Review & Photos by Rich Ward
I walked through the doors to The Robin just as Walkway were getting started on their set. A young, no nonsense rock band, looking the part, pulling the shapes and delivering the goods. With a sound reminiscent of early 90s rock before Grunge took hold, songs like ‘Overrated’ and ‘One Touch Too Much’ certainly do a good job in warming up the crowd. A well played set from the boys from Norfolk who, having just released debut album Top Shelf Content, we should hear more of in the new year.
Bernie Marsden is no stranger to the Robin and always draws a good crowd. Whilst there are usually a couple of obvious tunes, his sets are always varied. His band tonight is completed by regular sideman Jim Kirkpatrick, ex Gary Moore sticksman Graham Walker and Dave Baldwin. For ‘Downhome Blues’ Bernie is joined on stage by rising blues belter Cherry Lee Mewis. The diminutive singer is a perfect foil for Bernie, and adds a new dimension to the songs. She sticks around for a couple more songs before passing back to Bernie.
The tribute to B.B. King with ‘King Of The Blues’ proves to be one of the highlights of the night, and something Bernie clearly relished playing, and following it with the old Big Bill Broonzy ‘Key To The Highway’ is inspired and works exceptionally well. Bernie’s ‘Place In My Heart’ has since been covered by Joe Bonamassa – the royalties from which will no doubt have helped fund the recording of the impending new album Shine due out early in 2014. I can see why it would appeal to JB, but I seriously doubt that he could offer anything better than the delivery given tonight by its author.
The faders are then pushed up and the band rock it up with a storming version of ‘Fool For Your Loving’ to close the main set, with Cherry Lee Mewis proving she’s just as good fronting a hard rock band as she is singing the blues.
Bernie is a natural storyteller and chooses to stay on stage and engage in a bit of banter before the encore and his anecdotes about Peter Green can’t help raise a smile. After some coaxing, the rest of the band come back on for a cracking ‘Here I Go Again’ before finishing off on ‘I Loved Another Woman’.
Top night from a top bloke.
Setlist:
1. Funny People
2. Reconsider Baby
3. Queen Of The Dancefloor
4. Downhome Blues
5. Someone To Love
6. Working For The CSA
7. Strictly Latino
8. Bad Blood
9. Gone Gone Gone
10. King Of The Blues
11. Key To The Highway
12. Place In My Heart
13. Fool For Your Loving
Encore:
14. Here I Go Again
15. I Loved Another Woman
See more of Rich’s photos here:
