Concert Review : Wishbone Ash - The Ferry, Glasgow

Fading a little into the distance, but Wishbone Ash played their second gig of the year at The Ferry on Thursday 22nd October. For the past number of years they have playing twice a year and although they are managing to retain the audience numbers you can't help but feel that the frequency might be a little too often.

I'd checked out the setlists from some of the earlier dates in the tour and had been disappointed to see that the numbers played were, with a couple of exceptions, pretty much the same as had been played at their last visit. I suspect that feedback of this nature may have worked its' way back to the band as we were treated to a reshaped set by the time they landed in Glasgow. Certainly, if they are going to make such regular appearances then continual recycling of the setlist is an absolute must otherwise there has to be a risk that both the band and the audience will get somewhat jaded.

New additions to the set from last time included Front Page News and Lady Jay whilst Vas Dis now took the opening slot. Runaway and Right Or Wrong were retained and these songs in particular allowed Muddy's funky rhythm playing to shine.

As ever, it's difficult if not impossible for the band to avoid Argus, but I would be glad to have a set that was devoid of Blowing Free. A great song it may be, but it's one I've heard just a time or two too often. Unfortunately, it was also combined with Bad Weather Blues - if I have to hear this song, I'd much rather hear it with its' own rather excellent ending than being contaminated with this workaday twelve bar.

On the guitar front, it was Muddy Manninen's turn to shine tonight. I've often found him to be too quite and a little too submerged in the overall sound. This was not the case tonight and he rather outshone Andy Powell who was solid enough but unable to match his partner's fire.

On the vocal front Andy Powell, who has never been the strongest of vocalists, seemed to struggle through many of the songs. Indeed, it was notable that Manninen seemed to mirroring some of the melody lines being sung as if to provide some further support. Anything that hit the higher register seemed to be a struggle. Perhaps he was carrying a cold but there was no indication that this might be the case.

I had been pleased to see that Errors Of My Way was marked down as one of the encore numbers, but unfortunately this wasn't played. I'd have been more than happy to have heard this rather than the Blowing Free/Bad Weather Blues combination mentioned earlier.

The issues between Powell and his erstwhile bandmate Martin Turner are well documented. One of Powell's claims is that he has been the one to have carried the band to this juncture including the recording of new music. He does rather undermine this claim by only having one song from any of the albums since Strange Affair. Also in the set is the extremely mediocre Engine Overheat from the execrable Twin Barrels Burning album. Powell seems to recognise in some way that the core of the band remains, as it always has, the series of classic albums from their debut through to Just Testing. Even taking into account the two reunion albums, it is always songs from these earlier albums that set the pulses racing.

That suggests a certain logical action. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it'll be happening any time soon which is a shame

I've Been Away.....

Circumstances have meant that I've not been able to post as regularly as I would have wished but will be attempting to catch up over the next week.

Whilst my posting has been missing, my activities haven't so hope to be sharing my thoughts on The Fantastic Mr Fox and The Men Who Stare At Goats, as well as concerts featuring Wishbone Ash, Andy Fairweather Low and Deep Purple.