Marcel Scherpenzneel. Viewed in that respect this Band of Friends is no more of a tribute than the current line up of Thin Lizzy, say.

Before the Rory stuff there are Sugar Mama. Impossibly young they might be, but this local band have some very fine blues chops. Single “Bullfight Blues” is a fine song and their set is an entertaining one, even if it is slightly marred by singer/guitarist Sam Anderson having tuning problems with his guitar.

This is a minor problem though – and one they will iron out with more shows such as this. Sugar Mama are a band with potential.

So it is then, that about 9.20 Gerry McAvoy and his mates stroll out onto the Bilston stage. Early portents are not good. He sidles up to the mic, goes to say hello and the thing collapses. What follows are 30 seconds of pure slapstick as he tries and fails to make said stand behave, but if that sets us laughing, what follows makes sure the smiles don’t leave for the next two hours.

The evening kicks off with “Last of The Independents” and from there becomes possibly the finest celebration of blues music that could be imagined. “Lets Go To Work” follows quickly as does “Calling Card” with its funky bass. “Bad Penny” is a revelation and “Follow Me” has lost none of its appeal despite being over 30 years old and really, if you can’t enjoy Shadow Play” you aren’t trying.

Although the band as a whole is flawless, it really is Scherpenzneel who deserves most plaudits. He is quite stunning in the “Rory” role, and his guitar duel with special guest Gwyn Ashton is jaw-dropping.

It is a real shame when “Bullfrog Blues” brings the curtain down, as this had been one of the great life-affirming gigs of 2012. Not a gig, as such, it was exactly as promised, a band of friends enjoying themselves -  and it was unexpectedly brilliant.

Gentlemen’s who?