Wanneer? do 22/05/2008

Waar ? CC de Steiger

With John Campbelljohn 'On The Road' puts another top musician on stage. From Paderborn (Germany) a quick roundtrip to Menen for a single concert on Belgian soil, because the day after the Eastern neighbours claimed this 'guitar wizard' again. Four more concert nights to go before returning across the open water, back to the home base.

John comes from Cape Breton on the Nova Scotia (Can) Peninsula, separated from Newfoundland by a sea arm, but spends a considerable part of the year in Europe, mainly in Germany. As mentioned, just one concert, but what a concert it was. Richly blessed with drive and virtuosity, free of any arrogance. Supported by a wonderful rhythm section consisting of drummer Neil Robertson (Can) and bass player Detlef Blanke and an encouraging crowd. The cafetaria of the Cultural Centre once again was the venue for a very successful musical setting.

After the usual announcements, John takes the lead, the steel resonator around his shoulders and the slide around his ring finger, starting with the ice-breaking 'Kokomo Blues'. Who went to last years Blaublues festival in Haringe, will remember the image of this gifted guitar player. The breaks seemed to pass in an instant, his solo performances were that entertaining. With growing admiration the crowd witnessed the fingers with fingerpicks, that moved around the various stringed instruments with masterful precision. In Menen the scenario was the same, with the added value of a good rhyttm section.

With a resolute “Let's boogie!” he started 'Pretty Paula Doy', the train was now unstoppable: except for the usual break halfway the gig. 'Heart Like A Stone' was dedicated to the sensitive lovers in the crowd, it cost John a little effort to get some spectators to join in. He smoothly built the outtro for this into the intro for 'Smoke On The Water', this guy definitely has a playful nature. Still he has a quite sober appearance with a black baret, inconspicious glasses and his braces tightly over the turqoise colored shirt. Time for some songs from the album 'Weight Of The World', a great album, starting with a succesful version of Mountains' 'Mississippi Queen', followed by 'Little Wing' (Jimi Hendrix) passionately played on a quite complicated looking 20-string pedal steel guitar.

Now that the potential hippies among those present had their way, he effortlessly switched to a jazzy-like swing tune. With 'Slow Down', now carrying the electric Fender, the mood is turned to reggae, of course a jolly 'Hé Màn' was added, a welcome humoristic note. Just as impressive is the socially engaged 'Sydney Steel', about the downfall of the industry in his region of birth. Seemlessly flowing to the heavy 'Ready For A Riot Blues'. After that a heavy metal explosion was played just long enough to shout “We Love Satan” three times, which in fact only served to put the following “You Gotta Move” into perspective. Just compliments for this beautiful gospel, the intro and outtro were both sung in three-voice a capella. After the hard decision about 'Don't Let The Drinking Do The Thinking' and if thhis should be dedicated to the men or the women, where at the end he picked a woman out of the crowd, that supported the Fender horizontally while he went into a bottleneck frenzy. It was time for a half hour break.

The hour following after the break, would again be a shining demonstration of his mastery in guitar playing, cooperation and variety. An instrumental as a first, where John, now dressed in a dark gray shirt, demonstrates that he can make his Fender weep without slide and sometimes with tremelo. After that a remarkable combination of songs, from 'Phone Booth'(Robert Cray), via 'Trouble No More' (Muddy Waters) to 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', for which he takes the lapsteel again. An impressive drumsolo leads up to 'Kathalie', making the the statement “call this world music blues” he sets in the closing instrumental. In a scorching tempo John closes a wonderful concert. After this followed 'Autobahn John', written about his first time on the German roads, followed by a sincere 'Bonne Nuit, Bonne Nuit Mes Amis' tune.

Recently we unfortunately had to say farewell to the, passed away way too young, blind Canadian blues guitar player Jeff Healey, who had just recorded a new cd. John Campbelljohn is fonrtunately still very much alive and will be back for a solo tour in the fall. An absolute tip!

Next month R.J. Mischo & Red Hot Bluesband (USA) will close the series of spring concerts, on Thursday 19 June 2008. From 16-06-2008 the On The Road passes, €30 for four concerts, for the next series of concerts will be available. For more info: call +32-56-515891 or info@ccdesteiger.be. The programme looks promising: Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, Boo Boo Davis, John Primer & The Little Boogie Boy Blues Band and Jim Kahr Band! Beware, a maximum of 220 tickets per concert are available! The quick will be the most content, as they say.

Translation by: Jean-Paul Harreman

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