The Legendary Night Owls Get Their Mojo Workin’
This was one of those nights I’ve been waiting for a long time, a night of classic R&B, genuine rhythm and blues and performed by a local band that has seen more than one line-up, heavens, two of them are actually older than me!
When Ken Mayle fronts a band with his harmonica stand back to be entertained, and so we were with Jon Newby on guitar, Andy Dalton on bass and Howard Goy on drums as they kicked off with a Freddie King number “I’m Tore Down” ensued by a Jimmy Reed track “Ain’t That Loving You Baby” and one of the most famous Rock/R&B songs of all time, Big Joe Williams’ “Baby Please Don’t Go”. Now that’s just the first 3 of 22 songs so you know I’m not going to list them all needless to say there were three from Little Walter and also three from Sonny Boy Williamson, a couple of Howlin’ Wolf tracks and obviously a couple of Muddy Waters.
I have to admit I am a bit unsure about a couple of tracks, is “So Many Roads” by Grateful Dead and “You Don’t Love Me” by The Allman Brothers Band? Hearing the 1946 “Ridin’ On The L&N” written by Lionel Hampton reminded me of many a blues night in 1970s Germany! Death, taxation, last orders and the final song are all inevitable and what a finish with Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Workin’”. If I had anything to do with it they would be the house band the last Friday of every month! Excellent, excellent stuff and by the way, Balding Bloke did a terrific job with the sound.