If you love great rock music and mind-
blowing guitar playing I would recommend that you don’t miss them. (Review by
Keith Millar)
In a little over six months of operation
the spanking new Barnyard Theatre at the Suncoast Casino in Durban has become
an integral part of the city’s entertainment scene.
They have presented some excellent
“Barnyard Style” style shows such as Big
Top Rock and Rhythm of the Night
and recently they featured South Africa’s own International blues sensation,
Dan Patlansky, in a one off show.
But the cherry on the top so far was the
appearance this week of the celebrated British rock band Wishbone Ash.
Formed in 1969, Wishbone Ash is currently
on a nationwide Barnyard tour as part of their XLIX (49 in Roman numerals)
world tour - celebrating their upcoming 50th anniversary as a band.
Wishbone Ash, who have recorded 48 albums
over this period of time and have become known as the ultimate road band as
they travel around 50,000km per year, performing some 150 gigs all over the
world.
They are considered to be one of the major
innovators of the harmony twin lead guitar format with their music being
described as Hard Rock, Blues Rock and Progressive Rock.
The only founder member who still with the
band, Andy Powell, is regarded as one of the "Top 20 Guitarists Of All
Time" (Rolling Stone magazine).
There is no doubt that they are a musicians
band as their audience at the Barnyard Theatre at Suncoast Casino consisted
largely of Durban’s old rockers and musos. It seemed as though every guitarist,
aspiring guitarist and air guitarist was there to pay homage to this
extraordinary band. One muso mentioned to me that it was the third time he was
seeing them.
And what an astonishing performance we were
treated to. Two hours of down to the earth, no bells and whistles, guitar
driven hard rock music from one of the tightest bands around. It was a bombardment,
relentless, extremely loud (as good rock music should be) and quite gob
smacking in its intensity. It was an absolute blast!
The band which along with Andy Powell on
guitar and vocals consists of Mark Abrahams guitar, Bob Skeat, a 20-year
veteran of the band, bass and vocals, and Joe Crabtree on drums.
They performed many of their best
remembered numbers such as The King Will
Come, Throw Down The Sword, Come In From The Rain, Way Down South, Runway, FUBB
(with extraordinary work on the bass), Standing
In The Rain, Phoenix and Blowin’ Free.
With their history of touring the world and
having been to South Africa several times before, they are sure to be back
sometime. If you love great rock music and mind- blowing guitar playing I would
recommend that you don’t miss them. – Keith Millar
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