The Mark Thornley Band, Half A Day and The Convulsions live at The Gregson Centre, Lancaster
Lancaster Music Festival (part 7…)
I've got a pretty good idea of where I am going but I'm not entirely sure how to get there. When you're low on sleep and high on caffeine there's but one thing to do - stop for a beer. Sorry, I meant stop and ask for directions. It just happened to be a pub that I stopped in. At least they knew where my destination was. It was further on up the road.
A light in the darkness. At least it's not a red light. It's a blue light, or at least it sounds blue. Into the Gregson Centre and try not to look in any mirrors. I might not recognise the train wreck that looks back. The Mark Thornley Band are on stage having come all the way from Blackpool. Three big strong men that look like they have been hewn from the proverbial iron block, they play in a notably fluid and easygoing way. It's a Sunday night so that mellow feeling seems so very right but, make no mistake, this band that also knows how to preach the blues and helping them with the testifying tonight was the ever mischievous Ben Ruth (from The Convulsions) and his harmonica.
Local band Half A Day were on next. They kept things in a blues rock vein mixing covers with their own material. Showing the enthusiasm and energy of youth, they managed to play a long and proficient set. Well, it had to be a long set as the drummer had many, many things to hit. Think I'll have another beer. They've made me thirsty.
Last on were The Convulsions but I was looking at a handbag shaped like a watering can. A green watering can at that. Perhaps it was an illusion? Immediately suspecting defective beer, I switched to whisky. The Convulsions and whisky are, fortunately, made for each other. Their demented, ultra high energy take on punk blues ricocheted around the room like bullets in a Vietnam fire fight. Not content to stay in one place, front man Ben Ruth runs around the room - the wonders/dangers of technology… - playing his harmonica in your beer. No stage is big enough to hold them and they make a rollicking end to the Lancaster Music Festival.
I should have known that the Devil would have a card up his sleeve though. After all, it is said that the blues is the devil's music. So let it also be said that the devil had the last laugh on me but I'll not be telling why.
Reviewer: Handsome Bluesbunny
Review Date: 11 October 2009
Websites
Mark Thornley Band
The Convulsions
Half A Day
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