By Mark Salter
A musical celebration of all the Deep South has to offer could easily sum up this Ian Siegal and Jimbo Mathus gig featuring as it did blues, country rock ‘n’ roll and even Baptist gospel.
Whilst both being fantastic musicians they struck a contrast in their stage presence. Mathus is all American enthusiasm and energy whilst the Portsmouth-born Siegal is much more laid back and restrained. Not only did their personalities blend perfectly but so their styles of playing – Siegal very much the virtuoso blues guitarist with Mathus adding guitar, mandolin and harmonica to the mix.
The pair ran through a range of classics referencing giants of the genres whilst also adding in some of their own compositions. Indeed, with his tongue in cheek Talkin’ Overseas Pirate Blues in the ‘Woodie Guthrie talking blues style’ Siegal managed to do both.
Other tracks that Siegal led on including Charley Patton’s ‘the greatest blues guitarist ever!’ Pony Blues, Willie Nelson’s Crazy Old Soldier and Howling Wolf’s Ain’t Going Down That Dirt Road. His own metaphorical song I Am The Train segued in and out of Johnny Cash’s Fulsome Prison Blues and a rousing version of gospel, Mary Don’t Weep almost had folks shouting “hallelujah”.
Siegal also played tribute to three talents recently departed, Prince, Merle Haggard and Guy Clark, when introducing I’ll Fly Away. ‘Mex-Tex’ Gallo Del Cielo shone a spot light on Siegal’s story telling skills tracing rags to riches to rags tale of a gambler travelling from Mexico through to California with a prize-fighting cock. All winnings are lost on that last big bet when Gallo meets a bloody end.
Mathus, a man with a great pedigree having produced the likes of Elvis Costello and Buddy Guy, claimed that his home region produced much of the best music in the US. In amongst tales of Jesse James and Casey Jones he added what he termed a classic ‘soggy bottom blues’ in the form of Ludella and a rock ‘n’ roll influenced Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.
As with Siegal, Mathus proved no mean songwriter. Too Much Water All Under The Bridge lamented a love gone wrong and Mill Town whose inhabitants lives revolve around the working of the mill. However, Mathus saved his most energised rendition for the encore of Ewan McColl’s Dirty Old Town, a wonderful sing-a-long to bring the gig to a close.
