MFBB in Sydney

[OldTimer]

From a Sydney blogger, a review of the Blues Band's show. I love his idea of the MFBB being a 'parallel universe' Fleetwood Mac....


The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band

Last night I saw the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at Souths Juniors in Sydney. And boy, what a show.

For those not “in the know”, here’s the deal: Fleetwood Mac started in the late ’60s as a blues group lead by Peter Green — essentially an offshoot from John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Back then, there was no Christine McVie and certainly no Lindsey Buckingham or Stevie Nicks: Fleetwood Mac were an all-British, all-male four-piece recording songs like “Oh Well” and (the original version of) “Black Magic Woman”. The only similarity to Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac was the eponymous rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.

So the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band is a kind of “parallel universe” Fleetwood Mac, where the blues never left the core repertoire and the spirit of Peter Green’s band continued long past his departure. The line-up consists of Mick Fleetwood himself (obviously) with ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist Rick Vito, backed by Lenny Castellanos on bass and Mark Johnstone on keyboards.

The joy here is in seeing four guys playing music that they truly love. This was an intimate club gig for an audience who wanted to hear authentic blues-rock performed by some of the best, not an arena show for casual fans of AOR. Both have their place, but this is something special and unique.

Sound problems led to a late start (and they caused a hiccup during the show as well), but the band were true professionals, and we all absolutely got our money’s worth.

http://www.thewhimwham.com/2010/02/2...od-blues-band/