Mr Spider - Bank Bar, Dundee 30-09-05
It's around 18 months back when Michele Mclaren leapt on stage with Dundee synth group Altres and surprised us all by doing a vocal improvisation with the band that was our first introduction to her singing talents. Since then, I've heard her do assorted folk and karaoke tracks, but when I heard she'd been recruited as lead vocalist for a tribute band, I did wonder what would happen.
You see, Mr Spider are essentially a blues-rock tribute band as well as doing several of their own tracks too,and I couldn't imagine, from what I knew, how Michele's voice would translate to such a set of tracks.
Needn't have worried - both she, and the band, performed superbly.
The band, a trio of electric and electric slide guitar, bass and drums play the blues so fluidly and solidly. So many times you see bands thast have been playing blues-rock based tracks for so long and they seem tired or uninspired, trotting out all the right chords with the conviction of a cart horse on its way to the knackers yard. No such thing here - this was a band who made the likes of tracks by Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan at one end and Dr Feelgood and Bad Company at the other, sound fresh and vibrant, with the whole band playing with feeling and conviction.
But now, you're getting the drift - all these tracks? with a female vocalist? Hmmmmm...........
The first number was Robert Johnson and, later, Cream'c classic "Crossroads" - intro begins - neat guitar work, fluid rhythm section - then, as I held my breath, in comes Michele - "I went down to the Crossroads" - phewwwwwww.........she sounds good - powerful vocal, again, full of feeling, and giving it her all - a good start as you breathe a sigh of relief and immediately begin to enjoy the set. You notice right from the starts that Michele has a great voice for the blues - slower numbers such as a BB King track right at the end (of which I've comepletely forgotten the title) and more uptempo commercial electric blues such as a spirited rendition of Dr Feelgood's hit "Down At The Doctors", all featured her lower range, almost American sounding, vocal as she delieved the songs with conviction, all the more remarkable as, about 6 months ago, she'd probably never even heard OF most of the songs in the set, let alone knew how they went!!
A version of the old standard "Hard To Handle" was done with fluidity and enthusiasm from the band, with Michele wrapping her tonsils around the speedy chorus with ease. But it wasn't just about the blues - or close, anyway. Other tracks performed included Free's "Alright Now", Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough", both sounding far from tired with Michele's vocal adding to the change while the band soared behind her, plus a couple of Hendrix numbers and so on.
A couple of highlights for me, among a strong set that, for essentially a debut gig with Michele, the band did well, were, for one, a weird medley when JJ Cale's "Cocaine" was merged into Black Sabbtah's "N.I.B." - now, on paper, this sounds weird at best, but live in concert, it worked a treat. First you had the laid-back smouldering vocal from Michele on the former, but when it went into "N.I.B.", Michele just let loose and delivered a stunning vocal that even Ozzy would have been proud of, putting her very soul into the performance, and this, albeit small, section, was just bretahtaking. The other wsas a group-penned original, "Mr Lucky", a slow blues with lyrics that Michele could relate with and she delivers the song almost like a female John Lee Hooker, once again, full of emotion. Superb!
The band can play - a self-composed instrumental, and an extended cosa to the last song of the first set, showcased some stunning lead guitar work from John, while the rhythm section kept it strong and propelled it all sounding crunchy and dynamic. At the end, we were even treated to a guest guitarist (no idea who) on a neat blues jam as a bonus.
Over a two hour set there were a few tracks, particularly in the opening of set two, where you feel the nerves got to Michele a bit as a couple of tracks or so, didn't quite seem to have the passion she exuded in the first half, but - heck - it's her debut gig - you can't expect perfection!!
OK - so it's essentialy a tribute band - with some originals. But they do it well, and that's the key - you can go and watch this band in concert and be sure of having a good time. I grew up on this stuff, so to hear it done this enthusiastically and with feeling, is great. I'l go and see them again, anytime - and I urge you to do so, too - if it's your sort of music, you'll love this - and say hi to Michele - this is just the beginning.
