Koblenz, Café Hahn, 27.01.2017

[Schreihals]

I have never seen another band as often as I have seen Wishbone Ash and yet I can say that the show at the legendary Café Hahn was one of the best I have seen.

The evening was opened up by the remarkable Steve Hill and his one-man-show: Steve Hill plays a mean a heavy sort of blues and obviously he knows all the tricks in the book when it comes to playing the guitar. But what makes his show so exceptional is that he has got no band and still delivers a full sound by playing everything himself all at one time. His right foot kicks the bass drum, his left foot kicks the snare (with a custom made pedal) or the hi-hat and a drum stick attached to the head of his guitar is used to hit additional cymbals!
So far so exciting – but the proof of his quality is that you totally forget about that and enjoy the pure quality of his music after 5 minutes. Of course by being the entire band himself, Steve Hill had all the liberty in the world to improvise his songs. A very entertaining show of 30 minutes left a sweaty Mr. Hill and a warmed up audience.
Oh, by the way, the bass guitar obviously was emulated by a second pick up beneath the two lowest strings of his guitars sent through an octave. Chapeau, Mr. Hill!

When Wishbone Ash hit the stage kicking into their 2+ hours set with the lovely instrumental "Bona Fide" from the stellar album of the same name, it became apparent within seconds how transparent the band plays. A crystal-clear sound made every instrument and every vocalist audible all the time showed how relaxed this band can fully play on the spot. Coming from Heavy Metal myself, it is just too striking why I have learned from the Ash for so many years now: while the guitars frequently play chords in the middle and upper registers, there is space for the drums and the bass to create what really drives the music.

Wishbone Ash played a long 17-song-set consisting of inevitable classics from the first albums, the Argus-trilogy truly shining last night, and quite some songs from the more frequent albums with "Take It Back" being played for the first time on this tour. What a great song – and what a killer live track it is! "Take It Back" was absolutely raising the energy level of the audience last night – what a proof for a new song! From its atmospheric intro featuring Andy Powell on the e-bow (an electronic devise simulation the guitar strings played like by the bow of a violin) through the verses by spot on harmony vocals by Andy and Bob Skeat to its climatic twin lead solos, this song is both a modern and a classic Wishbone Ash song. May it stay in the set for a long time.

What makes Wishbone Ash concerts so essential to me is the band's good habit to unearth long lost songs from time to time. This tour grants us a truly overlooked song: "The Spirit Flies Free" from 1987's "Nouveau Calls" album. While this folky instrumental had suffered by the sterile 80's production, it really shines live. Andy dedicated the song to the feeling of living with a free spirit and a free soul in politically troubled times. A nice statement that the positive song transported musically – thank you very much, boys!

I brought a friend and band mate to the show yesterday and it was lovely seeing him enjoy the concert, endless talking of us guitar and music nerds on the way back included. It is great to be inspired, it is great to see true masters play. Joe Crabtree's perfect timing in combination with his organic groove and massive dynamics, Bob Skeat's totally relaxed and tight bass playing combining groove and melody while singing harmony vocals, Muddy Manninen's fluent playing pairing striking rhythms with emotional and spheric solos, and of course Andy Powell's flawless charismatic singing in union with his famous melodic signature lead guitar work – "Throw Down Sword" being on an all time high last night.

I have praised Muddy's renditions of "Phoenix" many times and I can't help it, it was moving as always to see and feel his being one with the guitar. He has got everything you can have technically, but what makes his playing so exceptional is his playing from the heart. You cannot learn that, you either have it or you don't. and he has it.
Overall, moving the usual encore of "Jailbait" and "Blowin' Free" to the end of the regular set and making "Phoenix" the encore is an amazing move! The regular ended on a high energy level built up through rocking songs such as "Open Road" (stretched by an every-amazing lead guitar duel and carried by a freakin' bass groove) and "Deep Blues" – and "Phoenix" ends a concert with such beauty and dignity, all is said thereafter. I loved it.

Wishbone Ash presented themselves as a timeless band full of energy and joy, showing no signs of age or fatigue. Wishbone Ash are Wishbone Ash – and the packed Café Hahn proved that this is very much requested. May the road go on for a pretty long time, see you again very soon!


01. Bona Fide
02. Eyes Wide Open
03. You See Red
04. Front Page News
05. The Spirit Flies Free
06. The King Will Come
07. Warrior
08. Throw Down The Sword
09. Rock'n'Roll Widow
10. Take It Back
11. Way Down South
12. In Crisis
13. Open Road
14. Deep Blues
15. Jailbait
16. Blowin' Free
---------------------------
17. Phoenix

[valediction]

Cracking review Patrick - Just to correct you Take it back was played in Verviers and Nuremberg but I am assuming you meant first time for you on this current tour.


Ben ( the real deal )