Mr Spider - playing to win that bottled water advertising contract!!!
Mr Spider - Dexters, Dundee 04-02-06
First gig I've been to at Dexters - good sized place with a good sound - must check this one out for future use, methinks.
Mr Spider had all come down with colds the week before the gig, guitarist John still not firing on all cylinders, while vocalist Michele was a tad concerned, but the soundcheck indicated she needn't have worried.
There seems to be this "blues crowd" in this fair city who apparently catch an afternoon set at Deacon Brodies then wander over to Dexters for the next band to play, which explains why Mr Spider were doing a 5.30 to 7.15 slot.But the place was pretty darned full, possibly the biggest Dundee audience they've played to so far - and from the
reaction, one that seriously enjoyed what they were playing!!
Because of the "nature" of the audience, they'd elected to do a set that was more blues, less rock, although in hindsight, a mix of the two would have been good - but that's probably just me! Either way, what they did, was superb.
Over a two-part set, they played a number of their best cover versions, including the medley of "Cocaine/N.I.B." that still sends shivers up my spine when Michele and the band launch into the Sabbath part of the track, plus Free's "Wishing Well" and Hendrix's "Hey Joe" that still sound so fresh with a female vocal attacking them. On the blues side they did "Stormy Monday Blues" for the first time, a real slow one where both John and Michele proved they could carry it off with ease as the number unfolded with all the sensitivity and passion it should possess. Of their originals, "Fox's Blues" still takes the prize for sounding like it should have been a classic cover, in good company with all the rest, it can't be denied. A highlight of the first set, though, had to be "Take Me To The River" where Michele, although previously worried she wasn't in good enough vocal form to do it, just carried the track into another dimension, as the band riffed their way through while Michele took off. Odd on paper, but worked a treat in practice.
The second set got right into fourth gear with a rousing opening rendition of ZZ Top's "Tush" and a storming "Back In The Night" that really lifted the place. A new original track, "Bottle Blues" was just a stunner - a homage to the fine art of drinking, the amusing lyrics combined with a blues-boogie arrangement was just superb, and to hear the way Michele delivered the line " a long slow Skrew" is a moment you won't forget in a hurry!! The band-composed instrumental track they do, is a great chance to see the three musicians show what they can do and all of them played it solid and tight. Although John's guitar work was a tad laid back for it, the AC/DC "Highway To Hell" cover just roared out, Michele carrying the vocal to ever greater heights for a female singer attacking the track. Ending with a rousing "Johnny B Goode", the band earned a well deserved seal of approval from the enthusiastic audience.
Although the unsung part of the band, you have top mention Ross on bass and Paul on drums, who keep the whole thing driving along and tight as hell, with Ross's basswork on "Roadhouse Blues" a set highlight of many such highlights.
Overall, then another gem of a blues-rock set. If the standard of their originals keeps up the level they've set so far, and the band get back to top form, while Michele's vocal seems to go from strength to strength (this was only her 6th gig with the band), then they'll surely become less of "a covers band" and more of a band to which you seriously sit up and take notice.
Mr Spider - playing to win that bottled water advertising contract!!!
Dontcha just love to see a musician enjoying his craft!!